1 Samuel 26:23
The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed. The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.
David had no place of rest or security while still hunted by the king, just after Abiathar son of Ahimelech escaped Saul's slaughter of the priests and fled to David, who received him with the promise of safeguard because the same enemy sought both their lives. The declaration that the Lord would render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness belongs to David's sparing of Saul's life a second time when the Lord had delivered Saul into his hand. He refused to stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and in that refusal his righteousness and faithfulness were shown.
In connection with that sparing he proved his innocence by displaying the king's spear and water jar taken from beside Saul, and rebuked Abner for failing to guard the king. His kindness astonished and subdued Saul and made a still deeper impression than before, drawing a more humble acknowledgment that he had sinned and acted foolishly and erred greatly, with a promise to do David no more harm and a blessing that David would do great things and still prevail. Even with that promise and blessing, David did not place himself in Saul's power and return to him, because he had no hope that Saul would long remain in that repentant frame of mind.