
A Critical Test
Main Point: God expects us to be people who forgive, not people who try to even the score.
Christ-followers are clearly called to forgive.
After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. —1 Samuel 24:1-2
He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” —I Samuel 24:3-4a
Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. —1 Samuel 24:4b
Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. —1 Samuel 24:5
Don’t allow your conscience to become calloused.
He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. —1 Samuel 24:6-7
View people the way that God views them.
Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?” —1 Samuel 24:8-9
Give people the benefit of the doubt.
“This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.” —1 Samuel 24:10-13
“Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?” —1 Samuel 24:14
Don’t let your pride escalate the situation.
“May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” —1 Samuel 24:15
Leave room for God to respond.
When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.” —1 Samuel 24:16-18
“When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.” —1 Samuel 24:19-22
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Takeaway: God’s plan does not rely on you seeking revenge.
Discussion Questions
1. Is your natural wiring more towards avoiding conflict or embracing it?
2. How does viewing someone the way that God sees them change the equation in a conflict?
3. How do you feel when someone gives you the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst?
4. Have you ever let your pride escalate a situation? How could things have gone differently if you had let humility defuse things instead?
Table Discussion Question - Think of a conflict that you are in, or have recently been involved in. What would it look like to leave room for God to respond in that situation?