The Anointed Of The Lord

From 1 Samuel 18-24

Saul was out to get David and David and his men were on the run. They ended up deep within a cave by some sheep pens. Surely they would be safe here. Though Saul had called out a 3,000 man posse to round up David the rugged terrain near the Crags of the Wild Goats and the number of caves would provide excellent cover to avoid detection. Saul feels the call of nature and heads to a cave to relieve himself. The unthinkable happens – he chooses the very cave in which David and his men are hiding.

David’s men are about to come unglued at their good fortune. “This is the day,” they told David. “God has delivered him into your hands!” Or to use one of today’s popular phrases, “Let’s roll!” David not only refuses to attack Saul, but also rebukes his men for suggesting the plan and refers to Saul as “the anointed of the Lord.”

“The anointed of the Lord?” The men all look at Saul and see David’s enemy. Who can blame them? Who would blame David for feeling the same? After all, the jealousy Saul first experiences when the women were singing David’s praises for killing Goliath had grown into a murderous rage. Twice Saul throws his spear at David. Twice he misses. Saul sends David out to the front lines thinking the enemy army would do for him the dirty work of eliminating David (a lesson David learned far too well). But God was with David and gave him victory after victory.

Thinking the Philistines will put an end to David, Saul offers David his daughter Michal in marriage for the price of 100 Philistine foreskins. But David brings back 200 foreskins. So Saul attacks with a spear while David is playing his harp. Again David escapes. After realizing her husband is under 24 hour surveillance, Michal sneaks David out a window and tricks those watching by placing an idol covered with a garment and goat’s hair in David’s bed.

David runs and keeps running until he finally reaches this cave by the sheep pens hiding from Saul and the 3,000. No question Saul had wronged David. No doubt Saul wanted David dead. Again, who would have blamed David for looking at Saul and seeing an enemy? Who would have blamed him had he slipped up behind him and ended his life right there in the cave? But instead David sees Saul as “the anointed of the Lord.”

Who do you see when someone sins against you – when someone is out to get you? An enemy? Or do you see a brother or sister? Do you see God’s chosen? Do you see one who has been redeemed and sanctified? May God help us to see fewer enemies and more of “the anointed of the Lord.”

-- Bob Clark

10/16/2002