1 Samuel 24:1 – 22 “After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands to do with him as you wish.’”
Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!”
When Saul looked behind him, David bowed face down in reverence and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
Then Saul wept aloud and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
It’s an incredible story! David and his men are hiding in one of the many caves surrounding the spring at En – Gedi while Saul and his men are hunting David. Saul enters the cave “to relieve himself,” to rest or to defecate. While Saul is preoccupied, David sneaks up and quietly cuts off a small piece of Saul’s robe. Even though David’s men are urging him to capture Saul and perhaps even to kill Saul, David refuses. David feels that since Saul is the anointed of God, he (David) must respect that anointing, even if Saul has done wicked things.
Once Saul has left the cave and is safely away, David calls to him, showing the piece of Saul’s robe that he has cut off as an indication of how close Saul has come to destruction. “See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.”
But David also says something in addition. “May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
Although David has not taken revenge on Saul, David calls on the Lord to judge between the two of them, to deliver David, and to take vengeance on Saul. Make no mistake! David is not ignoring Saul’s attempts to kill him, nor is David making any excuses for Saul. But David tells Saul that it is God who will settle their matter.
In the past, Saul has prophesied while under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Now once more, Saul prophesies over David. ““You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” David gives his oath, and Saul returns home; however, David and his men return to the stronghold. David has witnessed enough of Saul’s scenes of remorse before to be wary of Saul’s promises.
APPLICATION: If someone has been persecuting you and you have them in your power, what will you do? In this day of social media, many of us might be sorely tempted to at least post something embarrassing. If David had had Facebook or Twitter, he might have posted a selfie holding that piece of Saul’s robe. Certainly, David has good reasons to take revenge and few if any reasons to be kind to Saul or to respect him. But Samuel has anointed David, and David recognizes the power and the authority of the anointing on Saul. David is acting out of respect for God as much as for Saul.
David might also be familiar with Deuteronomy 32:35 which says, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense…” David doesn’t trust Saul at all; however, he trusts God implicitly.
Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 5:43 – 45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
David’s example teaches us that we may safely leave vengeance to God. Jesus was beaten, tortured, humiliated, and dragged through the streets of Jerusalem to be crucified. Yet, while dying on the cross, Jesus begged his heavenly Father to forgive the people who had done these terrible things because they had no idea what they were doing.
Has someone hurt you? Leave vengeance to God! “But,” you ask,” what kind of prayer can I possibly pray for someone who has damaged my health, my family, or my career?” Pray for those people, that they will come to know the One True Living God and that they will serve Him for the rest of their lives. PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, each of us can name people who have deeply hurt us. Guide us to pray the prayers you want prayed over these people. We soak these people in the Blood of Jesus, the Love of Jesus, and the Fire of the Holy Spirit for complete salvation and cleansing from sin. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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