FORBEARANCE
Play Audio
If you prefer listening to today’s Bible guide reading, play this audio file.
If the audio bar is not appearing, click here to play the audio.
Opening Prayer
King of all kings, rule in my every thought and action that I might bring you glory today.
Read 1 SAMUEL 24
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
1 Samuel
1 Samuel 24
1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.
17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.
19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.
20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Reflect
In order to recognize God’s voice, we need to have ‘ears to hear’—an openness to receive what God is saying and grace to respond in obedience.David’s time of testing in the wilderness is a proving ground for his character, an opportunity for him to become a godly person who will rule well. He learns to exercise forbearance, a quality characteristic of God, one he seeks to form within those called to lead (Romans 2:4; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13).
Forbearance is the ability to exercise self-control in challenging situations, managing one’s response without acting impulsively. God delivers Saul into David’s hand in the cave, and it would be easy for him to regard Saul as his enemy, and, because his own life is in jeopardy, to kill his pursuer. Others urge him to do this, but David resists the impulse to take revenge, sparing Saul’s life.
David’s forbearance does not mean leaders should never be held accountable for abusive or coercive behavior. They must be, but in this context, David recognizes that Saul is still the anointed king and that his position has to be respected. God will bring about change in his own time and way, and David must wait patiently for that day to come.
Apply
Are you facing any situations where you feel exasperated? What is your ‘go to’ response to frustration?
Closing prayer
Father, help me to come to you first for wisdom when I encounter people, places, or things that infuriate me. Help me know when to speak up or remain quiet; help me understand what words or actions will please you.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2026 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.