The relationship between David and King Saul is one of the strangest and most explosive in the Bible. David rescued Saul a few times, was best friends with the king’s son and he married the king’s daughter.

Now, don’t you think he’d have a pretty good relationship with the king? Not David. Twice Saul tried to spear David while he was playing the harp for him. And later, Saul sent his soldiers to try to kill him.

Yet look at what happened when David had the chance to kill Saul. Instead of attacking him, David told the king, “My hand will not touch you” (V.13). Saul saw that David had reacted to his attacks with kindness, and it made him cry (VV.16-17).

Sometimes we have to deal with people who want to bring us down and make our lives hard—or so we think. Maybe we’re struggling with a teacher or classmate. Like David, let’s do what God wants—show patience and keep on being kind.

By: Dave Branon

To Pray About . . .

Father, guide me to speak to people who are mean to me and treat them with kindness.