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never harm you again

1 Samuel 26:17-25 (JDV)

1 Samuel 26:17 Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.
1 Samuel 26:18 Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?
1 Samuel 26:19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is Yahveh who has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of Yahveh, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of Yahveh saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.’
1 Samuel 26:20 So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from Yahveh’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”
1 Samuel 26:21 Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my throat precious. Notice, I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”
1 Samuel 26:22 David answered, “Notice the king’s spear; have one of the boys come over and get it.
1 Samuel 26:23 Yahveh will repay every man for his righteousness and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against Yahveh’s anointed, even though Yahveh handed you over to me today.
1 Samuel 26:24 Notice, just as I considered your throat valuable today, so may Yahveh consider my throat valuable and rescue me from all trouble.”
1 Samuel 26:25 Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

never harm you again

I want to concentrate on Saul’s promise to David here. It was a promise he never intended to keep, and David would have been foolish to accept it. David was right not to harm Saul — to leave it to God to give him justice. But David was also right to put distance between himself and this madman who kept trying to kill him.

If you are in an abusive situation and fear for your life, you will have thoughts urging you to stay loyal to your abuser. You will feel embarrassed, and perhaps others will insist that you stay because you made a commitment. But that kind of loyalty is not wise or righteous. Anyone who has to promise never to harm you AGAIN has a problem, and you will probably not be able to fix it. Do the wise thing.