God's Way

"Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, 'Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.' Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. The men of David said to him, 'Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, "Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you."' Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, 'Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.' David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way. Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, "Behold, David seeks to harm you"? Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, "I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed." Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.'" -1 Samuel 24.1-12

Saul has been pursuing David, seeking to kill him, because he is a threat to Saul's reign. David has been on the run, fleeing and hiding out, evading Saul, but for the first time, David has the upper hand. David and his men are hiding in a cave at Engedi, and Saul enters the same cave. David's men tell him that God has delivered Saul into his hands. From a human stand point David's troubles are over, but David seeks to do things God's way, and refuses to harm the king. Instead he cuts off the edge of Saul's robe, and after Saul leaves the cave David pursues him, showing him that he has spared his life.

All David had to do was stab Saul in the back, literally, and his days of hiding out in the wilderness would have been over. He could have killed the king, and assumed his God appointed role as king, but David knew that was not God's way, and refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His actions showed Saul, for the moment, that he had no intention of stealing the throne. By doing things God's way, David was not a usurper, but the rightful king.

Men, how do you do things? Do you focus on doing things God's way, enduring the hardships, waiting on His timing? Or do you see an advantage and take it without considering what may follow? When the world tells you to do what is easy, do you hear God telling you to do what is right? There is a proper way to do things, and then there is the easy way. Doing things the easy way may be faster, but it will bring about future consequences that could have been avoided by doing things God's way.

David could have taken Saul's life, but then more people would have been after David for killing the king. Saul's family would have reason to pursue David, and now he is fighting a different battle. David would have had to answer to the nation for his actions, and would have faced God's judgment for killing His anointed leader. However, because David didn't take the easy way, his reign began legitimately and guiltless.

Let us be men who refuse to take the easy way. Let us be men who endure the hardships and pursue God's way.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Pictures from Engedi.