Leaving Matters with God
“When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was informed, ‘David is in the wilderness of Engedi.’ Saul then took three thousand chosen men from Israel and went to search for David and his men near the Wildgoats’ Rocks. He reached the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul entered to relieve himself. Meanwhile, David and his men were hiding deep inside the cave.
David’s men whispered to him, ‘This is the day the LORD spoke of when He said to you, “I will give your enemy into your hands, and you may do with him as you wish.”’ David crept up and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. But afterward, David’s conscience bothered him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. He said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, and harm him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ So David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
Afterward, David also got up, left the cave, and called to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground in homage. David said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen to the people who say, “David wants to harm you”? Look today, 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 harm my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.” See, my father, the corner of your robe is in my hand. I cut off the corner of your robe, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or treason in my actions. I have not wronged you, though you are hunting me to take my life. May the LORD judge between me and you, and may He avenge me against you. But my hand will not touch you. As the ancient proverb says, “From the wicked comes wickedness.” But my hand will not touch you. Whom are you chasing, O king of Israel? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be the judge and decide between us, and may He defend my cause and rescue me from your hand.’
