Have you heard the saying, “No good deed goes unpunished?” David’s loyalty and service and kindness were often betrayed. He consistently served and honored Saul, who in jealousy repeatedly sought to kill him. After David became king of Israel, his own son Absalom sought to overthrow him. David certainly knew what it was like to be betrayed by people he loved and cared for. A repeated theme in David’s psalms was his appeal to God for help. He entrusted his fate to God–that the Lord, in His own way and time, would deal with David’s traitors according to their deeds.
David’s Cry For Help
“O Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge. Save me from all my pursuers and deliver me. . . The wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. . . The LORD has heard my plea. The LORD accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled. They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. . . The nations have sunk in the pit they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.” (Psalms 6:10 & 7:1, 10, 14-16)
God had earlier promised Moses concerning his enemies:
“Vengeance is mine and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly. For the LORD will vindicate His people.” (Deuteronomy 32:35-36)
Deuteronomy 32:35-36
Overcome Evil with Good
In the New Testament the promise is repeated, but God gives further instructions in the Spirit of Christ: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink . . . Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21)
