1 Samuel 26:21-25

Then said Saul, I have sinned.

Saul’s second reconciliation

When a man like Saul has wept, and spoken words so morally noble, it is but fair to credit him with sincerity and permanence. At the time of his reconciliation he meant every word he said. Yet in a brief period we find Saul going down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men to seek David, who had been reported as hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah. Then came the gush of emotion upon the part of Saul. The weapon which conquered him in the first instance conquered him also in the second. Forbearance was mightier than weapons of war. The sword has slain its countless thousands, but love holds the universe in sweet and glad captivity.

I. It is proved that the deepest and sincerest emotion may be transient in its moral effects. We left Saul reconciled; we find him again in arms. There are two things which are often mistaken for Christian feeling.

1. Selfish gratitude for unexpected preservation.

2. Admiration of moral nobleness in others. See bow this is applicable to hearers of the Gospel. Men hear of Jesus Christ’s sympathy, love, beneficence, etc. Feeling may be exhausted. “Past feeling.”

II. It is shown that self-control is in proportion to the estimate formed of the Divine element that is in man. How was it that David withheld his hand when Saul was delivered over to him as lawful prey? Human nature said, Strike; another voice said, Forbear! Twice David might have slain Saul, and twice he spared his life. We want to know the secret of this marvellous self-control. We find it pithily stated in the interview between Abishai and David. Abishai said, “Thine enemy.” David said, “The Lord’s anointed.” Two different views of the same man! The one narrow, selfish, superficial; the other profound and true. So it is with every man: he is not to be measured merely by his personal relations to ourselves. Pray to see the highest and divinest aspect of every man’s character. We shall thus be enabled:

1. To hope something even of the worst; and

2. to do something in the negative work of sparing, even where we cannot do anything in the positive work of reclaiming.

Paul had respect even for a weak man, not because he was weak, but because Christ died for him. By taking the highest view of man, he was enabled to do many things for the sake of the Christ that was in him. “But when ye so sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.”

III. It is shown how much better it is to trust our interests to the working out of Divine laws than to care for them with narrowness of spirit. “As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him,” etc. Why fight with thy own poor weak fist? etc. Why prefer murder to Divine retribution? Why narrow down bureau life to a paltry duel? etc. The battle is not yours, but God’s. Shall not God avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?

IV. It is clearly shown that flight from danger is perfectly compatible with the highest courage. David was never chargeable with cowardice, yet he escaped like an affrighted man. “If they persecute you in one city,” etc. There is a time to fight (Goliath); there is a time to fly (Saul). The one was an uncircumcised Philistine, the other was the Lord’s anointed. Understand that there are differences of conquest. David conquered Saul as surely as he conquered Goliath. God sees His own image in us. To recover it he sent His Son. (J. Parker, D. D.)