The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Friday
May 16, 2008
After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites
and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day after David's return, a man
arrived from the Israelite battlefront. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on
his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in
deep respect.
"Where have you come from?" David asked.
"I escaped from the
Israelite camp," the man replied.
"What happened?" David demanded. "Tell me
how the battle went."
The man replied, "Our entire army fled. Many men are
dead and wounded on the battlefield, and Saul and his son Jonathan have been
killed."
"How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David
demanded.
The young man answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. I saw
Saul there leaning on his spear with the enemy chariots closing in on
him. When he turned and saw me, he cried out for me to come to him. 'How
can I help?' I asked him.
And he said to me, 'Who are you?' I replied, 'I am
an Amalekite.' hen he begged me, 'Come over here and put me out of my
misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.'
"So I killed him," the
Amalekite told David, "for I knew he couldn't live. Then I took his crown and
one of his bracelets so I could bring them to you, my lord."
2 Samuel 2:1-7
David had every right to be bitter ¾ if we talk about human rights. King Saul did everything within his power to destroy King David, but David was wise, He kept his eyes on the Lord. Oh, granted, he would make mistakes later on, but at this point in history David was a man of great loyalty.
Okay, you Bible scholars, I know you are probably thinking about how David went to the other side. Yes, he went to the Philistines because he literally had no where else to turn, but they eventually rejected him. Now, get this rejection statement. "But Achish insisted, 'As far as I'm concerned, you're as perfect as an angel of God. But my commanders are afraid to have you with them in battle.'" 1 Samuel 29:9
Yes, David had gone to the other side and even fought battles with the Philistines, but he never fought against Israel. God's hand was on David to the point that just before the Philistines battled with Israel He led King Achish to send David packing. It was in that battle that King Saul, and his son Jonathan, were killed.
Instead of gloating over the death of his enemies, David mourned. He even rewarded the people who took the time to give them a decent burial. David did not give bitterness a thought. He trusted God to fight his battles for him and therefore he was able to stay in right relationship with God.
Can you imagine being close enough to God to receive such specific instructions? I honestly believe we can still receive such instructions today ¾ if we are willing to be still long enough to listen. However, the words will not just come from thin air; most of the time our answers will come directly from the word of God.
Every time I have wanted to receive affirmation from the Lord, and I was willing to pay the price of sitting with Him, He has led me to a scripture that said exactly what I needed. That too keeps bitterness at bay!
Father, I thank You for removing bitterness from my life. I thank You for fighting the battles for me. Now, Lord, help me to never rejoice when my enemies are destroyed. Give me the gift of mourning and then help me move on.
