Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 24
Overview:
David spares
Saul's
Life.
(1-7) David shows his innocence.
(8-15) Saul acknowledges his fault.
(16-22)
1-7 God delivered
Saul into
David's
Hand. It was an opportunity
given to
David to
Exercise Faith and patience. He had a promise
of the kingdom, but
No command to slay the
King. He reasons
strongly, both with himself and with his men, against doing
Saul
any hurt.
Sin is a thing which it becomes us to startle at, and
to resist temptations thereto. He not only would not do this bad
thing himself, but he would not suffer those about him to do it.
Thus he rendered good for evil, to him from whom he received
evil for good; and was herein an
Example to all who are called
Christians, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil
with good.
8-15 David was falsely charged with seeking
Saul's hurt; he
shows
Saul that
God's
Providence had given him opportunity to do
it. And it was upon a good principle that he refused to do it.
He declares his fixed resolution never to be his own avenger. If
men wrong us,
God will right us, at farthest, in the
Judgment of
the great
Day.
16-22 Saul speaks as quite overcome with
David's kindness. Many
Mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep
bitterly for them, yet continue in
Love and in
League with them.
Now
God made good to
David that
Word On which he had caused him
to
Hope, that he would bring forth his
Righteousness as the
Light, Ps 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good
Conscience,
may leave it to
God to secure them the credit of it. Sooner or
later,
God will force even those who are of the
Synagogue of
Satan to know and to own those whom he has loved. They parted in
peace.
Saul went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of
his envy to
David, yet retaining in his breast that root of
bitterness; vexed that when at last he had found
David, he could
not find in his
Heart to destroy him, as he had designed. Malice
often seems dead when it is only asleep, and will revive with
double force. Yet, whether the
Lord bind men's hands, or affect
their hearts,
So that they do not hurt us, the deliverance is
equally from him; it is an evidence of his
Love, and an
Earnest
of our
Salvation, and should make us thankful.