Curious to know whether this is David working God's plan or David spilling out from under God's plan working his own plan. Samuel seems to be the one who has not quiet committed to David here. Where is his taking David under his wing? Where is his counsel not to fear Saul but to fear God instead? Where is his reproof against all these lies and secretive coalitions? Sure they have a nice spiritual retreat together but, to what result? God's anointed pretending to have gone mad?
What a sorry state of affairs for Saul, the murder of godly priests, the public accusation of his son, chasing David around the region while the Philistines are invading, disloyal subjects that wont obey his command to kill David. Worst yet he still attempts to bless his allies with the blessing of the LORD.
David is being told by his men. Saul is being told by his men. There is a whole lot of information being told that has other mens hands written all over it. The mark of a leader is to sort through the clutter and do the right thing. David has recently at least has been seeking the Lord and perhaps been searching through the ancient parables. Saul is delivered into his hands and he does the unexpected. His goodness has but a momentary effect on Saul however, but, people on both sides of the camp are beginning to see the truer heart of a future leader.
Nabal acted as if he did not know who David was and acted disrespectfully within the parameters of that culture. Who didn't know who David was. Abigail risked her life by going secretly to David; more so returning back to Nabal. His heart turned like stone. There are plenty of men like him that are simply harsh and foolish to their wives even though their wives have saved them from tribulation and sword. Good deeds are rewarded with scorn and brutality for no other reason than that is just who they are; Son's of Belial, worthless/destruction.
I think that David knows even as the words fall from his lips that Saul will not be even minded for long. For Saul, every step he takes against David becomes more and more an embarrassment but, he is the last to admit that he himself is the cause. We see two men today very much the cause of their own problems. David in turn leaves while pondering the possibilities chooses to reserve retribution to God's hand in both cases.
In more practical terms for us here today, we should consider the similar office of the President anointed no matter who it is that fills that office. What business is it of ours to disrespect that office by slander or any other means even if the man fulfilling that office does so himself. Not even the next President in succession would profit against the Lord by such a foolish course of action.
Why Saul thought that the departed spirit of Samuel would answer him when God would not shows just how deranged his mind has become. Everything that he is thinking and doing is confused and turning against him. The question is whether the witch was speaking God's truth or a demons truth the Saul believed so whole heartedly that he carried it out to it's fulfillment. Honestly, why would God speak to him in this manner when God had not spoken to Saul in any other manner. Why would the witch tell Saul any thing other than this, Saul having killed a great many of her demonic persuasion? It was quiet a show she and her demon put on!
Here we see David in the awkward position that I doubt he should have been in to begin with. Would he of really attacked Saul alongside the Philistines when he wouldn't have on his own previously? My thought is that David had been buying time by means of his own contorted resources in Philistine and God is now flushing him out of his safe hole via the princes of Philistine.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
