Thursday, November 5, 2015
My Bible reading has taken me to 1 Samuel 24. This is when David, having barely escaped from Saul many times, now hides in a cave with 600 men, and Saul pursuing him, went into the very same cave David was hiding, unexpecting and defenseless.
At that point, David's men having seen Saul stumble into the cave, urged David to claim his right to kingship and kill Saul. What David does in his circumstances is nothing short of amazing and humbling. Listing out the things that would encourage him to kill Saul:
- David was anointed by the LORD to ascend the throne, and in hundreds of caves, Saul had to enter the same one which David was hiding in: God's deliverance.
- David was being subjected to pressure from his men, peers, juniors and seniors whom he had to respect and show an example for.
- David had been running away from Saul for a prolonged period. He has lost his home, his homeland, and everything he loved.
- David has been living in tough conditions, no friends, no material comforts, and seemingly no way out. He was extremely weary.
- David had the right to avenge himself since he basically did nothing wrong against Saul.
- David was an enemy of Saul, and Saul was a vexing thorn on his side. - David has an obligation to the men and his family with him to provide them with a more comfortable life.
Need there be any further more reasons he needs to kill Saul then and there? Besides, it was definitely God's providence that led Saul into the very same cave David was hiding in. What greater sign is needed to answer God's call to kingship?
Yet David knew murder is a sin in the sight of the LORD. He knew if he killed Saul then all things above would become justified, even though he would have committed murder, after all how different would it be from killing the Philistines? In a remarkable act of willpower, self-control, and faith, David only cut off a piece of the skirt of Saul. And as Saul left the cave, David's response to him was nothing short of humbling.
- He addressed Saul not only as king, but as the LORD's anointed. Giving deference to the elder man, and remembering that God never makes a mistake in his appointment of Saul as king.
- He gave respect to Saul as a servant to a king, obeying his earthly master.
- He called Saul 'father' to emphasise that he still loved the man and king that he served from his youth.
- His heart was sensitive enough that even cutting off the skirt of Saul resulted in him feeling guilt.
- He promised to preserve the line of his assailant and murderer.
- He regarded himself as a mite, an insignificant creature in comparison with king Saul.
David had a heart that understood God's will so well. His conscience was so attuned to God's heart that he obeyed the Lord, even knowing that he would have to continue to suffer being an innocent fugitive. He even probably had to pack up run from the cave after that incident! Amidst all the pressure, temptation, and justification to kill Saul, David's faith was greater than all that, and his humility towards all others was unsurpassed. He embodied servant leadership right from the heart. It is of no surprise that David was called a man after God's own heart. No surprise that David is Israel's Greatest King yet!
"And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:27)
Examining myself and my attitude in light of recent events. I labelled myself as zealous and overbearing, sometimes too pushy and impatient in wanting to get my points across. It was an accurate assessment of self. But examining this deeper, this zealous attitude of mine comes from a lack of humility. Being more experienced and wiser to a matter does not give me any more right to take any higher ground, moral or otherwise, to get a point across, because underneath that higher ground is a sinful nest of smugness. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12) So many verses point to the falling of men because they elevated their position above others. Moses fell in the same way too. And as I read 1 Samuel 24 once more, I am reminded foremost to remain humble, even in a position of experience and wisdom as David did, lest I fall due to my conceit.
O merciful Lord, give me a humble heart like David, that I may learn to be humble and serve even when You have granted me experience and maturity in matters of life. || posted by Kuan Hui
At that point, David's men having seen Saul stumble into the cave, urged David to claim his right to kingship and kill Saul. What David does in his circumstances is nothing short of amazing and humbling. Listing out the things that would encourage him to kill Saul:
- David was anointed by the LORD to ascend the throne, and in hundreds of caves, Saul had to enter the same one which David was hiding in: God's deliverance.
- David was being subjected to pressure from his men, peers, juniors and seniors whom he had to respect and show an example for.
- David had been running away from Saul for a prolonged period. He has lost his home, his homeland, and everything he loved.
- David has been living in tough conditions, no friends, no material comforts, and seemingly no way out. He was extremely weary.
- David had the right to avenge himself since he basically did nothing wrong against Saul.
- David was an enemy of Saul, and Saul was a vexing thorn on his side. - David has an obligation to the men and his family with him to provide them with a more comfortable life.
Need there be any further more reasons he needs to kill Saul then and there? Besides, it was definitely God's providence that led Saul into the very same cave David was hiding in. What greater sign is needed to answer God's call to kingship?
Yet David knew murder is a sin in the sight of the LORD. He knew if he killed Saul then all things above would become justified, even though he would have committed murder, after all how different would it be from killing the Philistines? In a remarkable act of willpower, self-control, and faith, David only cut off a piece of the skirt of Saul. And as Saul left the cave, David's response to him was nothing short of humbling.
- He addressed Saul not only as king, but as the LORD's anointed. Giving deference to the elder man, and remembering that God never makes a mistake in his appointment of Saul as king.
- He gave respect to Saul as a servant to a king, obeying his earthly master.
- He called Saul 'father' to emphasise that he still loved the man and king that he served from his youth.
- His heart was sensitive enough that even cutting off the skirt of Saul resulted in him feeling guilt.
- He promised to preserve the line of his assailant and murderer.
- He regarded himself as a mite, an insignificant creature in comparison with king Saul.
David had a heart that understood God's will so well. His conscience was so attuned to God's heart that he obeyed the Lord, even knowing that he would have to continue to suffer being an innocent fugitive. He even probably had to pack up run from the cave after that incident! Amidst all the pressure, temptation, and justification to kill Saul, David's faith was greater than all that, and his humility towards all others was unsurpassed. He embodied servant leadership right from the heart. It is of no surprise that David was called a man after God's own heart. No surprise that David is Israel's Greatest King yet!
"And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:27)
Examining myself and my attitude in light of recent events. I labelled myself as zealous and overbearing, sometimes too pushy and impatient in wanting to get my points across. It was an accurate assessment of self. But examining this deeper, this zealous attitude of mine comes from a lack of humility. Being more experienced and wiser to a matter does not give me any more right to take any higher ground, moral or otherwise, to get a point across, because underneath that higher ground is a sinful nest of smugness. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. 10:12) So many verses point to the falling of men because they elevated their position above others. Moses fell in the same way too. And as I read 1 Samuel 24 once more, I am reminded foremost to remain humble, even in a position of experience and wisdom as David did, lest I fall due to my conceit.
O merciful Lord, give me a humble heart like David, that I may learn to be humble and serve even when You have granted me experience and maturity in matters of life. || posted by Kuan Hui
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