Nuggets 23:  Secret Weapon

 

 

David was running for his life, hiding in cave and forest to escape Saul's insane jealousy.  One day, when Saul and his troops were out searching, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself, not knowing David and his men were deeper inside the cave.  David's followers urged him to kill Saul so their ordeal would be over.  Instead, David sneaked up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.  When Saul left the cave, David followed him and called out, "My Lord the King!  Why are you chasing me like a dog when I have done you no evil?  Look at this piece of your robe in my hand!"

 

Saul wept and said, "My son David, you are more righteous than I.  You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.  You could have killed me but you spared my life.  I know that some day you will be king."  Saul stopped his pursuit of David.  David's unusual behavior had temporarily shocked Saul back into sanity.

Paul wrote, "'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  I can think of nothing more exciting and fascinating.  Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  Returning good for evil is a powerful and effective weapon which unbelievers don't understand.  The normal reaction is to repay evil with evil, which just increases anger and alienation in a destructive spiral.  When you respond in kind, you have been overcome by the other person's evil.  You can choose to do the unnatural thing instead.  Though not everyone will change, doing loving things without strings is your best chance to inject love back into a relationship, to soften or even melt a hard heart.  Try it.

1 Samuel 24;   Romans 12:17-21;  Matthew 5:38-48;  Galatians 5:19-23;  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

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