David’s Integrity

Read 1 Samuel 26-28
 
1 Samuel 26:8-11 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” 9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 10 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle.”
 
HERE is a second time David has had the opportunity to kill Saul and end the king’s threat to his life. (See 1 Samuel 24 for the first.) Here is also another point in David’s life when he submits to God’s purpose and God’s timing to accomplish God’s promises to him.
    Remember, the Spirit has left Saul. The Spirit has come upon David. The great contrast of a life without God and with God is evident in Saul’s and David’s lives. Saul tries vainly to thwart God’s plans and laws. David reverently submits to God’s plans and laws. David’s question, “For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one?” defines David’s submission to God’s will. This is a deep, abiding worship of God, and this actually demonstrates David had an appropriate fear of God. He knows who his Sovereign is.
    That is worship – a daily constant response to God’s authority. The accounts of David’s life through 2 Samuel demonstrates David’s life is far from perfect. This, of course, is true for all of our lives. Aware of our sin nature, we must constantly strive to know and live for the One who holds our lives in his hand. This was David’s heart.
    Jesus spoke to our worship this way: Matthew 6:32-34 “For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
   
Pause and Consider: Saul rejected God’s ways, and God rejected him. David followed God’s ways, and God led him.