Psalm 142:1-7

David is credited with writing this psalm about his experience in the cave. The cave was one of many defining moments in his life. It was there that David and his men were hiding from Saul, who was pursuing him. As it happened, Saul chose that very cave to relieve himself, not realizing that David and his men were hiding in the back recesses. David’s men believed this was an answer to prayer, for God had delivered David’s enemy into his hands. However, David had great respect for God’s anointed and refused to put a hand on Saul, choosing instead to just cut off the hem of his robe. David was such a man of honor that even this small act bothered his conscience. Only after Saul left the cave did David reveal himself and prove, by sparing Saul’s life, that he was not Saul’s enemy. As we read in 1 Samuel 24:

“Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/1sa.24.9-12.NLT

Even in this moment, David refused to take matters into his own hands. The mercy he extended to Saul became the very thing that later made way for God to show mercy to David when he himself stumbled.

Now look at Saul’s response:

“When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭16‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/1sa.24.16-22.NLT

The writing was on the wall for Saul, and he knew it—yet he acknowledged that the Lord’s hand was on David. Saul had such potential, yet his character flaws ultimately got the best of him.

Throughout Scripture, it seems that those God intends to use greatly are often put through the wringer, so to speak, to reveal what is truly inside when push comes to shove. Many people talk a good game, but often fail when the opportunity comes to prove the validity of their words.

Consider Proverbs 20:6:

“Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/pro.20.6.NKJV

David was a righteous king, and we see glimpses of that righteousness  in his dealings with Saul. He honored his oath to Saul when the time came because he was a man of his word.

Can we trust God to take care of matters without taking them into our own hands? As David so often did, we must bring these matters to God in prayer and allow Him to work out the details of our deliverance. God will never fail us.