David’s Self-Control

David’s Self-Control

Bible: 1 Samuel 24

Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you (V.10).

The relationship between David and King Saul is one of the strangest and most explosive in the Bible. David rescued Saul a few times (as a harp player and as a soldier), he was best friends with the king’s son and he married the king’s daughter. Now, don’t you think he’d have a pretty good
relationship with the king? Not David. Saul was out to get him. Twice Saul tried to spear David while he was playing the harp for him. And later, Saul sent his soldiers after the young man to try to kill him.

Yet look at what happened when the two finally bumped into each other and David had the chance to kill Saul. Instead of attacking him, David sneaked up and cut off a piece of his clothing. Afterwards, he felt guilty even for doing that (1 SAM. 24:5). When they later met face to face, David told the king, “My hand will not touch you” (V.13). Saul saw that David had reacted to his attacks with kindness, and it made him cry (VV.16-17). Sometimes we have to deal with people who want to bring us down and make our lives hard—or so we think. Maybe we’re struggling with a teacher or classmate. Like David, let’s do what God wants—show patience
and keep on being kind.

Thinking it over . . .

Who do you really struggle to get on with? What might it look like to speak
to them with kindness, even when they’re mean to you?

GOD CAN GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO BE KIND WHEN OTHERS ARE OUT TO GET US.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries