Repaying Evil with Good — 1 Samuel 23–31

The Philistines were plundering a nearby city called Keilah when the Lord encouraged David to intervene.

“Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines” (1 Samuel 23:4).

Even while Saul relentlessly pursued him, David was drawn into what felt like a side quest. A mission intimidating enough for David to ask God about it twice, and God used it to provide confirmation and comfort. If the Philistines can be conquered, surely Saul can be too! Purpose can still exist in perceived standstills.

Saul heard of David’s plan and assumed this would make him an easy target. Appearances can be deceiving when we step outside of God’s will. Humanity was created to be multifaceted and purposeful, pivoting from one challenge to the next.

David feared that the leaders of Keilah would align themselves with Saul, so he prayed. God does not tell us to live in fear, and His answer was direct: “[Saul] will come,” and “Yes, [the leaders of Keilah] will betray you” (23:11–12). What stands out to me is how David prayed. He didn’t beg God to override Saul’s free will or demand supernatural protection at any cost. Instead, he opened communication with God and asked for clarity. He wanted to move according to God’s will rather than manipulate the outcome himself. It makes me wonder whether God is sometimes silent because I am praying for control rather than alignment.

David and his men were victorious in rescuing Keilah, but they didn’t linger. With Saul still advancing, they left, and “God did not let Saul find him” (23:14). The mission was complete. Overstaying would have become dangerous. This is a difficult but necessary lesson. I often catch myself lingering, looking back like Lot’s wife (who famously turned into a pillar of salt). When God closes a door or finishes an assignment, staying can pose risks.

Jonathan later found David and encouraged him to remain faithful. He accepted God’s word and believed David would one day reign as king, even over his own father. Soon after, Saul unknowingly closed in on David, separated only by a mountain, the Rock of Escape. Saul was diverted before he ever discovered David’s location. David was covered, protected, and preserved by a rock. Ironic since we receive the same shelter from our very own Rock, Jesus Christ!

At one point, Saul assembled an elite army and scoured regions for David. During one search, Saul entered a cave for a potty break and was completely unaware that David was hidden inside the very same cave. David watched. Ultimately, David recognized that this was not his battle. Saul was once anointed, and David refused to take judgment into his own hands.

This passage has stayed with me. It reminds me that I am not God’s favorite child, superior to anyone else. He loves each of us fully and inexplicably. When I judge others or allow resentment to take root, I am nurturing conflict with someone God created and cherishes. Someone whose prayers God gladly hears and whose life He seeks to bless daily. God doesn't want strife between people He adores.

Sometimes loving someone doesn’t look like closeness. Sometimes it means distance, far enough that peace, respect, and restraint can exist without effort. 

David revealed himself to Saul and declared: “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will not harm you” (24:13).

David understood that we reap what we sow and that evil cannot be born from goodness. This is humbling. Am I cultivating barrenness or fruitfulness? What do I consistently pour into others?

When I feel distant from God, I notice I am proportionately lacking in goodness.

Later, David says:

“May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and He will rescue me from your power!” (24:15).

This moved Saul to tears. He recognized David’s integrity, something he himself could not embody. David was willing to expose himself to his enemy because he trusted God. I confess that I have prayed for justice against those who hurt me, only to stop mid-prayer when hypocrisy settles in. If I ask God to execute righteous judgment on my behalf, I must also accept that He is just toward those I have wronged. The day Jesus died for me was the same day He died for everyone else—including those who test my patience. He did not pick and choose, and neither can we.

Saul and David acknowledged that their fates were not in each other’s hands.

David later encountered a man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. Scripture subtly foreshadows Abigail’s role by describing her as “sensible and beautiful” (25:3). Nabal refused to share his resources with David, repaying generosity with selfishness. Abigail intervened quickly, bringing food and supplies and pleading with David to maintain his integrity. What good would it do for a future king to punish a man over a trivial offense? Even small overreactions can lead to lasting regret.

Once again, the contrast between Saul and David is clear. Saul murdered priests connected to David, while David restrained himself from understandable retaliation.

David later had another opportunity to neutralize Saul. Saul broke their previous oath and gathered 3,000 men against David’s 600. One night, while Saul and his men slept, Scripture tells us, “the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep.” This protected David physically while testing him spiritually. David spared Saul yet again, and Saul was left speechless by David’s morality.

“The Lord gives His own reward for doing good and for being loyal” (1 Samuel 26:23).

Eventually, God stopped answering Saul altogether. Desperate, Saul disguised himself and consulted a medium, who envisioned Samuel declaring that Saul would lose both his kingdom and his life due to his disobedience and lack of remorse. Saul treated God like a dependable but underappreciated friend; present when needed, ignored when inconvenient.

Later, David’s own men grew distressed as their families were endangered. Yet 1 Samuel 30:6 says,

“David found strength in the Lord his God.”

God answered David’s prayers and encouraged his efforts. Along the way, David showed kindness to an abandoned Egyptian man, despite the historical hostility between their ancestors. David repaid vulnerability with compassion. The man then guided David to the Amalekites. David recovered everything that was taken and ensured fair distribution among his allies.

Finally, the Philistines overtook Israel, resulting in Saul’s death. Even then, honorable men chose to bury Saul properly, overlooking his failures. Repaying evil with evil never restores what was broken.

Throughout the final chapters of 1 Samuel, a consistent message is clear: pursue what is good regardless of the circumstance. David’s integrity was rewarded with forward movement. Saul, meanwhile, remained trapped in cycles of bitterness until his time expired. Saul was meant to lead with God’s help, but instead, he fixated on hatred toward someone obedient to God’s calling.

We are regularly given opportunities to rescue, protect, and model goodness. We are asked to treat people humanely, almost as if they, too, are treasured by God.

Loving others is hard. People are complex. We are temperamental.

Yet nothing is truly permanent except God. Even after careless words and negligent actions leave their marks, God restores what remains. Let us not disappoint Him for temporary satisfaction. Don’t reinforce the harmful stereotypes Christians are constantly called to disprove. We are responsible for avoiding evil and loving God.

“See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

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Gratitude List:

• Moist brisket

• Having my confidence in God restored again and again and again

• Silence

• Redeem points from apps

• Watching Barry and Jordan giggle and play

• Macarons

• Seafood boils

• Theo Von-inflicted laughs

• Crazed giggle sessions and Jordan's hysterical laugh

• New fragrances

• Minute Cryptic puzzles

• TV show reunions

• Food deliveries

• Swingsets and storytimes

• Rearranging

• Tommy's Tacos and a big red

• Day trips

• Generous friends

• Living close enough to big cities for activities without having to reside directly in the madness

• Grocery items being in stock as stores are raided in preparation for a freeze

• Impromptu date nights