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SERIES J --- THE WARRIOR KING |
BIBLE STUDY LESSON 04
DAVID’S CHOICE TO HONOUR THE LORD’S ANOINTED Thus David’s men did not take any action against Saul, for they did not want to go against David’s wishes. About this time Saul got up and left the cave. David followed and called to Saul as soon as they were outside. ‘My lord the king!’ David called. Saul whirled about and David bowed low before him. ‘Why do you listen to those who tell you that I want to hurt you?’ David asked. ‘Today you have seen that you were at my mercy in the cave and some of my men even urged me to kill you, but I spared your life. I told my men that I would not harm God’s anointed king. Do you see what is in my hand, my father? It is a piece of your robe which I cut off. I could have killed you but I didn’t so that you would know that I am not trying to hurt you or sin against you, even though you hunt me down to kill me. ‘May the Lord be our judge! Let Him take revenge upon you for what you are doing, but I will not. As the ancient proverb says, ‘From wicked people come wicked deeds.’ I will not lift up my hand to hurt you. ‘Now who are you coming out to hurt? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be our judge and punish the one who is wrong. The Lord is my Advocate so He will deliver me from you.’ Saul called back when David had finished speaking. ‘Is it really you, my son?’ he said. Then Saul began to weep and cry out with a loud voice. ‘You are a more righteous man than I,’ he said. ‘You have been good to me while I was trying to be evil to you. You have been merciful, for when the Lord put me into your hand, you would not kill me. No one else would let his enemy go free when he had the power to kill him. May the Lord reward you with good because of what you have done today. Now I am certain that you will be king some day and that your kingdom will endure. Swear that when you reign as king, you will not destroy my family and my descendants.’ When David swore that he would not destroy Saul’s family, Saul returned home. But David and his men went to live in the stronghold Masada.” COMMENTARY MASADA The Hasmonean king, Alexander Janneus, (103-76 B.C.) erected the first man-made structures on the summit of Masada. But the faint signs of early occupants are overwhelmed by the settlement built by Herod the Great. It covered the entire twenty-acre plateau. Storerooms, bathhouses and palaces were protected by a double wall. A system of canals and cisterns supplied water. After Herod’s death the Romans established a small garrison on the top of Masada. During the first year of the Jewish revolt against Rome it fell to the Zealots and for six years remained undefeated. But when the rest of the rebellion had been stopped, Roman forces placed Masada under siege. The battle lasted for two years. When the troops finally made a break in the wall, the Zealots knew they were defeated. The determined rebels refused to be taken captive. When the Romans reached the summit of Masada they were met with a hollow victory. Nine hundred and sixty people had taken their own lives rather than submit to Roman slavery. Only two women and five children remained to tell the story. TEST YOURSELF 1.) Where did Saul, after fighting the Philistines, go to search for David? 2.) What did David show Saul, as evidence of how close Saul had been to him? 3.) What did Saul asked David to swear? 4.) After Saul left, where did David and his men go to live? 5.) Who built the first permanent settlement on Masada? 6.) Which rebellious group made its home on top of Masada, in defiance of Roman authority? |