It's Complicated(S1) : WK 6 - FRI
1 Samuel 24:16-22
When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And 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. Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
Psalm 57:7-10
My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
What a fantastic ending to our story! When faced with a violent shortcut, David makes the right choice. He appeals to Saul based on his good behavior, and Saul responds just as we would hope: with confession and commitment. The end? Not quite.
For a time, Saul adjusts his tactics toward David. He halts the pursuit and allows for relief. However, if David adopts his peaceful posture merely to achieve this outcome, he is about to face painful disappointment. Soon, Saul will slump into another depressive state. This bipolar shift will generate even more visceral hatred and a new campaign against the former shepherd boy.
If the only reason for resisting the encouragement to kill Saul in the cave is to change Saul's heart, it's a failed strategy. But what about the change in David’s heart? Could the valuable takeaway be that, while we might influence others to do good, the most critical work is God’s realignment of my own heart? The most important reason to do the right thing is internal. God intends to change ME.
At his lowest point, David sings, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and make me right with you.” (Psalm 51:10). In Acts 13, as Paul preaches to the people of Antioch, he quotes God’s description of David as “a man after My own heart.” (v.22) While we might hope for change in others, we know for sure that God is growing us.
The love of God so fills David's heart that he will honor his promise despite Saul’s fickle moods. Even though the king’s hatred never wanes, the future king will protect Saul’s family. David’s heart is awake with God’s unfailing love.
The next time you grapple with the complicated reality that doing the right thing doesn’t guarantee a suitable response from others, turn to the story of David in the cave. Draw strength from this glimpse into a real-life faith struggle and ask God to give you a clean heart. On stormy days and in clear ones, may you sing praises to Almighty God for His unfailing love.
When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. And 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. Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
Psalm 57:7-10
My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises!
Wake up, my heart! Wake up, O lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
What a fantastic ending to our story! When faced with a violent shortcut, David makes the right choice. He appeals to Saul based on his good behavior, and Saul responds just as we would hope: with confession and commitment. The end? Not quite.
For a time, Saul adjusts his tactics toward David. He halts the pursuit and allows for relief. However, if David adopts his peaceful posture merely to achieve this outcome, he is about to face painful disappointment. Soon, Saul will slump into another depressive state. This bipolar shift will generate even more visceral hatred and a new campaign against the former shepherd boy.
If the only reason for resisting the encouragement to kill Saul in the cave is to change Saul's heart, it's a failed strategy. But what about the change in David’s heart? Could the valuable takeaway be that, while we might influence others to do good, the most critical work is God’s realignment of my own heart? The most important reason to do the right thing is internal. God intends to change ME.
At his lowest point, David sings, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and make me right with you.” (Psalm 51:10). In Acts 13, as Paul preaches to the people of Antioch, he quotes God’s description of David as “a man after My own heart.” (v.22) While we might hope for change in others, we know for sure that God is growing us.
The love of God so fills David's heart that he will honor his promise despite Saul’s fickle moods. Even though the king’s hatred never wanes, the future king will protect Saul’s family. David’s heart is awake with God’s unfailing love.
The next time you grapple with the complicated reality that doing the right thing doesn’t guarantee a suitable response from others, turn to the story of David in the cave. Draw strength from this glimpse into a real-life faith struggle and ask God to give you a clean heart. On stormy days and in clear ones, may you sing praises to Almighty God for His unfailing love.
- If you could change one thing about you, what would it be?
- What would you like to ask God to cleanse?
- What do you praise God for today?
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