However, despite our efforts, we live in a fallen
world. Sometimes we have a hand in
making something unfair for someone else.
Sometimes we are the ones who are handed the “unfair” card. When we think of the sweet psalmist of
Israel, David, we can see he walked into an “unfair” situation with a
significant person in his life.
David was in a tough spot from the beginning in his
relationship with King Saul.
Transition in governments are more typically problematic
than not. It was hard for Saul to accept
that a young king from an unexpected source was anointed King from Israel’s
revered and respected prophet, Samuel.
And although David was anointed, he was not at liberty to exercise his
authority until the current king was removed from power. As a “man after God’s own heart”, David knew
this transition of power was “God’s deal” to accomplish – not his. Author Thomas Rodgers related, “Being
anointed king and becoming king were two different things.” Although David had the right to the throne an
ungodly man sat in power and would do so for the next fifteen years! There was intense rivalry between the two,
“but David patiently waited for God to work out His program so that he could
sit on the throne with honor”. Saul
tried hunting down David and attempted to kill him. David dealt with these overwhelming
circumstances by trusting in God, acting in bold faith and being incredibly
patient. David had a very mature
understanding of God’s heart in the area of authority. Even though the man that occupied the office
of king was an ungodly man, David would neither demean nor trivialize the
office in any way. What typified David’s
nature in his relationship with Saul was patience and outrageous (from a human
stand point) trust in the sovereignty of God.
David’s conscience was tender and it was important to him to do the
right thing.
Saul’s attitude toward David was characterized by jealousy
and insecurity. Conversely, David’s
attitude toward Saul was characterized by a gracious, forgiving spirit and a
magnetic sense of security that was anchored in his relationship with God.
Although life was not fair for the fifteen years for David
from the time he was anointed King until he was officially honored as king,
David’s character was honed and refined by the “unfair” process. As in the case with much adversity, the time
in which he had to bear under the weight of injustice proved to be a time that
sweetened his spirit and forged him into that man that was “after God’s own
heart.”
Are you in a situation that is just not fair? Take courage. God is still working. God is sovereign and makes possible that the
oven or your adversity will form in you a gentleness and sweetness that makes
people want to be around you, because you are becoming “Christlike.” “For He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
No comments:
Post a Comment