#soap # 1 Samuel 24 ## Title: Show Mercy Within Boundaries ## Scripture: (1 Samuel 24:10) “Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you—this very day—into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’” (NET) ## Observation: There are so many great lessons within this chapter. The one that stood out to me the most is the idea of mercy within boundaries. Some people think showing mercy is to completely open yourself up to people. This would be like handing a dangerous person a loaded weapon and expecting them to act like anything other than they are. There is an old leadership phrase that says, “Trust but verify.” This means I trust you but it’s not wrong to make sure the job is still done. This is a wise way to give mercy. David showed mercy to Saul but he still didn’t give himself over to Saul. Saul was a broken man and David treated him that way. We should always be willing and ready to show mercy to others. This allows the results to lie in the hands of the Lord. However, it’s also wise not to put yourself in a position of vulnerability with a broken person. Show mercy, but it’s okay to set boundaries. ## Application: Always be ready to show mercy. Be wise and set firm boundaries. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for showing unfailing mercy to us every day.