Twisting the Word

“When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, ‘Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.’  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks.  And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself.  Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.  And the men of David said to him, ‘Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.”’  Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.”  1 Samuel 24:1-4

Isn’t it funny how we can trust Scripture to meet our needs and desires?  David had suffered unjustly at the hands of Saul, and his men knew this fact.  So, they brought to mind what God had told David.  “Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.”  The men were thinking REVENGE; they thought God had ordained it.  Yet, after David simply cut off a strip (corner) of Saul’s robe, his heart was pierced.  Saul was God’s anointed, and David could NOT bring harm to Saul (regardless of whether Saul ACTED like an anointed of God).  “He said to his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.’  So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul.  And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.”  1 Sam. 24:6-7
I think it is awesome to look at it from God’s outside perspective.  I can see God looking at these events from His place outside of time.  He gave the words “you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you” to David.  The key to all this drama was God knew David’s heart.  He knew David’s heart would be pricked, and David would not act rashly.  We have to remember that God chose David for Himself.  Saul was chosen for the people (gave them a king after the nature of the other nation’s kings), but the Almighty chose David for Himself (1 Sam. 16:1).  God knew how David would handle this situation.

Let us be wary of twisting God’s words to suit our wants.  The downfall could be quick and harsh.  Thankfully, David did not find this one out with Saul!

kenny