Saturday, June 11, 2011

I Samuel 26:9-11 NASB

 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him (Saul), for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be without guilt?"  David also said, "As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.  The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed..."

Have you ever tried to take things into your own hands, only to regret it later?  We all have, at one point or another, I'm sure.  It's so easy to say something or do something that we feel needs to be said or done.  We can be so quick to default to our "rights", but just because we think we have the right to take certain action against someone doesn't always mean it's right.  John Wesley had a rule of thumb to guide him before he spoke about or to anyone.  He would ask, (1) Is it true?  (2) Is it kind?  (3) Is it necessary?  This would certainly save us from a lot of regrets along the way.  There were occasions when David acted foolishly in his life, but mostly he was quick to respond to the checks and guidance of God's Spirit along the way, leaving us with some wonderful gems of wisdom in our dealings with people.  I Samuel 26:9-11 is one of of those gems.  This is the second time David had opportunity to kill king Saul, and he certainly would have had the "right", as Abishai argued, but this was also the second time in which he knew, no matter how much Saul sought to kill him, it was best to leave Saul's life  and death in the hands of God and not take matters into his own hands.  Anytime we think we have the right to come at someone, to tell someone off, or expose the truth about an individual, we are always in danger of usurping God's place and part, making ourselves the judge and jury and assuming action that is only God's to take. There may be times when God has clearly led, and it may be required of us, to deal strongly with someone, but this must always be done humbly and prayerfully, lest we claim authority that isn't ours to take.  This is always, and especially, a difficult course of action for those in a position of leadership, who are sometimes called upon to deal with people's actions and attitudes directly and decisively.  Take great care, because many a soul has done damage to their own soul by "going off" on someone that "deserves it", just simply because they acted more from their own emotions and impulsiveness rather than God's mind and wisdom.  At that point, any attempt to excuse our actions with supposed "holy indignation", "courage" and "rights" are only cover-ups for wrong we have now done.  The writer of the Proverbs said, "A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back... Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him... An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression... a humble spirit will obtain honor," (29:11, 20, 22, 23b).  May God grant to us the spirit of wisdom in all our relationships.  This is often like walking a tight rope, but God will help us keep balance if we seek Him rather than reacting to our own feelings.  Psalms 17, 35, 54, and 63 are classic and helpful Psalms written out of David's struggles against his enemies, the voicing of his anguish to the LORD, and, through it all, learning to keep his balance. They are worth our study and meditation.

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