1 Samuel 26:22-25 – And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.” Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place. (NKJV)The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. Here is the mission statement that underlies David’s behavior toward Saul. He knows that his own choices can bring the blessing of God. David doesn’t allow Saul’s poor choices to justify bad ones of his own, but he insists on acting with proper integrity and true character, even toward one who has been unfair to him. Perhaps here is where a person’s integrity shines brightest—when the easy excuse toward a wrong spirit is available, and yet an individual chooses to do what he knows is right. David’s men would have understood and even applauded any violent act he might have committed toward Saul, but David didn’t let popular opinion or someone else’s idea of what’s acceptable determine his actions. He did what was right because he knew what was right.
