Revenge or Forgiveness?

All this brings me to three helpful principles to live by when it comes to life’s most subtle temptation. Each is worth remembering when we are mistreated. First, since man is depraved, expect to be mistreated.

A Clear Conscience

David told Saul the whole unvarnished truth; he told it to the person to whom it mattered most. Not to his comrades or to Saul’s friends or to the people of Israel but to Saul himself.

The Art of Persuasion

Here we see a guy who did the right thing and brought a whole group with him. He persuaded them with his words. The literal meaning here, strange as it may seem, is “tore apart.” He tore them apart with his words.

A True Friend

What a friend Jonathan was! No pettiness, no envy, no jealousy. Remember, as Saul’s son, Jonathan would have been the heir apparent. He might have wanted the praise of the people, yet here was this kid from the hills of Bethlehem garnering all of it.

Cave Dwellers

Now look at Psalm 34, which I believe is the third psalm he wrote while in the cave. What a difference. What a change has come over David! He says, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (v. 1).

Declaration of Dependence

We looked at Psalm 142. Now let’s look at two others David wrote, Psalms 57 and 34. We don’t know in what order he wrote these, but looking at his life, they seem to fit in this backward order . . .

Never Alone

David had bottomed out. This was the lowest moment of David’s life to date, and if you want to know how he really felt, just read the song he composed during those days, Psalm 142. Can you feel the loneliness of that desolate spot?

Walking in Victory

As fear and worry intensified, Saul became paranoid. “What more can he have now but the kingdom?” His self-talk lost control. “Hey, I’ve got a problem on my hands. Here’s a giant-killer who’s about to become a king-killer.”

A Teachable Spirit

They were singing and dancing in the streets, welcoming and honoring this young man who had defended the name of their God. If there is a single statement that best describes David at this time in his life, it would be this one . . .

A Kindred Spirit

God knew that David needed an intimate friend to walk with him through the valley that was ahead of him. Intimate friends are rare in life. Often we have only one, occasionally two, usually not more than three in our entire lives.

Tag Archives: First Samuel