1 Samuel 24:8-15
8 Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking to harm you’?
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11 So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.
12 May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.
14 After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
15 May the Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.”
David’s Defense
David bowing on the ground
After Saul left the cave, David also came out and called Saul from behind. David addressed him as “my lord the king,” and as a servant, he bowed down with deep respect. He still recognized Saul as the king of Israel. Then David delivered a moving defense before Saul, which is as follows: (1) David asserted that he had no rebellious intentions whatsoever. He explained that the rumors suggesting that David sought to kill Saul were untrue. (2) Just a short while ago, David had been presented with the opportunity to kill Saul, but he did not take it. Instead, he rebuked his men, who were urging him to kill Saul, to refrain from such actions. (3) David, showing the piece of Saul’s robe as evidence, proved that he had no intention of killing him. (4) Then, David questioned why Saul continues to pursue him when he had neither rebellious intentions nor an intent to kill.
May the Lord judge
Next, David seeks the intervention and help of the Lord. (1) David prays that the Lord would intervene between him and Saul and judge who is in the wrong. Furthermore, he prays that if Saul continues to pursue him, the Lord will judge Saul accordingly. (2) David quotes a well-known proverb: “Out of the wicked comes wickedness.” This means that if David were wicked, he would have killed Saul. Since he did not do so, it proves that David is not the wicked one. (3) Finally, David humbles himself by calling himself “a dead dog” and “a single flea,” implying that he is not even worth Saul’s pursuit. David’s attitude is consistent. He left judgment to the Lord and made it a principle of his life not to repay evil for evil. The Apostle Paul commands the same, which was exactly how David lived, as he says, “Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people” (Rom. 12:17). Let us also leave judgment to the Lord and aim to live a life of repaying evil with good.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, my role is to strive for what is deemed good by all people. Please strengthen my ability to discern and act. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.