No retaliation

And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” 
As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 
And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. (1 Samuel 24:9–22)

The flesh wants personal glory and victory over all threats and will destroy anything that stands in its way. The Holy Spirit trusts God to care for and protect. David was firm in faith, but Saul waffled and tried to manage his own security. David could have killed this king but instead took a corner of his robe to show that he meant him no harm and Saul was convicted by that, and knew in his heart that the throne would go to David. Therefore he wanted him to swear that he would not retaliate.

Our home group studied this week:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17–21)

No one pointed to David’s example but it is a strong one that points to why David was called a man after God's own heart. There is not one person who has not sinned against God. Some would put Him to death if that were possible, but God does not retaliate. Instead He comes near to us and dies to that right to retaliate. He cuts off the robe of our self-righteousness and replaces our evil with His goodness.

Jesus, Your love has let me go away safe, even protects my children, and instead of dealing with me as my sin deserves, You deal with me in grace and mercy. Like David with Saul, You deal with me in great kindness that I do not deserve. How wonderful. How amazing.

 

 

Be still and know that He is God . . .

 

One Hebrew word could be translated “long of nose” — showing the colorful nature of this OT language with many idioms and figures of speech. It is translated FORBEARANCE in English and means “being patient or slow to anger.” I don’t know how that relates to having a long nose, but I do know that I need to look at this quality.

I’m struggling with the choice of waiting on the Lord or fighting back against an injustice. Anger tells me to put a stop to it and even retaliate but God has already told me to “Be still.” This is not easy. These verses that use that Hebrew word are helpful:

Nehemiah 9:17. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

Psalm 86:15. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Jeremiah 15:15. O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance take me not away; know that for your sake I bear reproach.

Nahum 1:3. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

From these, I get the strong image of God’s patience with His erring children. I also know that He showed little patience with those who had rejected or ignored Him, generally meaning the pagans outside of His people. The injustice that bothers me is being done by people who show no regard for God or His patience.

The NT is more helpful because it gives a reason why God puts up with sin. The word translated FORBEARANCE comes from a Greek word meaning “a good-natured tolerance that delays enforcing rights or claims or privileges.” In other words, God has the right to punish sin to the point of instant death for even one infraction, but He is kind and has a reason for being tolerant. That reason is in this verse:

Romans 2:4. Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

He is giving people an opportunity to turn from sin and give their lives to Christ. In my impatience, I’d like to see this happen right NOW! Why do people seem so ignorant of God’s intention to be kind? Many of them even despise it. The context of this verse answers that question. It is because of their stubbornness which comes from the Greek word that we get our English word “sclerosis” or hardness. They have unrepentant hearts and because of this, God is not so much patient for a change but is storing up His wrath against sin until the day when it will be poured out His righteous judgment.

Even so, this desire for repentance revealed by God’s past forbearance was also an anticipation. He would send Jesus Christ to die for all sin. His forbearance shows evidence of His great mercy and grace. 

Romans 3:25. whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY: As I read, it is easy to see that those who refuse that grace, even as it is displayed in patient forbearance, will not escape God’s wrath forever. Also, He may lead these people to repentance and I don’t know if/when that will happen. That is why He tells me to be still. He may change their hearts. He may not, but it is up to Him to deal with their rejection of righteousness, not me. I need to keep my eyes on Him and on this instruction . . .

Romans 12:17–21. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.