“Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, “I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.” See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, “From evildoers come evil deeds,” so my hand will not touch you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?  May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.’ When David finished saying this, Saul asked, ‘Is that your voice, David my son?’ And he wept aloud. ‘You are more righteous than I,’ he said. ‘You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 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. 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. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 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.’ So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”—1 Samuel 24:8–22 (NIV)

“Don’t get mad—get even.”
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

Revenge sells—it’s in our movies, shows, and stories. It feels good to imagine justice on our terms. But the best stories—the ones that resonate deep in our souls—aren’t about revenge. They’re about mercy.

Consider the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Frodo says, “It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill Gollum when he had the chance,” to which Gandalf responds, “Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment… I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. . . . The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.”

From there, Frodo could have killed Gollum countless times, but he didn’t. He saw beyond Gollum’s wickedness and pitiful state, desiring to bring him back from the darkness. Frodo learned that “pity,” or more accurately mercy, is powerful.

David understood this. Saul had been hunting him down like a criminal, but then, in an incredible twist of fate, Saul walked into a cave alone—completely vulnerable—without realizing David and his men were there. David’s men saw it as divine intervention: “This is your moment. Take him out. Justice is yours.” But David refused. Instead of vengeance, he chose restraint. And he said to Saul, “May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you” (1 Samuel 24:12 NIV). And what did Saul do? He “wept aloud” and repented, even though he’d eventually succumb to evil again.

But David never gave up on Saul, even though Saul kept falling back into sin. What a lesson for us, as there are Sauls all around us—people who wrong us, slander us, betray us. Some people hurt us deeply, abuse us, cause us serious trauma, or shatter our trust. And some simply oppose everything we stand for—people whose beliefs, lifestyles, or actions go against the way of Jesus. And yet, while the world may encourage us to love our friends and hate our enemies, Jesus commands: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43–48 NIV).  

Now, I want you to hear me: I’m not excusing whatever wrongs were done to you or minimizing what you’ve endured. I spent almost 15 years being abused and traumatized by someone. None of that was okay or justified. But as David said, “May the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.” Vengeance is not mine to dispense. Instead, because I’ve been forgiven much, because I’ve been redeemed, I can, exclusively and entirely by the power of the Holy Spirit, release and forgive and show mercy and grace. 

Now, like Saul, they may never be redeemed, no matter how much grace we show them. But as Gandalf said of Gollum, there is a chance of it. And if we continue to love, pray for, and show forgiveness, humility, and mercy toward them, that may be exactly what God uses to draw them to true repentance. 

Isn’t that what Jesus did for us on the cross?! Romans 5 says we were once God’s enemies, but Jesus spared us our fate and showed us mercy, taking it upon Himself instead! 

We’re sinners, but God didn’t destroy us or cast us aside. Instead, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NIV). It was His kindness that led us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

And in the same way, God’s calling us to extend mercy, humility, and grace to those around us as David did to Saul. The difference between David’s Saul and your Saul is that because of Jesus, if your Saul has their eyes opened and truly repents, then they’re forgiven, made alive in Christ, and they receive the Spirit, who seals them, changes them, and never leaves them.

Friend, if you’ve been hurt, slandered, betrayed, or wounded, I want you to know that God is your defender. He will judge rightly. You don’t have to seek revenge. You can trust Him with justice. But in the meantime, may you show the mercy of Christ, because your Saul may be one act of grace away from repentance and salvation!

Pause: Who is your “Saul”? Who has wronged you repeatedly? Are you struggling with bitterness? Do you trust God enough to leave justice in His hands?

Practice: Choose to extend mercy today. Maybe it means praying for the person who hurt you. Maybe it means forgiving them in your heart. Maybe it means not speaking negatively about them. Maybe it even means reaching out in kindness, if the Lord leads you. Whatever it looks like, trust that your love and forgiveness could be a part of their journey toward Christ.

Pray: Father, I come to You with a heart that wrestles with hurt, anger, and the wounds others have left on me. I know You’re a just God, and I trust that vengeance belongs to You alone. Help me to release my need for control and trust You with justice. Jesus, You loved me when I was Your enemy. You showed me mercy when I deserved wrath. Let that truth transform my heart. Teach me to love like You, to forgive like You, to show mercy like You. I don’t want to be consumed by bitterness. I want to be a witness of Your grace.

Lord, I pray for those who have wronged me. If they are like Saul—trapped in cycles of sin—bring them to repentance. If they are like I once was—blind to the truth—open their eyes. May my mercy and patience be a testimony to Your love, so that even my enemies might one day become my brothers and sisters in Christ. I trust You, I surrender to You, and I thank You for Your never-ending mercy. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.