Ishbosheth

If we wish to learn the Heart of David, here is a story that illustrates it beautifully (II Samuel 4:1-12). David would take no revenge against Saul and his house, only sought the good of Saul and his house, and trusted in the Lord to maintain his portion and fulfill the word of Samuel the prophet. In fact, to those who would glory in revenge, Rechab and Baanah, David does not give the hearty welcome of a hero. He has them slain. They went into the house of Ishbosheth to thresh him like wheat, unarmed, while he was sleeping, and smote him in the groin, clearly murdering Ishbosheth. These men were not afraid to smite the son of Saul. But David's heart smote him when he even dared to slice a corner from Saul's robe.

What says the Heart of David? 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?' (II Sam. 1:14), and below, 'How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?'

The Heart of David knows no vengeance, and harbors no hatred. And how is that? David speaks his complaints and requests before the Lord in psalms, prayers, and spiritual songs and is able to trust his case to the hands of the Almighty. "You are my reward, you maintain my lot, you are my strong tower, you are my portion forever, you will uphold my cause, vindicate me, O God..." echoes through the Psalms. Can we learn this?

2 Samuel 4:5-12 JPS
And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish- bosheth, as he took his rest at noon. (6) And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the groin; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. (7) Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night. (8) And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king: 'Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, who sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.' (9) And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them: 'As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, (10) when one told me, saying: Behold, Saul is dead, and he was in his own eyes as though he brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, instead of giving a reward for his tidings. (11) How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?' (12) And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.