1 Saumel 24 - David Spares Saul

LINK: 1 Samuel 24

BACKGROUND

In his pursuit of David, Saul stopped to relieve himself in the same cave where David and his men were hiding. David took a slice from Saul's robe, but he refused to kill God's anointed king. When Saul heard that David had treated him well, he acknowledged David's righteousness and said, "I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands" (24:20).

REFLECTION

This is a perfect example of David waiting for GOD to accomplish what concerned him and not taking matters into his own hands. He knew that he would someday be king, but it was not God's time for this, and in the meantime, Saul was God's anointed king. God was still refining David for the position. David's patience and trust were in contrast to Saul's impulsiveness in 1 Samuel 13 and 14. Saul had failed the test, but David was passing the test with flying colors!

APPLICATION

Have you ever had a vision that you felt God had given you only to have to wait for it to come to fruition? It is TOUGH, isn't it? There is such a temptation to "bulldoze" over anyone who stands in the way of God's dream because, after all, it is God's dream!

Road blocks to a dream are often God's way of refining us so that we can be prepared for the job He has for us to do. Do not rush His training plan, lean on the LORD, and trust Him in the midst of the waiting! Let Him develop your character just like He was developing David's!

When I am waiting on the fulfillment of God's dream, I look at His words to Habakkuk, and I am always encouraged to keep waiting:

For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Even Saul acknowledged that David would be king. Why didn't Saul give up right then and there? What do you think?

We will talk about David's internal reactions to hiding in caves when we read Psalm 57 this week. You might want to pray through that Psalm today.

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to wait for Your timing. Some of us feel Your call toward a specific plan of action and things are just not adding up! Teach us not to "bull doze" but to wait on You and wrap our hearts around You! We want to sit tight in Your presence and be in the center of Your perfect will and timing. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.