Christ Jesus is The Difference

During the winter and spring of this year I finished a study in 1^st and 2^nd Samuel, 1^st and 2^nd Kings, and 1^st and 2^nd Chronicles. It was a fantastic study as most studies are from the Bible. There was much to read, learn, and apply to life as I turned page after page discovering God’s work with kings and princes of that era.

Beginning in October, I started reading through the Bible in 90 days and recently read through 1^st and 2^nd Samuel again. One story contained in these books never fails to speak volumes to me about the truths behind loyalty, honor, and forgiveness from God’s perspective through mankind. It is the story of Saul’s hatred for and jealousy of David (1 Samuel 18:6-16).

After God departs from Saul, because of his sinfulness and disobedience toward Him, David is called by God to be anointed king of Israel. It is demonstrated for us right upfront that David will be the better leader. However, Saul remains king and if David recognizes nothing else it is that Saul “is God’s anointed” leader and lord of the nation.

David defeats Goliath and from there his career as a leader among the people is established through Saul’s call on him to lead the nation’s army. He never turns back from his duty in meeting all that Saul requires of him. He never wavered in his faithfulness to King Saul.

In time Saul became jealous of David’s fame and recognition as he conquered army after army in the name of Lord (God). Yet, David remained loyal to Saul. At various times Saul attempted to take David’s life and eventually David was forced to flee from him.

Even in hiding David remained true to Saul, “God’s anointed”. David had the opportunity to eliminate Saul on two occasions and held his hand at bay in doing so. The first opportunity came in a cave where Saul had gone to relieve himself. He was left helpless in that moment and David’s men sought to take full advantage of the circumstance.

However, David thought better of doing what they suggested. In response to the urging of his men to take the king’s life he said, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” 1 Samuel 24:6 (ESV)

Later, another moment like the one above came when Saul and his men were camped for the night. David and one of his men named Abishai made their way into the camp. God even provided a moment for Saul to be eliminated by David, or at least it appeared that way, “for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.”[1] Abishai expressed to David that God had delivered Saul up into David’s hands, so his life might be taken. Again, David stayed the execution of Saul.

“But David said to Abishai, “’Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.’” 1 Samuel 26:9-11 (ESV)

Why was David willing to let Saul live? Saul had tried to kill him multiple times and pursued him relentlessly to take his life. David was literally provided moments by God to take Saul’s life and did not do it.

The answer lays in the responses David provides in these circumstances. There are two key phrases of note that clearly demonstrates why David hesitated to kill Saul. They are “the Lord forbid that I” and “the Lord’s anointed”.

David understood something about God’s workings with mankind. First, he understood that God determines our actions. In every encounter where David goes to battle with others he inquired of God before doing so. David knew and acknowledged that it was God who must determine an outcome for Saul even though moments of what appeared to be opportunity had arisen.

Second, God anointed Saul prince (king) over his people Israel meaning that Saul was the nation’s leader (1 Samuel 10). Yes, God had removed Himself from Saul’s presences, but that did not mean that God was done using Saul for His plan and purpose. He was uniquely chosen and positioned by God to lead His people. God put him there with purpose and David recognized fully that God had to be the One to remove him.

David loved Saul and his loyalty to, honor, and forgiveness for him never ceased even with everything he had gone through with Saul. It must be noted here that David’s perception of Saul was continually seen through the eyes of God. He looked at Saul as the one placed by God, anointed, to lead and therefore was untouchable by those who fell under his rule.

He saw Saul as the person who resided by between God and the people of God. It did not seem to matter to David that Saul was a lousy person, terrible leader, or corrupt king. We never see David react to Saul in other way, but in ways of honor, respect, and loyalty. He put God first in his actions and his thoughts regarding the hard circumstances with Saul. The result was an honoring of God first and then the man God had chosen.

If there is any doubt that David felt strongly about honoring Saul and his God-given position, take a look at what occurred with the person who delivered the news that Saul had been killed in 2 Samuel 1. A young man came from the battle claiming that Saul had essentially begged him to kill him, because of his injuries. The young man had brought Saul’s crown and an armlet to David thinking that he was bringing good news to David about Saul’s death.

This was not the case. David asked the young man, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”[2] There is that phrase again referring to God’s chosen. The man did not have time to respond, because David ordered his immediate execution.

“Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ” 2 Samuel 1:15-16 (ESV)

David was faithful to Saul until Saul’s bitter end. Is there a lesson in this for the believer in Christ Jesus? There is, but one must look through the eyes of God at the people around them who hate and persecute them.

David had to rely on God fully throughout his experience with Saul. He was strengthened in faith toward God with each encounter and circumstance. Steadfast love for the one who sought his life was David’s way of life during these turbulent times.

These were all exercised out in David’s life as he looked to God as the ultimate arbitrator concerning his life specifically and the kingdom of Israel, God’s chosen people. He relied on God to provide his way in dealing with Saul’s jealousy and hatred toward him. He understood that his focus must be on God, and God alone, as God dealt with Saul. Thus, love, loyalty, honor, and forgiveness for Saul remained continually in the forefront of David’s mind.

Yes, there is a lesson for the believer. We must rely on Christ Jesus to do for us what God did for David. We will experience rough and hard circumstances in life as we deal with people who simply hate us for what we believe. We must be like David as we look at God’s chosen Sauls in our lives and then exercise fully that action where God is the only decision maker in all that we do.

[1] 1 Samuel 26:12

[2] 2 Samuel 1:14