Daily Devotionals

I haven't sinned against you—even though you are seeking every chance you get to take my life (1 Samuel 24:11[12]).

At this point in King David's life, he must have felt like someone had pronounced that old Yiddish curse on him, "May all your teeth fall out except one, and may that one have a toothache!" He had been anointed by God at the hand of the prophet Shmu'el (Samuel), began to ascend succesfully in King Sha'ul's (Saul's) ranks by valiant military service, succeeded as a leader, and married the king's daughter. Just when everything seemed to be going right, the king went insane.

Sha'ul heard David being praised among the people more highly than himself, and he simply went mad. David was reduced from a leader of the army to a refugee hiding in caves. When his enemy came within reach of his spear, David had to heed God's restraint, and not touch the Lord's anointed (1 Chronicles 16:22)! He did, however, wisely make sure to hold up the proof of his innocence publicly before his former comrades, who had swallowed Sha'ul's lies about him, and were hunting him like a game-fowl. What was all this trial and denial for?

God was deliberately forming the David who would unite Yisra'el (Israel) and build Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) on the anvil of betrayal with the hammer of injustice. Having watched what Sha'ul had become, David learned what sort of king he did not desire to be.

...thank God for the chance to be trained by him, through success and even trial.

BC