1 Samuel 24:16-22 – Not returning evil for evil

The words of David must have driven home deep into Saul’s heart. When he had finished speaking, Saul recognized that it was David’s voice. He asked a question in shock, realizing how near he had come to death, yet he was unaware. David who could have easily killed him did not, but instead spared him. It had been a while since he had addressed David so endearingly. More often he had referred to him as “the son of Jesse”. But now in shock, he asked, “Is this your voice, my son David?” It was probably an “ah-ha” moment for him. The person he thought was his enemy did not take advantage when he had the opportunity. So he lifted up his voice and wept. Here we see that he had come to the realization and spoke honestly what he knew in his heart all along. He said in verses 17-19, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely?   

His conscience was jostled by David’s words. He knew deep in his heart that everything David said couldn’t be disputed. He did not die at the hand of David when he should, proved beyond a doubt that he was not his enemy. For the first time, he was willing to acknowledge what he knew all along but had refused to come to grips with it. He said, “Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.” These were not just words that were wrangled out of him. This was Saul’s sincere honest assessment of the situation. By returning Saul’s evil with good, David had brought Saul to realize how wrong he had treated him.  

Having realized the truth, Saul could only seek David’s favor. He requested David saying “…swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”  Didn’t Jonathan ask this of David earlier? So Saul now asked for the same thing. What David swore to Jonathan, he now swore to Saul. Then David departed to the stronghold.

What David did not do to Saul gives us a divine principle. He returned good for evil. He did not return evil for the evil Saul had done to him. If he had, he would be acting no differently from an animal. But Saul, in returning evil for the good David had done, he was emulating what the devil himself had done. Beloved, we are made in the image of God, and we must emulate God. We can always choose to return good for the evil others had committed toward us. It is true that treating others righteously and mercifully, we will be a far more effective witness of Christ. And such we are called to be by our master Himself. So let’s be merciful and we shall receive mercy That’s His promise to us.