David was persecuted beyond measure by King Saul, and then had incredible opportunities to take vengeance on his arch enemy. Over and again, David was virtually killed by King Saul. He was under such persecution, and his life at such great risk, of King Saul that David could not live any semblance of a normal, peaceful life. He was constantly on the run. He constantly had to seek desperate measures to so much as survive. And after all the torment and torture and cruelty David endured because of King Saul, he was given several opportunities to seek not just any old kind of revenge – but to literally kill King Saul in revenge and to protect his own life.
Do you know what David did? He refused to kill King Saul because he chose to honor God’s command to not touch God’s anointed, i.e. King Saul. He chose to honor God. And not only did he refuse to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity, he ultimately spoke kind and gracious words about King Saul. Did David who would become King David lead a perfect life? Of course not. Anyone who knows his story knows that he did not. But not only did he repent from his sexual immorality, but in the case of his interactions with King Saul he chose obedience to God over what his flesh so easily could have tried to justify and then do. But he left King Saul in the hands of the Lord. King Saul ultimately died a gruesome death. And David was made King David. God honored David’s obedience. And God took care of David’s enemy.
The Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to God, yet how many of us when it comes to our enemies truly choose to love them, to forgive them, and to leave them in the hands of the Lord? One of my favorite psalms reminds me to not get myself upset over evildoers. They are not my responsibility. Nor are they yours. They are God’s.
My responsibility – and yours – is to love, to forgive, and to hand our enemies over to the Lord.
READING:
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19 NASB underlining added
“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 [b]to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.5 It came about afterward that David’s [c]conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 David [d]persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, [e]left the cave, and went on his way. 1 Samuel 24-4-7 NASB underlining added
The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 1 Samuel 26:11 ESV
PSALM 37
Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
And fade like the green herb.
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
And your judgment as the noonday.
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
For He sees his day is coming.
To cast down the afflicted and the needy,
To slay those who are upright in conduct.
And their bows will be broken.
Than the abundance of many wicked.
But the LORD sustains the righteous.
And their inheritance will be forever.
And in the days of famine they will have abundance.
And the enemies of the LORD will be like the glory of the pastures,
They vanish—like smoke they vanish away.
But the righteous is gracious and gives.
But those cursed by Him will be cut off.
And He delights in his way.
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
And his descendants are a blessing.
So you will abide forever.
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
And dwell in it forever.
And his tongue speaks justice.
His steps do not slip.
And seeks to kill him.
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
I sought for him, but he could not be found.
For the man of peace will have a posterity.
The posterity of the wicked will be cut off.
He is their strength in time of trouble.
He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.
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