One is hard pressed to read through 1 Samuel without it becoming glaringly obvious that God is sovereignly in control of all things! His hand is evident in this book as he is directing events and people to culminate in His intention of David becoming king of Israel. He has revealed his plan through the prophet Samuel, and he is accomplishing his plan throughout this book.
One way God reveals that Saul’s kingship is over and David is ascending is that their character traits are exactly opposite. Saul is trying to kill David. David is given two opportunities to kill Saul, but refuses to do so. His reasoning? 1 Samuel 26:9 – “Do not destroy him [Saul], for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”
The second occasion comes about because Saul has entered into the cave where David is hiding and has fallen fast asleep. To prove that God is maneuvering these events and not David, David slips up to Saul and takes his spear and water jar. After Saul wakes and leaves, David reveals from a distance his opportunity to kill Saul, and, in light of his respect for the king, his refusal.
God’s hand becomes evident in this transaction as 1 Samuel 26:12 reads, “No man saw or knew it [that David took the spear and water jar], nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.” This is not the first case of divine anesthesia in the Bible nor is it the first instance of demonstrating that God is sovereignly controlling events to accomplish his purposes! (BTW - the next time you sleep so soundly, you should probably thank the Lord!)
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