Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
1  Samuel 26:21-24

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Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to spend four days at HSM Camp, leading a small group of 12 teen girls. We laughed, we cried, we put glitter in our hair, and we talked about life and love and Jesus. It was equal parts exhausting and fulfilling. 

When I got to camp, I had no idea what the group would be like—it could easily have been a rough weekend for all of us. Instead, I let them joke a little. I shared my story. I asked them follow-up questions. I did everything I could to make them feel safe with me and with each other. And one by one, they opened up. They shared their stories, said big, hard things, reflected on their own choices, and they cared for each other. They were still goofy and fun and completely chaotic, but they showed they had a capacity for vulnerability, deep thinking, and empathy. 

In the book of 1 Samuel, King Saul spends a great deal of time and energy in the pursuit of David, seeking to kill the man who was to take his place as king. Rather than rule with wisdom and care, he uses his power to feed his wrath. When Saul is acting with erratic violence towards David, he shows that his fear was in control and caused him to make violent decisions. 

David encounters an unarmed, sleeping King Saul, and he has the perfect opportunity to end Saul’s life, however, he makes a choice to show Saul his true intentions. He kept God’s anointed king safe, even though it cost him immensely—it meant a life of living on the run. 

As Saul discovers the truth of what happened in his tent, the safety that David demonstrated to him in that moment allowed Saul to reflect on his own choices. It caused him to humbly repent to David for so desperately seeking to harm him. Being offered safety allowed Saul to see how fear had gotten the best of him and led him to make harmful decisions. 

When people feel safe, they experience the world differently. They open up. They can be honest about their choices. They can be their full selves. As we make people feel safe, we give them a glimpse of the safety found in Jesus. We show them that they are loved not because of their decisions, but because they simply are loved—we show them the gospel. 

Next Steps

Do you have someone in your life that can be complicated to love? Spend time praying for them. Ask God to show you how you can love them well and demonstrate safety and the love of Jesus to them.