Your Defender is With You (1 Samuel 24)

In the peak of the tension between David and Saul, our scene slows to take in the moments of their confrontation in the cave. I can imagine the silence of the dark, cool cave that echoed every small sound. Even the breaths of David and his men might have given away their hiding place. A drop of sweat might have been a danger...in my imagination. Yet, they went unnoticed.

So close was Saul that David cut off the edge of his robe. Cut off his robe?! Why the pity? Saul had been trying to kill David since he was a therapeutic harp player. Saul chased him out of his home, tried to pin him to the wall with a spear, attempted to convince his servants to kill David, and even sent him into battle hoping for death. After David's constant flight to spare his life, is it possible that this sinful human would still lean toward faith and hope in dealing with such a hateful person?

With a soft heart of conviction, David walked out of the cave toward the hungry pack of wolves. He laid himself prostrate on the ground in a position of surrender and weakness. It placed David without the ability to defend himself in their presence. God was the defender who would see David through yet another perilous meeting.

In their confrontation David thrice indicated to Saul that the Lord was His judge and avenger - a concept that required both wisdom and faith. David had no reason to retaliate. God promised David that He would be King. Thus it was sure to happen. Yet, beyond the promise, God gave no plan. David had to wait with hope and act in obedience until God chose to discipline Saul and lift David up. Being lifted up for others to see was an act belonging in God's hands, not David's. The stresses of want, uncertainty, and discord in David's life could have convinced other men to retaliate against Saul. Yet David knew that God was with him as he came out of the cave.

Surprisingly, Saul responded with repentance in his hatred toward David. Tears were shed and promises made between the brethren tribes of Benjamin and Judah. David's wisdom and loving confrontation convinced Saul to completely change his course of action.

I appreciate David's dependence on God. He first rebelled a little bit in secrecy by cutting off a bit of Saul's robe. Then, in conviction, realized that he must lovingly confront as well as confess. Secret backlashes are not befitting of God's people. We must deal honestly in the light with our weaknesses and our stregths as we relate with others. Our place is not to lift ourselves up against one another as if we are in a competition, but to lift Him up as we deal in uprightness by the faith and hope that are ours as children of God.

Likewise, Paul also upholds the same conduct and teaching as he faces unfair treatment. He too shows us exemplary conduct in the midst of trial. Read below and note the similarities between David's and Paul's attitudes:

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with shich you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showimg tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3 NAS)

"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and therby fultill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is notheing, he decieves himself..." (Galatians 6:1-3 NAS)

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15 NAS)

Probing Questions to Think About:
When we are surely grounded in the place and hope of God in our life through Jesus Christ, it flows from the faith in our hearts into the actions and behaviors we exibit to others. Is God's approval through the blood of Jesus Christ enough, or do we need to secretly cut off the corner of another person's robe to prove our worth to men? Are we competing with another for a prize that will not outlast this life? Are we secure enough to be lovingly honest and to receive loving honesty from others? In what way can you be building up a suffering relationship in your life?

Please remember, your defender is with you. You are not on your own.

© 2007 by Kendra Hinkle

Scripture marked “NAS” is taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.