Some men from Ziph came to Saul, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah.” So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. Learned that Saul had come, David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around. Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping inside a ring formed by the slumbering warriors. “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai, Joab’s brother, replied. So they went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear!” “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. The LORD forbid that I should kill the one He has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!” So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them, because the LORD had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. Then he shouted down to the soldiers, “Wake up, Abner!” “Who is it?” Abner demanded. “Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Why haven’t you guarded your master when someone came to kill him? Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?” Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then let Him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the LORD. For they have driven me from my home. Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the LORD? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?” Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get your spear. The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the LORD placed you in my power, for you are the LORD’s anointed one. Now may the LORD value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.” And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.
See 1 Samuel 26:1–25 (NLT) for the full version. This is the second time David spared Saul’s life, the first one is in 1 Samuel 24:1-22
The shout from David woke up David’s men and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada the priest. Moved by David’s mercy, he wrote home to his dad…
My father and my priest,
As the dawn breaks over the hills of Ziph, I pen down my thoughts on the parchment amidst the rugged terrain that seems to echo with tales of valor. My heart is both stirred and serened to share with you the unfolding narrative of divine manifestation that I have been privileged to witness in the days past. Under David’s wing, each day has been a page turned in the profound manuscript of faith and valor.
I must recount to you, Father, in the rocky caverns of En Gedi, as King Saul sought refuge in the very cave where we were hidden, he was alone within David’s reach, unaware and vulnerable. David had the opportunity to end his persecution. The men urged David to seize the moment, to extinguish the flame of his relentless pursuer. But, David, with a heart reflecting God’s infinite mercy, chose to spare Saul. He chose to cut a piece of Saul’s robe, later revealing it to him to demonstrate his unyielding respect for God’s anointed [1]. David chose mercy over vengeance, sparing the life of the degenerate king who sought his blood. It was a sight to behold, a living embodiment of divine mercy.
But mercy has a cost. Saul came after us again in Ziph. Last night shadows bore witness to a celestial drama. Under the veil of darkness, we found ourselves amidst the slumbering army of Saul, the king’s spear, a breath away from David’s grasp. Abishai, with a warrior’s resolve, yearned to strike, to bring an end to David’s ceaseless plight. Yet, David, with a voice soft yet steely, quelled the rising storm of vengeance, again choosing divine justice over earthly deliverance. Saul’s spear and water jug were taken, not his life. They were shown to Saul and his troop come morning, a message of peace to still the storm of enmity.
These moments, Father, were lessons in living out one’s devotion to God. Devotion is a steadfast pursuit of righteousness, even when the path is laden with peril and dark with uncertainty. The warrior in me has beheld a righteousness that’s fierce yet gentle, a courage that’s bold yet humble. The priestly heritage within me has witnessed a living conviction of mercy and justice, a tangible manifestation of God’s love in a world entangled with hatred and vengeance.
Now, the sword in my hand feels different. It’s not just steel and hilt, but a vessel of a higher call. The lessons of mercy, the aura of devotion that encircles David have seeped into the marrow of my warrior heart. The might of a warrior, I realize, lies in the heart that guides the hand, a heart tuned to the pleasure of God. I will march forward with a warrior’s resolve yet with a priest’s heart, each step a prayer, each swing of the sword a stanza of divine justice.
I pray that the Lord continues to guide my steps and mold my spirit to reflect His grace in the battles that lie ahead. I want to embody God’s mercy and justice in a world desperately in need of both. I treasure your prayers, your teachings, and the legacy of faith that now fuels my journey in this wilderness.
In reverence and resolve,
Benaiah
Share with your friends “How might displaying mercy even in adversarial circumstances reflect one’s devotion to God?”
[1] David’s statement “The LORD forbid that I should kill the one He has anointed” reflects his reverence and respect for God’s choice in anointing Saul as king, rather than a specific prohibition from God against harming an authority figure. It’s an expression of David’s understanding of the sanctity of God’s anointment and his desire to honor God’s decision, even in the face of personal danger. This demonstrates David’s faithfulness and deference to God’s authority.
(from Mikey)
I believe showing mercy In those circumstances shows that instead of doing your own will you seek out God’s will and since saul is still God’s anointed king he shows you had the opportunity to end his life but it’s his devotion to God’s will that spared king saul
“ Devotion is a steadfast pursuit of righteousness, even when the path is laden with peril and dark with uncertainty. The warrior in me has beheld a righteousness that’s fierce yet gentle, a courage that’s bold yet humble. The priestly heritage within me has witnessed a living conviction of mercy and justice, a tangible manifestation of God’s love in a world entangled with hatred and vengeance.”
It is so hard to do what David did. While Saul keeps on envying and attacking David, David continues to hide from Saul. David chooses not to kill Saul. He chooses to not take matter into his own hands and let God do things in his own timing. I think David’s actions shows a lot of self control and that his heart is a peacemaker. David understands that God will hold him responsible for his own actions and words….that his actions is what he can have control over. But with others like Saul, David understands that only God can change their hearts and actions. That only God can work and convict people of their wrongdoings. David displays mercy so easily is because he knows he is not perfect and he has been forgiven much. He is steadfast with God’s righteousness. He knows God will make things right.
But man. Showing mercy requires so much kindness and understanding. It is God’s kindness towards me that always brings me to my knees and repent of my ways.
I think by showing mercy is to display to God that you are willing to forgive because he forgave you. It makes you see that you are no better than anybody and that you shouldn’t judge anybody. Lowkey this question was confusing me a bit as well
This isn’t a personal answer but I can’t help but think about the war in the Middle East in regards to this question about displaying mercy and how that can display devotion to God.
In response to Hamas’ slaughter of over a thousand civilians (many women, children/elderly)and taking hundreds of hostages, anyone would expect Israel to respond with devastating force in retaliation and to attempt to rescue Israeli and American hostages.
What if Israel instead showed restraint, and remembers what God says in Deuteronomy 32:35:”“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.””
That’s the only hope for a peaceful resolution..that would show devotion to God.
The only thing that can keep me from picking up the sword to avenge my slain family would be if I trusted God to avenge them, if I had faith that He would judge rightly.
From sister Rose
Tonight’s question took me back many years ago when I first saw mercy and grace displayed through my aunt. It was Easter Sunday and our jewelry store was very busy that day. We had a customer who looked at diamonds and she switched a fake for a real one on us. She immediately left the store, my aunt realized it and our security guard went after her. She was brought back and finally admitted that she stole the stone and gave it back, the stone was more than $45,000 and at that time in society, if the police was called they came right away and would apprehend the suspect on the spot.
We were all upset and ready to call the police but my aunt calmly and in front of all the other customers looked at this woman with compassion and firmly said “today is Easter, Jesus died for me and forgave me for my sins. I will forgive you today and will not call the police but you need to turn your life around. God loves you and today he is extending Grace and mercy to you so leave our store but think about today and know that it’s Easter Sunday and Jesus is risen”
I remember the lady crying at those words and I remember other customers crying. My aunt gracefully went back to serving other customers and that night we prayed for the lady during our easter dinner.
I share this because this moment changed my life too. As I witnessed this I understood my aunts heart and how she looked more at where that woman came from, where she can go and saw the potential in her. My aunt remembered that Jesus died for us all and forgave us even though we are the worst of sinners and so for that day, she forgave the lady and even prayed for her. There are times when someone faults us but if we look deep into the root of the cause and have empathy, we then can extend mercy to them. It’s not for every situation but there are times in life when God will give us the opportunity to extend mercy to others and because of that, they may even experience Gods love and understand what Grace truly is.
Displaying mercy even in adversarial circumstances is an honorable way to reflect one’s devotion to God. Saul attempted to kill David several times, but David didn’t, even when he was in a crisis situation. Furthermore, David showed his mercy all the time to people around him, including Saul. To become more like David, I would like to deepen my faith and listen to God’s guidance in my spiritual life.
When you display mercy even in adversarial circumstances, you reflect who God is. In the case of David, he could have ended Saul and become King in such an easy way. But he refused to do so. In the same way, God could have wiped all of us out because of our sins. But instead, He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins. He shows us grace and mercy beyond what we deserve. Therefore, doing what Christ did for us, it shows our devotion to God. I pray that in times like this, I will be reminded of God’s love and grace for me. I pray that God would give me the wisdom, to trust in Him so that His name be glorified.
In adversarial circumstances, we tend to feel that God doesn’t work for us. It is not true because he is always here and bless us. I think it is hard to show mercy when you face challenging. I believe that trust in God and think that he will save is a best way to find mercy in such situations.
When we show mercy, it shows our devotion to God because it shows a level of self-control, love, and compassion. These reflect more Spirit filled traits versus our fleshly, desires or emotions. Choosing to do the right can be very challenging at times because it can be a battle of the flesh vs the Spirit. When we think about what God wants for us, the other person, the relationship and the bigger picture of purpose, it can motivate and encourages to do the right thing to show mercy and restraint.