DAVID'S SEVERE TEST
1 Samuel 23:14 (ESV) — 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.
Psalm 31:1–5 (ESV) — 1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
Psalm 31:15 (ESV) — 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
Luke 23:46 (ESV) — 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Psalm 2:8 (ESV) — 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Psalm 31:15 (ESV) — 15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
Romans 12:1 (ESV) — 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
1 Samuel 24:2 (ESV) — 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.
1 Samuel 24:3 (ESV) — 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
1 Samuel 24:4 (ESV) — 4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
1 Samuel 24:6 (ESV) — 6 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 24:7 (ESV) — 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
1 Samuel 24:8 (ESV) — 8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.
1 Samuel 24:10 (ESV) — 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
1 Samuel 24:12 (ESV) — 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
1 Samuel 24:15 (ESV) — 15 May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”
David’s Conflict Resolution
1. He honored Saul’s position.
2. He focused on the part others played
3. He appealed to his own actions to prove his innocence.
4. He committed to bless only, no revenge.
5. He waited on God’s intervention and timing.
1 Samuel 24:16–17 (ESV) — 16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
1 Samuel 24:20 (ESV) — 20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
1 Samuel 24:21 (ESV) — 21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
Matthew 5:44 (ESV) — 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
1 Peter 2:23 (ESV) — 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
