‘I Have Not Sinned Against You’

‘I Have Not Sinned Against You’

Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

I Samuel 24:11

As we continue our contemplation of the life of David and the ways in which God led him to Christlikeness, we arrive at a captivating account. David was in the wilderness of En Gedi, staying away from Saul. Saul continued to pursue him like a rabid hound. On a particular occasion, Saul entered a cave to use it as a toilet. David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. The men around David urged him to kill Saul, and put an end to him as a threat. David refused. He cited that God had anointed Saul as King. It was, so far as David was concerned, up to God to remove him. Here we behold a Christlike restraint in David. The Holy Spirit had taught him the Christlike spirit that enabled him to be longsuffering, patient, kind and gracious. He was willing to wait for God to move in His Own way and in His Time. So it is that Christ does. He is longsuffering, patient, kind and gracious to those whom God has marked for judgment. They may, like an insect, have their hour in the sunlight, but they shall not continue forever. ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time, their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.’ We may, for our part refrain from cutting off those who are in positions of authority and behaving unrighteously, even though we may have the opportunity to do so. The God Who has placed them there, will remove them in His Time. We may look to Christ, and imitate Him, thus keeping our conscience clear.

Our Holy and Wise God,
we praise You, that You will do right in every way.
We rejoice that we may follow Christ, restrain our hands,
and that You will fulfill Your will, on our behalf, in due time.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning