Do you know what the letters T-A-G stand for in this game children play any time, any place where more than two or three are gathered? No one really knows.  In 2018, the internet meme “How old were you when you found out ____” began circulating, which stated that the origin of the word tag was an acronym meaning ‘touch and go’.  But investigation by snopes.com found this to be false.  (And we all know who we can trust, right? Yes, I’m smiling.)  Tag (also called chase, tig, it, tiggy, tips, tick, on-on and tip) is a playground game involving one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to “tag” and mark them out of play, typically by touching with a hand.

David continues to play TAG with King Saul just to let him know he can come close enough to touch him but will never take Saul’s life because of his loyalty to the anointed of God.  David is obedient most of all to God who leads him.  Oh, how it must rattle Saul’s mental and emotional being just knowing that David is able to come close enough to him without the notice of his “right-hand man”, Abner, or 3000 of Saul’s select service men! David will not to the one who will “mark King Saul out of play.”  He will leave that to Almighty God.

1 Samuel 26

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰ Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As we read these exciting stories of who God is and how He works, which is our main concern; we must also look at how His people, whose hearts are fully committed to God, respond.  Their response to God opens our eyes to see how we can find ourselves in God’s continuing story and respond to Him now!  God’s Word is not to be worship—only God is to praised. Jesus was called the Word made flesh and dwelt among us by John the gospel writer; but we worship Jesus as King and Lord of our lives! Jesus demonstrated obedience to God to teach us obedience to God. I know it can be confusing but it is made more clear when we realize that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is Three-in-One, a Trinity, One Person with three works.

Like God and His Love; His Word will never perish and will always be with us if we read it and hold His truth close to our hearts.  We are less likely to sin when we know what God says with His given instructions of how to avoid sin that distracts, disappoints, with attempts by the enemy of God to deconstruct our faith.  But God helps us.  God gives the third part of Himself, His Holy Spirit, to live in us to enlighten His Words of Life for us as we read it.  As we read God’s Word; we are reading HIM, gaining greater knowledge of Him!

One God’s psalmists explains the importance of the Word infused into our lives;

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 This key verse leaps from the page of the longest Psalm in the Bible.  It says it all in a few words. (I suggest reading Psalm 119 in one sitting!)  Read God’s Word, meditate on it, and allow His Word to saturate and fill our beings so that we can see God’s glory at work in and around us.  Praises to God will be our instinctive response of this revelation of God at work! 

We read God’s Word; we begin to see what does not belong in our lives that trip us or TAG us out of God’s best for us! It’s clear that the psalmist had deep love and reverence for God’s Word and we will develop that love, too. Psalm 119 elevates the Word of God over all other documents and statutes. No other book transforms, teaches, and guides like the Bible does. God’s Word lights our path, enlightens our mind with truth, and deepens both our love for God and our understanding of how He works in His ways.

The key to spiritual growth is not increased church attendance or involvement in spiritual activities. People don’t grow in Christ because they are busy at church. Attend a Bible teaching church that disciples more and judges less.  Real people touched by God/Jesus/Holy Spirit being the church instead of doing church is the mission God has given to us. (Ephesians 4)

All of us grow in Christ as we read, memorize, trust, and obey God’s Word. This is the discipline of a true disciple of Jesus.

Yes, God’s Word was written by humans, but God told them what to write!  God know we need Facetime with Him. God’s Word provides all we need to know God more.

Count on God!  Like God’s Love; His Word never fails or contradicts itself.  God’s Word leads us to truth. Jesus, the part of God, called by John as “The Word made flesh” came to earth, moved into the neighborhood of humanity, and not only fulfilled all that God’s Word predicted but also retaught God’s Word with simple stories that revealed who God was, is and always will be with who we are in response and relationship to and with God. Jesus explained, clarified, and gave witnessed demonstrations so that the world may know God more.  

Worship God as Creator, Jesus as King Redeemer, and His Holy Spirit as our chief guide!  His Word is the means to know Truth—who is God Himself.

David has a heart for God, described as “a man after the heart of God.”  We see it as he relates to King Saul.  He is loyal to Saul as the anointed of God even though he disagrees with Saul’s ways.  God is the one David trusts and obeys. 

We need a heart like David’s who seeks God; for if our heart is seeking God, our feet will less likely stray from God for we will be too busy in worship to God! Such a heart will see Him in all of life, learn more about Him, fellowship with Him, and glorify Him in all that is said and done. Again, the Holy Spirit enables us to do this as we surrender all to Him with focused attention. His Word is a treasure to be treasured deep in our hearts. It is not our promises to the Lord but His promises to us that will give us victory over sin.

Lord,

Thank you for bringing us into your story of David and Saul with direction and guidance for our lives right now.  I love your story of truth that is relevant for me today.  Cleanse my heart. Remove what does not belong.  Renew my mind, refresh my soul. Restore the joy of your salvation at work within me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen