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1 Samuel 24 · Grade 5

Leaving Vengeance to God

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Read and Think

Chapter 24 presents David with the perfect opportunity for revenge. Saul, hunting him with three thousand chosen men, entered alone into the very cave where David hid. David's men interpreted the moment as divine providence. Yet when David cut off the skirt of Saul's robe, his heart struck him, and he said, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed.

David's restraint rests on reverence for God's appointment. Saul was still Yahweh's anointed, and David would not seize the throne by force. Calling Saul my father, he showed the piece of the robe as evidence and made his appeal: May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you. He called himself a dead dog, a flea, unworthy of the king's pursuit.

Saul's response was a rare moment of clarity. He wept and confessed, You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you. In the New Testament, Paul teaches believers not to take revenge but to give place to God's wrath (Romans 12:19). David's mercy in the cave reflects that same trust in God's justice.

Show What You Know

  1. What did David's men think the moment was?

  2. On what did David's restraint rest?

  3. What did Saul confess?

  4. What does Paul teach believers in Romans 12:19?

Crossword

4213

Across

  1. David asked, A dead dog? A ____ (24:14)?
  2. Saul lifted up his voice and ____ (24:16).

Down

  1. David cut off the ____ of Saul's robe (24:4).
  2. Saul came to the sheep pens where there was a ____ (24:3).

Think About It

  1. How does trusting God's justice free us from needing revenge?

  2. Why did David's heart strike him over a small act?

Memory Verse

“May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.”

1 Samuel 24:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me be kind. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How did David honor God's anointed king?
  • How does Romans 12:19 connect to this chapter?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.