“Then David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”” 2 Samuel 1:14
Saul was clearly the enemy of David. For several years, he hunted him with insane hatred to put him to death. Yet on 2 separate occasions, David spared his life, and now, hearing of his demise, asks this question of the “mercy killer”. How can this be? This is David’s regard for God, not for Saul; he was “the Lord’s” anointed.
When I read this story, I am reminded of Romans 13 regarding “governing authorities”. How we are to be in “subjection to them” and view them as “established by God”. No doubt David thought and felt many things about Saul, and perhaps justly so. But we are not told anything he said except calling him “the Lord’s” anointed. May we have this same view towards those that rule us today!