(Read 1 Samuel 18:17-19)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” As we learned in yesterday’s message, king Saul was sending David out on combat missions, hoping that he would die in battle, but his plan backfired and David became more popular with the people. So one day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife.” That sounds very strange. Saul clearly wanted David dead, so there had to be an ulterior motive behind the his offer, and there was. Saul went on to say, “But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.” This caveat was wrong on multiple levels.
First of all, by killing Goliath David had already earned Saul’s daughter’s hand in marriage. If you remember, in the previous chapter, when David was running an errand for his father, taking lunch to his brothers, he learned of the reward Saul was offering to anyone who would kill Goliath. The Soldiers present told David, “The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!” (1 Sam 17:25). Based on the reward for killing the giant, David should not have had to do anything else to earn the princess’ hand in marriage. Second, David did not have anything to prove where combat is concerned. David had killed the tallest, meanest, most terrifying man Saul had ever seen. Therefore, telling David that he had to “prove himself” was ridiculous. Lastly, David had already led men in combat, submitting to the assignment of the king, winning every battle he engaged in. What else did David have to do?
The Bible goes on to tell us Saul’s real reason for making the offer. The Bible says, “For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.” ” Time after time, attempt after attempt, Saul was trying hard to have David killed in a way that would not make himself look bad, but no matter how hard he tried, David kept coming out on top. And David was not doing it for personal gain. David did not even see himself as worthy of marrying a princess. David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law? My father’s family is nothing!” David was sincere in his humility. I am sure Saul did not truly want David to marry his daughter anyway, so when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah. Saul was calculating, conniving, and underhanded, but David remained faithful to God and to Saul.
So what does this mean to you today? Two things:
1. Vengeance and recompense belong to the Lord. In the New Testament Paul quoted Leviticus when he said, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD” (Rom 12:19, Lev 19:18). David could have easily gotten tired of Saul and fought against him, but David knew the Lord would see to it that Saul would receive a bad harvest on the bad seed his was sowing. So he left the revenge and recompense to the Lord. You would do well in doing the same. Don’t try to get people back for the wrong they do to you. The Lord will do a better job than you ever could.
2. Becoming the person God has called you to be requires divine patience. There is no such thing as an overnight success. David knew he was anointed to be Saul’s replacement, but he had to exercise divine patience, and endure senseless tactics from Saul, while he was waiting on God’s timing. The message here is that you WILL become the person God has destined you to become, but you must endure the process. The good news is that the same grace you will need when you step into you success, is also on you now, while you wait and develop into the person God needs you to be when the door of success swings wide open.
Closing Confession: Father, You alone are Lord, You alone are God, You alone are my king, and I worship You. I look unto You as author and finisher of my faith. My confidence is in You and You alone. I call upon no other name and I acknowledge no other deity. I look to You for all things and I know You will see to it that I reap a harvest on every seed I sow. You will also see to it that others reap harvests on the seeds they sow. Therefore, I don’t have to seek revenge on anyone. When people rise up against me, sowing bad seed, I know two things. First, their attacks will fail, because Your hedge of protection keeps me from all harm. Second, You will see to it that they reap a bad harvest from their bad seed. So I don’t have to go after them, because vengeance and recompense belong to You. I run my race with Your grace and divine patience. What I am experiencing today is preparing me for my tomorrow. I know You have great plans for my life and I know things will happen in Your divine timing. Therefore, I wait patiently for doors to open that no man can close and for others to close that no man can open. As they do, I experience Your best. In Jesus’ name.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
