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Warren Wiersbe described three levels of life that reflect the causes and effects we see all around us. 

The first level is the demonic level. On this level, people return evil for good. This is the demonically inspired acts of evil where someone receives something good and responds with hateful unkindness. 

This level best describes King Saul. David has been a faithful subject and a devoted military leader, as well as a loving son-in-law. Despite all of David’s good will, King Saul consistently responds with vindictive hatred for David. 

The second level is the natural level where people return evil for evil. This is the philosophy that governs our world and our sinful flesh. 

This level is how we would expect David to respond to Saul. When the king threw his spear at David, we’d expect David to pull the spear out of the wall and throw it back, right? That would be the natural reaction. 

But the third level is the spiritual level. This is where someone returns good for evil. 

This level is impossible to achieve without the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the level inspired by the Lord as He preached: “turn the other cheek,” “love your enemies,” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” 

Let’s be honest: this spiritual level is difficult. It rubs against our reflective responses. It requires supernatural empowering. 

At this point in our study of the life of David, he’s faced four attempts on his life from the king. Saul personally tried to kill him twice with a spear; then he ordered David on a military mission that Saul hoped would end David’s life; finally, Saul ordered his own son Jonathan to kill David, which Jonathan refused. 

King Saul is clearly operating on the demonic level. And with that, we get our first opportunity to see how David will respond. What level will David reach when the power shifts into his hands? 

Samuel describes this critical scene in 1 Samuel 24: 

“Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to see David. … And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave” (1 Samuel 24:2-3). 

Let’s not move too quickly beyond the cinematic nature of this scene. King Saul, the man who placed a bounty on David’s head, unsuspectingly walks into a cave to use the bathroom, and it happens to be the exact cave where David and his 400 mighty men are hiding. 

How great is this? David’s troops consider it a dream come true! They whisper to David that this is indeed a ‘blessing from the Lord’ and they urge him to strike Saul down. 

But that’s not what David does. The natural level would insist that David quietly slip up behind Saul and cut his throat. 

Instead, David rises to the spiritual level. He sneaks up behind Saul, and instead of cutting his throat, he quietly cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe. I’m amazed that Saul didn’t notice David—perhaps he was too engrossed in reading the newspaper. 

Eventually, as Saul rejoins his troops, David comes out to the entrance and shouts to Saul: “Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed’” (1 Samuel 24:10). 

With that, he waved in the air the corner of Saul’s robe which he had cut off—evidence that Saul had been at David’s mercy. 

Saul was smitten with guilt and responds to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. … And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand” (1 Samuel 24:17, 20). 

I wish I could tell you this moment resulted in a permanent change in Saul’s heart; I wish I could tell you that Saul rededicated his life to God and lived honorably for the rest of his life. But that’s not how this account will end. 

What I can tell you, however, is that David’s surprising graciousness serves as a faithful testimony to the grace of God. 

Following the Lord doesn’t guarantee ease, safety, wealth, or peace on this earth. In fact, following the Lord will often invite difficulty, danger, poverty, and persecution. Keep in mind that Saul remained David’s enemy until the day Saul died. 

Let’s surprise those who mistreat us by refusing to get even, by refusing to strike back. Let’s be more like David, and respond to evil from a spiritual level, a Spirit-empowered level. 

In our politics, in our relationships, in our homes, classrooms and churches, let’s surprise those around us with our graciousness, as we reflect the wonderful grace of God to our world.