Trusting God With Your Time
For a second time in the book of 1 Samuel and only 2 chapters removed from the first event, David is given the opportunity to take Saul's life. Yet for a second time, he will not take the bait and trust his life and times to the providential hand of God.
1 Samuel 26:8–11 (ESV) Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”
Exodus 22:28 (ESV) “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
This account bears such similarities to the first event that liberal commentators see them as one event replayed in the book. But we should rather note the reason for two events is because they both happened and because all matters are to be established by two or three witnesses. David's faithfulness to God here is reinforced with this second opportunity to take matters into his own hand.
It would be important to note that Saul's men slept deeply because the Lord caused it:
1 Samuel 26:12 (ESV) they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
The Lord provided deep sleep to Saul and his men. What is the purpose of this? Twofold. First, that David would be protected by the Lord to arrive safely at his ultimate destiny. Second, to reveal David's character. Consider this heavy sleep condition compared to the first opportunity for David to take Saul's life. Saul was relieving himself, awake and mostly aware of his surroundings. Here Saul is sound asleep giving David an even easier opportunity to take matters into his own hand.
David's heart is being tested at a greater level and the result is that David's character is growing stronger in the Lord. He is fully convinced the Lord will reward his trust and obedience:
1 Samuel 26:23 (ESV) The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
The opportunities we may have to do evil for our own benefit are not there to be taken, they are there to deepen our faith in the Lord who will work all things together for our ultimate good.
It was at this moment that David penned Psalm 54 which contains the wonderful words of trust:
Psalm 54:4–5 (ESV) Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.
Now while David grows deeper in the Lord's power and grace, Saul grows ever more evil and detached. Back when David first spared Saul's life Saul confessed his evil in the matter:
1 Samuel 24:17 (ESV) He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. Consider that for a minute. Saul KNEW his actions toward David were EVIL. He actually wept over this moment. Yet two chapters later, once again at the behest of the Ziphites, Saul comes seeking David's life.
Herein lies a firm reminder to all of God's people. The more you give your time and energy to that which is evil, the more it overtakes you. We think we can play with evil. We cannot. We think we can harmlessly indulge our flesh, we cannot. Paul's famous words to the Galatians make clear the harm we incur upon ourselves as we repeatedly sow to the flesh:
Galatians 6:7–8 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
1 Samuel 26:8–11 (ESV) Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”
I don't know if I would have exercised the same self-control David does here. He is a man of the word. He knows to touch the ruler of his people is in direct disobedience to God's Word.
Exodus 22:28 (ESV) “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
This account bears such similarities to the first event that liberal commentators see them as one event replayed in the book. But we should rather note the reason for two events is because they both happened and because all matters are to be established by two or three witnesses. David's faithfulness to God here is reinforced with this second opportunity to take matters into his own hand.
It would be important to note that Saul's men slept deeply because the Lord caused it:
1 Samuel 26:12 (ESV) they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
The Lord provided deep sleep to Saul and his men. What is the purpose of this? Twofold. First, that David would be protected by the Lord to arrive safely at his ultimate destiny. Second, to reveal David's character. Consider this heavy sleep condition compared to the first opportunity for David to take Saul's life. Saul was relieving himself, awake and mostly aware of his surroundings. Here Saul is sound asleep giving David an even easier opportunity to take matters into his own hand.
David's heart is being tested at a greater level and the result is that David's character is growing stronger in the Lord. He is fully convinced the Lord will reward his trust and obedience:
1 Samuel 26:23 (ESV) The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
It was at this moment that David penned Psalm 54 which contains the wonderful words of trust:
Psalm 54:4–5 (ESV) Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.
Now while David grows deeper in the Lord's power and grace, Saul grows ever more evil and detached. Back when David first spared Saul's life Saul confessed his evil in the matter:
1 Samuel 24:17 (ESV) He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. Consider that for a minute. Saul KNEW his actions toward David were EVIL. He actually wept over this moment. Yet two chapters later, once again at the behest of the Ziphites, Saul comes seeking David's life.
Herein lies a firm reminder to all of God's people. The more you give your time and energy to that which is evil, the more it overtakes you. We think we can play with evil. We cannot. We think we can harmlessly indulge our flesh, we cannot. Paul's famous words to the Galatians make clear the harm we incur upon ourselves as we repeatedly sow to the flesh:
Galatians 6:7–8 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
But right after this warning, Paul enumerates the blessings to those who, like David resist the affections of self-serving worldliness and trust the Lord's purpose and timing by doing good:
Galatians 6:9 (ESV) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
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