He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 24: 6 (ESV)

David has just been given the perfect opportunity to off Saul. Saul, the man who has been chasing after David for no reason. Saul, the man who threw a spear at David. Saul, the father of David’s wife. Saul, the father of the man David was in covenant with. Saul, the king of Israel.

Just because we have been given an opportunity for revenge, does not mean we should, or even have the right to, take it. While all of David’s men who were in hiding with him encouraged him to do away with Saul while he was most vulnerable, David took the high road. The road that says we owe honour and respect to those God places before us.

What would David get out of killing Saul in that moment? A brief high before Saul’s army came at him?

But what did David get because he chose to honour God’s anointed?

He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you with evil… So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.”

1 Samuel 24:17, 19

Whether it seems right at the time or not, the reward will always be in honour and not revenge.

Daily Bible reading: 1 Samuel 22-24; Luke 16:1-18