Read 1 Samuel 26:8-12 – Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. (NKJV)
David has his second opportunity to end Saul’s chasing, but again refuses to kill him. His words to his men fly in the face of all that seems naturally human. David will not treat Saul the way Saul is treating him. Many people will contend that the actions of another justify their own, but David knows the greater truth--I must do what is right no matter what anyone else might do. David will act with integrity regardless of Saul’s behavior. In this way, David is a man after God’s heart. God Himself continues to act in love and mercy toward us in spite of our unwillingness to obey Him. He would be easily justified in giving us what we deserve, but He doesn’t. Instead, He acts according to His Word. What a powerful lesson of obedience we find in David’s example, and what a wonderful reason we have to praise God for His faithfulness toward us. All that remains is our own choice of how we will live.
– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.
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