1 Samuel 26:21 - Meaning and Application

Here, first, is Saul’s sorrowful confession of his wrong in chasing David, and his promise to stop. This second time David showed kindness to him affected Saul even more than the first, and it brought out stronger words from him (1 Samuel 26:21). He admits that David’s life was “valuable” in his eyes that day, though he had treated David as if he were hated and worthless.

Saul also owns that he had done great evil in persecuting David. He says, “I have sinned,” meaning he had acted against God’s law, and “I have acted foolishly,” meaning he had harmed himself as well as David. He had chased a man as an enemy who would have been one of his best friends, if he had only understood it. Those who sin behave foolishly and go very far wrong, especially when they hate and persecute God’s people (Job 19:28).

Then Saul invites David back to court: “Return, my son David.” People with wisdom can see that it is good for them to have around them those who behave wisely and have God with them. Saul also promises, “I will no longer do you harm.” We have reason to think he meant it at that moment, yet his confession and promise did not come from true repentance, that is, a real change of heart before God.

Second, David makes proper use of Saul’s words and proves his own sincerity. He asks for one of the soldiers to bring back the spear (1 Samuel 26:22), and then he speaks to Saul again (1 Samuel 26:23). He appeals to God as the judge in the matter: “The Lord will reward every man for his righteousness.” David believes this because God knows exactly who people are and what they do, and because God is always just in giving each person what he deserves. By prayer, David also asks God to do this.

In a sense, David is praying against Saul, who had treated him unfairly and unfaithfully, “Give them according to their deeds” (Psalm 28:4). But David mainly means it as a prayer for himself. He asks God to protect him because he has acted rightly and faithfully, and also to reward him, since Saul has repaid his kindness so badly.

David reminds Saul again of the proof he has just given of his loyalty: “I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” By this he means that the king had been set apart by God, and that should have made Saul safer than an ordinary man. David also seems to hint that Saul knew, or had reason to know, that David was also the Lord’s anointed, so Saul should have shown the same care for David’s life.

David does not lean much on Saul’s promises, so he puts himself under God’s care and asks for his favor (1 Samuel 26:24): “May my life be highly valued in the Lord’s sight, though you count it lightly.” In this way, David trusts God to reward his kindness to Saul. Those who do what is right, and suffer for it, may with holy confidence leave their cause with God.

Third, Saul predicts David’s rise and praises him. He says, “Blessed be you, my son David” (1 Samuel 26:25). Saul was so convinced at that moment of David’s honesty that he was not ashamed to condemn himself and praise David, even in front of his own soldiers. They could not help feeling ashamed that they had come out so fiercely against a man whom their king now spoke of so warmly.

Saul also foretells David’s success and future honor: “You will do great things.” Those who make it their business to do what is truly good may, with God’s help, come to do what is truly great. Saul adds that David will keep prevailing more and more. He means against himself, though he does not want to say that plainly. David’s noble qualities, his mercy in sparing Saul, his authority in rebuking Abner for sleeping, his care for the nation, and the clear signs that God was with him, all convinced Saul that David would surely reach the throne in time, just as the prophecies had said.

At last, since the wound had been somewhat dressed, they parted as friends. Saul returned to Gibeah, defeated in his plan and ashamed of the journey he had made. David did not feel safe enough to go back with him, because a person who has once been false is not easy to trust again. So David went on his way. After this parting, it does not appear that Saul and David ever saw each other again.