Revenge can seem like a reasonable reaction when we have been the recipients of unwarranted responses. When David is placed in a position with the opportunity before him to kill his avenger, in an incredible act of what appears to many of us to be such unmerited favour, David spares the life of Saul but cuts off the hem of his robe. David resists revenge over the very one who has him running and hiding, making him live like a fugitive even though he has done nothing wrong.
Most of us look at David's actions and applaud, but he responds differently. He is almost immediately conscience-stricken. Seeing Saul as God's chosen and anointed one, David regrets what he did and confesses his sin. Sin? It seems like such a small and insignificant action. In comparison to what he could have done, and we might think, should have done, it was nothing.
We are quick to minimize David's sin against Saul because Saul's offense against David seems so much greater. We view sin in such relative terms. David measured sin, not by Saul's wickedness, but by God's holiness. Because of his intimate relationship with God, David's discernment of wrongdoing is heightened and his sensitivity to conviction increased, resulting in a change of behaviour. David knew that momentary revenge was not worth the price of separation from God.
I can't help but think of a scene from "Les Misérables". After Jean Valjean has lived as a fugitive almost all his adult life, being tracked and hunted mercilessly by the prison warden Inspector Javert, an opportunity arises for Valjean to get revenge. Instead of killing the man who made his life miserable, he lets him go free. Javert can't receive or live with such grace and in the end takes his own life. Recipients of undeserved favour often don't know how to respond. They know they aren't worthy.
Kindness in response to hatred highlights the depravity of the one who came against us. In Proverbs 25:21-22 we read, "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you." By responding this way, we are not overcome by evil, but we overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Anyone can overcome evil with evil, but when a Christ-follower returns good for evil the contrast is startling.
It all begins with acknowledging our sin. If we brush off actions as trivial, we will miss the blessing of the Holy Spirit's work of conviction. Without conviction, there will be no repentance. Beth Moore writes, "One sure measurement of our proximity to God, whether near or far, is the length of time between conviction and repentance."
When, like David, we honour another person out of respect for God, obedient to His Word, we can be certain that God will honour us. Vengeance belongs to God. He will repay. When an opportunity arises to retaliate after being wronged, let the Holy Spirit do His restraining work in us so that God is glorified and others see the love and mercy of Christ. Remember too, that we have been the undeserving recipients of God's unmerited favour and grace.
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