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leaving justice in God’s hands

1 Samuel 26:1-16 (JDV)

1 Samuel 26:1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah saying, “David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon.”
1 Samuel 26:2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand of the choice young men of Israel, went immediately to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.
1 Samuel 26:3 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon. David was living in the wilderness and discovered Saul had come there after him.
1 Samuel 26:4 So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come.
1 Samuel 26:5 Immediately, David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp with the troops camped around him.
1 Samuel 26:6 Then David asked Ahimelech the Hethite and Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, “Who will go with me into the camp to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” answered Abishai.
1 Samuel 26:7 That night, David and Abishai came to the troops and noticed Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him.
1 Samuel 26:8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”
1 Samuel 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against Yahveh’s anointed and be innocent?”
1 Samuel 26:10 David added, “As Yahveh lives, Yahveh will certainly strike him down: either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.
1 Samuel 26:11 However, because of Yahveh, I will never lift my hand against Yahveh’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”
1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from Yahveh came over them.
1 Samuel 26:13 David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them.
1 Samuel 26:14 Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner: “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.
1 Samuel 26:15 David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?
1 Samuel 26:16 What you have done is not good. As Yahveh lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, Yahveh’s anointed. Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

leaving justice in God’s hands

David took a spear and a water jar as evidence that he – once again – came close enough to Saul to kill him, but spared his life. His confidence was in God’s ultimate judgment. Since he was God’s man, his enemies were God’s enemies, so he felt no need for revenge.

LORD, we declare our trust in you. We refuse to seek revenge, We leave justice in your hands.