FAITH WAITS. 1st Samuel 26 In times when moral darkness is ascending among people and nations, those of God's people who live by faith just don't fit in the normal course of society. Separation seems to be, to those who love darkness, an indictment of the way they live and what they believe, so they want to eliminate that "thorn" in their sides. We cannot ignore sin and wickedness, but we cannot take matters into our own hands. When our hands are filled with righteous work, we can expect God to guide us when we get involved in another work. When we boldly act in faith in the work we are involved in, we can take on another venture.
The Ziphites were up to their traitorous ways again when they told Saul of David's new hiding place and those following him. Saul's smoldering resentment burst out again, and he forgot all he had previously said to David and what he had promised. The flesh can never be trusted, no matter how civilized and pleasing it may seem. "Crocodile tears" of remorse do not mean much and are not evidence of repentance. Saul's deep-seated hatred for David never went away. He had neither honor, courage, nor truth but pursued his one ambition. He wanted to put out the light of faith that was obvious in David.
In faith, David trusted God to kill the lion and the bear that had tried to take his sheep. In faith, the Lord enabled the stone to strike the unguarded part of Goliath's head. In faith, he trusted God to give him victory over the Philistines several times. Now, in faith, he waited for God to bring about the promise made concerning his kingship. A three-year waiting period and being hunted is a long time for continually being on guard. David did not panic, nor was he ignorant of Saul's intention. He saw that Saul and the 3000 men with him had come to seek him out as they had before. He sent out spies to keep track of Saul's movements, and he understood Saul's motivation. But despite all that was against him from men, David rested in faith that he would know what to do when the time came to take action.
Waiting is hard to endure when one is aware of the outcome. We know in an overall sense what God is going to do. We don't know when He is going to do it. The waiting times of our Christian experience may be longer than our active times, but that does not mean failure. That is evidence of faith that is being tested, and that is not a bad thing. When opportunities arise, faith acts boldly to do what is right, even though it may differ from anything we or others have done before. The unexpected may have a greater impact than the commonplace on everyone involved if we break from an established routine. Some may question what we do and why we do it simply because it is out of the ordinary and doesn't always bring immediate results.
In this last encounter, David had with Saul, there are some lessons we can learn about faith. When betrayed, the importance of maintaining strong faith is a hard lesson to learn because we naturally want to justify ourselves and see those who betrayed us either humiliated or defeated. The Ziphites betrayed David, and the situation seemed desperate, but he was in touch with God, and we see the confidence of faith removed his fear. The boldness of faith took David and Abishai into the camp of Saul and out again with Saul’s spear and water bottle. His faith in God was a testimony to Abishai and all of David’s men, Saul, Abner, and 3000 other men. God can use a bold person who has the right objective in their heart. When David stood on a hill and called out to Abner, he took the position of faith that knows God is in control of this whole matter. David’s faith was vindicated when Saul faced his own vulnerability and inadequacy and returned to “his place.”
David and Abishai's visit to the center of Saul's camp, where they were surrounded by danger, seems to have been an unnecessary action at first because it did not bring a conclusion to the event by killing Saul. Abishai could not understand why David didn't end the three-year ordeal by killing Saul. When the Spirit leads a person, that person knows what the scriptures say and will not go against God's mind for any reason. Saul was God's anointed king even though he was a failure because of his fleshly nature and the evil spirit having its way with him.
Men involved in this event were Ahimelech, a Hivite from the same non-Israelite tribe as Uriah (the husband of Bathsheba), one of David’s mighty men, and Abishai, David’s nephew, David’s sister, Zeruiah’s son. With Saul was Abner, Saul’s cousin, who was like a bodyguard in the night. Abishai, a young man, had to learn from David, a man of experience, the value of the word and the ways of God. He also had to learn what to do by faith and what not to do because of faith.
When we make moral decisions, we should have a clear path in our mind as to what we will do and how far we will go before we yield to the temptation to act on what seems sensible to others. We should never rush ahead on our own initiative and do what we think is right only in our own minds. We must adapt our actions to God's timing and purposes, which may be hidden from us now. A civil war was not what God wanted between His people in Israel. Some people may be incompetent and untrustworthy, but some things God has to do Himself without our interference.
When we take an appropriate position of faith, we can leave the outcome of an issue with God. We may have to wait sometime and perhaps be frustrated, but we must remember who we are and who we serve. We don't know how God will work His sovereign will, but when we take the position of faith, we leave that to the Lord. There usually is an obvious action that we should take that keeps the ultimate goal in mind.
When David took Saul's spear and water bottle, he made his point unmistakably to Saul, Abner, and Abishai. Saul knew he could have died with his own spear through his heart. Abner knew he should have died for his carelessness, but behind it all was the Lord, who caused a deep sleep to fall upon all 3000 men at one time. Abishai had to learn that it was God who made the actions of that night possible.
David wanted to show Saul two things: first, he did not want to kill Saul and second, God was with him and gave him the power and opportunity to do that. His intent was made plain by taking Saul’s spear and water bottle, which were essential for him publicly and personally. He wasn’t going to kill Saul, and he didn’t want Saul to kill him. To emphasize this, he appealed to Saul’s conscience to consider what the Lord wanted. Did he want David to serve other gods? “The inheritance of the Lord” was Israel, and David could not participate in the nation's life nor worship at the sanctuary of the Lord. A “dead dog” is nothing to fear, and to chase a flea with an army of 3000 men is foolish.
Saul’s professed confession of wrong, unwise behavior sounded good, especially when he admitted he was wrong and ungodly. He even went further by saying he knew the outcome of the whole matter. He knew David would be the king who would replace him. David's grace and mercy toward Saul had a greater impact on everyone concerned, including the whole nation, than would have been accomplished had he killed Saul.
Saul knew David had been gracious to him. He knew David was popular among the people of the nation. He knew David was going to be the next king. But despite all of that, he never repented even though he knew he had acted like a fool. He was never humbled before the Lord. He never asked for forgiveness from God or David nor indicated he trusted in the Lord. He never asked for David's intercession with God.
The faith of one who waits on the Lord will be vindicated. When we have to make a point to teach a lesson that seems in order, we must carefully think the whole matter through. Then, we need to be sure any action we take is consistent with the revealed will of God. Be creative in seeking a way to clarify what needs to be taught. Wait for an appropriate time and place to act. When we know what to do, we should act boldly and quickly. Do not prolong a matter. Keep within spiritual and scriptural guidelines.
David gave Saul back his spear, and Saul likely understood the message implied that his spear was powerless against David. He had repeatedly tried to kill David with it, but it was really of no use to him because God was with David. The Lord is the "Righteous Judge," so the judgment of men is powerless before divine authority. David gave back the spear but not the water bottle because there would be no refreshment for Saul. A man of the flesh will never find satisfaction and refreshment in life, so the water of refreshment will not be returned to him.
This last face-to-face connection between Saul and David seems like an anti-climax, but Psalm 54, which David wrote, is a fitting and touching conclusion to their relationship. So, David put his thoughts into words: "I will freely sacrifice unto Thee: I will praise Thy name, O Lord; for it is good. For He hath delivered me out of all trouble, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies."
Saul “played the fool.” It is not only the other person who does what he knows is wrong. If we have our eyes on the wrong persons or goals, it becomes quite easy to get careless and fast and lose our understanding of the value of souls. Playing the fool is not always done by the weak; it happens to the strong, careless, inattentive person looking in the wrong direction or for the wrong things. When we underestimate the wisdom and the abilities of others, temptations may cause us to act foolishly to cover our known inadequacies by trying to appear wise to others. Playing the fool brings one down to size.
Taking a dangerous dare made to me is unreasonable and irresponsible. It's something like trying to make a tree bear fruit when it is still in the dormant season of the year. Others do not always see foolish actions, but I know when they are done because the results sometimes show that I was the foolish one. When we act in haste, we often make foolish choices that we will long regret when we act without wisdom or common sense. We need to stop and consider the real issues that are involved and what will be the outcome.
To avoid playing the fool, I must think ahead, pray for guidance, and read the word of God in the voice of reason and the sound advice I need. To impress others, hoping they will think you wise, is wishful thinking. People don’t listen to fools who pontificate. Never follow the steps of fools; they lead to the “Slough of Despond.” Do not give place to foolish thoughts or you will be a fool. Pay attention to the voice of God, and give the wisdom of God supremacy in your life. He’ll give wisdom to you.