[This was scheduled to come out yesterday, May 25. I don’t know what happened.]

We’re spending a few days watching the future king David, who is still in God’s training program while Saul chases him through the wilderness. Yesterday, we noted that David was tough!

Today’s let’s look at his patience and trust in God’s sovereignty as he exercises good judgment in sparing Saul’s life.

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe…David persuaded his men…and did not permit them to attack Saul. (1 Samuel 24.1 – 7, ESV)

David had another chance to kill Saul as he and his entourage slept. (See 1 Samuel 26.) David’s attitude is clear in this exchange with Abishai:

Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should put out 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.” (1 Samuel 26.8 – 11, ESV)

In an age of vitriol where every perceived slight is met with an angry and vicious response, David really is in mortal danger from a deranged and unstable enemy, and he treats Saul with mercy, inspired no doubt by David’s patience and understanding of God’s sovereignty. There’s wisdom there and an example to follow.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12.14 – 21, ESV)