1. 1 Samuel 24:8 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why did David call Saul his "lord"?

1 Samuel 24:8 (ESV)

8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.

In using the term lord, David was affirming that Saul was his master and that he owed loyalty to him. He verbally acknowledged the fact that Saul had authority over him.1