God’s Way…or Your Own?
1 Samuel 24:1-7 (NIV)
After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD ’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”
With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
Reflection
What would you do if someone was pursuing you with the intent to kill you? Would you run, hide, or face your adversary? If the opportunity presented itself, would you kill this person before he had the chance to kill you?
This is exactly the situation David found himself in. Saul, the king of Israel, was in pursuit of David and wanted to kill him. But in this passage of scripture, David finds himself in a unique situation. Saul, unaware of David’s presence, is within David’s grasp. He could end this adversarial situation once and for all by killing Saul. Why didn’t David take the opportunity to kill Saul when he had the chance?
God had already anointed David as the next king of Israel. But it would be many years before he would actually take the throne. At that moment, in the cave hidden from Saul, David could have hastened his appointment as the new king by taking matters into his own hands.
But David was known as a man after God’s heart. David knew to put all his trust, faith, and obedience in God, and wait for God’s timing to be made king. In addition, even though Saul had lost favor with God, David still respected and saw worth in Saul, because he was still the king God had chosen for Israel. In fact, David felt shame for even cutting Saul’s robe.
We may not have an adversary actively wanting to kill us, but we do find ourselves in adversarial situations from time to time. Even though it seems others want to harm us, can we look past the conflict and see that the person still has value? Aren’t they the very reason Jesus went to the cross and died? If we are patient and accept God’s timing, we just may find a spirit-led resolution to our adversarial situation.
Action Steps
Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is so much I need to learn and understand about You. I am so thankful for Your timing as You guide me through life. Sometimes it is hard for me to be patient and obedient, but when I am, I know you will always be there for me. Help me today, as I stumble through life seeking Your will. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.
After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD ’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”
With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
Reflection
What would you do if someone was pursuing you with the intent to kill you? Would you run, hide, or face your adversary? If the opportunity presented itself, would you kill this person before he had the chance to kill you?
This is exactly the situation David found himself in. Saul, the king of Israel, was in pursuit of David and wanted to kill him. But in this passage of scripture, David finds himself in a unique situation. Saul, unaware of David’s presence, is within David’s grasp. He could end this adversarial situation once and for all by killing Saul. Why didn’t David take the opportunity to kill Saul when he had the chance?
God had already anointed David as the next king of Israel. But it would be many years before he would actually take the throne. At that moment, in the cave hidden from Saul, David could have hastened his appointment as the new king by taking matters into his own hands.
But David was known as a man after God’s heart. David knew to put all his trust, faith, and obedience in God, and wait for God’s timing to be made king. In addition, even though Saul had lost favor with God, David still respected and saw worth in Saul, because he was still the king God had chosen for Israel. In fact, David felt shame for even cutting Saul’s robe.
We may not have an adversary actively wanting to kill us, but we do find ourselves in adversarial situations from time to time. Even though it seems others want to harm us, can we look past the conflict and see that the person still has value? Aren’t they the very reason Jesus went to the cross and died? If we are patient and accept God’s timing, we just may find a spirit-led resolution to our adversarial situation.
Action Steps
- Luke 23:34 has the most powerful reminder that God wants us to forgive others. In addition, Matthew 5:44 tells us quite succinctly what God expects from us. Take a few moments to read these scriptures. Do you see a correlation between these two verses and the situation David found himself in?
- If you are in a situation where you are tempted to take control away from God, step back and ask the Holy Spirit to give you the patience, faith, and obedience to give God back control. His timing is always worth waiting for.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, there is so much I need to learn and understand about You. I am so thankful for Your timing as You guide me through life. Sometimes it is hard for me to be patient and obedient, but when I am, I know you will always be there for me. Help me today, as I stumble through life seeking Your will. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.
Posted in Tree Church Daily Devo
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Don’t Stop Short of JesusThe Cross Is God’s Invitation to YouRemembering the OwnerThe OwnerThe Illusion of Self-Made SuccessActs 26:12–23 | Paul’s Encounter with JesusActs 26: 1–11 | Agrippa Grants PermissionInvited From The OutsideSurrender Creates PeaceWhen Blessing Becomes ForgetfulnessWhat A Pastor Means When They Say... | The Branch Living as Stewards, Not OwnersCreated for RelationshipThe Heart Behind the GiftSurrender GainsThe StewardFaithful StewardsOne Percent BetterEverything Belongs to GodThe Evaluation Is ComingActs 26:24-32 | Agrippa Parries Paul's ChallengeRedefining Success | The Branch The EvaluationHow You View God Determines EverythingThe Economy of Kingdom InvestmentChoose Your Category WiselyAnchored in Steadfast LoveActs 27:1-3 | Paul Sails for RomeDiscerning Between Good And Evil | The BranchLoved Enough to Be DisciplinedThe Steadfast Love of GodReturning to God’s WayCrying Out from the DepthsLiving with Wise Awareness
February
Partnering with God’s MissionBuilding Kingdom FruitTHE GIVER | PASTOR ANTHONY LOMBARDIWorship Through SacrificeNavigating God's Calling Within MarriageTrusting God’s ProvisionActs 27: 13-20 | The Storm at Sea | TCBSActs 27: 4-12 | From Caesarea to Fair HavensFrom Self-Focus to Kingdom-FocusFrom Death to LifeThe Answer Is a PersonEmpowered for MissionActs 27:21–26 | TCBSTHE CHURCH | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONDesigned for CommunityAnger, Justice and Psalms of Judgment | The BranchHeaven Invading EarthBetter Together PURPOSED RELATIONSHIPS | PASTOR MATTHEW JOHNSONLifted When You FallWarmth in the ColdProtected by the CordWhen to Wait, When to Work | The BranchOne Body, One MissionWhere Your Treasure Is
2025
January
A New Heart and SpiritSowing in Tears, Reaping in JoyFrom the Pit to a New SongNo Other God's Before MeSeek First the KingdomStoring Treasures in HeavenServing One MasterTrusting God with EverythingThe Power of InfluenceRelationships That InfluenceFinding Godly FriendsIron Sharpens IronSpeaking Truth In LovePrioritizing God's PresenceChoosing the Better PortionLiving With Eternal PerspectiveCreating Margin For God's PurposesBearing Fruit Through AbidingReleasing the Past, Embracing God's FutureTransformed By God's LoveOur Past And A Hope For A FutureEmbracing Our New Identity In ChristRunning The Race Of Perseverance
February
Generosity Begins With PriorityThe Heart of GivingTithing as an Act of FaithThe Blessing of GenerosityTrusting God's FaithfulnessSeeing Yourself Through Jesus' EyesThe Power of Jesus' CallFrom Broken to BlessedEmpowered for PurposeHope for the FutureGod Knows Your NeedBringing Your Needs to JesusFaith in the Face of ImpossibilityJesus' Power Over Death and DiseaseTestimony of God's FaithfulnessCreated For A PurposeCompassion In ActionOvercoming Fear To Share Hope
No Comments