Justice.
There is something deep inside of each of us that cries out for it. Especially in how people treat us. Someone talks about us behind our backs and we want justice. Someone is rude, or even mean to us, and we want justice. Someone treats us unfairly and we want justice.
We rise up in our own defense, an argument ensues, we wage a verbal war over our vindication. But more often than we would like to admit we come away frustrated, feeling like our words did no good, and the war lives on.
King David was only a boy when Samuel anointed him to be King over Israel after Saul. David loved God, and was a good man, and even though he knew the throne would rightfully be his one day he never actually tried to take it from his predecessor. God gave him favor, he became a great warrior for Saul and a favorite in Saul’s household, a best friend to Saul’s son. But Saul was eaten up with jealousy and slowly going mad. Saul only saw David as a threat, even though David never threatened him. Saul wanted David dead, and eventually drove David away from his home and into the wilderness, where he had to hide out or take refuge with Israel’s enemies. A hunted man, who had done no wrong.
If anyone had a just cause for coming to their own defense it was David. If anyone had a just cause for overthrowing a King it was David! David was anointed by God! He was rightful heir to the throne! David’s life was being threatened! Saul was trying to kill him! In any court of law today David would have had been able to plead self-defense if he chose to take up arms against Saul.
But you know what? He never did it.
Not once did David threaten Saul’s life. He swore that he never would. Even when Saul was seemingly put right into his hands he refused to hurt him. Not once, but twice David caught Saul completely unawares, was able to come close enough to him to cut a piece from his robe or steal the spear that lay right next to him without Saul ever being the wiser. Even David’s men would tell him, “Look! Your plight has been seen by God Himself! He has put your enemy in your hands! Kill him!”
But David refused.
So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.” But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.” Samuel 26:7-11
Why didn’t David raise his own hand in his own defense?
Because he trusted God.
David recognized that God had also anointed Saul, and also understood that God was in charge of the situation. God had promised David the throne, but that didn’t mean David had the right to take it for himself. God would give it to him.
Of course, if you thought this was easy for David, you’re really not paying attention to the story.
Deliver me from my enemies, O God; be my fortress against those who are attacking me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from those who are after my blood. See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, Lord. I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! Psalm 59:1-4
You can hear his anguish in so many of his psalms, and many were written at this time, in the wilderness, a hunted man. But still, I think there is another fight going on during this time. I think there is a fight going on in David’s heart. A fight to trust God, rely on Him, no matter what.
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. Psalm 59:16-17
Can we do that? Can we fight the battle in our hearts to trust Him to be our defense and advocate?
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19
I don’t think God wants us to just lay down and be a doormat, but have you ever noticed that in so many situations, engaging in the fight just doesn’t solve anything? But its so hard! I know it’s hard. The reason I’m writing this post is because this is something God has been teaching me lately. I was not treated very nicely and oh how I wanted to defend myself! I hated staying in the background. I hated not engaging in the argument. I was being treated unjustly and wanted it to stop!
But speaking would have just wasted words and created further hurt on both sides.
I wonder if God would have been able to bless David as much as He was able to if David had taken things into his own hands. He would have been a usurper, instead most everyone recognized him as the rightful King. He gained respect by how he dealt with Saul. Because he trusted God to be his defense.
If you would like to read more of the story of David and Saul it can be found in 1 Samuel 16-31
~Joy Aletheia Stevens
Photo Credit: by Brian Turner (CC BY 2.0)
Photo Credit: by Romain Guy (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo Credit: by Terry Johnston (CC BY 2.0)
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