1 Samuel 26:9-11 – But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.
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This account reads much like the account from chapter 24, where David had the opportunity to kill Saul in the cave. Saul Is again pursuing David unrighteously. David again has Saul in his grasp. David again receives counsel from a friend saying that this is the opportunity from God for David to avenge himself. But, David again refuses to strike the LORD’s anointed.
David did not fall for the counsel of a friend who counseled him wrongly. Even though that friend tried to make the counsel look spiritual, David recognized it as not from God. In our own world, we need to be very careful about how we receive the counsel from others. Sure, they may be able to build a circumstantial case that makes their plan look like it is from God, but we must be even more wise. We must know what God has called us to in his word, and we must never waver from that.
Also, I personally am challenged by David’s words to take the long view of difficult situations. David recognized that God, in his own timing, would take care of Saul. David would not kill Saul. Instead, David said that he trusted that Saul might die in battle, or the Lord might strike him down. If neither of those things would happen, Saul would just die of old age, but David would not strike him. This attitude of David’s is good. So often, we see things that need to be changed, but we can not change them without going against a biblical principle. In such cases, we need to trust God, like David did here, to take care of the circumstances so that we need not violate one biblical principle for the sake of another.
Dear LORD, I again come to you and I ask that you would grant me the wisdom to ignore the counsel of people who do not speak your word and your will. No matter how spiritual they can make it look, I pray that I will not fall for it. I also ask that you will help me to remember your sovereign hand. Help me to remember that you are in control, and that you will work circumstances out for good and for your glory. Let me never violate your principles for the sake of even other good principles. I want to obey you and your word fully.
Pastor Travis Peterson 