Hi Folks:

We continue to look at David this week. Sometimes it takes more energy and effort not to get even when we want to. How did David handle this?

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1 Samuel 24:6-7 6

"David said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way."* (For the whole story, read chapter 24.)

A lot has happened to David since we read about him last week. David was forced to flee because of Saul’s jealousy. Saul took 3000 men to look for him. David hid wherever he could and at times Saul was too close for comfort.

In one of those close calls, Saul sought some bathroom privacy in the same cave where David was hiding. David’s men pressured him into taking advantage of the opportunity. At the last minute, David did not kill Saul, but cut a piece off his robe instead. Even at this, David felt guilty for lifting a hand against the king (v.5) .

What impresses me is that David did not retaliate even when he had the opportunity. We could argue that he would be justified in whatever he might do to Saul, for he tried to kill him several times and was chasing him through the country side. There was no question about Saul’s intent. And yet David chose not to get even or to harm him.

Its hard not to retaliate against those who hurt me. I want them to hurt in the same way I hurt. And it would be easy to do - there are lots of ways to make someone pay. I can do something to them.

Its even possible to strike back without doing something - by slowing down, making it hard for others to do their thing, a kind of "work-to-rule" strike action. More than one committee, board, or church has suffered because of this kind of non-action

And then there is the power of words. If I choose, I can say things that hurt other people. There are lots of opportunities if I want to take them.

What stopped David that day? There were 2 things. First there was his conscience. "David was conscience stricken..." (V.5) How many times have we had a second thought that maybe we shouldn’t do it after all. That’s our conscience at work, reminding us about right and wrong. Conscience is God’s reminder when we don’t have external factors to keep us in check. In verse 4, it says he crept up unnoticed. Many times no one is looking. We know we could get away with it. But then there is the matter of our conscience. At the end of the day, we need to be able to sleep peacefully, and in the morning we need to look at ourselves in the mirror.

Secondly, there was the Lord. "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing..." (V.6). David knew that he would stand before God someday, and He would ask, "What were you thinking?"

A couple of years ago it became obvious that church leaders and I saw matters very differently. I was not fired, but my time was coming to a close. It was an extremely painful time. There was a period of several months when I don’t think I slept a full night. Jan went into a depression.

There was a big part of me which wanted to kick and scream and raise a ruckus, but my conscience kept telling me that the Christ-honouring thing would be to end well. There might be those who would take issue with my ministry, but there would be no doubt as to my integrity. I went out of my way to avoid saying anything in public or in private that might make the situation worse.

Take my word for it - its not what I wanted to do, but I knew its what I had to do. In that situation I can look back with pride about how I handled myself.

I understand the hard spot David was in. And yet he chose to do the thing which allowed him to stand before the mirror and before God. May God help us to choose the same.

I hope this helps. Be On Fire.

Troy

ON FIRE is a weekly letter of encouragement by Troy Dennis. This letter published Sept 12, 2005. www.onfireletter.com