Redemptive Love

Redemptive Love
Words of Faith 12-3-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 24:8-15
[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 lift my hand against my master, 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. Now understand and recognize that I am not 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? Whom 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."

What does redemptive love look like? It never occurs in a vacuum. It is always seen in the most difficult of circumstances.
David had been unjustly accused and pursued unjustly by false rumors and lies. He even had the perfect chance to kill Saul. No one would have blamed him. It would have been over quickly, but David chose another way.
Saul had been completely vulnerable and unguarded in the cave, but instead, David had cut the corner off of Saul's robe. This was proof that David could have finished this matter with the stroke of a sword. After Saul left the cave and was some distance away, David emerged and called out to Saul. In great humility, he addressed Saul as "My lord the king!" David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground to show respect.
Then David made his case. Of course, he had no intent of harming Saul. Anything to the contrary was a false rumor, and this was clearly shown now. Unlike those who spread false rumors, David refused to listen to those who tried to incite him to vengeance against Saul. There had been a unique opportunity to kill Saul, but David refused to seize it.
David called to Saul three times to "see... look... recognize." David desperately wanted Saul to understand and recognize that he was not guilty of wrongdoing. The appeal was before God to judge between them,, but no matter what happened, David assured his king, "My hand will not touch you."
David even invoked an ancient proverb to point out that evil deeds are perpetrated only by evildoers. This was a double-edged truth that vindicated David for refusing to harm Saul but condemned Saul's wickedness for his malicious pursuit of David.
David even went so far as to point out that Saul should not waste his time chasing David, who is as insignificant as a "dead dog" or a "single flea." Yet it would be the Lord who would decide between himself and Saul. David was confident that the Lord would uphold his cause.
The plea of David before Saul gives us an example of how vengeance does not have to be the choice of a person following after God. There is another choice.
We see a powerful image here of the coming Christ. David was not the Christ. God the Son would enter into the world through the lineage of David and the innocence of a birth in a manger. Jesus would be accused falsely of all manner of evil, from blasphemy to insurrection. He would even be charged falsely by kings of trying to stir up political revolution and take their throne. None of it was true.
The truth of Jesus was that He had the power to wipe out all of Rome with the word "light" or with legions of angels who were standing ready. Yet, He refused to take vengeance even when He was terribly abused.
David chose to bear the price of Saul's sinful and wicked behavior rather than respond in a manner that took vengeance that belonged to God alone. This is the core of redemptive love-- love that bears the cost of another person's sin. Redemptive love finds its ultimate expression and fulfillment in Jesus's cross.
Redemptive love finds fulfillment in us when we are redeemed by Him and are then able to love others redemptively. When we are able to walk with another person and bear the pain of their offense rather than retaliate, we open the door for God's healing grace in their life. When we love another with the love of Christ, we forgive-- we choose to willingly bear the pain of their offense rather than seek vengeance.
David was willing to bear the pain of Saul's sin, hoping he might be redeemed. David was willing to bear the pain of Saul's sin rather than exact vengeance in the hope that he might fulfill the anointing on his life. This is redemptive love.
Does redemptive love always "work"? The outcome is always subject to the choices of the human heart. But redemptive love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Love never fails in us.
Christ's coming opens the door in us to love others redemptively. That love never fails.

Father God, thank You for loving me with redemptive love. Help me to see and experience the way of redemptive love. Show me how I need to express humility and set aside pride. Please show me the ways that I need to carry the burden of another. Teach me by Your example how I can carry the pain of another person's offense and so fulfill the way of Christ. Show me the way of love that always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.