Monday 18 March, 2013

26 Some people from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah. They said, “David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah. It faces Jeshimon.” 2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph. He took 3,000 of the best soldiers in Israel with him. They went to the desert to look for David. 3 Saul set up his camp beside the road. It was on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon. But David stayed in the desert. He saw that Saul had followed him there. 4 So he sent out scouts. From them he learned that Saul had arrived. 5 Then David started out. He went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp. The army was camped all around him. Abner was commander of the army. He was the son of Ner. 6 Then David spoke to Ahimelech, the Hittite. He also spoke to Joab’s brother Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai. 7 So that night David and Abishai went into the camp. They found Saul lying asleep inside the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. So let me pin him to the ground. I can do it with one jab of my spear. I won’t even have to strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! No one can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed king and not be guilty. 10 You can be sure that the Lord lives,” he said. “And you can be just as sure that the Lord himself will strike Saul down. Perhaps he’ll die a natural death. Or perhaps he’ll go into battle and be killed. 11 May the Lord keep me from laying a hand on his anointed king. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s leave.” 12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai left. No one saw them. No one knew about what they had done. In fact, no one even woke up. Everyone was sleeping. That’s because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. 13 David went across to the other side of the valley. He stood on top of a hill far away from Saul’s camp. There was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner, the son of Ner. He said, “Abner! Aren’t you going to answer me?” Abner replied, “Who is calling out to the king?” 15 David said, “You are a great soldier, aren’t you? There isn’t anyone else like you in Israel. So why didn’t you guard the king? He’s your master, isn’t he? Someone came into the camp to destroy him.

Saul continues to pursue David, intending on harming him.

David has integrity and once again even with an opportunity chooses not to kill Saul.

David knows he is the anointed king.  He also knows that at this time it is not God’s time to move.

How often do we have a strong sense from God of our future and then go about trying to make it happen?  David is not prepared to do this and try to force God’s hand; he has patience, even when others around him do not.

I am reminded that in both Peter and James we read, ‘humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up’.  In work, ministry, leadership – indeed life in general this is a very powerful principle!

Father, help me to live with integrity in all I do, especially with those who lead me.  Help me to respect and honour their leadership and so see your kingdom come.  Father where I have dreams I submit them to Your timing – help me to do Your will at Your time!

Written by Ps. Richard Botta