Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. (vv.12-16)
By all outward appearances, Saul was in control. Saul had the throne, the army, the spears. Yet, Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him. And that made it difficult for Saul to have David around. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and made him captain over a thousand men. Saul’s desire was not to bless David, but to set him up for harm. Saul’s jealousy has made him manipulative, working a secret agenda against David. Yet David behaved wisely.
It isn’t easy to behave wisely when spears are being thrown at you. It isn’t easy to behave wisely when you are put out of the palace. It isn’t easy to behave wisely when you have powerful and determined enemies coming against you. Yet, even in the midst of all those terrible circumstances, David did. The writer of 1 Samuel tells us that David "behaved wisely" four times in this chapter (vv.5,14,15,30). In fact, he behaved "more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed" (v.30). The phrase "highly esteemed" suggests an unusual respect. David was not only honored by all the people but more significantly, he was highly respected by those in Saul's court who were impressed by his noble character.
As we come to know Jesus through obedience to His Word, we too will begin to display qualities of character that set us apart from others. James said, "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy" (3:17). This glorious word of making our way through this world can come only come by dying to self and praying for the Holy Spirit's help to behave wisely.
David's experience can be ours as well. We just need to be open to God's instruction to us.
The Truth: "I will instruct you [cause you to be wise] and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8)
