Context No. 2797 of 4322 · 1 Samuel

1 Samuel 26:17-25: in context

17Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand? 19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before the LORD; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’ 20Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.” 21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” 22David answered, “Behold the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23The LORD will give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because the LORD delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24Behold, as your life was respected today in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the LORD’s eyes, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.” 25Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You will both do mightily, and will surely prevail.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

A second time David has Saul's life in his hands and lets it go. He has slipped into the sleeping camp and taken the king's spear and water jug, and now he calls out across the valley. Saul knows the voice at once: is this you, my son David? David pleads his innocence, asks the LORD to judge between them, and refuses again to raise his hand against the LORD's anointed. Saul crumbles: I have sinned, I have played the fool; come back, I will never harm you.

What stands out is that David has heard all this before. Saul made almost the same confession the first time and then went right back to hunting him. So David honors the king, sends back his spear, and entrusts his own life to God, but he does not walk back into the camp. Respect for Saul and clear sight about him are held together. Mercy does not require pretending a dangerous man has become safe.

Can I forgive and honor someone who has wronged me, while still being wise enough not to hand myself back into harm?

Sources

1 Samuel 26:23: "The LORD will give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness."
Romans 12:19: "Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath."
Matthew 10:16: "Be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."