To Forgive but Not Forget

1 Samuel 26:14-25

¹⁴And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” ¹⁵And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. ¹⁶This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” ¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” ¹⁸And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? ¹⁹Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” ²¹Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” ²²And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. ²³The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” ²⁵Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

In the final conversation Saul and David would ever have, we find David acting with integrity and grace. Saul is giving what we have come to expect; lies and false promises. David and his servant have secretly entered Saul’s camp during the night and taken Saul’s spear and water jug. Apparently these two items were place at the sleeper’s head for easy access during the night. This means David was deep inside enemy territory, for Saul most certainly would have been in the center of his soldiers. Of course, God has assisted David by causing Saul and his men to fall into a deep sleep. Now the time of reckoning has come and David first accuses not Saul, but his commander, Abner for his dereliction of duty.

We found back in chapter 24, when David cut off the corner of Saul’s robe in the cave, Saul’s promise not to continue to pursue David. He appeared to be quite contrite. But now he is on the hunt again, seeking David’s death. Clearly, that early promise was made out of hollow words. For here they are, in a shockingly similar situation. Saul again confesses his sin and appears to want a reconciliation with David. But his words are again useless and his confession empty. The next few chapters will prove that Saul is not a man of faith and willing to commit gross sin rather than truly repent.

David does not rejoin Saul’s army or come anywhere near Saul, for that would be true folly. While David doesn’t appear to hold a grudge or seek revenge, he does not hand himself over to his enemy. He lives as an example of what it looks like to forgive and move on without putting yourself back in the same situation. Both men know what will happen should David return to Saul. While we are always called upon to forgive as God forgives us, we are not necessarily called to return to the scene of the crime. Jesus became the willing victim of Roman (in)justice in order to win our forgiveness. But we do not have to do the same. We take up that blood bought forgiveness, share it with others, and then move away from a dangerous or negative situation. You never have to go back for more.