The Restraint to Not Retaliate

David could have made his path to the throne quick and easy, but he chose to avoid taking that course. This became evident when Saul decided to enter a cave to relieve himself where David and his 600 men were hiding. Outside were 3000 of Israel’s shock troops that had orders to kill David on sight. David’s men urged him to take advantage of this opportunity and kill Saul. The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” (1 Sam 24:4). The truth is God had never said that, but it made sense. The men realized that Saul considered David his “enemy,” so it was reasonable to assume that Saul was David’s enemy. It was evident to the men that this was a gift from the Lord. Stealthily David crept forward in the darkness and skillfully cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. After doing this, David was struck in his conscience.

David understood that the kingdom would undoubtedly be his one day, but he could not take it by his own power. Instead, he believed that he must leave it to God to give it to him in his own way. This prompted David to take a daring step of faith so he came out to the mouth of the cave and spoke to Saul giving a moving speech to Saul. David claimed his innocence, adding that Saul had no real reason to pursue him. Saul was also conscience-stricken and acknowledged that David would one day be king. Saul departed, and David and his men continued to live in the desert.

The men in the cave wanted David to take the opportunity that had so unexpectedly come to him. David’s refusal to do so displayed an astonishing insight. While God’s kingdom will undoubtedly entail overthrowing evil and justly punishing wickedness, that is in God’s hands. It will happen in God’s time and in God’s way, not ours. That is helpful for us to remember.

The Apostle Peter writes about Jesus’ incredible restraint, reminding us of David’s self-control.

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). What it says here is very difficult to process. When they hurled insults at Jesus, he did not hurl insults back at them. When they threatened him, he did not threaten them in return. Then comes this word, “Instead,” he entrusted himself to God, who will judge all justly. When I am insulted, I usually insult back. I will admit I am working on this.

Once, while driving home late from the Bible School in Cordoba, Argentina, I encountered a group of teens playing soccer in the middle of the road late at night. I slowed down but noticed several coming at me from the sides. It was a trap to hijack my car. I immediately gunned the car, and the teens jumped out of the path of the speeding vehicle, but not before one of them spit on my windshield. I had narrowly escaped harm, and I was scared, but I also felt angry, and I wanted to fight back. How do I do that (instead of) part—that trusting God part?