EmmDev 2017-09-28 [Lessons from Samuel] Integrity

Integrity

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."      (1Samuel24:1-6)

This is a powerful picture of David's integrity.

Let's not forget that David has been anointed as King by Samuel.
Samuel has already told Saul that God had rejected him as King and chosen another.

David could have justified killing Saul as expediting God's will.

But David has integrity:

• Towards God - He trusts God's timing instead of creating his own.
• Towards Saul - He respects the office of the king and even though the person has failed repeatedly David believes that God can still use him
• Towards his men - He sets them a good example.
• Towards himself - He refuses to take a short-cut.

This is a beautiful picture of mental and spiritual health, balance and coherence.
David's principles, motives and actions are aligned around God's will and glory and not his own.

We can learn a lot from him...