Much of what the world calls justice today is revenge. Our skin is so thin that we are easily offended. Even when others hurt us, our reaction often doesn’t fit the crime. David is an excellent example of someone showing restraint when they have been wronged. We can learn a lot from him.
1 Samuel 24:12
May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.
Showing Restraint
David gives us some great wisdom and advice. As Saul chased him around the country trying to kill him David didn’t retaliate. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have opportunities. He cut off the corner of his robe in the cave and stole his water jug while he was sleeping, but he refused to do anything the Lord’s anointed king. That took some incredible restraint on his part.
Overcoming the Pain
Showing restraint when your ego and heart is hurting from the pain inflicted by another person is one of the most challenging things to do. It is natural to want revenge and even easier to let your mind be consumed with it but don’t allow yourself to spiral down that sinkhole. All of us are going to be hurt during our lives, whether it is on purpose or inadvertently. The key is to overcome it and allow God to deal with it.
Let God Judge
Listen to what David says: “May the Lord judge and may the Lord take vengeance.” If we were honest, we tend to be biased in our opinions and judgments. It can be challenging to look at situations realistically. It is God’s job to judge the situation and to take action based on those judgments. David trusted that and so should we. He knew what Saul was doing was wrong, but he showed restraint and refused to take things into his own hands. Don’t let your pain and anger overcome you. Remind yourself that God is in control and he can deal with the other person much more effectively than you can.