Read 1 Samuel 23-24 at Bible Gateway.
The LORD said of David, that he was a man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14), and today we see why the LORD said that of him. David’s band was powerful enough to deliver a city of Israel from the Philistines, but he refused to engage Saul, but rather, kept moving so as to not meet him and have to fight.
He avoided conflict with Saul, rather than sought for an occasion to defeat him and take his place. He humbled himself instead of promoted himself. Even when he had an opportunity to hurt Saul without risk, he refused to take advantage of him, but showed mercy to his enemy and sought his good and not his harm.
This is the same heart Abraham displayed, of whom the LORD said he was His friend (Isa 41:8)! He refused to promote himself in choosing the best land for himself, even when the LORD had promised the land to him, but urged Lot to take first choice, and Abraham settled in what was left over. He refused the spoil from the defeat of the four kings, so as not to enrich himself at another’s expense, but left the matter for God. Even Isaac refused to quarrel with the Philistines over wells that were rightfully his, but moved on and kept digging wells until he was left in peace.
David displays the same heart of humility toward Saul, and yielding his rights before Saul, that Abraham and Isaac displayed. We learn in the New Testament that this is also the heart of God in Messiah Yeshua (Phi 2:5-8). David also showed love to his enemy Saul, by saving his life from those who would take it (1 Sam 24:7). We learn in the New Testament that this is also the heart of God in Messiah Yeshua (Rom 5:8). In as much as it depended on him, David sought to live peaceably with all (Rom 12:18).
This is why in the New Testament, Paul taught the Gentile churches to note the ones who cause divisions and offenses, and avoid them (Rom 16:17). This is contrary to the doctrine Paul taught them, because engaging in conflict, rather than yielding rights, even if it is to our own hurt, is not the heart of God, and is not the heart that the patriarchs nor David, nor Messiah Yeshua, displayed!
May we go and do likewise!
Leave a Reply