Hindsight is a gift, although we do not often use it. This is why history repeats itself. Douglas Adams once said, “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” Scripture is filled with good and bad examples that believers are to learn from. The book of 1 Samuel is no exception. This book focuses on the lives of two people who are to be understood in contrast with one another. Saul was the current king of Israel, but David was to be the future king. Saul lived a life of disobedience and was an enemy of God’s will, while David was considered, “a man after God’s own heart”, and was submissive to His will.
Yesterday, I told our kids the story of how David spared the life of Saul, even though he had reason and was given the opportunity to kill him in 1 Samuel 24. We examined the actions of both men and learned how David's actions pleased God, but how Saul's offended Him.
We first discussed that David’s actions were merciful, while Saul’s were heartless. David spared Saul's life even though he deserved death for his disobedience to God and his desire to take the life of God’s chosen vessel. David’s actions are pleasing to God because we learn from the mouth of Jesus that we are to, “Be merciful, even as (our) Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).
David was also submissive to the will of the Father, while Saul was submissive to no one but himself. When David was prompted by his own men to kill Saul, he responded by saying, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6). Even though David was the king God approved of, he knew it was not his place to undo something He had done. He knew that God is ultimately in control and has a desire to see His will accomplished.
The final contrast in this chapter is that David left vengeance to God, while Saul did not. David knew that God would determine who was in the right and would administer judgment accordingly. He says, “May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you” (1 Samuel 24:12).
The lessons we learn, when reflecting upon this story, is that we are called to be merciful toward those who are undeserving and trust that God’s will is perfect and that he will deal with injustices in an ideal manner. Let us not simply be hearers, but followers of David's example, so the redundant cycle of disobedience does not continue with us as it does with Saul.
