People will hurt you. You will hurt people. Living in a fallen world, this is a guarantee and a reality we all must live with. It is in those times when our true characters are seen. Yep, mine, yours, theirs…all our characters will be tested at some point. We will all have to face the sad truth that even those who love us dearly will harm us in one way or the other.
Let’s look at David. His King who was also his father-in-law spent many years trying to kill David. King Saul was a troubled man who spent a lot of his efforts and resources as king to take David out. One day, David was hiding in a cave and King Saul came into the very cave David was hiding to relieve himself:
He came to the places where the sheep were kept on the way. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to get rid of his body waste. Now David and his men were sitting farther back in the cave. David’s men said to David, “See, this is the day the Lord told you, ‘See, I am about to give the one who hates you into your hand. You will do to him what you think is best.’” Then David got up and cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing in secret. After this, David felt guilty in his heart because he had cut off a piece of Saul’s clothing. So he said to his men, “May the Lord not let me put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.” David stopped his men with these words. He did not let them go against Saul. So Saul stood up and left the cave, and went on his way.
After this David got up and went out of the cave and called to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David put his face to the ground, showing much respect. David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘David wants to hurt you’? See, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you to me today in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my leader, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’ Now, my father, see the piece of your clothing in my hand. I cut off the piece of your clothing but did not kill you. So know and understand that I have no desire to do wrong to you. I have not sinned against you, yet you come wanting to kill me.
1 Samuel 24:3-11
David was a man after God’s own heart – therefore he understood that, in order to win, he must not raise his hand against anyone, even when they are doing him wrong. We must love our neighbor – just as Christ commanded in Matthew 22:36-40. (Also see Matthew 5:44). This is an easy thing to say, but so much harder to do.
What would happen if you were put in the same situation as David was, but with someone who has done you wrong? Would you be able to not bring harm to them? Or would you do something to “make them pay?”
Let me tell you a secret – if you leave the battle up to God, you will get your victory! The story of David would have gone very different if he had not left the revenge up to God. He would not be the revered King of Israel he became. He is still revered today as a great King of Israel because he went the way he did. Paul writes in Romans 12:19: “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, ‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord.” Some things need to be left to God to handle because we were never meant to carry them ourselves.
Let it go, y’all. Let God handle it. Why? Because David got his Kingdom, got his Temple, and is still revered today. Live in freedom from bitterness, anger, and strife. Let God do what only He can do. Don’t try to step in and do things your way. You (and I) will only mess things up.
Our freedom is worth too much to lose it over someone else’s actions. Live in peace with each other and we all win.
Pray this with me: Father, thank you for another day I get to see and for the sacrifice of Your Son so that I may live in freedom and in peace. Lord, search my heart and show me areas of my life that I’ve tried to fight battles that weren’t mine to fight, but Yours. Help me learn to lay these things down at your feet so that I may live in the very freedom that Christ paid for on Calvary. Fight my battles, my Father, so that we all win. I ask you to bless my enemies and all those who despise me. Show them your love. I thank you for all of this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Be blessed everyone!
Boldly Radiant 