Saul asked David to promise that when he became king he would not cut off his family in spite of the wicked way he had acted toward him. David went even father than complying with Saul’s request, for when he came to the throne he sought out one of Saul’s household. Mephilosheth, the son of Jonathan and showed great kindness to him. He restored to him all the land of Saul and gave him a place at his own table, even though he was lame on both his feet. (Sam. 9).
Saul then gave up hunting for David for a time and returned home, but David and his men went up to the hold. He did not trust Saul nor believe that the confession he had made was real.
This chapter we have been considering is also a remarkable picture of God’s dealings with the sinner. Saul was brought into contact with David, whom he hated, just as the sinner is often brought into the presence of the Lord in an unexpected way. It may be through some business or personal matter, like Saul’s going into the cave, but the hand of God is in it, even though the sinner’s heart is full of enmity to Christ, as Saul’s was toward David. Then just as David reached out and cut off a piece of Saul’s robe, so the sinner is “cut” by the Word of God. (see Acts 2:3737Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37); also 5:33 and 7:54, where in the first case they cry out, “What shall we do?” and in the latter cases they rise up against God’s messengers.) The sinner, blind to the hand of God as was Saul here, seeks to go on his way again, still at enmity with Christ.
Dear reader, is this what you are doing? Are you turning a deaf ear to the voice of God in your life? Undoubtedly He has spoken to you already, and today He speaks to you again through this little paper. Even though it may seem to “cut,” yet it is in love, as it was when David cut the piece off Saul’s garment.
Saul was very near death without realizing it, and now he is forced to turn to the Lord and recognize His goodness to him in sparing his life, through the kindness of David. Saul made some fine promises too, and even called for mercy upon himself and his loved ones. He also turned from his evil course, but he did not feel his sin before God. How solemn this is, for in spite of all God’s goodness, Saul’s heart was really unmoved by it. If God has spoken to you, dear reader, remember that your fair promises and an outward change in your life will never take the place of new birth. It is surprising how a man can change his ways and seem very religious, yet still have a heart full of enmity to Christ. May we warn you that if this is your case, in spite of all your fair promises and good deeds, you are still in your sins and on your way to a lost eternity. Nothing less than new birth, and cleansing through the precious blood of Christ, will avail to make you fit for God’s holy presence.
At last Samuel died. Israel had rejected his testimony during his lifetime, yet they came and mourned for him after he had died. This is the way man deceives himself. He will reject a testimony from God while it is being given. because it touches his conscience, but then he will make a great man of the one who gave it, after his death. The Lord spoke to the scribes and Pharisees of this in His day (see Matt. 23:29-3629Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 34Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. (Matthew 23:29‑36)), and it ought to be a warning to us too, for it is a common snare.
ML 12/19/1954