1 Samuel 26:1–12 (ESV)

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

While David’s close encounter with Saul in the cave could possibly be attributed to dumb luck, this time it’s obviously supernatural. David just happened to be in the cave when Saul wandered in, but here David does the wandering. This encounter isn’t forced on David. He seems supremely confident in his actions.

That pairs nicely with his decision to, yet again, spare Saul’s life. At that moment, he knows he’s in the middle of a great blessing from the LORD, so he’s not about to abandon his allegiance to the command to not strike the LORD’s anointed. David shows his thinking when he says, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.”

The last sentence of today’s passage confirms that this encounter is being blessed supernaturally. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

David seems to have a feel for the LORD’s presence.

Christians should seek this feeling. Practice being “God aware” all the time. This is not just to keep us on our toes and prevent us from sinning; it’s a form of listening. God speaks when we pay attention.

In effect, this means being in constant prayer. Prayer isn’t just about us talking.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.