Undeserved Mercy

"Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, 'Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?' So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming. David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him... So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. Then Abishai said to David, 'Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.' But David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?' David also said, 'As the Lord lives, surely the Lord will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.'" -1 Samuel 26.1-5, 7-10

Yet again Saul is out to kill David. For the second time he has pursued him into the wilderness in an attempt to remove this threat. And for the second time David spares Saul's life as he holds it in his hands. After the first pursuit, when David spares him, Saul gives the impression that he is done chasing David. However, news arrives of David's location, and Saul cannot resist. He takes a force that out numbers David's five to one, and sets up camp. David with a single companion sneak into the camp, find Saul, and again spares his life.

Reading this makes me think of the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." This is the second time Saul has chased David in the wilderness seeking his life, but it is far from the second time Saul has tried to kill him. There is no reason to believe that Saul is ever going to stop seeking David's life, after all, the last time this situation occurred Saul admitted his guilt and yet here they are again. And yet again, David shows mercy. It is not David's place or right to strike down God's anointed king, and he refuses to do so.

Does Saul deserve Mercy, probably not. Again, he's tried to kill David on multiple occasions, and there is no reason to believe he won't try again in the future. But David does not allow himself to give in to the temptation. He knows that Saul is God's anointed king and will not raise his hand against him.

Men, if this was you, what would you do? Take out the killing aspect, and what do you do when someone screws you over? Again, I think of the "Fool me one, fool me twice" saying, and part of me is inclined say you don't get a second chance. I don't believe you have to put yourself in the position to be taken advantage of, or abused, over and over, but do you offer forgiveness for the past offenses? That is where we need to show mercy. Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was ok. It does not say it didn't matter or hurt. It does not give the person permission to do it again. All it says is I do not hold this against you, and I will not allow myself to be imprisoned by it. Mercy gives what is not deserved, and allows God to handle it.

Let us be men of mercy.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor