Tuesday Thought -- October 4, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Saul and his army pursued David and those who had gathered around him.  Saul was intent on killing David.  David fled from place to place seeking safety.  He stayed for a time in the desert region of En Gedi near the Dead Sea and Saul came pursuing him there.  During that time an easy opportunity to kill Saul was presented to David.

“He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.  The men said, ‘This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, “I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.”’  Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.  Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.  He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.’  With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul.  And Saul left the cave and went his way.” (1 Samuel 24:3-7)

David did not take advantage of the opportunity to kill Saul.  He was unwilling to take matters into his own hands.  Saul had been appointed by God to be king, and David refused to be the one who would remove Saul from the position to which God had appointed him.  David called out to Saul from a distance and said to him,

“‘My lord the king!’  When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.  He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, “David is bent on harming you”?  This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave.  Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, “I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”  See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you.  Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion.  I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.  May the Lord judge between you and me.  And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.  As the old saying goes, “From evildoers come evil deeds,” so my hand will not touch you.’” (1 Samuel 24:8-13)

David was not willing to use ungodly means to save his own life.  Instead, he chose to trust God to deal with Saul and to protect his own life.

There are many times that people are intent on doing something wrong to us.  The question is, How will we respond to their wrong?  Responding to wrong with wrong is not God’s way.  David responded to ungodliness with righteousness.  Will we?

His, by Grace,

Steve