Revenge

This can be one of the most self-destructive behaviors. Revenge comes from a vindictive spirit within and works it way out. I’ve seen people who are bitter and hurt trying to exact revenge on others to feel better. In fact, the opposite is true. Revenge should be in the “bitter family” because people don’t get better when retaliating in a vengeful.

Saul was openly trying to find David and kill him. He felt threatened by David and he knew that David had been anointed the next King of Israel instead of one of his sons. He and his men heard that David was near the caves of En Gedi so Saul takes 3000 of his best men to hunt for him. When they are on the search, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding deep inside the cave. David sneaks up and cuts the corner off of the kings robe and slips back into the depth of the cave. He then feels guilty of even that. Check this out….

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord gave you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, “I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.” 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 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. 13 As the old saying goes, “From evildoers come evil deeds,” so my hand will not touch you. (1 Samuel 24:8-13 NIV)

David acted in an honorable and respectful way toward the guy trying to kill him. I think David really wanted to honor the Lord in everything. I think he realized that in due time, he would be the leader of Israel. He respected deeply the office of the King and he also respected the fact that God had made Saul king. David also knew that if God wanted to remove Saul as king, He was very capable of doing that too.

As I watch the political process unfold in a presidential election cycle in our country, it is sad to see the lack of respect that people have for the highest elected office in our land. I believe that there is a time and place for disagreement and pushback when we are being harmed by government policy, regulation and legislation. I may be a bit naïve, but I believe there should be mutual respect from both sides of the discussion or debate. It seems that our culture has an insatiable hunger for “mud-slinging” and personal attacks. I believe David had it right when trying to defend himself against the guy who was trying to take his life. I want the Lord to avenge the wrongs done to me and I want Him to lead my defense. If I disagree with someone and they go to personal attack mode, I realize that I have actually won the debate on merit. I want to respect the people I disagree with and respect myself enough to stay on the issue at hand rather than step into the personal attack space.

Pressing On!

Dwayne