The prophet Samuel loved Saul the son of Kish. It grieved him when he was called by God to convey to the King a message of rejection. However, he saw very clearly the fatal flaws in Saul’s character. God requires obedience in His servants and Saul’s problem was his love of the praise of men, and self justification. Samuel also knew that Saul’s rejection from the kingship would provoke an evil spirit. Men of flesh do not like losing power and authority. There would be an attempt to retaliate against his successor. All these thoughts probably were in the mind of Samuel as he journeyed to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem.
“Are here all thy children?” asked Samuel of Jesse as seven sons passed before him. “The Lord hath not chosen these.” There followed the call to the shepherd boy, David, destined to become the “Man after God’s own heart.”
David’s task was not easy for being of a humble and contrite spirit he did not wish to antagonize Saul, for was he not the Lord’s anointed? But Saul’s reaction was as Samuel had foreseen. Saul was a man of flesh and it is natural for flesh to seek retaliation and vengeance. How would you react, Brother, if your Ecclesia rejected your services after many years of apparent faithful service? Would you bear a grudge against your successor, seek self justification, or even, possibly, organize a party of supporters to reverse the decision? That was Saul’s reaction. David was declared an outlaw and hunted like a wild animal even although through acts of daring and faithful courage he had saved Israel from Goliath and the Philistines.
Do Unto Others as Ye would they Do unto you
But let us carefully examine David’s reactions to this cruel persecution. Throughout his life David refused to hurt or harm Saul in any way. He was always loyal to his king because he recognized
Saul was Yahweh’s anointed. On two separate occasions, as recounted in 1 Samuel 24:4 and 1 Samuel 26:7. Saul was within his power and he could easily have killed him and his loyal companions offered to do so. But on each occasion he refused to hurt him and was an exemplification of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). After he heard of the sad news of the disasters of the battle of Mount Gilboa when the flower of the youth of Israel were destroyed by the Philistines and Saul and Jonathan were slain David sang a lamentation for Saul and Jonathan. David, on this occasion, could have rejoiced at the death of Saul, realizing, as he must have done, that the kingship would now be his. He could, as perhaps we might have been tempted to do, have rejoiced at the destruction of the wicked Saul. He could have said that he deserved what he had got and that here was evidence of the righteous judgement of Yahweh. But that was not the spirit of David. He was not that sort of man. In this lament he only spake of Saul’s virtues, he exclaimed of his goodness and care for his people (2 Samuel 1:24) and never once mentioned Saul’s failures, persecutions, and faithlessness. Let us always emphasize the goodness of our Brethren and Sisters and if we find it needful, as we may, to administer rebuke let it be done in a kindly spirit. Despite his terrible experiences at the hands of Saul he did not manifest hatred or enmity. Although oftentimes he must have been depressed and fearful when faced with almost impossible situations yet never did he fight back against Saul either in word or deed.
In Psalm 18 and 2 Samuel, ch. 22, are two almost identical passages of Scripture. It is always wise to note that when Scripture repeats itself it is by way of emphasis. If God in His wisdom sees fit to preserve two identical chapters we may rest assured there are some vital principles involved. These two chapters are expressions of the mind of David, influenced by the Holy Spirit, concerning the time when “Yahweh had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies And Out Of The Hand Of Saul.”
In these two chapters David emphasizes that Yahweh is “my rock” and in so doing he uses two different Hebrew words. In verse 2 he uses the word “Sela,” associated with Petra, and it portrays a mountaineer attempting to scale an almost inaccessible pinnacle but having done so pauses and considers the wonders of Divine creation as it is presented to his eye. Sela is representative of “The High and Lofty One” who is inaccessible to unaided and unredeemed mortal man and yet, through the work of the redeemer and the eye of faith, can be given a vista of Spiritual glory yet to be manifested upon this earth. We meditate upon our wonderful blessings in Christ Jesus and we go on our way rejoicing. It is for this reason that the Psalmist continually punctuates his visions of glory and songs of praise with Selah, “Pause and consider.”
But do we appreciate our blessings ? We should be the happiest group of people upon earth for unto us has been revealed the ultimate purpose of God. Amongst such a people there should be no room Whatever for disputes, arguments, doubts, and jealousies. Why so often is our fellowship destroyed by internecine strife and argumentation ? God is our Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, “In whom I will trust.”
As we listen to the inspired words of David in Psalm 18 we traverse the experiences of Israel as well as that of the individual. Yahweh had delivered His people from Egyptian bondage (typical of our release from the bondage of sin). He had preserved them through the wilderness journey (even as we are preserved through the wideness of life), and He had given them rest under Joshua, verses 5.15, as we look towards the Eternal rest “that remaineth for the people of God”. David was protected from his personal adversary (vs. 17) because he had kept himself from iniquity (vs. 23-24). In considering these words we may think of David’s “great transgression.” Was David really “upright” and were his hands clean before his God? We know that David was a man of great personal integrity but in the matter of Uriah the Hittite he fell grievously. Having committed adultery with Bath Sheba he proceeded to ‘cover up” and since Uriah was not cooperative in David’s scheme’s he had him destroyed. David was revealed by Nathan as an adulterer and a murderer and on both counts was worthy of death as David himself confessed (2 Samuel 12:5). Why was David forgiven sins for which there was no forgiveness according to the Law? We know that the answer is contained in his contrition and utter repentance. Here was no mere formal expression of regret for past demeanours and a promise of intention of reformation which unfortunately is often but a facade of hypocrisy. David’s cry of utter contrition as expressed, for instance, in Psalm 51 is the cry of a broken spirit.
David’s Forgiveness Was Due, in Part, to His Way of Life
But, we should also remember that David’s forgiveness was, in part, due to his way of life. David was merciful to others as seen in his attitude to Saul and later manifested toward Absalom. He was, as a principle of life, a forgiving person who never sought revenge or retaliation. The ruling principle of his life was that of compassion and sympathetic consideration of others irrespective of their treatment of him. In his life he foreshadowed his coming “Greater son” who from the agony of the Cross cried, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. “The mercy of God towards David unquestionably was related to the words of Christ. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.” David certainly experienced the fulfilment of this principle in his life and it is summed up in Psalm, 18:35, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.”
These words are worthy of careful consideration. The second part of Psalm 18 is related to the future work of Messiah (vs. 31-44).) In these verses we see the warlike manifestation of the Immortal son of David and yet, in the context of these verses, reference is made to the greatness of God as manifested in “gentleness.” Furthermore, in verse 31 where David again speaks of God being likened unto a Rock he does not use the word “Sela” but “Tsur.” The rock “Sela” was associated with the events of Numbers 20:13 which typifies the risen Christ” who was not to be struck the second time. But in verse 31 the Psalmist uses the word “Tsur”; associated with Exodus 17:6 foreshadowing the “Crucified Christ.” It was because Christ “humbled himself . . even to the death of the Cross” (Phil. 2:8) that he has been highly exalted and will be empowered In Righteousness to make war upon the World of the ungodly. Humility and gentleness are “Fundamental requisites in the equipment of the soldier of Jesus Christ.
In the world around us greatness is usually associated with acts of physical valor or, sometimes, for outstanding academic achievements. But, and this is a fundamental principle of the Truth, true Spiritual greatness is related to the principles of humility, gentleness, and mercy. Great deeds of physical courage may be a facade for selfishness, greed, and all forms of hypocrisy whereas true humility involves a repudiation of all the natural vices inherent in human nature. A truly humble man will never be selfish nor engage in self-justification, but will be prepared to be defrauded, of means or character, if need be. It is a common fallacy that gentleness is a kind of “milk and water” sentimentalism; a reflection of an anemic attitude, but nothing is further from the truth. Gentleness, Scripturally speaking, is in an individual who is in complete control of his emotions, refusing to be provoked, either physically or verbally, always having his temper under control, refusing to be offended at the unkind actions of others and, in fact, manifesting the spirit of 1 Corinthians ch. 13.4-7, “Love suffereth long and is kind, love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, Rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
If these principles can be manifested in our communal and Ecclesial life at all times then many of our problems will be resolved because:
- There will be concern at all times for the welfare of others.
- We shall unreservedly “Esteem
others better than ourselves.” - We shall be of one accord, a unity of mind or spirit, MEANING willingly giving place to one another for the common good.
It has been said that “Humility is the secret to Ecclesial Unity.” If that principle could be understood and practiced there would be found a Unity of Spirit Worldwide helping to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One