1 Samuel 24:16–17

Saul seems melted and broken. What memories would that voice awaken! Memories of loyal cheer on the day of Goliath's great power. Memories of gladness and hope when the dark cloud of the evil spirit pressed on his soul. Memories of songs of praise that told of the care of the Great Shepherd for the least of His sheep. That voice had soothed many a weary night! He also recalls the relationship, as David had already done: "Is this your voice, my son David?" And he breaks into tears. Truly gracious tears! Only, something more than sentiment or tender memories is needed to melt the hard heart of pride.

Here is a glimpse of the grace which marked the whole life of our Lord without a break. Circumstances seemed to bring David into the greatest danger. In fact they put Saul in David's power. But he will not avenge himself. Instead he appeals to the Lord: let Him "be judge and judge between you and me, and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand." The Psalmist speaks the same way. There we see the Spirit of Christ, of Him who would not save Himself but committed everything to God: "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me" (Ps. 35).

Saul's conscience is seriously affected. He calls David his son, and weeps. His confession to David seems sincere, though it is sad that later events showed it to be all on the surface. He tells David he was more righteous than Saul, but this implied that Saul was righteous, only less so than David. Still, he acknowledges that David had done good to him while he had done evil to David. This shows that a person who is not born of God can still tell good from evil. He can also admit his own wrongs... Yet he makes not the slightest suggestion that he himself would repay good to David!

A heart that God has rejected — and it is very serious to consider this — may be softened in the presence of grace without being changed. God does not ask us for feelings, however right they may be; it is faith that counts, for faith alone is able to regenerate and save a sinner.

Some think they repent when they shed a few tears, as Saul did over his unkindness to David: "And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David … you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil" (1 Sam. 24:16-17). But for all this he hunts David again. So men can lift up their voice and weep over sins, and then go back to their sins. Others give up their sin but still keep their love for it in their hearts, like the snake that sheds its skin but keeps its sting.

It would be good for us to realise that a fair show of friendliness from men of the flesh cannot be taken as a lasting reconciliation. The flesh and the Spirit are opposed to each other. They cannot go on side by side without conflict breaking out again and again. The same is true of those who have openly taken the side of evil and remain in bondage to it... There may be short lulls in the conflict between the ungodly and the children of God. But these lulls show no change in the ungodly.

What God had set up, though rejected by Him, David would not raise a hand to destroy… If provocation could have justified the killing of Saul, David had received provocation enough… Placed in his power, David made Saul aware of the risk he had run. He forced the king to say openly that David had no plan to harm him or kill him.

God's providence at this moment is delivering Saul, defenseless, into David's hands. David's companions do not understand, and conclude that God Himself is giving their master the chance to take revenge. But David's insight is not fooled. As the rejected king, his character is grace and not judgment (it is the same with Christ). Here God's providence gives grace a fine occasion to show itself.

He tells David he was more righteous than Saul, but this implied that Saul was righteous, only less so than David. Nevertheless he acknowledges that David had done good to him while he had done evil to David. This shows that a person who is not born of God can still recognize what is good as opposed to what is evil, and can also admit his own wrongs… He seems to mean it too when he says he wants the Lord to reward David with good for the good David had done to him. Yet he makes not the slightest suggestion that he himself would reward good to David!

Many think they repent when it is not the offence, but the penalty that troubles them; not the treason but the executioner's axe. Some think they repent when they shed a few tears, as Saul did for his unkindness to David… But for all this he follows David again. Others give up their sin, but still keep their love for it in their hearts, like the snake that casts off its skin but keeps its sting.

A heart set against God — it is very serious to consider — can soften in the presence of grace and still not change. God does not ask us for feelings, however righteous they may be; it is faith that counts, for faith alone is able to regenerate and save a sinner.

Showing kindness to an enemy heaps coals of fire on his head. It becomes a test to him, the way fire tests metal. The kindness will either break him into sorrow and friendship, or harden him even more.

What a great moral victory for the son of Jesse!… All Saul can do is call down God's blessing on David as a just reward for his mercy, and along with it he admits that David will be king… So they part. Saul returns to his house. David does not return to his, but goes back to those strongholds that had been his shelter so far. This in itself shows that the break between them was not healed. David realized he could never fully trust a man who had betrayed him in the past, and who still refused to bow to God in this whole solemn matter.