ROOTED RENEGADE

This morning as I sat with the Lord and studied about David’s life and how Saul continually sought to kill him, I discovered a nugget of truth that many of us don’t hear in churches today.

In 1 Samuel to 2 Samuel, you read of the life of a young boy who has been anointed king of Israel because King Saul disobeyed the Lord and did what was right in his own eyes. The Lord God gave him specific instructions and he disobeyed them…thinking he knew what was best. Pause. How often do we make decisions that are contrary to God’s will because we think we know what is best for our lives?

King Saul knew he was wrong, yet he didn’t repent. He kept going in his own way. Sure he asked Samuel to seek the Lord for his forgiveness, however, Saul didn’t inquire of the Lord himself. He wanted to take the easy way out and have someone else do it. I am sure you can think of someone right now who does the same thing. The problem with it is God wants us to come to him in repentance and seeking His face for forgiveness…not through other people. Other people cannot save us!

Unfortunately King Saul never figured that out. He continued to take life into his own hands and pursued David off and on for many years. Now, most of us on the run from someone, or with an enemy in our camp, would do whatever it took to escape. Many people would also turn on their enemy and seek some kind of vengeance. For David, that was not the case. David had many opportunities to kill King Saul, yet in every one of them, he didn’t. Instead he showed King Saul the opportunities and how the Lord delivered Saul into his hands, yet David spared his life. So why? Why did David continue to let his enemy escape? Why was it so important that David told Saul about the opportunities?

This is what the church needs to be talking about. Honor and forgiveness.

David honored Saul as his king. David honored the Lord God as one who anoints. David respected Saul as king. David may not have always understood, but he still showed reverence. Something the church today doesn’t seem to understand.

David also forgave Saul, not once, but multiple times. His heart posture was right before the Lord God and he continued to forgive, even when it didn’t seem that it made any sense. Forgive someone for trying to kill you? Forgive someone for exiling you into enemy territory? Forgive the man who abused the relationship? Forgive the man who would rather you die than live? Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. Before Jesus ever called a person to forgiveness in scripture, David demonstrated forgiveness. An example of Christ when he was pursued by his enemy and nailed to a cross. When Judas betrayed Him and exchanged His life for 30 pieces of silver, He forgave Judas.

What does this mean for us? It means that we forgive in such a profound way, that we recognize the enemy in our camp, and continue to seek the Lord on their behalf. We continue to have a heart posture that is forgiving and honoring. After all, who are we to withhold it from someone else…we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So who are we to judge someone for their sin?

We honor the Lord God by forgiving. We do not know what the Lord has done or is doing in someone’s life and we cannot put ourselves in the place of God and enact judgement. David knew this. So he remained close to God and obedient.

While there are people in our life who want nothing more than our demise, David’s example shows us that through our actions, we are to honor God and forgive them.

You may be on the run – BUT GOD is on the MOVE.