Shortcut to a Throne, or Faith in God’s Timing?

In chapter 16, we saw David anointed as king of Israel and, as part of God’s plan, placed in service to Saul. The king liked David very much, and David’s music helped ease Saul whenever an evil spirit would overcome him.

But then David won a great victory over a man named Goliath (chapter 17), and his popularity soared. While David’s approval ratings grew among the people, Saul’s dropped like an anchor. Saul grew jealous of David, eventually devoting all his energy to trying to kill him.

He tried twice to take David’s life himself and failed. He tried to use his daughter Michal and his son Jonathan to kill David, but they protected David instead. Chapters 18-23 of 1 Samuel tell the heart-wrenching story of an evil-filled man chasing after someone who had done him no harm at all. David was on the run and in hiding, and Saul was consumed with killing David.

Finally, one day, David was given a golden opportunity to end his running.

Saul received intelligence that David had been sighted in Engedi, so he gathered 3000 special forces soldiers and headed out to find him. While they were searching the area, Saul went into a cave for some privacy while he relieved himself. The only problem was that he chose the very cave where David and his men were hiding. Saul was vulnerable, and David’s men knew it, so they urged David to kill Saul right there in the cave.

David could have easily given in to the pressure of his men. After all, killing Saul would solve their problems, too. “He’s brought him right to you,” they would have said. “God has already promised you the throne. He’s brought Saul here so you can kill him. It must be God’s will.” David stood strong under the pressure of those around him.

Doing what’s right may mean disappointing those around you or even making them angry. Don’t compromise your moral standards by surrendering to group pressure or taking the easy way out. Being obedient to God is always more important than receiving approval from others.

David had every reason to take matters into his own hands and claim the throne. But he waited. He knew that all his fame and success had been given to him by God and could also be taken away at any time. David trusted in God’s promise, and he knew that God, in his way and his timing, would put David on the throne. But this wasn’t the way, and this wasn’t the time.

Sometimes, we grow impatient with God, and that’s when we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands. Our impatience leads us to grab what we think we deserve. But that’s rebellion against God. When we do things our way, we’re not living by faith, we’re telling God, “I don’t trust you.” Surrender to God’s control of your life. Don’t sin by trying to hurry along his plan. Sometimes, faith means having patience. God’s plan is always better than your shortcut.

David, instead of killing Saul, “cut off a corner of Saul’s robe” (1 Samuel 24:5). He had the perfect opportunity to stop his running, kill his rival, and assume the throne that God had already promised him, but he chose not to. Instead, he gave Saul a suit alteration. 

Except this was no ordinary wardrobe change. David had cut off the tassels of the king’s robe, tassels that were commanded in Scripture (see Numbers 15:38-39 and Deuteronomy 22:12). Historians tell us that in David’s day, the hems and tassels worn by leaders had symbols of rank, and Saul’s would have shown that he was king. David had, symbolically at least, attacked Saul’s position as king. It was an open act of rebellion, and as soon as he had done it, David regretted it.

And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:5-6)

Saul, oblivious to all of this, got up and left the cave. But David was distraught. He knew that what he had done was rebellion against God. Sure, he didn’t kill Saul, but he had humiliated him. He had attacked the person God had placed on the throne. David knew the importance of submitting to authority.

The Apostle Paul talks about this extensively in Romans 13:1-7. These principles are true for anyone in authority: parents, teachers, bosses, spiritual leaders, and political leaders. No matter how far away from God someone may be, God, in his sovereignty, placed them in their place of authority for some reason. We are to obey them — unless our leaders force us to disobey God. That’s when we defer to our highest authority, our Lord, and refuse to submit to their leadership.

Show respect for those in authority. They may not have done anything to earn your respect, but God is in control, and he placed them there. Obey unless they instruct you to sin.

David then did something that could have been dangerous. He walked to the cave’s opening and shouted to Saul, giving away his hiding place, but he had something important to say. He bowed before Saul and said:

“Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.” (1 Samuel 24:9-12)

David acknowledged Saul as the rightful king and treated him that way. He called him “Lord” and “king” (verse 8) and “the Lord’s anointed.” He wanted Saul to know that he could have killed him — but didn’t.

Saul was broken by what he heard. The Bible says he began to cry loudly (verse 16). David’s words were like a dagger to his heart. He admitted that David was “more righteous” than he was (verse 17), and he acknowledged that one day David would be king (verse 20).

Then Saul went home. David, who still didn’t trust Saul, went up with his men to their stronghold, their secret lair. He knew Saul would come after him again.

He was right. Over the next several chapters, Saul continues to chase David, never getting over his jealousy. The book of 1 Samuel ends with the death of Saul and his sons, including David’s friend Jonathan.

Samuel’s warnings to the people back in 1 Samuel 8:10-20 had fallen on deaf ears, and God had given the people the king they (sinfully) wanted. They got exactly what they asked for and what they deserved. They paid a high price. Saul’s death at the end of this book, though, sets the stage for the sequel, 2 Samuel, and its story of the man God wanted to be king all along — David.