[ DATE : 2014-03-26 ] Different Wisdom, Different Attitudes 1 Samuel 24:1~15 1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, David is in the Desert of En Gedi. 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen 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 Sauls 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 LORDS anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD. 7 With these words David 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 lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORDS 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. Now understand and recognize that I am not 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? Whom 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. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV ®. COPYRIGHT ⓒ 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Following Man’s Wisdom (24:1–3) After disobeying God so blatantly, Saul loses the favor of God upon him, and God rejects him as king of Israel and the leader of His people. Saul could have humbled himself and repented, but instead of turning to God and trusting in Him, he turns away from God and trusts in his own abilities, power, and resources, and in other people. Because Saul is so insecure and worried about losing everything, he decides to take matters into his own hands. He tries to get rid of the person (David) who is threatening to take away what is most dear to him: his identity as king. He fails to realize that what is most important is not his kingship, but the One who gave him his kingship. Saul’s fall from grace was because he cared more about his kingship than he did God. The conflicts with David further exposed his idolatry. Are you focusing on the gift or the Giver? Trusting in God’s Wisdom (24:4–15) David’s actions are completely different from those of Saul, most notably in that David is unwilling to kill God’s anointed (that is, Saul), but Saul is not (David was anointed to be king earlier). David’s men want David to kill Saul, which would have been the logical, conventional decision. However, David does not follow conventional wisdom and take matters into his own hands, but instead is willing to trust that God will bring about His plan and purposes in His timing. Trusting in God’s timing and wisdom instead of following man’s timing allows David to find comfort and hope in God, and not in himself or others. Similarly, God calls us to find comfort and hope in Jesus and what He did. Trusting in God’s wisdom allows David to show respect and pay obeisance to Saul when he is trying to kill him. Are you trusting in God’s wisdom or following man’s wisdom? Father God, thank you that in Christ, the fullness of wisdom has been made available. I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me through faith in Jesus, I may seek Your wisdom and not man’s wisdom. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen. Blessings
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:42:10 +0000
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