1 Samuel 24:1-22 | Food for Thought

 

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Food for Thought:

  • An Opportunity for What? While hiding out in a cave, David and his men watch as Saul enters the same cave they’re in. Despite his friends encouraging him to take Saul out, David instead chooses to cut a small piece of fabric from the corner of Saul’s robe. Saul leaves the cave, but is pursued by David who shows him evidence of his mercy.

    • Have you every had the perfect opportunity to get back at someone? Did you take it? Why or why not? What happened?

    • Would you have blamed David if he had decided to take revenge on Saul? Why or why not?

      • Is it bad to want justice?

      • What would’ve been the repercussions of killing Saul? What might be some future repercussions of letting him go?

    • What propelled David to spare Saul’s life? What does this say about the way we should see our own enemies?

    • How do you feel about David feeling bad about “going easy” on Saul? Would you say that David is “soft,” has nothing to apologize for, etc.?

      • Why is David’s conscience here actually a source of his strength?

  • Revenge Belongs to Who? | After calling out to Saul and showing him the piece of cloth, David goes on to talk about God’s justice. Instead of saying that vengeance belongs to himself, David says it belongs to the Lord. He pleads for the Lord to tell the difference between David and Saul, deliver him from Saul’s wrath, and deliver himself to safety.

    • Some people use verse 6 (not “lifting a hand against the Lord’s anointed”) as a reason for not questioning or calling out leaders. How does that square with what David does here?

    • Is David acting in humility here or pride? Does he seem “judgey” or submissive? Explain your answer.

    • Consider a matter of injustice - personal, local, gobal - where you hope “the bad guys” are brought to justice. How does the ultimate, perfect, promised justice of God free you to…

      • …pursue earthly accountability?

      • …show mercy?

  • The Enemy Asks for What? | When David’s done speaking, Saul acknowledges David’s mercy, goodness, and righteousness. It confirms for him that David is the true future leader of their people… and surely cements his demise in his own mind. Believing that it’s all over for him, he pleads for mercy for his descendants, which David agrees to.

    • Is anything about Saul’s reaction here surprising to you?

    • How would this story have turned out differently for Saul and his descendants if David had taken revenge? What does revenge perpetuate? …what does mercy perpetuate?

    • Righteousness means “doing right by” another - be it the Lord or people. How does David’s decision to show mercy show a unique, holy righteousness that “does right” by God and Saul?

  • Gospel Application

    • How does our “thirst for blood” get to be quenched by Christ: either by his death on the cross or his judgment from the throne?

    • When we “get back” at people - even when we “go easy” - whose righteousness are we really protecting and showing?

    • Think about your voice when others talk to you about their frustrations, hurts, etc. Does your voice sound more like David’s that persuades people towards mercy, or does it sound more like David and Saul’s friends who rile up revenge?

    • Consider a situation in which you want to “get back” at someone. How is the Lord providing you with an opportunity to show mercy to that person instead?

      • Do you want that person to receive mercy? Why or why not? What makes that hard? What do you think you’re missing out on / giving up on if you don’t “give them what they deserve?”

      • Do you want others to receive the same mercy that you have?

      • What do you need from the Lord in order to want redemption for that person - and how has he already provided that for you in the gospel?

 
1 SamuelScott O'Donohoe