1 Samuel 24:4
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
Saul was seeking David's life and pursuing him so that David feared for his life, when Saul came unattended into the wilderness cave where David and his men of war lay hidden. The encounter set David, a shepherd lad with God's promise of the throne and utterly helpless in himself, against Saul the established monarch bent on holding fast his power. David's men treated Saul's presence in their power as proof that God had given permission and opportunity to kill him and to do to him as seemed good and as David pleased, and they urged David to use his advantage.
David did not accept that conclusion and refused to stretch out his hand to strike, kill, or harm Saul and restrained his men from doing so. His refusal rested on the fact that Saul was the Lord's anointed, made king over Israel by God's command even though the Lord had declared the kingdom should be taken from him for disobedience, and even though David himself had been chosen to rule. His restraint reflected humble obedience to God and the warning of conscience not to harm the Lord's anointed. David arose secretly and cut off only a piece of Saul's robe as evidence to prove that he could have taken Saul's life but chose not to harm him.
Afterward David's conscience troubled him and he repented and reproached himself even for damaging the king's garment and showing that disrespect to the Lord's anointed. The episode is evidence of David's regard for human life and his restraint toward Saul and Saul's house. Though utterly helpless in himself, David trusted the word of God and withstood the power of the whole world, witnessing to the power of God's word against human power and policy in support of evil.
David's tender, courteous, forbearing conduct teaches not to take into human hands the work of judging, correcting, or removing men in responsibility, which belongs to God, especially since every life record will soon pass in review before God. David did not let anger or the chance for revenge control him, and his refusal to retaliate when wronged means forbearance under wrong, control of spirit, and victory over self. That victory is rather than guarding feeling or reputation, living to save souls, keeping oneness with Christ and fellowship of the Spirit undisturbed by what others think or do, and patiently suffering when doing well, which is acceptable with God.