(Read 1 Samuel 24:7-22)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Yesterday we saw how David had a great opportunity to kill Saul while he was using the bathroom in a cave, but instead David chose to spare his life. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” Saul was surprised when he turned around and saw David. David, immediately bowed low before him, as he had always done, showing Saul that he still had respect for the king, even though the feeling was not mutual. David then shouted, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one.’ Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.” David became a conduit of grace and mercy that day. By grace David gave Saul what he did not deserve, and by mercy he held back what he did deserve. Furthermore, David gave Saul the same honor and respect he always had shown him, which is a great example to us today. David did not allow the actions of Saul to cause him to act differently. David maintained his integrity, even though Saul had lost his.
David went on to say, “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” Wow. Not only did David maintain his integrity, and not only did he let his father-in-law know that he could have killed him that day, but he also let him know that he was relying on God to judge Saul — knowing that vengeance and recompense are the Lord’s. David made it clear that the LORD Himself, as his personal advocate, would rescue him from Saul’s power. David’s trust and confidence were in God and God alone! I really want to get to Saul’s reaction, but I will stop here for today and we will pick it up from here tomorrow.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Never allow the actions of others to cause you to change who you are. Saul changed when David received praise from the people and he did everything he could to stab David in the back, ultimately getting to the point where he tried, time and time again, to have David killed. However, David never changed his attitude towards Saul. David remained the same, even though Saul did not. As we will see tomorrow, even Saul acknowledged that David was the better man. For you today the lesson is that you should be who God made you to be and you must never allow the actions of others to change that.
2. If you can maintain your integrity in challenging times, then you will prove you are a person of integrity. Being a person of integrity means that you say what you mean, you mean what you say, and you follow through with actions that align with your words. Said another way, when you are a person of integrity your “video” matches your “audio” – what people hear you say, and then see you do, line up with one another. Anyone can “say it,” but when the pressure is on, many fail to “do it.” Your actions, especially during trying times, will either prove or disprove your integrity.
3. You can be a conduit of grace and mercy, and still be bold and courageous at the same time. David extended Saul grace and mercy in the cave, but he then had the courage and boldness to address the man who was trying to kill him, face-to-face, in front of Saul’s 3,000 elite forces, and David made it clear that while he was not going to touch the king, he was confident that God would. The same man who bowed down to the king after sparing his life, turned around and told the king that his judgement day was coming and that it would come from the LORD Almighty! If there is one thing that is lacking from Christianity today it is boldness. Few Christians are bold enough to say what they believe, in love, knowing that their words are going to sting the person whom they are speaking to. But if the Lord is leading you to say or do something, then you need to say or do it, in love, with confidence and boldness, knowing that the same God who loves sinners will ultimately judge sin. He is a loving God, but He is also a righteous Judge!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for loving, blessing, and keeping me all the days of my life. I know I will come up against opposition. I know there will be some who fight against me because of the assignment You have given me. But I refuse to allow the actions of others to change me. I know whom You have made me to be and I shall be that person every day of my life. I say what I mean, I mean what I say, and I follow up my words with corresponding action. My “video” matches my “audio.” I am a person of integrity and the trials and challenges I face help prove it. And since I am committed to aligning with Your Word and becoming a conduit of Your love, I declare by faith that grace and mercy shall flow through me all the days of my life. The same love, grace, and mercy that has come TO me, freely flows THROUGH me, and it touches the hearts and minds of others on a daily basis. I walk in love every day, but that does not mean that I cannot be bold or courageous. I am led of You to say what You need said and to do what You need done. If that requires being bold, I shall be bold. If that requires courage, I am very courageous. I don’t back down, cave in, or quit. I stand up strong, I say what You want me to say (in love), and I allow the same lips that are used to bring comfort, grace, and peace, to be lips that bring correction, repentance, and restoration. I am not afraid to stand up for You Father. Use me today as a conduit of both love and correction. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
