I don’t always respond well if someone hurts me. It’s tempting to not only stop the wrong, but to declare judgment. I feel free to make a defensive point and indulge a sharp response. David, it seems, fell to the same temptation.
When Saul was chasing David in order to kill him (1 Sam 24), David found refuge in a cave. As David and his men hid there, Saul came in to relieve himself. Goaded by his companions to take revenge on Saul, David didn’t kill him, but he did sneak up and cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak. Once Saul left, David confronted him from afar, holding up the garment and basically saying, “Look, leave me alone. If I wanted to kill you I would have.” He reassured Saul he had nothing to worry about and so hoped to stop Saul’s pursuit of him.
In cutting off Saul’s robe, David brought proof of his innocence toward Saul. But there’s more going on to the story. After Saul left the cave, David is filled with remorse. Why would David be sorry for cutting the robe? Remember, it says that he cut the corner of the cloak. As we’ve seen the last few weeks, the tassel is on the corner and it represents obedience towards God. By taking that specific piece, could David have been making a commentary on Saul’s obedience, or rather, lack of it? And the corner, the wing (kanaf), is a picture of God’s protection. Might David have been making a statement about Saul not being under God’s protection anymore? I think Saul also caught that part of the conversation. And he agreed, at least momentarily, that David was the more righteous one.
Whatever his motives, we do know that David was sorry he had done it. He lamented, “who am I to judge God’s anointed?” David was right to convince Saul to cease chasing him, but it seems he got a little extra dig in at Saul that, while true, wasn’t necessary. That was God’s job to judge and avenge the action.
It’s hard to let go and just walk away from a hurtful situation. I can use the opportunities God has given me to protect myself from unhealthy situations, but I don’t need to throw in my extra two cents. Like David, I need to remember it’s up to God to be my advocate. He is the only true and perfect Judge.
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