This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 24:16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
When David steps out of the cave and calls after Saul, he does not shout accusations. He does not rehearse every injustice. He simply presents the evidence of restraint. The corner of the robe in his hand testifies that he had the opportunity to kill the king and refused. In that moment, integrity speaks louder than victory ever could. Saul, the very man who hunted him, is moved to tears and confesses, “You are more righteous than I.” David never demanded those words. They rose from the power of a conscience awakened by mercy.
This scene reveals a deep truth about finding peace when attacked by enemies. Peace is not secured by defeating them. It is secured by remaining faithful before God. David’s calm courage flows from trust. He had already declared earlier in the chapter that he would not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed. Now the fruit of that restraint appears. Psalm 37:5–6 promises, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light.” David entrusted his cause to God, and God brought clarity in His time.
David does not spare Saul to manipulate public opinion or to secure political advantage. He acts because he fears the Lord and trusts the Lord. Faith freed him from the frantic need to justify himself. That freedom is peace. When we believe that God is our vindicator, we are released from proving our worth.
Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Saul’s confession is not full repentance, but it is a moment of softened hostility. Integrity creates space for truth to surface. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:16 when He calls us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. The light does not argue with the darkness. It simply shines.
Imagine a mirror. A mirror does not debate the person standing before it. It reflects what is there. David’s integrity becomes a mirror for Saul. In sparing his life, David exposes Saul’s jealousy and injustice without speaking a single insult. Likewise, when we respond to hostility with patience, truthfulness, and mercy, we reflect the character of Christ. 1 Peter 2:23 tells us that when Jesus was reviled, He did not revile in return, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. That entrusting is the wellspring of peace.
In our lives, enemies may take the form of coworkers who misrepresent us, family members who criticize us, or voices online that distort our motives. The temptation is to counterattack and win the argument. Yet when we protect integrity instead of reputation, we give God room to work. Our restraint may become the very instrument He uses to awaken another’s conscience.
David walked away from the cave without a throne, but he walked away with peace. Saul left with his life spared and his heart stirred. Victory might have silenced an enemy. Integrity spoke to his soul.
Reflect: Am I more concerned with being right or being faithful? How might God be using my restraint to speak to others?
Prayer: Faithful God, guard my integrity when I am misunderstood or attacked. Free me from the need to defend myself at every turn. Help me trust You to vindicate what is true and to use my faithfulness as a witness to Your grace. Fill my heart with the peace that comes from resting in You. Amen.