Even with self-defense as a perfect alibi, David refused to eliminate his chief adversary at the time. David’s restraint indicates that there is more than one kind of Goliath in life and that duty to God requires different responses.

Killing Saul would have been a quick way to the throne of Israel, already promised to David by Samuel’s anointing. But Saul had been chosen, too. Though a failed king, Saul was still the office holder, and God still the one who had put Saul on the top seat. Getting rid of Saul was rightly God’s business, not David’s. David’s restraint shows that he fully trusted God’s timing in his life and would not work a situation to his advantage to accelerate God’s plan.

Today we are often confronted with failed authority figures-people in church office or other positions whose judgment is spoiled by deceit and blinded by prejudice. Living under this authority may seem ridiculous, but sometimes it is also necessary. Removing a failed spiritual leader is God’s business. The palace coup that displaces an old “has-been” leader with an ambitious “righteous” leader is only trading one set of problems for another.

NOTE: In this photo they have Saul asleep which in incorrect in 1 Samuel 24:3 the scripture says And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

the phrase cover his feet means that Saul was using the bathroom. He was NOT asleep.