Lessons from the Cave and the Cross
1 Samuel 24:10-13
“This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.”
Put yourself in David’s shoes. You are hiding in a dark cave, your heart pounding as you run for your life, when the very man seeking to kill you walks into your hiding place. Your friends whisper, urging you to seize this moment—this is your chance to take the throne God has promised you. What do you do? Do you strike Saul down and take the crown? Or do you take another path—one of love and mercy?
David chooses the second option in a remarkable display of faith and wisdom. Instead of taking revenge, David stealthily cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe, demonstrating his restraint and reverence for God’s anointed leader. Even though he has been unjustly hunted, David refuses to take justice into his own hands. He acknowledges that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that it is not his place to harm Saul.
We all have enemies. It’s a fact of life—one that Jesus knew to be true when He commanded us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). The question is not whether or not we have enemies, but how we will respond to them. If you are like me, you may be prone to take matters into your own hands, believing you can solve the problem yourself. However, David’s example teaches us the importance of wisdom and obedience. Rather than acting on impulse, we must develop patience, trusting in God's perfect timing and plan
David’s act of mercy points us forward to the ultimate act of mercy—Jesus on the cross. Though He was mocked, beaten, and crucified unjustly, He entrusted Himself to the Father’s justice, praying for His enemies rather than seeking retribution. And as He hung on that cross, Jesus became God’s enemy so that we could become God’s sons and daughters. Romans 5:8 says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Just as God extended grace to us when we were undeserving, we are called to extend that same grace to our enemies.
Who in your life do you struggle to love? Who do you feel justified in resenting? Like David, will you entrust the situation to God rather than taking control? My prayer today is that we follow the example of both David and Jesus—trusting in God’s justice, surrendering our desire for control, and choosing love, patience, and grace over revenge.