One of my husband’s favorite sayings to all, especially me and our kids who playfully harassed him while playing games, in the pool, or at a meal, was to say, “When you least expect it, expect it!” This promise of payback came right after an unexpectedly tickle fest or after playing a harmless, practical joke on him. In good nature, meaning what he said, we knew there would indeed be a payback when we least expected it—and we expected it! What goes around come around was my phrase when the kids got what they deserved while falling to the ground in laugher.
David has an opportunity to payback Saul for all the misery he has caused for David; but he doesn’t take it. David has a heart who seeks God and listens to what He has to say. David’s men are pushing him to murder Saul who is in a very vulnerable situation at the moment; but God stops David from doing it. David is loyal to the “anointed” maybe because he has also been anointed by God.
1 Samuel 24
David Spares Saul’s Life
After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 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. 4 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.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 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 lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 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. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 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. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
David knows God has chosen and ordained him to be the next King of Israel. King Saul knows that David will follow him as King of Israel but Saul cannot not let go of the power he holds tightly to with defiance to God. Samuel knows and grieves over Saul who arrogantly disobeyed God which resulted in God’s Spirit removed from Saul. But Samuel, prophet and priest of God, longs for the day when David becomes King. Even God’s people know and are seeing David as their hero and next king whose heart aligns with the heart of God. The people are weary of King Saul’s evil character that has produced bad decisions making life more difficult for them. And most of all God knows. God has orchestrated every detail even with Saul’s disobedient acts. David will become king in God’s time and place, possible when most will least expect it.
Consider this thought—
Jesus is coming back as God’s appointed from the beginning as King of kings and Lord of lords to claim His own and set up His new Kingdom. That Day is coming—when we least expect it. Are we ready?
David models how to give grace to the person who gives nothing but grief.
How do we respond to those who are hard to love, spew hate for all who get in their way and snarl at us at work, within our families, and at church? “You have heard it said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” says Jesus to all gathered to listening to hear His words of life, “but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” –Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48
We become God’s children when we identify with Christ as our Savior and Lord. Jesus expects us to love like He loves us—with unmerited grace and undeserved mercy. Our response to life, people, and circumstances is to first come in holy reverence before our Holy, Perfect God and simply ask what He wants us to be and do; then do it! God will gladly tell us what to do and give us His powerful help to carry out His direction with loving acts of kindness. For it is His Kindness that leads to our repentance! To more like Him; we must listen to Him. “…do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? —Paul, Romans 2:4
“Be perfect” like God is perfect!? What does that mean? We know that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) God gave us Jesus as the solution to overcome sin’s consequences. We are not perfect but we are perfectly forgiven by our Holy God because of Jesus’ sacrifice to pay our debt of sin. Jesus is telling us to live like redeemed people who seek to perfect our words and actions as we respond to Him and to each other—like God responds to us!
It is Jesus who makes us holy while perfecting us as we seek to become more like Him as we live each day with joyful expectantly of His return! To become holy (perfect) like God who created us in His own image is to seek first our Holy God as a daily discipline—the only One who perfects us. We are all a “work in progress.”
Jesus IS coming back you know—when we least expect Him—expect Him!
Lord,
Thank you for these thoughts that teach us how to become more like You in every way.
We trust you to give us your help to overcome evil in an imperfect world of greed, arrogance, envy, gossip, jealousy, pride, which breed cruel acts of hate filled violence. You are God and we are not so we call on you first and always. I love you because you first loved me. I trust you with all my life because you are Life. Lead me. Fill me with the power of Your Holy Spirit who guides us to all that is true. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“Because of your faith, it will happen.” Matthew 9:29, NLT
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 