1 Samuel 24:6
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
David would not lift his hand against Saul as his master and the Lord's anointed, and he held back his men as well even when Saul was alone, vulnerable, and in his power and they urged him to strike. He did not take having his enemy in his power as leave from God to kill him, but left Saul's fate to God and waited for God's promise of the throne rather than seizing it by violence though Saul was seeking his life and holding authority against him. His reverence ran so deep that even cutting off a piece of Saul's robe to prove he meant no harm troubled his conscience as disrespect toward the sacred office. The lesson is patient forbearance under real or supposed wrong, refusing retaliation and keeping the spirit from chafing, with tenderness and courtesy that no mistreatment can break. Such restraint shows that self is the enemy most to be feared, that passion uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit ruins character, and that no victory is so precious as victory over self. That honor is due to faithful leaders and their work and influence whether living or dead, though leaders are not infallible but may err and must confess their mistakes.
David Spares God's Anointed
David regarded Saul as the Lord's anointed and his master, and held it wrong to stretch forth his hand against him. When Saul was alone and vulnerable and in his power in the cave, David refused to kill him and restrained his men from doing so, even when his men and followers urged him to strike the king down. He cut off a piece of Saul's robe only to show that he meant him no harm.
Having Saul delivered into his power was not God's authorization to kill him, and David's conscience rejected that interpretation. Though he knew he was chosen to rule Israel and had God's promise of the throne, and though the Lord had declared the kingdom taken from Saul for disobedience while Saul was trying to keep it, David would not seize the throne by striking Saul down. He acted humbly and left Saul's fate to God, trusting God's word while facing the power of an established ruler bent on holding his authority.
Even that cutting of the robe troubled David as disrespect toward the king and his sacred office, bringing remorse. His restraint and remorse showed respect for Saul and for human life.
Saul remained the Lord's anointed even while he sought David's life, and David's conscience and honor kept him from harming him for that reason. He would not raise his hand against him even when he himself was in danger and feared for his own life.
Forbearance and Reverent Respect
The verse is an example of forbearance under real or supposed wrong done to oneself, showing refusal to retaliate when urged to harm one who has done wrong. When Saul was in his power, David refused to let his spirit chafe and refused to stretch forth his hand against his master because Saul was the Lord's anointed. Though Saul's disobedience meant the kingdom had been declared to be taken from him, David still treated him with tenderness, courtesy, and forbearance. Such bearing of wrong patiently keeps another's treatment from disturbing fellowship with Christ.
That restraint teaches that self is the enemy most to be feared. Human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit has a baleful effect on character. No victory is so precious as victory gained over self.
David's refusal reflected respect for the anointing and determination not to betray a sacred trust or imperil his soul, even to refusing to join the enemy against Saul while Saul sought his life. The same principle requires that the Lord's anointed must not be treated with irreverence or harmed. Applied to faithful leaders who served God's cause, their work and influence are to be honored, whether they are dead or living.
This respect does not mean that leaders are infallible. They may err, and they are to confess their mistakes. David's conscience and honor that kept him from harming the Lord's anointed even when his own life was in danger stands in stark contrast to his later wronging of Uriah and arranging Uriah's death.