“Quick! Let's hide here!” David shouted. He led his men into a rugged cave. Looking round, David breathed a sigh of relief. This cave was an excellent hideout. It was large enough to hold all his men and dark enough to hide them.

For weeks, David and his band of loyal followers had been running for their lives. God had told David that he would someday be king. When King Saul heard this, he wanted David dead. And it seemed Saul would not give up until he had accomplished his evil plan. A few times David had barely escaped.

King Saul's hateful words still made David shiver. “Kill David!” he had angrily commanded his soldiers. “Kill him before he takes over as king!”

Now in the cool safety of the cave, David cried out to God. “O, Lord, when will this wild chase end?” All of a sudden, David felt his hair stand on end. A flickering shadow signaled new danger approaching.

“Be quiet!” he whispered to his men. Poised to attack, the men looked toward the front of the cave, expecting to see King Saul's fierce army. Instead they saw a lone figure standing in the bright entrance wiping his brow. King Saul! David's men gasped in amazement. “God be praised,” they whispered. “The king is alone!”

King Saul turned around and sat down to rest.

Huddled together in darkness, David's men decided what to do. “This must be part of God's plan!” they told David. “Go kill Saul now, while you have the chance. Then you can be king!”

Without asking God what to do, David walked quietly to the front of the cave. He crept up behind the king and took out his sword. Just then he heard the king softly humming a tune. It was one of the melodies David used to play on his harp to please Saul.

David's heart filled with kindness. King Saul was no ordinary man. He was the man who had once been like a father to David. Saul was God's chosen leader and king.

David used his sword to cut off a piece of Saul's robe. Then he staggered back to his men.

Unaware of the commotion, Saul walked out of the cave.

“What have I done?” David cried out in dismay. “Saul is God's chosen king. Who are we to lift our swords against him? May God forgive us for our evil plan.”

David then ordered his men to hold back so Saul could safely escape.

After a few minutes David dashed out of the cave. He spotted Saul on the trail far below. “My lord and king!” David called out.

King Saul spun around and shaded his eyes, gazing up toward David.

“O, my king, why do you keep trying to kill me?” David asked, bowing low. “Don't you know that I will not harm you?”

Reaching into his belt, David pulled out the corner of Saul's robe. “See this cloth?” David continued, waving the piece in the air.

The king nodded and turned pale as dust.

“It's a scrap from the robe you are wearing,” David said. “Just now, while you were alone in the cave, my men told me to kill you so I could be king. But I did not kill you. I only cut this cloth. It is proof that do not want to hurt you.”

Overwhelmed by such a great act of kindness, King Saul wept loudly. “Oh, my son, “ he said between sobs, “you are a far better person than I! You have treated me well, though I tried to kill you. May God bless you for such undeserved kindness.”

As Saul left to rejoin his men, David raced back to the cave. At the cave's entrance he bowed his head. “Thank You, Lord,” David humbly prayed, “for giving me the strength to do the right thing.”