In 1 Samuel we see two men that had issues with each other. Sounds familiar, right? Not everyone gets along and not everyone will agree on everything. In 1 Samuel, David and King Saul are at odds. David grew up a shepherd boy that one day fell into fame by slaying a giant (Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath). After David’s moment of fame everyone knew his name. It seemed to Saul that even though he was KING Saul, David…little David…was getting all the glory.

Saul became jealous of David and at one point even tried to murder him while he was playing his harp for him (King Saul).

“10 The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.”

12 Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.

14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 

1 Samuel 18:10-14

Despite their disagreements and attempted murder situation, David never let it get to him. Instead of getting angry and fighting with Saul, he walked with God as his main focus and he knew that God would see him through any trial he faced. The difference between Saul and David was clear; David walked with God and followed His direction while Saul went against the guidance of the Lord and made his own decisions.

David was blessed because he fully depended on God.

As David prospered and Saul grew weary and more jealous, the people among David became worried for his safety. At one point, David was given the perfect opportunity to end all of his worries and kill Saul.

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!

4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

1 Samuel 24:1-5

David had a free shot to kill Saul and all his men with him to back him up. It was win win situation that could end all his trouble, yet he knew it was not what God wanted him to do.

In a moment of weakness, David listened to his friends and was so tempted to kill Saul that he ran up to him and cut the hem of Saul’s garment before realizing what he was doing.  David was human just like you and me and he almost let his friends convince him to do something he knew was wrong.

In verse 5 of 1 Samuel 24, we see that David’s conscience began to bother him and he turned away from what he was about to do.

David was not a fan of Saul for his work against the Lord and his desire to kill him, but he knew that he was still King and he deserved respect.

6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” 7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul.

After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, 8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

1 Samuel 24:6-8

David not only refrained himself and his men from killing Saul, he called after him, admitted his wrongdoing and bowed before the King. Keep in mind, this is the same “King” that tried to murder him before. Despite his flesh fighting against him and his friends tempting him into wrongdoing, David chose to respect God by respecting the unexpected.

In today’s world, we are constantly seeing disrespect of leaders. In the classroom, students disrespect their teachers and bully their classmates. At home, adults disrespect each other and wonder why their children grow up to disrespect them. In world news, riots are breaking out everywhere because people disrespect the President of the United States. Disrespect in an unruly epidemic that we as followers of Christ need to end before it gets worse.

This week, I challenge you to humble yourself by respecting the ones that are hard to respect (teachers, friends, youth leaders, even parents). And when you catch yourself wanting to talk back to someone in a negative way, think before you speak and pray that God will give you the GRACE you need to respond like Him.

Be unexpected…show respect!

May God Bless you and show you His Grace every day!