But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As the Lord lives, the one who has redeemed my life from every distress…” (2 Samuel 4:9)
This is how David responded to two men, Rechab and Baanah, who came to him with news that they had killed Saul’s son, Ish-bosheth. They were actually serving under Saul’s son at the time. But seeking an opportunity to endear themselves to the new King David they killed Ish-bosheth in his sleep and brought his head to David. When they get to David they said, “Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring” (2 Sam. 4:8). They thought that they were bringing about God’s vengeance on behalf of David but David corrects them.
David says, “As the LORD lives, the one who has redeemed my life from every distress, when the person told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ he thought he was a bearer of good news, but I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag.” So he had the men killed. Why? Because David knows a truth that all of us should know. Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Rom. 12:19). We do not need to avenge ourselves. We don’t need to take wrongs done to us into our own hands. David had many opportunities to kill Saul, but he did not. Because David trusted that God had him. So today, when people wrong you, do not try to get vengeance. Instead, trust God and let him handle that.