Jacob Chanikuzhy

William Shakespeare is credited with the saying, “Sweet mercy is the badge of nobility.” Amidst active hostilities, it is nearly impossible to be noble – that is, to be compassionate and merciful to one’s enemy. However, mercy and forgiveness are the hallmarks of the truly anointed ones of God. King David proves that he is God’s chosen one by manifesting unimaginable mercy to his master and master enemy, King Saul. These stories are found in 1 Samuel 24, and 26.
Power is often wedded with violence. It was more so in the case of Saul, as the spirit of the Lord departed from him. King Saul’s cold-blooded order to kill the High Priest Ahimelech is a proof of how violent a power-hungry man can become. The ‘crime’ of Ahimelech was that he gave five “breads of the Presence” to David.
By asking Ahimelech for the “holy bread,’ which only the priests were permitted to eat, David was putting the laws concerning holiness at the service of human needs. Jesus, the Son of David, later reiterated the priority of human needs over cultic rituals, stating: “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for Sabbath” (Mk 2,27). The laws of holiness are not end in themselves; rather, they are to honour God. Using the holy bread to feed those who are engaged in God’s work gives more honour to God than when it is exclusively consumed by the priests. Ahimelech, the High Priest, had the wisdom to understand the importance of practical over the ritualistic ways of worshipping God.
But High Priest Ahimelech and all the priests of the Lord had to pay the price for helping David, the anointed king of the Lord. King Saul considered the kind acts of Ahimelech towards David part of their conspiracy against himself. See, how a wicked man can frame even a simple sympathetic act as a criminal act worthy of death! Although Ahimelech was High Priest and, as such, the anointed priest of the Lord, King Saul did not have any consideration for the high priestly states of Ahimelech. He did not pay heed to the words of Ahimelech, who reasonably pleaded his innocence. Blinded by his anger, King Saul ordered the killing of Ahimelech and all the priests of the Lord. As a result, the altar of the Lord was laid desolate, without a priest to offer sacrifice. Sadly, this unfortunate desolation of the sole worshipping centre of Israel was brought about not by the enemies of Israel but by the anointed but now rejected king of Israel.
King Saul and his forces pursued David with the intent of eliminating him. Although David was God’s anointed one who was promised the kingdom of Israel, he had to flee from Saul with all his might. He did not think that since God chose to give him the kingdom, God would ensure his safety through some supernatural means. David knew that God intervenes in history through his human instruments. So, David used his wit and wisdom to escape the deadly clutches of King Saul. Ironically, during King Saul’s hunt for David, David had two perfect chances to kill Saul. In the first instance, King Saul entered to take rest and slept in a cave where David was hiding with his soldiers. While the king slept, David tore a piece from his robe to prove to the king later that he could have very well killed him had he wanted it. In the second instance, David entered the camp of Saul, where he found Saul and his bodyguards in deep sleep. He took away the spear and the water jar, which were kept near the bed of the king. On both occasions, the loyal friends of David assured David that it was God who had delivered his enemy to his hands and that he should take advantage of the situation and kill King Saul. However, David chose to show unfathomable mercy and forgiveness to Saul, who was pursuing to kill him. It was by showing mercy that David broke the spiral of violence and hatred. Touched by the goodness and forgiveness of David, King Saul acknowledged the kingship of David, extended his protection, and departed in peace and reconciliation.
Only the truly anointed, with the fullness of the Spirit, can extend forgiveness and mercy and create a world pleasing to God.