掃羅為應付非利士人的來侵，耽擱了一陣之後，又開始積極追捕大衛，有次把大衛和跟隨他的人逼到一個山洞，計劃幾乎成功，豈料情勢奇蹟似的扭轉，大衛有大好機會取走掃羅生命，但他拒絕伸手加害上帝的受膏者。又有一次在西弗（26章），欲置他於死地的掃羅就在咫尺之距的近處沉睡，但大衛拒絕殺害掃羅的誘惑，不願扮演上帝的角色，提前結束掃羅的生命。

        耐心就是對困難的環境安之若素，不求上帝限期將其挪開，意即等候而不憂慮。
        在你心中想像這幕情景：年輕高大的大衛握有掃羅王的生殺大權，他心中會有怎樣的念頭在交戰?因過去掃羅兇狠索命，如今落在自己手中而暗暗稱快?或對這棄王生出同情之心?不，他一點都沒有報復之念或敵意，惟一所想的就是保守自己的生命不被掃羅殺害，直到上帝的應許成就。
        你是否因遭受不平冤屈，正覓機尋隙報仇，上帝希望你放棄這樣的想法，代之以饒恕的心。當然，正如大衛一樣，決定權在於你。你願意嗎？請看以弗書四章三十一、三十二節。

        得享安息（舊約的用語）
        你一定看過古老的墓碑上刻有「R.I.F」（Rest In Peace）三個字母，意即得享安息。舊約聖經中你也可找到類似的用語，「你的生命卻在耶和華你的上帝那裡得蒙保護，如包裡寶器一樣。」（25：29）。這句話是指死後的永恆生命，每個字首幾乎都刻在猶太人的墓碑上，這用法是來自希伯來的習慣，將貴重物品包起來以免受損或遺失（創42：35）。

耐心就是對困難的環境安之若素，不求上帝限期將其挪開。

English

        After a brief delay to deal with a Philistine threat, Saul returns to take up the pursuit of David. His renewed zeal nearly pays off as (unknowingly) he traps David and his men in a cave. Then, miraculously, the tables are turned as David stands poised over King Saul with the power of life and death in his hand. And though vengeance is within his reach, David refuses to end the life of God's anointed. Again in chapter 26 the scene is repeated, this time in the wilderness of Ziph. Once again David must make a choice. Once again the source of David's anxiety is only a sword's thrust away. And once again David resists the temptation to assume God's role by ending the life of Saul prematurely.

        Patience is accepting a difficult situation without giving God a deadline for removing it. It means waiting without worrying.
        Picture in your mind the tall, youthful figure of David standing over King Saul, who is finally at his mercy, What thoughts must David be wrestling with? Hatred for his mistreatment ... pity for the demented king ... exhilaration that at last his moment of revenge has come? No, there is no hint of animosity or vengeance. Rather, David's only desire is that Saul spare his life until God fulfills His promise.
        Are you biding your time, waiting for a chance to avenge a wrong suffered? God wants to replace that spirit of bitterness with a spirit of love and forgiveness. But, as in David's case, the choice is yours. Are you willing? Then let Ephesians 4:31-32 show you the way!

        Rest in Peace, Old Testament Style —
        You may have seen old gravestones marked with the letters "R.I.P."—Rest In Peace. The Old Testament analogy is found in 1 Samuel 25:29—"Bound in the Bundle of Life." This saying has long been applied to life beyond the grave, and the first letter of each Hebrew word is found on virtually every Jewish tombstone. The phrase is taken from the custom of binding up valuable things in a bundle to prevent them from being damaged or lost (Genesis 42:35).

Patience is accepting a difficult situation without giving God a deadline for removing it.