26:1-2 Saul continues a ruthless pursuit against David. The mental battle ranges within Saul, David symbolizes everything he is paranoid of losing. Once a fairly humble and simple man, Saul's desire is now adhered to wealth, power and kingdom. He has become a slave to his desires. Saul rejected God and action by actions lost his common sense. Fear and greed dominate over what he knows is right. He knows that David is innocent; he knows David is not the reason for his weakening grasp on the kingdom. He also cares about and respects David. But none of that is more powerful than the command of greed.
As humans, we are not invulnerable to such contradicted misery. We can know what is right and want what is right... but still act against that knowing. Saul serves as an example to us: we are so capable of becoming servants to greed. Greed for wealth, vanity, power, property. God says to throw it by the wayside. The more stuff we own, the more stuff owns us. The more desperate we become to retain it. Yet we do not need any of it. God provides for our true needs. God provides contentment and peace.
Saul currently has everything he is terrified to lose. But he has no peace. And it is the absence of peace of mind that is tearing him apart.
26:3-4 David knows that Saul cannot be trusted, even though Saul has apologized. Saul is not in control of himself and therefore David must continue to flee. David sends out spies to watch Saul's movements, thus providing the information he needs to remain hidden.
26:5-6 When he finds out Saul's location, David intents to go there; Abishai offers to go with him. David approaches Saul while Saul's camp is at rest. It is not battle that David seeks; he does not wish to challenge Saul's authority, only to once again inquire after his crime.
26:7-8 Once again David finds himself in a position to easily kill Saul. In this moment, David can destroy his enemy and finally stop living on the run. David serves in the military and has killed men before. Saul's weapon is within reach. The only thing holding David back from killing Saul is David's love and obedience to God. And he also cares about Saul; David can see that the man is deconstructing but he does not understand why he is involved.
26:9 For the second time, David will not use his advantage over Saul although he is urged by Abishai to do so. Against reason, against peer pressure, against reasonably self-defense, David will not harm someone God has not commanded him to. And there is the stark contrast between the way Saul reigns and the way God knows David will reign: one listens to God above everyone and everything else and the other does not.
26:10-13 Through David, God presents evidence that a true servant of His is obedient under all circumstance. David's submission to God keeps at bay any anger, fear or frustration that might derail him from righteousness. Satisfied to take Saul's jug of water and spear, as evidence of his leniency, David leaves Saul and his camp sleeping and unharmed.
This situation likely brought more solace to David. Having arrived at Saul's camp with total advantage and power, God showed David that he was made safe by Him. Despite the constant threat, David did not need to fear for his life. Saul might scamper through the region in various states of mental instability but God's movements were intentional and always are. Saul was not a threat to David and God proved it for a second time.
26:14-16 David calls to Saul's guard, Abner and accuses him of doing a poor job of protecting Saul. Interestingly, David still cares for Saul and is distraught at the thought of him being exposed to his enemies. David knows that any other enemy of Saul would have quickly and sufficiently killed him. Not only does David not want to kill Saul... he does not want anyone else to do it either. The only outcome David wants is the one arranged and tailored by God. True, Saul was unraveling, but David did not think it anyone's business to finish the job. Except for God.
26:17 Saul hears David's voice and affectionately calls to him. When in the presence of David's mercy Saul remembers that David is innocent. In Saul's mind, David is a symbol of every fear and threat he has ever had. Saul has already been made aware by God that he would be proceeded by a better king. Saul hates the idea of losing his position more than he actually hates David.
26:18-20 After greeting Saul, David again inquires as to his crime. David is distraught, Saul's pursuit of him has caused his life to go in directions he never wanted. David declares that if he is guilty of something before God he is willing to repent. But David's knows that no man can claim that David has ever acted unjustly.
David pleads for his life (unnecessarily as God protected it). David does not want to die unnecessarily. He compares himself to a flea, a hunted bird. Hardly worthy of a war. David pleads for his life but his heart pleads for restoration. He desperately wants his friendship to be restored and the senseless argument between them to cease.
26:21 Saul does not act maliciously against David; shame prevents him. And shame is the truest hell there is, it causes once to face one's own destruction against innocent and justice. Without mercy shame plunges an individual into a depth-less sea. David's magnanimous kindness debilitates Saul more forcefully and completely than any weapon ever could. Saul knows he is undeserving of kindness but David offers him kindness anyway... and the monster within him is tamed by its own appearance juxtaposed David's kindness.
26:22 David offers Saul back his spear, without deceptive motive. David suggests Saul send one of his men to retrieve so that Saul will be confident David is not trying to draw him closer to kill.
26:23 David is kind but he is also righteous and yearns to be redeemed. David trusts and prays to God to restore the situation, to deal with each individual justly. David knows that he is innocent just as he knows Saul is not. Whatever anger does exist within David, he allows God to mollify it. David allows God to construct justice for him.
26:24-25 Saul prays for David to be blessed and confesses that he sees goodly potential and fulfillment in him. David is the servant that Saul is not, and though that thought frequently tormented Saul and drove his anger, in sober moments he can see its benefit. For the children of Israel, all of humanity, need a righteous leader, a shepherd.
David and Saul depart, each going symbolically their own way. David goes on his way and Saul returns to his place. Indeed David continues to walk the way of God and Saul returns to his place. Saul is on his own track, a stagnant place really, but David is on God's track and he therefore keeps on his way of fulfilling what God has planned.
