Who is YOUR advocate? {Saturday’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23:13-29; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 24-25:44}

In Saturday’s scripture reading…

Saul is chasing David…and David is literally running for his life. Just as Saul is about to catch up with and trap David…the Lord intervenes. The Lord sent an urgent message to Saul through his army that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. Saul had to immediately leave to go fight the Philistines…the Lord showed up in perfect timing.

I can imagine David thought for a moment that this was it for him—he could see that Saul was cornering him…and then you get one of those “are you kidding me” moments. God knew it would have to be something big to distract Saul—so…God did something big.

And David gave glory to God…

4 But God is my helper.
The Lord keeps me alive!
5 May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.

6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
I will praise your name, O Lord,
for it is good.
7 For you have rescued me from my troubles
and helped me to triumph over my enemies.

But it wasn’t over…the minute Saul was done fighting the Philistines–he came right back to finish David off once and for all. And then something funny happens. Saul needs to relieve himself–so he goes in a cave. (Don’t you love God’s sense of humor?) David sees Saul go in the cave, sneaks in behind him and cuts off a piece of his robe while Saul is taking a leak. (Hey, it’s in the Bible…not those exact words…but that is what was happening.) And I have to say I love David’s conscience here. He chooses NOT to kill Saul…and he even feels quilty for cutting a piece of his robe.

And THIS is my favorite part of today’s reading…

9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? 10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

12 “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. 13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. 14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? 15 May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

David could have easily taken matters into His own hands. He could have easily defeated Saul. He could have easily given Saul what he deserved…and no one would have thought badly about him. Because…really—justice would have been served. OR…David could have trusted the Lord to be his advocate. He could choose to trust the Lord even though finishing Saul right then would be easier. And He could chose to let the Lord be His advocate and fight for him…resulting in God being more glorified in the end.

I don’t know about you—but I can really learn somethign from this.

Can I love someone that doesn’t love me?

Can I turn the other cheek and trust the Lord to be the justifier?

Can I close my mouth and let the Lord be my advocate?

Because too often, in our world—we want our feelings to be heard, we want to justify what is “deserved” and validate our feelings…and how we were wronged and what should be done to make it right…how our children should be treated or how they were mistreated…how business should be done…and before you know it—instead of allowing God to advocate for us and for His light to shine—we catch ourselves being hot heads, road-ragers, gossipers and wasting more time complaining than living. But I love how David was tempted in today’s reading—but he didn’t go there…

and he was bold enough to give God the glory.

Let us challenge our hearts this weekend to allow God to be our advocate and to trust Him to fight for us. After all…if He is for us—really, who can be against us? “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He alos justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31 Let your light shine this weekend…and may He live richly in You as you trust Him to go before you and with you.

Be blessed,

Andrea