David’s Victory Over Saul
Just like Saul we sometimes hold on to grudges. David has been avoiding King Saul because he wanted to kill David. This lesson shows David returning goodness for evilness and this put Saul to shame. We should not repay good with evil. It is sad when we think we have a nature that can be chaotic revengeful, and wanting to return evil for evil. We sometimes forget we are in control of how we treat the people around us. 1 Samuel 24 – 1 Samuel 25
After David escaped from King Saul with the help of Jonathan he continued on the run for several years. There were at least two occasions when David had the opportunity to kill Saul and take the throne that had already been promised to him by the LORD God at his anointing by Samuel.
Saul sought to kill David in 1 Samuel 24. Saul took an army of 3000 men to fight David and his band of 600. David and his men were hiding in a cave when Saul entered. David crept up behind Saul and cut off part of his coat without Saul knowing.
Even though his men encouraged David to kill Saul at that time, David would not do so. He even felt bad for cutting off a portion of the king’s robe. David then said, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 24:4-6).
David told his men not to rise up against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way. David cried after Saul and fell to his face to the earth. David told what had happened in the cave. David told Saul he had spared his life even though some of his men had wanted David to kill him.
David proved this by showing Saul the piece of the robe he had cut. David then quoted the proverb of the ancients: “Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.”
David finished speaking and Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. Then he said to David that David was more righteous than he was and had rewarded Saul with good when Saul had rewarded David with evil.
Saul admitted from that encounter with David that David was wiser and more righteous than Saul. He already knew that David was to be the next king of Israel. Saul asked David to be kind to his family after David became king (1 Samuel 24:20-22).
Saul went home. And David and his men went back to their stronghold. David did not trust Saul enough that David went back to his home. David remained in the wilderness, among the rocks and the caves.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
Just like Saul we sometimes hold on to grudges. Saul wanted to kill David because he had been anointed to be the next king by the LORD God. When David returned goodness for evilness he put Saul to shame and Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. Then Saul said to David that David was more righteous than he was and had rewarded Saul with good when Saul had rewarded David with evil.
We should not repay good with evil. It is sad when we think we have a nature that can be chaotic revengeful, and wanting to return evil for evil. We sometimes forget we are in control of how we treat the people around us.
Matthew 5:38-44 gives us great examples how to respond to evil. You have heard it said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” Jesus taught whosoever hits you on the right cheek then turn the left cheek also. It has been said: “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” Jesus teaches us: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
The grace of the LORD God teaches us to forgive and be kind unto our enemies, but not to trust those who have repeatedly deceived us. Just like with Saul hatred often seems dead, when it is only resting or sleeping and will return with double force. We have to trust and lean on the grace of the Lord and go forward in His will for our life.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “David’s Victory Over Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1969,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “David’s Victory Over Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1969,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “David’s Victory Over Saul:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1969, (accessed).
