WAEC Christian Religious Studies (CRS) 2022 Theory — Question 3

Model answer

(a) EVENTS THAT LED TO THE APOLOGY FROM SAUL AFTER DAVID SAVED SAUL'S LIFE THE SECOND TIME: i. The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and told him that David was hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which was on the east of Jeshimon. ii. Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. iii. Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which was beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. iv. But David remained in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. v. Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. vi. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. vii. Then David asked Ahimelech the Hittite, and Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, who would go down with him into the camp to Saul. viii. Abishai volunteered to go down with David. ix. David and Abishai went to the army by night. x. They found Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. xi. Abishai said to David, 'God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.' xii. However, David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?' xiii. David said, 'As the LORD lives, the LORD will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD's anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.' xiv. David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head; and they went away, and no man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. xv. Then David went over to the other side, and stood far off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them. xvi. David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, 'Will you not answer, Abner?' Then Abner answered, 'Who are you that calls to the king?' xvii. David said to Abner, 'Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.' xviii. Saul recognized David's voice, and said, 'Is this your voice, my son David?' xix. David said, 'It is my voice, my lord, O king.' xx. David asked Saul why he was pursuing him knowing that he had done him no wrong. xxi. Then Saul said, 'I have done wrong; return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.' (b) TWO QUALITIES WE CAN DERIVE FROM DAVID'S ATTITUDE: i. We should learn to forgive our enemies. ii. Vengeance is of the LORD. iii. Rather than listening to human counsels, we should listen to God. iv. When we are obedient to God, He will put our enemies in our hands. v. We should allow God to have His way in every situation.