Today’s scripture: 1 Samuel 26:1-25 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
David and Saul have a somewhat jaded past, and both could be categorized as vindictive and hostile. In chapter 25 David intended to wipe out Nabal. When he is angry, David has a strong tendency to fly off the handle and take matters into his own hands. However, in chapter 25 David repented, made a confession, and in his own way told God, “No more.” In chapter 24, while Saul was chasing David, he was trapped in a cave with David and could easily have been slain, but David held off. Saul, therefore, swore repentance, confessed his sin, and told David, “No more.” Both have made confessions regarding their sin of violence and revenge and have agreed their actions were wrong.
Now we come to chapter 26, where, perhaps, the saga continues. Saul is once again out to get David, and David once again finds himself in the position (verse 8) where he could have slain Saul, just as in the cave. In verse 21, Saul indicates to David, “I will never harm you again because my life was precious in your sight today; I have been a fool, and have made a great mistake.”
Sometimes we can get so caught up in thinking that someone has it out for us, or someone did something bad to me so I have to do something even more evil back to them: an eye for an eye. Like the David and Saul saga, we have a need to hunt someone down and put them in their place. It seems we continue to repeat the David and Saul stories year after year in our own lives throughout history.
The hope here is in the reconciliation and forgiveness. David had several chances to kill Saul, but he chose to take the higher ground. When something similar happens to us, how often do we take the higher ground?
Jesus tells us that we are to forgive “seven times seventy-seven.” In other words, forgive, and keep forgiving, and don’t count how many times. Develop a culture of forgiveness within. As we allow Jesus to transform us, allow the righteousness of God to seep into our minds and hearts: “Let me be the first to offer forgiveness to others.” If Jesus is always the first to forgive us, and we are supposed to be like Jesus, this is one competition where coming in first can really make a difference.
Thought for the day: Are you forgiving of others as Jesus taught us by his example of first forgiving us?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.