1 Samuel 19 - Response to Leadership Failure

We are commanded to obey authority.  It is God's order given to us that we might have peace.  There are instances however, in scripture, where earthly leaders may command something contrary to God's direction.  We then must give priority to God's authority.  Saul puts out three hits on David because of his insecurity.  David had done nothing to draw the ire of Saul, but yet there was incredible animosity on Saul's part.

In the first hit on David's life, Jonathan, (David's friend and Saul's son) was ordered to kill David.  Jonathan could have diverted his activity and avoided the order, or he could have not warned David, but murdering an innocent man was against God's law.  He does warn David and attempts to sway his father the king to choose right.  Saul swears by the Lord that he will not kill David.  David is invited back into the king's home and resumes his duties.  Jonathan loved David and he loved his father.  He feared the Lord and worked to restore peace.

In the second instance, we learn that after war had broken out and David successfully fought off the Philistines, that an evil spirit came upon Saul and twisted his thinking about David.  David was playing the harp for Saul when Saul attempted to kill him.  The spear missed and David knew he had to flee.  Michal, David's wife, Saul's daughter let David down through a window to escape at night since the guards had orders to kill him in the morning.  Michal used idols in the house to make it appear that David was in bed, claiming he was ill.  The guards report to Saul (I guess it isn't in good taste to kill a sick man).  Saul ordered the guards to bring David that he could kill him, but the guards discovered the deception.  Saul was furious.  To save face, Michal claims that David threatened her live if she didn't help which seems to turn his ire back to David.

Word got back to Saul that David had fled to Samuel at Ramah, so Saul send men to capture him.  on their way to Ramah, they saw prophets prophesying with Samuel and the Spirit of God came on them and they prophesied as well.  Saul sent men three times with the same result.  Finally, Saul went to Samuel's place and the Spirit of God came on him as well and he prophesied day and night.

Lessons we can take from this passage are:

1.  An earthly leader deserves respect, but is not of higher importance than God
2.  God's command supersedes any king's order
3.  No king can thwart the plan of God
4.  God's people may not avoid conflict, but their security is assured

God could have intervened to confront Saul and protect David at any time, but He chose to allow Saul to act on his choices.  When our leaders choose evil, we must remain on the side of right (we can know right by applying God's word to our hearts).  God's direction is always right.

We are all commanded to give our authorities the respect their office deserves, but if our authorities act contrary to God, then we must rightly obey God and where possible encourage our leaders to do the same.  It is hard to speak out for God when the world runs counter to his commands, but we belong to Him and He will never let us out of His care, even if we must go into hiding.  We can trust God to stand between us and hostile forces after we have done what we can and committed our way to Him.

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.

1 Samuel 16 - King or Servant

Saul has been deposed by God and is no longer God's chosen. Yet, he clings to his title even though the Spirit of God has left him and an evil spirit torments him. So strong is the power of the world over our souls. Even Samuel fears for his life if Saul knows of a new king being appointed. 

David is consecrated as King of Israel, yet does not boldly take the position from Saul, but joins his palace as a servant to soothe Saul when the evil spirits torment. 

David might have questioned God's plan. Did God really appoint him King?  How would this take place given that the former King still lives and claims authority?  

God ordered David's steps to place him in service to the King even as He he was ordering David's reign over Israel. Young David had a first hand view of Saul's operations to learn the good and the bad; the strengths and weaknesses.   He was planted inside Saul's domain to serve the one he had already deposed. When Jesus came here to earth, he was God made flesh, our King and our Lord, yet he took upon himself the form of a servant and humbled himself even unto death for our redemption. David is a living prototype of Jesus for the people of his day, demonstrating that greatness comes in humble service where God has placed you. 

When God orders our own careers, He doesn't remove all barriers to our success, but He may choose to place us right in the midst of the barriers so that we can learn and grow from them. It may have seemed odd to David that he would be placed into servitude even as he was appointed King, but God was there in the midst writing David's story; and so He is with us. Day by day, God writes the story of our lives keeping us in His care as we navigate the mire of life. 

One thing we can rest in is this. God has said, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future"  (Jer 29:11).   This message from God was given to His people years after David while they were in captivity. Yet God had not forgotten them as He had not forgotten David. And so it is for us that if we are of Christ, we are chosen out of this world to serve a Master the world cannot understand. He works through our obstacles to demonstrate His faithfulness so that the world around might see and believe and so that we might grow stronger in our own faith. 

Have you been commissioned by God to some purpose?  Know that God has ordered today just for you - to increase your skill and wisdom and to grow your faith in the one who provides everything we need for service. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.