Regret: How to Move ForwardSample

Day 3: You Can Change the Future

David and Saul had one of the most interesting relationships in the Bible. Saul was so jealous of David that he tried to kill him multiple times. David was honoring to King Saul’s position because God had appointed Saul, and so much so that he refused to defend himself even though he would have been justified.

In today’s devotional we’re going to read about two of the times Saul tried to kill David, the regret they both faced over it, and the different actions they took from it.

In 1 Samuel 24 Saul takes 3,000 men and chases David and his men down to the caves. During the chase Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself, unaware that he’s going into the very cave where David and his men were hiding. David’s men urged him to kill Saul in this golden opportunity. David crept up to him, but all he did was cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward he regretted even laying a hand on the Lord’s anointed. David told his men not to attack Saul. Then he waited for Saul to leave the cave.

Once Saul left the cave, David called out to him. He showed Saul honor by bowing down to him and asked Saul why he was pursuing him. He showed him the corner of the robe he had cut off to prove that he meant Saul no harm. Saul realized what David could have done to him and apologized. 

Fast forward to 1 Samuel 26 where Saul decides to hunt David down again to kill him. This time David and his men find Saul asleep, but David does not allow his men to hurt Saul, and he does not touch Saul either. He merely takes Saul’s spear and water jug to prove again that he means no harm.

David and Saul have a very similar conversation to the one they had in chapter 24 but with one key difference. David no longer feels regret, but Saul still does. David learned from the first time when he made a choice that he didn’t like. The second time he encountered Saul he did not touch him or dishonor him in any way. Saul had to apologize again. He learned nothing from the previous mistakes of letting jealously take over and trying to kill David.

David’s example shows us we can learn from regret.