From “Growing in the character of a disciple”: Chapter 14 – How to forgive people in practical terms – some advice on what to do and how to go about it
Sometimes there is no human court that we can go to. The wrong done to us may not even be a crime. Thus it may be something that the police cannot help us with. If so, we may need to just hand the situation over to God and ask Him to decide who is right and to deal with any wrong done to us. David adopted that approach in his dealings with King Saul who was persecuting him maliciously:
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.”
1 Samuel 24:15 (RSV)
David could not appeal to the King for help or justice, because the man persecuting him was the King himself. So he trusted in God to judge who was right and to do justice in their dispute. However, even while doing that, David refused to hit back at King Saul for himself, or to kill him. Saul recognized that fact and knew that it made David a better man than he was:
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18And 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. 19For 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. 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21 Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
1 Samuel 24:17-22 (RSV)
