Trusting God's Justice

By Romina Chevren

"So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, ‘Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?’ Abner replied, ‘Who are you who calls to the king?’ David said, ‘You are a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?’”—1 Samuel 26:12–16 (NIV)

David’s journey was filled with challenges, but one of his most defining moments came when he chose to trust in God's justice rather than take matters into his own hands.

Saul, driven by jealousy and fear, had been relentlessly pursuing David. Despite David’s loyalty, Saul sought to kill him. Now, in the quiet of the night, David and Abishai entered Saul’s camp. Everyone was in a deep sleep, placed there by God. Abishai saw this as a divine opportunity, urging David to kill Saul and end his suffering.

It would have been easy for David to justify killing Saul. After all, he had already been anointed as Israel’s next king. Wouldn’t it make sense to remove the one person standing in the way? But David knew better. Just because he had the opportunity didn’t mean it was the right thing to do. Instead of killing Saul, David took his spear and water jug as proof that he had the chance to strike but chose restraint.

From a safe distance, David called out to Saul’s commander, Abner, rebuking him for failing to protect the king. This moment was not about proving his strength but about demonstrating his integrity. He showed Saul and everyone around him that he would not take the throne by force. David’s trust was in God’s timing, not human effort.

David’s response teaches us valuable lessons. First, he resisted the urge for revenge. He had every reason to kill Saul, but he refused. He understood that justice belongs to God, not man. When people wrong us, it’s tempting to retaliate, but David shows us a better way—choosing to trust in God rather than acting out of anger.

Second, David trusted God’s timing. He knew he was called to be king, yet he refused to rush the process. So often, when we’re waiting on God, we become impatient. We want things to happen on our terms. But like David, we must believe that if God has promised something, He’ll fulfill it in His way and time.

Lastly, David honored even those who mistreated him. Despite all that Saul had done, David still referred to him as “the Lord’s anointed.” It takes great humility to respect those who’ve hurt us. Yet, as followers of Christ, we’re called to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and trust that God sees everything.

Life often presents us with opportunities to take control, seek revenge, or force our way forward. But David’s story reminds us that true strength is found in restraint. He could’ve ended his suffering in a moment, but he chose faith over fear, patience over power, and integrity over impulse.

When you’re tempted to take matters into your own hands, remember David’s example. Trust that God sees all, and His justice is always worth the wait.

Pause:

·Reflect on a time when you wanted to take justice into your own hands. How did you respond?

·Consider a situation where you’re waiting on God. Are you trusting His timing or trying to force things on your own?

Practice:

1. Let Go of Revenge – If there’s someone you need to forgive, release them to God and choose to trust Him with justice.

2 .Practice Patience – If you’re in a waiting season, spend time in prayer asking God to give you peace and trusting in His plan.

3. Honor Others – Even if someone has treated you unfairly, choose to respond with grace rather than retaliation.

Pray: Lord, thank You for teaching me through David’s example. Help me to trust Your justice rather than seeking revenge. Give me patience to wait on Your timing and faith to believe that You’re in control. Teach me to honor even those who’ve wronged me and to walk in integrity in all I do. May my actions reflect Your love and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.