Vengeance belongs to the Lord

1 Samuel 26
Chapter 26 here records the last interaction between David and king Saul. The events of chapter 26 mirror in many ways the events of chapter 24, where Saul and his forces are hunting David and David surprises Saul in the cave of Addulam, yet spare his life. Both chapters serve to show us the contrast between David’s faith in action (though imperfect in some ways) and Saul’s lack of sustained interest in, or obedience to God and His ways.
As Constable notes: “Perhaps the most significant difference is that in chapter 24 David was on the defensive, whereas in chapter 26 he was on the offensive. Chapter 26 is the third and final episode in the mini-section on David’s treatment of two fools: Saul and Nabal. A prominent theme in this pericope is David’s learning to trust God to repay his enemies rather than taking vengeance himself.”
Here is an enduring lesson for us as people who know and trust in the Lord: Vengeance, getting even, retribution are things best left in God’s hands. Bitterness is like hydrochloric acid and cannot be held in the hands without serious injury to ourselves.
Ephesians 4:31, Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.