Dealing with Evil People Such as Yourself
4 David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.’” So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul’s robe… 11 Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you. 13 It’s like the old proverb says: ‘From evil people evil proceeds.’ But my hand will not be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!” 1 Samuel 24:4, 11–15 NET
Look at how this guy fights! The man that had songs sung about him killing “His ten-thousands” and the man about whom God would say “You are a man of war and you have shed a lot of blood.” Before they got into this situation though, David had been telling his men about the Lord. It is so interesting how the men quote David back to himself, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand.’” They might be quoting some conversation around the fire, or some song that David wrote, or even a pep talk he gave as they were on their way into some Philistine city.
Either way, David is able to discern that different enemies need to be treated differently. There are the enemies in cities that need to be sacked, and there are enemies that need to be completely turned over to the Lord. That’s how 1 Corinthians 5:5 (turn them over to Satan so they can hurry up and turn back) can reconcile with James 5:20 (whoever turns a sinner from their ways saves them from death). Both of these ways of dealing with enemies fit with what David did here, entrusting them sincerely and lovingly to the Lord.
Saul thinks that David is evil because Saul is evil. At the Global Leadership Summit a few years ago, Henry Cloud talked about conflict with people that are evil, foolish, and wise. In one part of that, he talked about how we judge ourselves by our motives (which are always clear, right!?) and we judge others by their actions. Saul’s motive is to stay king no matter what, even if it means killing his best warrior and hero of his nation. If Saul thinks that he is right in killing to keep his kingdom, then he assumes that David thinks he is right in killing the king to get the kingdom.
“From evil people, evil proceeds,” David says to Saul. Not only has he been teaching his men in the caves, but David is now also teaching King Saul. He hasn’t given up on Saul, ignored him, written him off. You almost wonder if David would go back to the king’s castle if he repented! He might!
Instead of falling into depression about his situation, David keeps a clear eye on who he is. He is not a dead dog or a single flea, he knows who he is. He might have used Goliath’s sword to cut off the hem of Saul’s robe! How is that for a reminder of your identity! But at the same time, he also knows who the Judge, Arbiter, and Negotiator is in this situation, and he surrenders to His will. David knows that God does justice and mercy better than he can, and so he leaves that work to God.