Joel M Bradshaw

1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.–1 Samuel 24

Rather than ask what you would do, instead simply pay attention to what David did in fact do and not do. David’s God was more important than his problems. He received good advice to kill Saul. It was even decent theology. The situation sure appeared that God sovereignly arranged for them to be in the same cave. But David prioritized God over himself. It didn’t matter how right something seemed. If it communicated being against God in any way, then David would have no part of it. He even felt guilty for cutting off the corner of the garment. No matter how rotten Saul was, he was still God’s anointed. ‘Anointed’ translates the Hebrew word for Messiah. Just saying. Laying a hand on Saul would have presented not only legal but theological problems for David.

My goodness, this is an example for us. Theology affecting morality. Worship changing life. Such a counter-cultural moment.–JMB