[One-Verse Meditation]

1 Samuel 24:12 (NIV) “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.”

[Meditation]

Once again, Saul pursued David and came to the Desert of En Gedi. There he entered a cave to relieve himself. But that cave was the very hiding place of David and his men. It was the perfect opportunity to take Saul’s life as he came in completely unaware and defenseless. The men around David urged him not to miss this chance. They said that God had delivered his enemy into his hands. But instead of taking Saul’s life, David cut off only a corner of his robe and left the place.

David told his men that he could not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed. Then, after Saul had finished and come out of the cave, David called out to him, “See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand!” What expression must have come over Saul’s face when he saw that piece of his own robe in David’s hand? Must he not have been terrified and shaken? Saul had believed that David’s life was in his hand, but now he saw that his own life had been in David’s hand instead.

Then David said, “May the LORD judge between you and me.” We must not pass over this verse too quickly. If we had been in David’s place, in such a life-or-death moment, what would have come first would almost certainly have been our own judgment. We would have taken Saul’s life in order to save our own. That is the way the world survives.

But this is exactly where God’s time begins. David, who had been running here and there under the fear that he might die, entrusts his life to the LORD at this very moment. He fully trusts in God’s goodness and righteousness. Scripture describes the starting point of that faith like this: “David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.” This is God at work. It is the faith by which He makes us say “no” when everyone else says “yes,” and “yes” when everyone else says “no.” That is why the Bible says that faith is a gift. The faith David received is the very faith that has been given to us today.

[Prayer]

Lord, I know that Your will does not change according to our circumstances or surroundings. Your will is always that we delight in You and rejoice in You. Today also, help me to know more fully Your goodness and righteousness, and to remain within Your will alone. Amen.
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(Daily Meditation)

1 Samuel 24:1–15