Today I read 1 Samuel 26, in which David spares Saul again when he could have killed Saul in his sleep. Today I considered that even if someone is delivered into our hands that does not mean we should take action against them.
Choosing Not to Take Action
David could have killed Saul while he slept but chose to let him live because he considered it God’s will (1 Samuel 26:1-25). The Ziphites told Saul to look for David in the hill of Hachilah. Saul and 3,000 men went looking. David found out and sent spies to know what Saul was doing. David and Abishai went down to Saul’s camp at night, while everyone was sleeping. God had put a deep sleep upon their camp. Abishai volunteered to kill Saul but David took Saul’s spear and water vessel instead. David said he would not kill God’s anointed; God would smite Saul, have him die in battle or just die when he is to die. David went a distance from the camp, called out to them, and woke the camp. David said he could have killed Saul, but he did no evil to Saul for Saul to be hunting him and making him leave the land of inheritance. David showed he had Saul’s spear and that one of Saul’s young men should come get it. Saul said he sinned and told David he would not hunt him anymore. David went his way and Saul returned where he came from.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Sometimes when we are given an opportunity to take action against someone that does not mean we should take it. We have to pray and know we are doing God’s will in all our actions.
When was a time you could have done something to someone even if it was a word that would have gotten them in trouble, but God told you not to so you stopped yourself?