Devotionals

David's Reverence

2 Samuel 1:1-13
NKJV
The Report of Saul's Death
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the ground and prostrated himself.

3 And David said to him, "Where have you come from?"

So he said to him, "I have escaped from the camp of Israel."

4 Then David said to him, "How did the matter go? Please tell me."

And he answered, "The people have fled from the battle, many of the people are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also."

5 So David said to the young man who told him, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"6 Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. 7 Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, 'Here I am.' 8 And he said to me, 'Who are you?' So I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' 9 He said to me again, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.' 10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."

11 Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

13 Then David said to the young man who told him, "Where are you from?"

This passage might look to you as just a story, but I want us to focus on what we read next.

2 Samuel 1:14-16
NKJV

14 So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?" 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, "Go near, and execute him!" And he struck him so that he died. 16 So David said to him, "Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the Lord's anointed.' "

When I finished 1 Samuel, I was amazed at how David wouldn't kill Saul. He had good reason too. Saul was bad and was hunting for his life.

Something I noticed is David never attempted to harm Saul because he had the fear of the Lord. He would repeat how Saul was the Lord's anointed.

He had such fear of the Lord that he wouldn't dare hurt Saul in any way. I understood why God called him a man after his own heart. This wonderful guy would seek to put God at the centre of his actions and obey him completely during his time.

I love the question he asked, "How is it you were not afraid?"

How is it we don't fear God? How is it we no longer respect His presence in our lives? We shout hallelujah but gossip with that same mouth. We clap at worship but steal with those same hands. We speak of the word but also insult.

Do we have love and respect for God in our lives? Do we honour the fact we get to speak to the King of kings? Are we in awe of His holiness and perfection?

I want us to take time today to meditate on whatever area in our lives we seem to not care about God.

I want us like David to pray to God to search our hearts, to reveal to us where we need improvement and how to better love Him.

I want us to go before God and ask Him to help us be in awe of Him, to help us keep Him as our priority.

I want us to seek God to help us glorify Him in all we do.

-etty

Scriptures:

Psalm 139:23-24
NKJV
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

1 Corinthians 10:31
NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 15:8-9
NKJV
8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

Psalm 139:23-24
KJV
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.