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Bible study · 1 Samuel 26:1-25

1 Samuel 26: Who can stretch out his hand?

Read 1 Samuel 26:1-25 before you meet.

In a few lines

Chapter 26 is the second time Saul lies in David's hand, and David still won't touch "the LORD’s anointed" (26:9). He leaves Saul to the LORD, "the LORD will strike him; or his day shall come to die" (26:10), takes Saul's spear from beside his head, as Saul once threw his spear at him (18:11), and offers it back (26:22).

The verse to carry

“The LORD will give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because the LORD delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 26:23

To talk about

  1. 1. Abishai was sure the moment came from God: "God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today" (26:8). David saw the same moment differently (26:9-11). How do you tell an open door from a temptation?

  2. 2. David said of Saul, "the LORD will strike him; or his day shall come to die" (26:10), and left it there. Is there someone you need to leave in God's hands rather than your own?

  3. 3. Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David" (26:21), and David went his way (26:25). When someone who has hurt you says sorry, what does forgiving them look like, and what does being wise look like?

Prayer requests