1 Samuel 24:5-7
Verse 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
Now that David has cut the corner off of the king’s robe he can’t help but feel guilty. Why would he deface the king’s garment to prove that he had more character than the king? Wasn’t that being prideful and proving that he was like Saul? The more he looked at it, the guiltier he felt. His men weren’t seeing things the way he was and they start to question what he is thinking.
One thing that we must remember is that the Spirit of the Lord was upon David and so the Spirit was helping David remember what it meant to be a man after God’s own heart. To be a man after God’s own heart he had to remember that everything he did had to be about bringing God glory. How could it bring God glory if he was doing things to prove himself honorable?
Another thing that marks a man after God’s own heart is that he will not keep what he learns to himself. He knew that it didn’t matter what he learned if he kept the knowledge to himself. He had a responsibility to teach these men in his charge the truth of what it meant to be a man of God and there was no better way than to use himself as an example of stepping out of God’s will and revealing pride lingering in his heart.
These rebukes to his men were done while Saul was still in the cave. The men were not wanting to leave it with just the robe being cut. They seem to be trying to convince David to let them erase the threat on their leader’s life by killing the man near the mouth of the cave. They wanted to make their leader know just how much they were behind him and that they were ready to kill for him. Remember David’s brothers were probably still members of David’s army, giving some of his men very personal reasons for wanting to stand for David’s honor no matter the cost.
Though it may have been encouraging to David to know how much his men were willing to do for him, he couldn’t allow them to think that way. These men, if they were going to be with him for the long haul, needed to know what it meant to do things God’s way. God had anointed Saul as king which meant he deserved the honor and safety from the people of Israel until God took the title away. Yes, David had been anointed king and his brothers had been witnesses of the event, but God had not yet placed him on the throne of God’s beloved people. David would guard God’s man at every opportunity.
Making It Personal
When have you done something and then regretted it because you knew it went against God? Did you repent of it? Who have you shared the experience with so they don’t make the same mistake?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever done something you knew you shouldn’t have done? Did you tell Jesus you were sorry? Who can you tell about it so they don’t make the same mistake?
Closing Prayer
Father, we fall into our own prideful thinking more often than we want to admit and we are sorry about that. Please give us the wisdom and courage to live for You in every moment of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments