(By Ron Cantor) Manipulation is like witchcraft. We manipulate to get what we want, when we don’t trust God. David had two opportunities to take matters in his own hands. Two times the demonized King Saul was delivered into his hands. Once, at En Gedi—incidentally, one of the beautiful places in Israel (and yes, we go there on our tour) and then later at the Desert of Ziph. In the first event, David and his men were in a cave, when Saul went in to relieve himself.
“Then David arose and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe” (1 Sam. 24:4b). David could have reasoned, Samuel already anointed me to be king. Saul knows this. Jonathan, in the previous chapter, already told David: ” You will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you. Saul my father knows this” (1 Sam. 23:17) His men urged him to kill Saul, saying, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘I am giving your enemy into your hand” (1 Sam. 24:4). CONTINUE