John Chrysostom
Consider the remarkable humility of the righteous individual, who did not elevate himself despite recognizing God's extraordinary mercy towards him. Rather than challenging the king, relying on divine strength to defeat him, he approached the situation as a defenseless person, without any external assistance. With profound meekness, he accomplished the king’s command without even a verbal objection, demonstrating his serenity by promptly departing from the scene. His departure quelled his own passions and illustrated not only his remarkable humility but also his ability to temper the king’s anger.
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As it is written, "And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tents in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there." The instruction Christ gave to His disciples, "When they persecute you in one city, flee to another" (Matt. 10:23), was already exemplified by Isaac in action. Similar to how David, in managing Saul’s fierce animosity, distanced himself to protect against danger by calming his own emotions, the righteous man also embodied the apostolic teaching: "Give place to the wrath of God" (Rom. 12:19). He left the city and retreated into the wilderness.