1 Samuel_24
Scripture
1 Samuel 24:6-7
So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
Observation-What does it say?
Saul has been on a tirade for some time now. He has been pursuing David with the intention to kill him. During this pursuit, David is hiding in a cave with his closest companions, when Saul unwittingly walks in to “drop the kids off at the pool.” While Saul is indisposed, he is completely vulnerable to David. But David demonstrates his righteousness and submission to God’s will through humbly sparing the life of a ruler anointed by God. David was already anointed King, and would have been seen as justified if he decided to take the life of Saul. It would have been seen as his right as the future king. But, David was submitted to the king.
Understanding-What does it mean?
I sat there having a conversation with my father-in-law about slow-pitch softball and some of my recent exploits where I nearly got kicked out of another game. That’s when he said, “The umpire is ALWAYS right.” As I presented my counter argument of, “what if he makes the wrong call?” He reaffirmed what he was saying, “The umpire is ALWAYS right.” It took me a little while to realize he wasn’t saying that the umpire never makes a bad call, but what is important in the game is submitting to the authority that the umpire holds. He was saying my attitude and character are more important than whether or not I was actually safe. My dad and my father-in-law are on two completely different ends of the spectrum when it comes to dealing with sports officials. During sports matches, my dad was more like John McEnroe. It was the worst when he was a coach. I watched this as a kid and started to develop my own attitude toward the officials, screaming and yelling when they made the wrong call… when I didn’t get my way. I started screaming and yelling at the guy who cut me off in traffic. I act this way because I feel like I am right, like I have justification and the right to do it. I act as though I am sovereign unto myself. If I were to take ques from David, I would see more clearly God as being king over creation and the one who places those in authority over me. I could learn to submit to God’s sovereignty in my life, and humbly give up “my rights” in favor of showing a Christ like love to others. Later in scripture, Paul tells us to pray for rulers, so that we may live quiet lives (1 Timothy 2:1-2). To the Philippians he writes, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (2:3-4).
Life Application
Jesus, help me to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. Help me to invite him in everyday so that I can more closely resemble you. Remind me to be humble, and realize that I make some of the same mistakes that others do. Jesus, I want to live a quiet life. Guide our leaders, for you have placed them in their roles for your will to be completed.
-Tyler Galloway