June 27 | 1 Samuel 23:15-24

Ken Dillman
Jun 27, 2025
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Repaying Evil

by Ken Dillman

As a young boy of five or six years old, I can remember my mother “dragging” me and my brother to the small Wesleyan church she would infrequently attend; it was usually around Easter, Christmas, or when the church held a revival.

Sometimes, a missionary would be part of the evening service; the sanctuary lights would be dimmed, and a flannelgraph would be constructed telling some Bible story. I remember the refrain of an old hymn the congregation would sing, it hangs in my memory alongside exciting Christmas mornings, neighborhood birthday parties, and sweltering summer trips to my grandparents who lived in Arkansas…

There is a balm in Gilead

to make the wounded whole,

There is a balm in Gilead

to heal the sin-sick soul.

“The Balm of Gilead” song has its roots in a 1779 John Newton hymn and Jeremiah 8:22; it’s symbolic of the spiritual medicine needed for Israel’s sin, as well as salvation for the world through Jesus.

In our text for today, David is on the run from King Saul who, on many occasions had attempted to kill him. David had numerous opportunities to kill the King, but never did so, even going so far as to say to his own men, “I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.” (1 Sam. 24:10)

The Shepherd of our Soul is often working in the shadows of our heart, and we don’t even realize it. It wasn’t David’s fortitude that kept him from exacting revenge on the King, but rather God’s Spirit working in the deepest part of David’s heart; “And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.” (1 Sam. 24:5)

It’s God’s Spirit who shepherds us not to repay evil for evil, it’s God who takes away our animosity, bitterness, resentment, anger, and desire for revenge when others have mistreated us.

The shepherd works in the shadows of our heart applying his soothing balm to the deepest, darkest recesses that might hold a desire for retaliation; he is “The Balm of Gilead.”

The apostle Paul admonished the Ephesian Church to “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice,” (Eph. 4:31) knowing that our propensity is to store up evil in our heart as Jesus taught (Luke 6:45).

I’m so grateful my mother “dragged” me to that little Wesleyan church with her when I was a young boy. It laid the foundation for the rest of my life as the Shepherd of my soul began His work in me.

Prayer

God, help us to bury you deep in our hearts and mind. Please let your Holy Spirit have complete control of our emotions when we are wronged. You way is the best way. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.

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