공동체와 양육

Overcoming Evil with God (1 Sam 24:1~22)

2017.11.05P. Stephen Cha

Overcoming Evil with God: David refused to take revenge on Saul, trusting that God would judge and vindicate him, and this shows us to forgive, speak truth in love, and leave judgment to God.

Refusing to take revenge when the opportunity came (1-7)

Saul went into the cave where David and his 600 men were hiding, and David's men urged him to kill Saul as the day God had promised. David did not. He cut only a corner of Saul's robe and felt his heart strike him, because Saul was the Lord's anointed. This was a time of testing, and the crown was not yet given to him. We must not grasp at what God has promised outside of God's time and way, and we must not take vengeance into our own hands. Romans 12 reminds us that God is the one who does justice.

Confronting Saul with humility and truth in love (8-15)

David came out after Saul, bowed with his face to the ground, and called him 'my lord, the king' and 'my father.' He showed the corner of the robe as evidence that he had spared Saul's life, and he made clear that he had no intention to harm him. He did not accuse Saul directly but pointed to the people who had misinformed him, and he left the matter to God. Speaking the truth in love, as Ephesians 4 teaches, means neither hiding our hurt in passive-aggressive silence nor attacking the person, but addressing the issue with humility.

God vindicates the one who trusts him (16-22)

Saul wept and confessed, 'You are more righteous than I,' and acknowledged that David would surely become king. David's vindication came through Saul's own mouth. Yet David did not return to Saul's house, because Saul's repentance was not yet true. God judges the ungodly who think they have everything under control, and people struggle with the reality of judgment, but God's justice is carried out thoroughly. Those who trust God can leave the judgment to him.

Coming to the cross to be freed from the trap of unforgiveness

Unforgiveness becomes a trap that binds us long after the wound was given, as in the parable where the servant who was forgiven much refused to forgive a small debt and was thrown into prison. Such bitterness affects our relationship with God and others. We cannot forgive by our own strength, so we must come to the cross and receive God's grace so that we can loosen our grip, bless others, and be released. Forgiveness is never easy, but it is a lesson we must keep learning.

Apply to Life

  • Let us bring the wounds others have inflicted on us to the cross and receive God's grace so that we may forgive.
  • Let us refrain from taking revenge into our own hands and leave judgment to the Lord.
  • Let us speak the truth in love rather than hiding our hurt in passive-aggressive ways.
  • Let us pray for those who are difficult to deal with, for them and for ourselves, that we may respond in the right way.
  • Let us overcome evil with kindness, trusting that God can turn an enemy into a friend.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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