1 Samuel — Chapter 26

David prevents Abishai from slaying Saul: \"Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?\" Second occasion (ch. 26) of David sparing Saul. Lapide: the same principle as in ch. 24 — the sacred anointing makes the king inviolable to a private hand. Lapide also notes: David knew God would care for him and bring to pass the promised kingdom, so patience was both virtue and wisdom.

The Lord liveth; unless the Lord smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle and perish: the Lord be merciful to me, that I stretch not forth my hand against the Lord's anointed. Lapide: David's absolute refusal to be the instrument of Saul's death, even by his own hand. It was both impious (violating the sacred anointing) and imprudent (undermining the principle of divine providence). God would handle Saul's judgment in his own time.