Pam Padgett ... teacher
In 1 Samuel 18 we have the account of Saul doing evil to David, even trying to kill him, but David did not seek evil against Saul ...
After David killed Goliath, Saul set him over the men of war, and David went
wherever Saul told him.
1 Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and
behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was
accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of
Saul's servants.
But when the women began singing about Saul slaying thousands and David
slaying ten thousands, Saul became angry. He sought to kill David, even as David was playing the
harp to try to help Saul when the evil spirit from God came on him (1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.).
1 Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil
spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the
house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a
javelin in Saul's hand. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I
will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his
presence twice.
Saul then sought for David to be killed in battle, promising to give his
daughter Merab to David as a wife, if David would fight valiantly in battles. But when Merab was to be given to David, she was instead
given to another.
1 Samuel 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab,
her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the
LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let
the hand of the Philistines be upon him. ..... 19 But it came to pass at
the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David,
that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
Then Saul offered to give his daughter Michal to David as a wife if
David brought 100 foreskins of the Philistines, expecting the
Philistines to kill David. But David and his men killed 200 Philistines
and brought the foreskins to Saul, and David was given Michal as his wife.
1 Samuel 18:20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they
told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him
her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the
Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt
this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. .... 25 And Saul
said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but
an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's
enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the
Philistines. ... 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his
men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins,
and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in
law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
1 Samuel 18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and
that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more
afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. 30 Then the
princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they
went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Saul did evil against David, but David didn't seek evil against Saul.
David didn't deal according to the flesh. I was reminded of
the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit ...
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions,
heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:
of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law.
David did not enter into hatred, strife, wrath, or arguments with Saul.
He didn't try to cause servants of Saul to rise up against him
(seditions), nor did he try to kill Saul. Instead, we see fruit of the Spirit coming forth, including love, longsuffering, goodness, meekness, and temperance.
This is a strong example for us in not acting according to the flesh, not wanting to harm those who do evil to us. But, rather, walking in Spirit ... in ways of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance … even when others do evil against us.
I Thess. 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever
follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.