Why didn't David kill King Saul when he had the opportunity?

by Anonymous

Rick Brentlinger Answers-

Anonymous Christian continues:

"Instead David only cut off a piece of clothing from Saul's robe. Why did Saul go so completely against David as to try to kill him?"

King Saul tried to kill David numerous times yet David never retaliated by trying to kill King Saul. Saul came to hate David because he knew that (a) Jonathan and David were intimate friends (1 Samuel 20:30), and (b) he knew that Jonathan would never be King of Israel as long as David was alive.

Saul's Attempts on David's Life

1. 1 Samuel 18:11
   
   
2. 1 Samuel 18:25
   
   
3. 1 Samuel 19:9-10
   
   
4. I Samuel 19:11, 15
   
   
5. 1 Samuel 20:31-33
   
   
6. I Samuel 23:9
   
   
7. I Samuel 23:25-26

David had at least two opportunities to kill King Saul, 1 Samuel 24:4ff and 1 Samuel 26:8ff, yet both times, David refused to kill Saul himself and David refused to allow his warriors to kill King Saul.

Why did David refuse to kill King Saul?

There are four reasons why David refused to kill King Saul.

1. David knew that God had anointed Saul King over Israel, 1 Samuel 10:1. Because David trusted God, he was determined to let God chose when Saul should no longer be King.
   
   
2. David knew that God had anointed him King over Israel, 1 Samuel 16:13. David's great faith in God compelled him to wait until God made him King in actual fact.
   
   
3. David loved Crown Prince Jonathan, King Saul's son and was loathe to do anything that would offend Jonathan in any way. David had given his solemn word he would not harm anyone of Jonathan's family, 1 Samuel 20:15-17.
   
   
4. David was content to wait for God's timing instead of trying to force things. Are you willing to wait for God's timing in your life?

Note the contrast between David and King Saul

1. The Spirit of the LORD was upon David, 1 Samuel 16:13 but the Spirit of the LORD had departed from King Saul, 1 Samuel 16:14

2. King Saul was doing everything humanly possible to hold onto power while David was content to only fight a defensive battle against Saul to preserve his life until God placed him on the throne of Israel.

Links for additional study

How could David have a romantic sexual partnership with Jonathan?

Can I get saved by just being a good person?

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