1st Samuel 26 FAITH WAITS In times when moral darkness is taking the ascendency 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, a indictment of the way they live and what they believe, so they want to eliminate that "thorn" in their sides. The Ziphites were up to their traitorous ways again when they told Saul of the new hiding place of David and those who were following him.
The smoldering resentment of Saul 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. The deep-seated hatred of Saul for David never went away. He had neither honor, courage nor truth in him, 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 which had tried to take his sheep. In faith the Lord enabled the stone to strike the one unguarded part of Goliath's head. In faith he had trusted God to give victory over the Philistines on several occasions. Now in faith he waited for God to bring about the promise made in relation to his kingship. A three-year period of waiting and being hunted is a long time for one to be continually on guard. The stress of waiting is hard to endure when one is aware of the outcome ahead of time. We know in an overall sense what God is going to do. We just don't know when He is going to do it.
David did not panic nor was he ignorant of what Saul's intention was. 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 in spite of 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. 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 in boldness to do that which is right even though it may be different from anything we or others have done before. The unexpected may have a greater impact than the common- place on all who are 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.
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. When we make moral decisions, we should have a clear path in our mind as to what we are going to do and how far we are going to go before we yield to the temptation to act on what seems sensible to others. Abishai could not understand why David didn't bring the whole three-year ordeal to an end by killing Saul. When a person is led by the Spirit, that person knows what the scriptures say, and are not going to go against the mind of God 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.
We should never rush ahead on our own initiative and do what we think is right only in our own minds. We need to adapt our actions to God's timing and His purposes which may be hidden from us at the moment. 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. We cannot ignore sin and wickedness, but we cannot either take matters into our own hands. When our hands are filled with a righteous work, we can expect God to guide us when we are to get involved in another work. When we boldly act in faith in the work in which we are involved, then we can take on another venture.
It is when we take an appropriate position of faith, we can leave the outcome of an issue with God. We may have to wait quite some time, and perhaps be frustrated to some degree, but we need to remember who we are and who we serve. When David took Saul's spear and water bottle, he made his point unmistakably to both Saul and Abner. 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. We don't know how God is going to 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.
David's acts of grace and mercy toward Saul had a greater impact on everyone concerned, including the whole nation, than would have been accomplished if he had 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 in spite of 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 nor from David, nor did he indicate in any way 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 of some kind that seems to be in order, we need to think the whole matter through carefully. 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 make plain what needs to be taught. Wait for an appropriate time and place to act. When we know what to do 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 was not returned to him.
This last face-to-face connection of Saul and David seems anti-climatic, but Psalm 54 that David wrote is a fitting and touching conclusion to the relationship between David and Saul, 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 see his desire upon mine enemies."