Chapters 24 and 26 of 1 Samuel narrate two parallel stories in different locations with different circumstances. On both occasions, Israel’s future king David refrains from taking the life of Israel’s present king Saul when he had wide-open occasions to do so. The main lesson from both narratives, as well as the story of David and Nabal in chapter 25, is that vengeance belongs to the Lord; He will repay (Deut 32:35). In all three chapters, David demonstrates how trust in God results in Him vindicating injustice perpetrated against his people. Secondarily, we also observe how David (chapters 24 & 26) and Abigail (chapter 25) honored their God-ordained authorities. This week, as we consider chapter 26, we will focus on the ever-darkening king Saul, in particular his expressed remorse (24:16-21, 26:21-25).
In 2 Corinthians 7:10, the apostle writes: For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death. Evaluating the veracity of repentance can be difficult, but most everyone would agree that a distinction must be made between the person who is truly repentant and the one who only regrets the consequences of their actions. Identifying the marks of true repentance is very practical in our lives and in our church. Is your friend, for example, truly sorry about how their words offended you, or do they just want to move on as if nothing happened? How can the church know whether a person under discipline has genuinely repented or is merely going through outward motions wrought by regret? How can a wife know whether her husband’s tears and sorrow after infidelity are the fruit of genuine repentance or of mere worldly sorrow? Even more important is the question of one’s repentance before the Lord. How can one be confident that they are not among the multitude of people who think they have repented but are self-deceived? After all, Jesus warned that there are many who call Him “Lord,” yet he will say to them, “depart from me I never knew you” (Mt 7:21-23). Scripture commands us to examine our own salvation (2 Cor13:5) to make it sure (2 Pet 1:10). False assurance is the price of not evaluating one’s repentance accurately; the cost of which will be eternal.
Read the words of Saul in 1 Samuel 24:16-21 and 26:21-25. As you do, take notes; in one column, write down what you consider to be the evidence of true repentance; in the second column what might demonstrate worldly sorrow. Do the same exercise using David’s example of repentance in Psalm 51, written after his hideous sins of adultery and murder. What conclusions can you draw about repentance compared to worldly regret?