“He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my Lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

While David had every reason to kill Saul, his pursuer, he chose mercy, against his basic impulse.

Seeking peace and reconciliation even in the face of danger and the advantage opportunity presents, is a much more noble act.

Vengeance and retribution have their place but that place belongs to God alone.

Daily choices against impulses must be our rule and not the exception if we are to show ourselves as followers of Christ.

From evildoers come evil deeds.

Like David, we need to think beyond our impulses and act according to our calling to the principle of cultivating peace with our enemies when opportunity presents.