1 Samuel chapter 26 verses 22-25 (NIV)
“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
Following on from yesterday’s musings, the verses preceding this portion tell us that once more, when the opportunity presented itself, David was again encouraged to take Saul’s life, but he resisted once more. He rebuke his advisors, reminding them that God would deal with Saul as He saw fit. It was not David’s job to do that.
As he once again remonstrates with Saul, we see why David is able to act the way he does, and which perhaps gives us an idea of why God chose David to be Israel’s next king. He recognised that to be a true follower of God, he needed to be both righteous and faithful. If he did this, God would be able to use David as an effective witness for Him.
Sadly, David did not always behave as he should, but by God’s grace, he always repented, because we are told that he was a man after God’s own heart.
We too, are called to be both righteous and faithful followers of Jesus. Like David, we cannot do this in our own strength. But we too can ask God’s forgiveness when we fall. We have the Holy Spirit to help us to behave as God expects us too. And thus in our obedience to act as righteous and faithful ambassadors of Jesus, God will be able to use us as He wishes for His glory.
Dear Lord,
I know that of myself I couldn’t be righteous or faithful to Your ways. I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit as Counsellor and Guide. Help me to be sensitive and obedient to His direction. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.