1 Samuel 24:1-22
David is presented with the perfect opportunity to get revenge by killing Saul in 1 Samuel 24. Yet, he doesn't do it.
David and his men are hiding in a cave from Saul when Saul actually enters the cave to go to the bathroom. David's men urge David to kill Saul, reminding him of the Lord's words that He would give David his enemy into his hand. (vs. 4). David wavers but then stops, telling his men that he will not harm Saul because Saul is "the Lord's anointed." Then, instead of killing Saul, David follows him outside the cave, recognizes him as king, tells Saul that he will not harm him and even swears to Saul that he will not cut off Saul's family or family name. Pretty remarkable considering everything that had happened up to this point.
So what did 1 Samuel 24 show you about revenge? How can we use this passage to help us deal with people who have treated us poorly or unfairly? Tami W.
To me this is so exciting, because David has this opportunity. He Can choose to kill Saul or to do things God's way. You can tell David has such a high respect for God and His ways!! That is so awesome to me!! I thank God for this example for us!! We too can do the same thing! We can trust God and His Word and trust His promises in His Word!! How exciting is that?! I want to share my Bibles foot note: David's refusal was not an example of cowardice but of courage---- the courage to stand against the group and to do what he knew was right. Don't compromise your moral standards by giving in to group pressure or taking the easy way out.
Lord thank you for your Word. Thank you for what is says. Thank you for helping and guiding us. Thank you Lord for All that you do.
Thank you Powered By Four , for making this possiable to share with others, what Christ is doing in our lives and to be able to share our walk with God.
David's actions here in regard to Saul are very helpful for us today. I suppose David's actions could fall under the contemporary phrase, "It is never right to do wrong". David is willing to trust God and to do what is right. Most of the times we can construct pretty convincing cases for doing something that we want to do. But no matter how convincing the case, the question still remains; "Is it right?" It wasn't right for David to kill Saul, even though Saul was hunting David to kill him. David's example is very instructive for all of us.
It says in my Bible that "David's heart smote him." I wonder if that's like the guilty feeling I get when I think of bad things I may want to do to people who treat me badly. When I try to let go of things and move on, my conscious doesn't hinder it. I have to let God do His work, He is more powerful than me.
One of the things that stands out to me in this story is the way David confronts Saul, albeit wisely keeping a safe distance, with the truth about Saul's actions as well as his own. From this example I see that it is appropriate to address the issues I have with those who have wrongly tried to have power over me or who have actively attempted to do hurtful things towards me. At the same time, the example shows me it is also appropriate to bless those people and not strike back at them. I'm currently going through a situation where Christian "friends" have been very hurtful to my husband and me and have lied about us. We have addressed the issues with these people, or tried to, but they refuse to consider our perspectives or discuss it. It's very much a challenge to forgive and move forward. Please pray for us to accomplish this completely. Every day from my heart I say "I forgive them" and ask God to bless them but my heart still aches.
We do NOT need to "do" anything to ANYONE regarding situations in our lives because of what we feel is unfair. God is righteous, perfect in all His ways; He is just! Vengeance belongs to Hi; HE DOES repay.
If there is retribution owed, God will deal with it. If there is revenge due us, then God is (and must always be) in charge of the payment due us, even as to "how", and (most surely) "when" it is to be payed to us. We may not live to see what God judged someone owed us; but, the account WILL be settled on our behalf. We want revenge now; we want it our way; we want to see it, so we can boast (yep, that's how we are, dear ones. God will settle up for us, but in a way that does NOT puff US up (Lord knows we are puffed up enough in our flesh, that we do not need to heap more pride upon pride!
One more thing that I have found helps ME, while I simply seek HIM and wait...is to pray for the person who has wronged me. Did you ever think how difficult it becomes to hate a person we regularly pray for? It's next to impossible, because as we begin to make that person a regular on our prayerlist, we will want to see our prayer answered MORE than we will want revenge. It takes time, the prayer starts slowly (and, often, half-heartedly; but when we are our knees, it's easier to look up!
I have found and, actually, seen that....when I trust God, simply seek Him and serve Him, I am able to forget what someone has done to me. If my focus in on Him, then I forget the rest. Often, I'll look around at a later time and see the debt has been settled for me by God. Either way, as Abraham did not see the full culmination of God's promise to him, we don't need to monitor God regarding anything in our lives. He is the final authority on everything. We know He cares for us, He said we should cast our cares upon Him, and He does not lie.
Often, it seems our situations and circumstances have been forgotten. But, God does not make mistakes!!! He does not overlook any "NEEDS" of His children, who are trying to serve Him as best they can. (Notice, I did not say "wants', altnough, God does often give us some of those "wants", simply because we ask, He loves us, and the wants may not be harmful to our spiritual growth. I believe, when the wants are NOT harmful to our spiritual growth, then He gives them to us (if we are seeking Him first)! We are to seek HIM, and all other needs and gifts He chooses to grant us follow the seeking of HIM!
In Romans, we are told "all things work together for the good of those who are the called according to His purpose." There is "key information" in this verse that we overlook. Are we seeking His purpose? Are we asking for something that is for our good (because, in truth, we are too carnal in our flesh houses to distinguish what's "needed" from what's "wanted", AND....often, we are not walking in the Spirit to the degree where we can distinguish whether we are praying according God's will, rather than asking amiss.
I think I'm only beginning to learn what it means to pray "according to God's will" (and really mean it), and to understand what it means to pray "in the name of Jesus" (but that's a whole other blog).
Blessings to all on the blog!!!
It's takes the stronger man to back down.
Vrs 19. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? Great verse reminding us to live for others, forgive and forget. I'm thankful.
If I follow God's Word and walk with Him by praying for my enemy, and show goodness to persons who try to hurt me, I have no worry because Jesus has taught us to pray for these people and vengeance is not mine it belongs to the Lord. See Deuteronomy 32:35. What God says He means.
David didn't take revenge. It wasn't even in him too. He chose to lift up God's annointed even though he sought his Llfe. I wonder how hard this would be for people of this day. I pray that we have a heart to do as David did, not to seek revenge but to lift up our fellow Christians and friends. Amen