1 Samuel 24:8–22
8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.
12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”
16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. 20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
All this brings me to three helpful principles to live by when it comes to life’s most subtle temptation. Each is worth remembering when we are mistreated.
First, since man is depraved, expect to be mistreated. The same nature that beat in the heart of Saul beats in the heart of every person, yourself included. When we are operating our lives in the flesh, we will respond like Saul. Or, if you are the person who’s doing the mistreatment, the offense, come to terms with it. Call it sin.
Second, since mistreatment is inevitable, anticipate feelings of revenge. I’m not saying retaliate. I’m saying anticipate the feelings of revenge, because you can be sure they will come. It’s the nature of the beast. Handling mistreatment doesn’t come naturally. Which is why Jesus’ statement is so revolutionary: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you”—not as they do to you. Rare is the individual who will not retaliate, or at least not want to.
Third, since the desire for revenge is predictable, refuse to fight in the flesh. That explains how David came out on top. His men said, “Go get him, David.” He almost did, I’m convinced. But when he came near the king, he got cold feet and just cut off a piece of robe instead of plunging his knife in Saul’s back. Then he made it right.
Let’s leave the ancient scene and bring this truth home to rest today. If you are resentful of the way someone has treated you, if you are holding it against that person, hoping you can retaliate at least or get even, you need to ask God to free you from that bondage. The secret, plain and simple? Forgiveness! Claim God’s power to forgive through Jesus Christ. Begin by asking His forgiveness for excusing and cultivating that deep root of
bitterness within your own heart. Ask Him to expose it in all its ugliness and put it to death. Jesus Christ, who went through hell for you, can give you the power you need to overcome the worst kind of condition in your life.
When we feel like retaliating, we need to ask God to free us from that bondage.
— Charles R. Swindoll