Context No. 2723 of 4322 · 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 24:9-15: in context

9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’? 10Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ 11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it. 12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you. 14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 15May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”

David has just spared Saul's life in the cave. With the king who hunts him asleep and within reach, David cut only the corner of Saul's robe when he could have ended everything. Now he calls out from a distance and holds up the proof: see the skirt of your robe in my hand. I did not kill you. There is no evil or rebellion in my hand, though you hunt my life.

David refuses to lift his hand against the LORD's anointed and hands the whole matter to God: may the LORD judge between us and plead my cause. Then he lowers himself almost to nothing before the king, whom are you chasing, a dead dog, a single flea? He has both the opportunity and the grievance to settle this with one stroke, and he lays it down, trusting God to vindicate him rather than seizing vindication for himself. His restraint is not weakness. It is faith that God will judge rightly.

When I could repay someone who has wronged me, do I take vengeance into my own hand, or leave the verdict with God?

Sources

1 Samuel 24:6: "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him."
Romans 12:19: "Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."
1 Peter 2:23: "Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back... but committed himself to him who judges righteously."