The Way Of The Warrior
We noted in our last devotional that David had three adversaries he had to defeat. The most dangerous was King Saul. We also pointed out, that David was anointed to be king of Israel, but there seemed no progress for him taking the throne. Meanwhile, Saul was aggressively trying to kill him.
Like us, David had a royal position, waiting for him. If you are a genuine believer in Jesus Christ, you have been appointed as a co-ruler with him: The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev. 3:21 ESV). So as the Lord trained David through very arduous and challenging circumstances. He might use a similar regimen with you. Remember, Jesus, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14), was trained in the natural realm: Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. (Heb. 5:8). Suffering, and hardships are great training techniques and very effective. You will be trained to be a king – the training is demanding, and it weans out extraneous and superfluous traits. Don’t be shocked if the Lord puts you into the deep end of the pool.
But the Lord does not leave you defenseless. He gives you allies, who including Himself, are willing to help you. This happened to David.
After David killed Goliath, things went well. Attention, flattery, special promotions, were given to David by Saul – until Saul got his nose out of joint. But the alertness of the Lord, provided a friend, one who became closer than a brother. Saul’s own son, Jonathan, became David’s best friend. What an irony. The man who wants to kill David, his son becomes David’s closest and faithful friend: the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Sam. 18:1).
Many moderns have tried to argue that this was a homosexual attraction, but this is simply not the case. They became great companions and were willing to die for one another. Many military comrades have knit close relationships with other men that are not erotic, there is no reason to suspect so, here. Jesus asked Peter three times, if Peter loved him, and he attested to the fact that he did not have erotic love (eros), rather brotherly love (phileo), for the Lord (John 21:15-17). John, the writer of the Gospel of John was the disciple who Jesus loved (agape) divine love: (John 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). David and Jonathan were close friends not erotic lovers.
Then Saul promised David his daughter Merab, in marriage. This was a great honor to David. He might have thought this was his avenue to the throne. But Saul switched his daughter giving her to another suitor leaving David humiliated: But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. (1 Sam. 18:19). This was malicious harassment.
Saul then gave David another one of his daughters: Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. (18:20). (Saul did not know his own daughter’s heart!).
Why would Saul do this? Because he loved his daughter? No, because he hated David: Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” (18:21). What a demented scoundrel using his daughter as a weapon against David! Saul is cunning and malicious.
After this Saul again sought to kill David. He tried to spear David (19:10); then he tried to ambush David in his home (19:11-17). David’s wife, saved his life, flummoxing Saul. Two children from Saul’s own family, interceded on David’s behalf – ironic.
This was rugged training the Lord was giving David, so he could learn godly leadership. David was witnessing demented kingship, this taught David to forsake perversity, and incorporate godly attributes. Might God use the same method for you?
David got the hint and fled. Saul was intractable. Would David go home? No. He had to leave everything. He was now persona-non-grata. The word was out that he was an enemy and a fugitive. Again, the Lord uses very austere means to train David in royal character.
Jesus, David’s descendant also became persona-non-grata. He was targeted for destruction, though he did nothing wrong. In John 11, he did something stupendous – he raised Lazarus from the dead. Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him. (Jn. 11:45). That’s great! Just as David had a great following, so did Jesus. In fact, a few days after Jesus raised Lazarus, was Palm Sunday, and the city went out it’s mind to welcome Jesus, throwing palm branches down for his entry into Jerusalem. They wanted Jesus to be their ruler.
But storm clouds were brewing. The clergy class of Jews, the priesthood: from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (Jn. 11:53). Jesus and David were targeted for death, though they brought liberation, David politically, Jesus spiritually. This was depraved thinking generated by leaders in Israel – Saul the King, and priests at the time of Jesus. Fear and pride, took precedence over godly leadership.
David was almost out of options. He had one safe place to go. There was one more person who could help David, in his time of need. Who would the Lord send David to visit? We’ll see in our next devotion.
Remember, the Lord trains us to be royalty. He makes his followers, to be honorable, exceptionally wise, and thoughtful. He molds us into people who willingly act to serve others, for their good, and for the glory of the Lord. This training process eliminates those who are pretenders. Don’t be surprised when others fall by the wayside.
The Lord sends us to spiritual Boot Camp, to learn how to protect the vulnerable and needy, by letting us experience weakness and vulnerability. David was ferocious and fearless, he had to be trained in compassion, by needing helpful hands from others.
If you are called to reign with Christ, boldness and kindness will be hallmarks of your character.
The Warrior’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father.
Help us to understand your plan for our life. Give us a sense when you are training us for Kingdom purposes. Help us realize that you are putting in us godly traits through challenging circumstances. Switch our minds from being disturbed by circumstances, to understanding you are using wide and deep methods, developing moral attributes in us, that are diamond hard.
When we come to deeper wisdom, help us to be compassionate teachers who alert others who experience troubling times, that you are faithful and worthy of their worship. Give us grace and mercy so others can witness how you have trained us to be godly rulers in our homes, and churches, and communities. You have called us to be royalty, help us to be leaders who exude noble character, for your glory. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
