Paul exhorts us in the book of Romans 12, “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.”
It is often outside of our power to live in peace with the vengeful and resentful. There is often nothing we can do in those situations. No one knew that better than David regarding his situation with King Saul who was determined to take his life. So David goes to great length to remain at peace with Saul.
In chapter 27 of 1 Samuel David simply removes himself from the equation. He says, “there is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer…” The final conclusion is recorded in verse 4 where it says, “When it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.”
I’m often thankful for the little phrase in Paul’s exhortation to live in peace with all people “so far as it depends on you.” God does not expect us to do the impossible. But we are expected to do what is possible. He wants us to take responsibility for our own actions realizing we cannot be responsible for the actions of others. Thus, we should do whatever is within our power to be at peace with others and leave others to God. To David, that meant removing himself from the situation.
Maybe you have a relationship in which it’s best for you to simply remove yourself to restore the peace, leaving God to handle the issue.
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