Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever. One reason we need the church is to take joy in the ways God delivers his people, because thanksgiving is a public matter. The Lord saves all kinds of people in all manner of ways, and he likewise commands us to consider the steadfast love he shows to others.

In 1 Samuel 26, the passage tells the story of how David chose to spare rather than spear King Saul. In a critical moment, David refrains from harming his enemy, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty not to Saul but to the Lord who anointed them both. This passage underscores David’s reliance on God, and the heartache he faces at the prospect of leaving the Lord’s presence because there is clearly no safe place for him within Israel’s’ boundaries.

In 1 Samuel 24, we encounter a unique situation where there are two anointed figures, David and Saul, face off once again. David, is confronted with a moral dilemma and the angst of his men when he finds Saul vulnerable in a cave but chooses not to harm him. Instead, he cuts off the corner of Saul’s robe, bringing to mind the words of Samuel in 1 Sam 15:27–28. Truly the kingdom is being ripped away from Saul but David does not chose to play the hand that brings it down. Instead, David relies on God’s providence, spares Saul’s life, and leaves the outcome in God’s hands. David exemplifies his faith in divine justice and the belief that God will ultimately establish His chosen ruler.