1 Samuel 26:22-25 Measure of Mercy

 ”And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭26‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness: David trusted in God who blesses the righteous and the faithful. David knew the truth of Hebrews 6:10 before it was written: For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name.

i. David understood the principle Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:2: With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. David wanted the large measure of God’s mercy for himself, so David gave Saul the large measure of mercy. That generous measure of mercy will be a great blessing to David later in his life.

b. So let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD: David wanted to fulfill his call to be the next king of Israel. But he wanted both the throne and the blessing of God. He refused to take the throne through murder or rebellion. He would wait until it came to him God’s way. In this, David trusted that God would protect him when he did eventually come to reign over Israel.

i. David held on to this principle, and when he became king, he recognized that his righteousness was rewarded (Psalm 18:20-27).

c. David went on his way: Saul invited David to return (1 Samuel 26:21) but David did not take the invitation. He waited to see if the repentant words Saul spoke showed genuine repentance in his life. But as David went on his way he was faced with the temptation he spoke of in 1 Samuel 26:19 – tempted to flee Israel all together and live among the ungodly.

i. “Knowing Saul’s unstable and deceitful heart, he would not trust to any of his professions or promises, but kept out of his reach.” (Poole)

ii. “Since now there is nothing more to be said, David and Saul part, never to see each other again.” (Youngblood)

(Guzik)

Measure of Mercy

Matthew 7:2: With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Jesus)

The mercy principle Jesus mentioned is simple and is required for forgiveness too.

It’s a basic principle of the Christian faith.

Jesus showed us mercy and forgiveness with His sacrifice on the cross ✝️ and likewise we are to extend the same mercy and forgiveness to others. 

Because if we don’t, but claim the Christian faith we are nothing but a clanging cymbal!

”Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.“ I Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Mercy, forgiveness and love ❤️ are intertwined tenants of our faith.

Is there someone that needs your measure of mercy or forgiveness?

Blessings