It's Complicated(S1) : WK 6 - MON

1 Samuel 24:1-4
After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!

“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

Psalm 140:1-3
O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. Their tongues sting like a snake; the venom of a viper drips from their lips.

Okay, this is the kind of story people like to tell. It has intrigue and rivalry, multiple twists amidst the suspense, and just a hint of sanctified potty humor. If this were a movie we were watching, we might feel the director is being unreasonable, asking us to suspend our disbelief given the long odds against these parties all ending up in the same cave. But here we go.

The tensions between Saul and David have built over time, ever since the miraculous beheading of Goliath. David is on the run, zigzagging across the map to evade the search parties. However, the king is closing in on the small band of warriors. And then it happens – the cave.

Have you ever prayed for something only to have the answer served up inappropriately? You need the money, and no one would know if you took it. You’ve prayed for companionship, but they have committed to someone else. You deserve the promotion; all it would take is sharing a little information about your rival that isn’t yours to disclose.

David is hiding in the very cave Saul chooses for his private moment. None of his guards enter with him. He is alone. And God has promised David the throne. This is clearly an answer to prayer, right?

Picture the dramatic scene from the soldiers' viewpoint outside the cave. Saul ventures inside by himself. Moments later, David steps out, holding Saul's head for everyone to see, just as he had done with Goliath’s—and… scene.

Encouraged by his men, David sneaks up on Saul. Just one knife plunge away from ending his exile, David is halted by a sense of guilt. While it is true that God has promised him the throne, it is also true that God established Saul's kingship. He can’t shake the thought that only God should undo what He has established, no matter how convenient his current opportunity may seem.

How incredibly challenging this is! We face this same struggle, at least in subtle ways. Every day, we are tempted to step in and manufacture something God has promised to handle Himself. We take up the cause of vengeance and seize our advantage over others. We cut corners on honesty, pretend ignorance when it suits us, and use sleight of hand to obtain what we believe we deserve. But the patience required to allow God to be God is always worth the wait. So, steel yourself to take the long road rather than stepping outside God’s promises to do things your way. When you find yourself inching up on an improper opportunity in the darkness of your cave, take two steps back and talk with the one who promised to deliver you.

1. Did you have a childhood rival or enemy? Who was it, and why?
2. What shortcut have you taken that you regret? Have you asked forgiveness for it?
3. What promise God has made to you requires the greatest patience? What would you like to say to God about this?