1 Samuel 24:8-15 – Vengeance is the Lord’s

Saul was in the cave relieving himself, unaware that David was hiding in the inner recesses of the same cave. He was literally at the mercy of David who could have finished him off had he wanted to. In fact, David was goaded by his men to do so. Any lesser person would not have spared his victim. But David had not regarded Saul as his enemy. The truth was that he saw him as the Lord’s anointed and would rather leave it to God to deal with him, regarding whatever wrong he had done. All he did was to slice off a small part of his robe. Even doing that his conscience disturbed him. So that day David spared Saul who did not even know it and left the cave.

David then emerged at the mount of the cave and made a very bold move. He called out after Saul, addressing him as “my lord and king.” When he had caught the attention of the king, he then bowed his face toward the ground and prostrated himself. This indicates to us how respectful he was toward his father-in-law, the king. He not only saw him as the Lord’s anointed but also recognized him as his father. So in verse 11 he even addressed him as “my father.” David told Saul that he had no malice against him. Dramatically, he delivered a very powerful speech. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’” Then he showed Saul the edge of his robe which he had cut off when the king was not even aware. He movingly told the king saying, “Now my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.” The very fact that he was standing there at the mount of the cave was clear evidence that he could have taken the king’s life had he wanted to. He let Saul know that he had been merciful and urged him to reciprocate the same as he did and leave matters in the hand of the Lord. He would rather leave the vindication to the Lord.   

Using a proverb, David conveyed to Saul that he had no wicked intent toward the king. As d far as he was concerned, he had no malicious intent toward him. He wondered why the king should feel threatened by him. Referring to himself as a dead dog or a single flea, David was not demeaning himself. He was showing Saul how inappropriate and undignified of him, a king, to pursue such an insignificant person. He then concluded by calling on the Lord to vindicate the matter and to deliver him from Saul.   

Reasoning tells us that it is sound logic to finish off one’s pursuer when the opportunity presents itself. But that’s logical only if we don’t factor God and His plan into the equation of one’s life. In the most trying of circumstances, David had never left God out of the equation of his life. He could have taken the easy route out and free himself from the menace that Saul had created for him by finishing him off. But he would not touch the Lord’s anointed. He knew the truth that vengeance belongs to the Lord. He knew God would settle it in due time. Like him, if we trust God absolutely, there can be no situation that He would not bring to a logical conclusion at the right time and according to schedule. Remember, we must trust the Lord with every bit of our heart and lean not on our own understanding. And as we acknowledge and consider Him in all of our ways, He will make our path straight. That’s guaranteed!