1 Samuel_26

Scripture

 

1 Samuel 26:10

 

“Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Once again Saul and his men are hunting after David... AGAIN!!! David learns about it, goes out one night, and what does he find?... Saul and his men asleep along the hillside.-(Saul and the commander of his army, Abner, were sleeping inside a ring, formed by the rest of the slumbering  army). So once again, God had delivered David's enemy to him, and David shows mercy instead of vengeance. You see, while Saul and his men were caught napping on the job, David and his men were close enough to strike and kill them; but they chose to spare Saul and his men, and show them grace and mercy instead. 

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Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Instead of taking matters into his own hands, David trusts God's hands. David trusts in God ways, God's vengeance for His people, and God's peace in his life.

 

David had yet another opportunity to rid this thorn in his side, who is Saul. Instead of taking matters into his own hands, by killing Saul, which many of us probably would have done, David chose to show him grace and mercy. How can he do this we might ask? I believe it's because of his personal relationship with God, his trust in God. It is through this relationship and trust he has in God, that David was able to demonstrate submission and obedience to God's ways. 

Imagine if David would have took the opportunity to kill Saul. What then? Maybe it would have caused dissension among the people. Some might believe what Saul was saying all this time was true, that David was out to kill Saul because he was after the throne. David on the other hand, would have disobeyed God, blood would be on his hands, and the people may have thought of him a murderer. Instead David's choice to trust God, brought him peace of mind. He knew Saul's blood would not be taken from his hands. He would be innocent of that. He knew by showing grace and mercy to his enemy that God's favor would continue to bless him wherever he went and whatever he did. 

 

Life Application

 

We could all learn and use the faith and trust that David showed to God in our lives.

 

People are taking matters into their own hands, going out for vengeance because of the injustice they feel,  and bringing even more violence and bloodshed into this world. I know this breaks God's heart. 

Doing what David did here isn't easy. It takes faith! It takes faith in God, knowing and trusting that it is God who will bring you justice and will be your vengeance when it's all said and done! The world needs more David's. Whose willing to stand up and lead?

Father God, we need you now more than ever. We ask that you bring strength and obedience to your people as we take lead and take a stand against sin! Help us to trust you in your ways and your will. Give us patience to let you play things out accordingly. Help your people be beacons of light into a world that seems to be heading into darkness. May the rest of the world benefit from it, and understand just how much they need you. May the world remember the most heinous injustice done was to your only son Jesus. May the world remember why it had to be done. To free us from our sins. Thank you God. Amen.

 

-Moses Gaddi