What was David thinking? There's several places through his story where David's actions (or lack thereof) make his people and us wonder. But in fact David was years ahead of his time, as we can find him exemplifying New Testament teachings of God's grace at work.
The recurring question is why David doesn't just kill Saul. It would make sense. He is a popular leader. He has been chosen by God and told that he will be king of Israel. Saul is trying to kill him, so self-defense is a legitimate legal defense, as well as being a good idea for personal survival. It's not as though he couldn't find the way to do it. There were chances in the wilderness of Engedi and on the hill of Hachilah where Saul was unaware and powerless to stop David. He had both motive and opportunity.
Paul writes in his letter to the Romans (12:19) "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord". David does this, millennia before this was written, since they serve and know the same God. He tells Saul "May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand will not be against you "(1 Sam 24:12). David also has to learn to trust the Lord to be his avenger against Nabal, who refused to feed David's army. It is Nabal's wife Abigail who prevents David from instinctively killing Nabal, and it is the Lord who strikes Nabal down, ten days later.
But the main reason that David does not kill Saul is that Saul is still Israel's king and still God's appointed ruler. Murderer or not, friend of David or not, following God or not, Saul is God's chosen king, and to kill him would be an insult and attack on God. If we love God, then we love God's people. Full stop. Jesus said 'By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another'. (John 13:35) 'If anyone says 'I love God' but hates his brother, he is a liar' (1 John 4:20). If we love God, then we love God's leaders. Even if they are wrong, or unloving. What 'love' looks like in each context may look different, but I'm pretty sure that at the very least, loving someone means you don't murder them.
If we love God, then we love God's people. David saves Israel from the Philistines on many occasions, not least in Keilah. Even though David was being hunted by Saul, he still served Saul and the people of Israel by saving the people from the Philistines.
There's a wonderful example of grace in chapter 30, where David's men are dividing the spoil of war. The men do not want to share 'what we have recovered' with those who stayed from the raid. But David replies that they would share all that 'God has given us'. That's the shift in mindset: If you see what you have as what you have gained, then you are inclined to and justified in keeping tight control over it. But when you see that all you have is a gift from God, it frees you to be generous, and to show the same grace to others.
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