Story 35 of 100 · Based on 1 Samuel 24
David Forgives King Saul
King Saul kept looking for David. He took three thousand chosen men and set out to find him.
On the way, Saul went into a cave. But what he did not know was that, at the back of that same cave, David and his men were hiding.
David's men whispered to him:
—Today is the day the Lord is telling you: "I am putting your enemy in your hands; do with him as you wish."
David crept up quietly and, without Saul noticing, cut off a corner of his cloak. Afterward, his conscience troubled him for having done it.
—God forbid that I should harm my lord the king —he told his men—. He is the Lord's anointed.
And he did not let his men do anything to Saul.
When Saul left the cave and started walking, David came out after him and called:
—My lord the king!
Saul turned around. David bowed down to the ground and said:
—Today you have seen that the Lord put you in my hands in the cave, and I did not want to harm you. Look, my father, at the corner of your cloak that I hold in my hand. I cut it off, and I did not kill you.
Saul began to weep.
—Is that your voice, my son David? —he said—. You are more righteous than I, because you have repaid me with good for the evil I was doing to you.
David did not take revenge. He did good.
Let's talk: David did not take revenge. What can you do when someone treats you badly?
Answering with kindness is a very great strength. Goodnight.