"The men of David said to him, 'Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly." 1 Sam 24:4
David was on the run from king Saul. Despite being guilty of nothing, Saul desired to kill David and was even then attempting to hunt him down. David and his men were in a cave hiding when the king came in to relieve himself. David was encouraged by his men to take the king's life but instead, he took evidence that he could have but refrained from killing him.
Beloved there are at least three broad lessons that can be learned from these circumstances. First, no one is immune to being a victim. At any time, misfortune, pain, illness, financial challenge or slander may befall us. This can be particularly painful if it is at the hand of others to whom we have been close as David once was to Saul. Second, vengeance is not ours to take but Gods'. Even though we may be driven by a sense of our own justice and encouraged by our friends, we should refrain in that God has claimed this for Himself. Lastly, we must always do the right thing. David knew Saul to be God's anointed despite how bad a king he had become. Though he had no reason to maintain loyalty to Saul, he had every reason to maintain loyalty to the Father. This is a matter of integrity and commitment. David was so convicted by this thought that he mourned the fact that he had gone so far as to cut his cloak.
We certainly can take our example from David. Even more we can take our example from Jesus who was victimized by man, could have called down a legion of angels to save himself but did not, and from the cross, prayed that God would forgive those who participated in his death.
The Lord, our protector and redeemer, has promised to take care of us. Let us be careful to honor Him in all that we think, say and do.
Committed,
Lee
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