1 Samuel 26:9–11: “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.'”

June 4th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In chapter 24, David was conscience-smitten because he had cut off a portion of King Saul’s robe. While David handled that incident with Saul correctly, in the very next chapter he failed to apply the same principles to his dealings with Nabal. Were it not for Nabal’s wife, Abigail, David would have taken matters into his own hands, rather than leaving vengeance to God alone. Here in this chapter we find David again in very similar circumstance, as God gives him another chance to do it right, and that is exactly what David does. David expresses eloquently that judgment belongs to the Lord, not to David, either directly or indirectly. We are told in Romans:

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. (Rom. 12:17–19)

David came to understand that the sovereign God would decide when, where, and how Saul would perish, not David.

There is an ancient Aesop’s fable that reminds us to be careful of becoming enslaved to revenge. For many years the Horse had the grassy plain entirely to himself. But then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself on the intruder, asked the Man if he would be willing to help him punish the Stag. The Man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth, and agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented and allowed the Man to mount him. From that hour, he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of Man. When we allow the spirit of anger or revenge to consume our hearts, we allow ourselves to become enslaved.

“LORD, we want to serve You and You only today.”