Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’S anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.
Comment: David’s plan seems full of danger. It seems a bit like a bear hopping around a bear trap or tempting someone to be quick enough to stick a spear or sword through your body. All it needed was one in the 3,000 strong group to wake up and yell out ‘intruder!’ But David and his loyal companion tip-toed through the sleeping bodies until they came to the sleeping Saul with his spear in easy reach. Surely it must have been a very soft whisper as Abishai offered to do what he knew David was reluctant to do. But, no, they just slunk away carrying Saul’s spear and water jar. I am sure that they were glad that no one woke up. The writer tells us that God did His bit to help them in this exciting and gracious adventure!
Prayer: How often do I fail to appreciate Your over-watching goodness and care to me, O Father. I am thankful that ‘Underneath are Your Everlasting Arms!’
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage today. I can remember hearing this story when I was a child in Sunday School. Another remarkable “stunt” in showing King Saul that David had an opportunity to kill him, but he didn’t do it because David believed that Saul was the Lord’s anointed King. As David said to Abishai, one day, Saul’s end will come, but it will be the way God desires. Yes, God watches over us each day, praise Him. God bless you.
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