In 1 Samuel 23, Saul claimed God was on his side in his attempt to murder David. Thinking that he had David cornered he boasted, “God has delivered David into my hand.” But he was proven wrong. Through seeking God’s will, David was able to escape Saul’s grasp.
In chapter 24, God does in fact deliver Saul into David’s hand. Saul slipped into a cave to relieve himself where David and his men were hiding. David’s men are the first to say it. “God has given your enemy into your hand.” David cut off a piece of Saul’s robe but would not kill Saul though his men urged him to. Instead, David confronted Saul with the piece of his garment as evidence that God had indeed put Saul in the position where David could have easily taken his life. Instead of killing his enemy, David took the opportunity to make peace.
Holding up the piece from Saul’s robe, David calls out to Saul and says…. “I did not kill you so you may see that there is no wrong or treason in my hand… May the Lord judge between you and me… but my hand shall not be against you.”
Saul wept. He said to David, “So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. I know you shall be king. Swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy all my children.” David swears to this and then “Saul went home.”
I don’t believe God gives anyone of us the advantage over a perceived enemy to exact our revenge on them. He does that in order to give us an opportunity to make peace. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace makers; for they shall be called children of God.” David is very often called a son of God and a man after God’s own heart. May that become our legacy as well.
Chuck
“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. …For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” Galatians 2:16