Ok, now it's plain to me -- and, of course, it's been plain to God from the start -- Saul stepped way over the line here, even his own men recognize this. But, remember, God warned the people earlier when they called for a king the problems they would face because of their king. Saul isn't just attacking David; he's attacking God. Does he think he can ever be absolved of the blood of the 85 priests slaughtered as well as the entire town of Nob? Saul has gone too far in fear of David.
While Saul broods, David sings praises.
"I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and every." [Psalms 52:8]
Again, David shows his Hemingway-esque side. This is a man who lives by a code. He will not kill God's anointed one, even to save his own life. Even when he catches him with both his pants and his guard down. Saul retreats into a cave to relieve himself. If just happens that this is a cave David happens to be hiding in at the time. Unknown to Saul, David cuts off a corner of Saul's robe while he's...well...busy. David will use this to prove his allegiance to Saul. Saul is touched by the gesture and seems to repent. But it's all so short-lived. Such a crude story to make such a beautiful statement. Which seems to be the nature of God -- he takes the embarrassingly personal and makes it his own -- nakedness in the garden, circumcision, the instance here in the cave. This is an uncomfortably intimately personal God. Nothing is protected from his holy sight.
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