Saul once again took 3,000 of his best warriors
and went after David. That night they set up
camp beside the road. David heard where they
were, so he went there during the night.
Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp
with his men circled around him. Next to him was
Abner, the commander of the army. The Lord
caused a deep sleep to come over all of them.
David took one of his men and walked right
up to where Saul and Abner were sleeping. The
man with David said, “Today God gave you your
enemy. Say the word and I’ll thrust him through
with this spear and pin him to the ground.”
David said, “No. God anointed him king of Israel.
Only God can take that away. He has appointed
a time for Saul to die, and we will accept that. I’ll
never touch a man anointed by God.”
David took the king’s water jug and the spear
that was stuck in the ground next to Saul’s head.
They left the camp without anyone waking up.
When they were at a safe distance on the
top of the next hill, David yelled at Saul’s camp.
“Abner, listen to me.”
Abner woke up and then yelled back. “How
dare you wake up the king. Who are you?”
David said, “Abner, you’re the best soldier in
Israel. Yet, you failed to protect the king, God’s
anointed. Men came into the camp while you
were sleeping. Look around. Where is the king’s
spear and water jug? You should be executed.”
Saul yelled back, “My son David, is that your
voice I hear?”
“Yes, my king. It’s my voice. What have I done
to cause you to hunt me down like a criminal?
Whoever turned you against me should be
cursed. They’re making me leave the land that is
blessed of God.”
Saul said, “Oh my son David. Once again you
had a chance to kill me and you didn’t. It’s now
clear to me that I’ve sinned. I’ve been a fool.
Come back to me. I won’t hurt you.”
David said, “Yes, it’s true. The Lord gave
you to me, but I knew that I wasn’t to touch His
anointed king. May God value my life and spare
me, just like I value your life. I want him to see
that I’m righteous and loyal. Send a young man
over here to get your spear.”
Saul said, “My son, you are blessed of God.
You will do great things for the Lord.” With that,
King Saul went back home.
David said to his men, “Eventually Saul will
find me, and when he does he’ll kill me. I must
go to a place that is out of his reach. What better
place than with the king of the Philistines.”
So David took his 600 men to Gath. All of them
took their families with them. David said to the
king, “Please give me a small town nearby. I don’t
deserve to live in the same town with so great
a king.” So he gave David the town of Ziklag.
David and his men stayed there for a year and
four months. The king of the Philistines learned to
trust David as one of his own countrymen.

© God Child