(Read 1 Samuel 24:16-22)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Sometimes on Fridays I provide a recap of the week’s teaching, but since I left you with somewhat of a cliffhanger yesterday, I could not continue to leave you hanging again today. Let’s closeout chapter 24.
After David confronted Saul, making it clear that he had caught the king with his pants down (literally) and that he could have easily killed him in the cave, David made two things clear to Saul. First, David told Saul that the Lord Himself would judge between the two men and see to it that each of them received what they had coming. Second, David’s confidence was in the Lord Almighty and he was convinced that every one of Saul’s attacks would fail. Saul had thousands of men, but David had the protection of the Almighty God.
When David had finished speaking, Saul was convicted. To this point Saul was somehow convincing himself that he was right and that David was wrong. I believe deep down inside Saul knew it was not true, and he knew he was outside of the will of God. But as people often do when they are in error, he did a good job of convincing himself otherwise until this incident brought his error to the forefront of his mind and heart. Saul said, “Is that really you, my son David?” By calling him “son” he was acknowledging that David had not really done anything wrong to him and as he thought of David as the husband of his daughter and the best friend of his son, Saul began to cry. The king was crying, in front of his 3,000 elite Soldiers, and in tears he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.”
Saul broke down and acknowledged that David was the better man and he finally accepted the fact that David would be his successor as King of Israel. Any illusions Saul had of Jonathan taking over fled his mind as he realized that the Lord’s hand was on David to rule the nation. With that understanding, Saul asked, “Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back into the cave.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Sooner or later even your enemies wind up acknowledging the favor God on your life. Even though Saul had been trying to kill David for a long time, he finally had to acknowledge that God was with David and that there was nothing he could do to stop him. I have personally experienced this. I have had people rise up against me, without me doing anything to them, only to later acknowledge that I had not done anything wrong and that they were the ones in error. These same people also reluctantly acknowledge that I am a blessed man. They may not even know God, but they recognize the fact that there is something/someone greater than me operating in my life, opening doors that no man can close. If this has not happened to you yet, just keep pursuing your purpose and it will.
2. No one can put a “NO” where God put a “YES” for you. No one except you, that is. When you fail to cooperate with God you make it hard for Him to operate in your life, but when you are submitted to His will, and pursuing His purpose, no man can stop what the Lord starts in your life. No one! Saul was a king and he could not stop David. The same will hold true for you.
3. Refuse to violate the commandment of LOVE. Even though Saul repeatedly attempted to kill David, and even though he had made David’s life miserable, when Saul asked David to show kindness to him and his family, David obliged and took an oath to do so. David did not hold a grudge. David did not allow Saul’s actions to cause a callous to develop over his heart. David resisted bitterness and unforgiveness. David operated in LOVE and if you want to experience God’s best you must, at all costs, maintain the commandment of LOVE. Once you are out of LOVE, then you are clearly outside of God’s will. But you may say, “Hold on Rick. You don’t know what they did to me!” To which I will respond, “God’s LOVE is one-sided, so it does not matter what they did or failed to do. The Father expects you to walk in LOVE every day of your life. LOVE opens the door to His best.”
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for making plans for me before I was born. I declare by faith that I discern what Your Kingdom plans and purposes are for me and I pursue them all the days of my life. I know I will experience opposition along the way, and some may even oppose me to the point where they consider themselves to be my enemies, but I know that even my enemies will someday acknowledge Your hand upon my life. No one can put a “NO” where You have put a “YES” for me. No enemy can derail me from my destiny. So I keep my eyes stayed on You, as both the author and finisher of my faith, and my confidence in You enables me to remain focused on my purpose and not my opposition. And Father, I refuse to violate Your commandment of LOVE. I LOVE with Your LOVE everyday of my life. I never repay evil with evil. I repay evil with good. I show mercy and grace towards those who rise up against me. I pray for my enemies with relentless compassion. I intercede for those who come up against me, because I know two things. First, their attacks against me will fail. Second, they are coming up against Your anointed and they don’t know how dangerous that is. So I pray for them in earnest, I walk in Your LOVE daily, and I experience Your best everyday, in every way. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
