On tap for today’s reflection is the compassion shown by David towards King Saul who is hunting him down with the aim of truncating his life. Finding the king at his mercy, David overcomes an initial temptation of killing his oppressor, and immediately has remorse and spares his life. David shows us how we must treat our adversaries, not with gleeful malice, but with abiding charity.
Temptation Overcome
David’s men can scarcely believe their good fortune. Their master, the heir apparent, was being persecuted by King Saul in the company of 3000 picked men and was forced to take shelter in a cave when suddenly, as though served up on a platter, here was King Saul, alone and completely at their mercy! At their prompting, David moves up to within reach of the king and cuts off the end of the mantle. With that, remorse fills David and he regrets his action. He has compassion on King Saul and retreats towards the inmost recesses where his men are waiting with bated breath. With a few well-chosen words, David manages to restrain his men, not allowing them to harm the king, for he was the Lord’s Anointed. The King of Israel was appointed by God, so it was expressly willed by God that Saul and later, David in his turn, would be the King of Israel.
Love of Enemies
King Saul steps out of the cave and moves to rejoin his army. David boldly follows him out and addresses the King. He reminds King Saul that his intention was not to foment a rebellion, it would have been easy for David to slay the king, but he chose instead to have pity on the king. He was determined to put his faith in God, waiting to be elevated to the kingship when it pleased God. Although David had been chosen to be Saul’s successor when he was a mere youth, he doesn’t take matters into his hands and he will patiently bide his time, waiting for 15 years to become king, when Saul is eventually slain on the battlefield. David’s actions remind us of Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” Mt 25:46
Small wonder that David was called a man after God’s heart.
Deliver Us From Evil
This story of David and Saul is fraught with human interest. Of particular interest is the about-turn that David makes. First, he accedes to his men’s request and is tempted to dispatch the enemy that is within easy grasp. But he catches himself, course corrects, and virtue shines forth. I suspect we all can relate. Often, we do things on the spur of the moment that we later regret. David shows us that it’s perfectly fine to review, retract and refine.
Perhaps the biggest lesson is how David does not take advantage of a helpless foe. While we may never have an enemy breathing down our neck with murderous intent, we all have situations where we have the opportunity to one-up an adversary. The easiest thing in the world is to reap the immediate benefit: letting fly the I-told-you-so or unleashing the red-hot zinger that will put the unfortunate soul in their place, serves you right. But how much harder it is to leave it unsaid or undone, and how much more beneficial for our eternal soul. This is the truest test but alas, too often, we are blinded by ambition and crush the spark of charity and our hapless victim. At such moments, we can cry out like the blind Bartimaeus: Jesus, son of David, have pity on me. Mark 10:47
Kudos to the D’Souza family once again for the excellent job done. Keep up the good work.
Beautiful reflection. Thank you for sharing.