Read 1 Samuel 24:21-22
Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
After being called out by David and recognizing the real danger he could have been in, Saul makes a request “Now make a promise to me with an oath using the Lord’s name. Promise that you will not kill my descendants, even after I die. Promise me that you will not erase my name from my father’s family.” (verse 21)
So David made a promise to Saul. He promised that he would not kill Saul’s family. Then Saul went back home. David and his men went back up to the fort.
After all that Saul has put David through, Saul has the audacity to make a request. How rude! Yet David, being the man of God that he is, makes the promise not to kill Saul’s family. David continues to show us who he is – a man after God’s own heart!! David not only spares Saul’s life, but he goes one step further by promising to protect Saul’s family. And just like it is an ordinary day, David goes back where he came from. All is forgiven, and life goes on, because of David’s love for God.
God is in control and He is the One who does all the judging. David honors God by fully relying and trusting in His promises. We can learn a lot from David!
Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Let us pray to have hearts like David so that we might do everything the Lord wants us to do!
