Have you ever been tempted to take matters into your own hands?
In 1 Samuel, Saul and David have been playing cat and mouse with Saul searching for David and David living in the wilderness. David has about 600 men now, his numbers are growing and I am sure he must be wondering when God would make him king. When all the wandering in the wilderness would come to an end.
Have you ever felt like that? Called to do something, but waiting on the Lord to make it happen... Then an opportunity arises and you are tempted to give circumstances a nudge. Or perhaps just make a small compromise, get things moving.
"After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, "This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord." With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way." 1 Samuel 24:1-7 (NIV)
Although circumstances at first looked like God was giving David an opportunity to kill Saul as his men urged him, David had a relationship with the living God, he knew what was right and what was wrong. And he chose to trust the Lord to bring about his destiny as king, in his time, in his way.
And the result was that when Saul realized David spared his life, he confirmed David's destiny. David's enemy became a source of confirmation that he would be king!
"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands." 1 Sam 24:17-20 (NIV)
God was working on David's heart, forming him and testing him. God is always more concerned with us having a right relationship with him, than any work we could ever do for him. And to have that right relationship, we must keep our choices consistent with his word.
Without the relationship with him, we have nothing.
"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22-23 (NIV)
