1 Samuel 29-31 / John 11:55-12:19 / Psalm 118:1-18 / Proverbs 15:24-26
Have you ever found yourself face to face with your enemy? Or someone who hated you or wanted to hurt you? We’ve spent the past week or so processing how King Saul tried to kill David over and over again. And guess what? Saul has been killed on the battlefield. I have some interesting observations on this part of the story, but first I want to put a couple of verses from Psalm 18 here for you to read.
Psalm 18:13-14 My enemies did their best to kill me, but the LORD rescued me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.
In my reading, David has not yet found out that Saul has been killed in battle. I wonder how he will feel and how he will respond. I’m sure there will be a combination of relief and great sorrow. David no longer has to hide or fear for his life. David has been honorable toward King Saul, who God chose to lead Israel.
And now, David will be made king of Israel. The destiny he knew would come has now been placed right before his eyes.
One thing I found very interesting in the story is that I believe the LORD kept David from the battle the day King Saul was killed so that it could never be said David avenged himself. David was nowhere near the battle. It was the Philistines who killed Saul and his sons.
David’s honor was allowed to remain intact. If you read the story, you’ll notice that David has been living with the Philistines to hide from Saul, but he has also been deceiving them into thinking he was raiding his own people. When it came time for this battle, the men of the Philistine army didn’t trust David and he was sent home.
I had never considered what God was keeping David from. All throughout history one king would kill another to take the throne, but God was not going to allow that to be the case here. David’s hands were innocent of blood when it came to King Saul.
What about us? When we have someone speaking evil of us or mistreating us, do we wish we could get back at them? Or do we leave that to God? It’s hard to stay quiet when lies are being spread, but don’t ever forget that God sees and hears every lie, deception and evil action and He will take care of the situation.
He may not take care of things in the way you would wish, or within the timing you would hope for, but He will allow judgment to fall where it should. And it’s better that way because in judgment, God shows mercy – and because when God brings judgment it is always just.
There’s a quote I remember from the 1971 movie Fiddler on the Roof that says, “If we keep seeking an eye for an eye, pretty soon the whole world will be blind.” (not an exact quote)
Those are powerful words. What if we instead chose – as I’ve said several times the past week – to forgive. Forgive the one who wronged you. Forgive the one who told lies, who slandered or gossiped. Forgive the one who spoke evil of you. Then you will be free.
You
Will
Be
Free
The LORD has given you (and me) victory!
