David

A Forgiving Exile

READ 1 Samuel 24

If you have ever been to Israel, you may have discovered one of the most memorable and beautiful places to visit is En Gedi, a valley with cool, fresh streams and lush flora in an otherwise stark and arid landscape. It is surrounded by caves, and the fresh water running through En Gedi also makes it a strategic location in an otherwise unforgiving desert.

According to 1 Samuel 24, David was hiding in En Gedi when he spared Saul’s life. Saul was the first king of Israel, anointed by Hannah’s son, the prophet Samuel. Initially, Saul was a successful leader, but he eventually fell out of favor with God because of his disobedience. As David, a young shepherd who served Saul as a musician and warrior, gained fame and favor among the people of Israel, Saul became increasingly jealous and paranoid.

King Saul’s envy toward David led him to relentlessly pursue his future replacement, attempting to kill him again and again. Saul’s hatred even turned into paranoia and violence toward those he suspected of aiding David (22:13–19). David lived on the run, traveling through the countryside with a group of men who were loyal to him. Though he was innocent of Saul’s claims, he was forced to live in hiding in the wilderness.

Throughout this ordeal, however, David maintained his firm trust in God. He sought God’s guidance and instruction in all he did (23:2, 4, 11). Rather than seeing his situation through the eyes of anger, fear, or despair, David relied on God.

Saul led three thousand troops (certainly a questionable use of national defense resources!) in pursuit of David into the area of En Gedi. At one point, Saul entered a cave to relieve himself, and it just so happened this was the very cave where David and his men were hiding. David’s men urged him to act, insisting that God had delivered Saul into their hands, but instead of killing Saul or taking him captive, David secretly cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

After Saul left the cave, David confronted him. Affirming his own innocence and his trust in God, David said to Saul, “I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you” (24:11–12).

David’s words show what trusting God looks like, even when given the opportunity to take revenge. Hebrews 10:30 reminds us, “For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ ” It is a human impulse to want to take revenge into our own hands, but the Bible shows us another way. Christians should not be people set on revenge. Revenge never brings true justice. Instead, God’s children are to trust God to be the just judge. Our task is not revenge; it is forgiveness. This will not always be easy, but David’s faithfulness gives us a wonderful example to look to.

Vigilante justice does not bring true peace, and it betrays a lack of trust in God. He will uphold the cause of the righteous and bring justice. When we turn our hearts away from revenge and instead focus on forgiveness, we find the path of true blessing. First Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” Similarly, Paul instructed believers, “Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 5:15). That’s what the Christian community should look like.

When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus replied, not seven, but seventy-seven (Matthew 18:21–22). This is an exaggerated number that indicates that Christ’s followers should be boundlessly forgiving. David’s forgiveness of Saul, who was trying relentlessly to kill him, demonstrates this kind of faithfulness and forgiveness.

Our forgiveness of others is anchored in God’s forgiveness of us through Christ. Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” There is no limit to the measure of God’s forgiveness for his children; all our sins are washed away. God calls us to be faithful stewards of that forgiveness in this world, extending Christlike grace to others. In echoing the faith of David by being people of radical forgiveness, we show the world the love of Christ.