A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

David’s Submission to the Will of God -1 Samuel 26:1-25, 2 Samuel 12:15-25

Saul was told by the people of Ziph that his enemy David had gone into hiding somewhere, and Saul took 3000 of his soldiers to find out where David was hiding, with the aim of killing him. David got to know about Saul’s plan to slay him, so he sent out spies to inquire whether Saul had really come after him. After he had found this to be true, he went by night with Abishai to where Saul and his soldiers were, They moved very secretly that no one saw them They met Saul and his soldiers asleep, including Abner, his commander.

At once, Abishai sought permission from David to kill Saul, by pinning him to the earth with a spear. But David restrained him, saying he will not spill the blood of God’s anointed:

“But David said to Abishai – Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless? As the Lord lives, the Lord will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should put forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed; but, take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water and let us go” (1 Samuel 26:9-11)

Thus, David spared the life of someone planning to kill him. He ordered Abishai to remove his (Saul’s) spear and cruse (jar) of water, instead, as they went away. Having gone a hearing distance, David raised his voice and called Abner, Saul’s aide and rebuked him for his security lapse over the king. He therefore pronounced that Abner deserved to die because of his failure to give God’s anointed adequate protection. While rebuking Abner, Saul woke up, and discovering that it was David talking, David demanded from him why he wanted him dead for no just cause

Saul was full of guilt and remorse for his action. He thanked David for sparing his life and swore never to attempt killing David again, as David gave him back his spear and jar. Saul then blessed David abundantly. David spared Saul’s life because he (David) respected God and feared Him. This is an act of submission to God’s will.

Again, we learn about David’s submission to the divine will of God in 2 Samuel 12:15-25, when David sent Uriah the Hittite to the war front to die so as to take his wife. Accordingly, Uriah was killed and he (David) took his wife Bath-Sheba and slept with her. Bathsheba bore a son. Now God was exceedingly annoyed over’

David’s action that He inflicted sickness on the baby. He sent Prophet Nathan to rebuke him. David fasted and prayed fervently for the boy’s life, lying on the ground and refusing to eat. On the seventh day, the boy died. As soon as the boy died, he rose up, washed, anointed himself and ate, taking in good faith God’s declaration and action.

David had a very forgiving spirit. Abner, Saul’s aide contributed so much in building the house of Saul his master. Saul’s son, Ishbosheth accused Abner of sleeping with one of Saul’s concubines. Out of anger for such accusation, Abner therefore transferred his loyalty to David, taking along twenty men from Saul’s camp: David forgave them and made a feast for them. However, unknown to David, his commander, Joab killed Abner secretly, avenging the death of his brother, Asahel who died in Abner’s hands.

Summary

1. David found King Saul (God’s anointed) asleep with his soldiers but refused to kill him, thereby submitting to the will of God.
2. He ordered Abishai to take Saul’s spear and a cruse or jar of water which he later sent back after blaming Abner.
3. David also submitted to the will of God by stopping his fasting when he discovered that the child of adultery whom God afflicted with a sickness had died.
4. David feared God, was realistic and accepted God’s will.

Lessons To Learn

1. We must not plan to kill those who hate us and want to kill us, but hand them over to God.
2. The best and final judgement belongs to God.
3. May we not allow SELF to push us against God’s will. For as many as are led by God’s spirit are God’s sons.
4. The ability to recognize God’s will should always be prayed for.

David’s Repentance and Forgiveness: 2 Samuel 3:139; 11; 12:1-15

After David had killed Uriah and taken his wife, God sent Prophet Nathan to rebuke David because God became very annoyed with David over his act. His act amounted to committing two sins at the same time – murder and adultery. Nathan the prophet came and narrated to David all the punishment God had lined up for him.

David’s Punishment

1. The sword will never depart from his house.
2. God would raise evil against him out of his own house.
3. His neighbour will sleep with his wives before his own eyes and publicly too (2 Samuel 12:10-12).
4. The child to be born would die.

However, David repented whole heartedly and God forgave him accordingly and removed the death sentence over him. But God inflicted a sickness on the child which the woman (Uriah’s wife) gave birth to and he died. David’s speech of repentance goes thus:

“I have sinned against the Lord.”

(2 Samuel 12: 13)

Lessons to Learn From David’s Submission to the Will of God; His Forgiving Spirit, His Repentance and Forgiveness.

1. He is someone who fears God and submits himself to him.
2. He respects the will of God – he took the child’s death as the will of God. This is total submission.
3. His submission also reflects in his decision never to slay God’s anointed.
4. Once we submit ourselves to the will of God, God can never allow harm to befall us. He honours those who honour him.
5. Vengeance belongs to God. We should not revenge.
6. We should live our lives in harmony with God and our fellow men and women.
7. Those who fear the Lord prosper.
8. As we submit to God, we should also submit to constituted authority since the bible says that all authority are from the Lord. Our military rulers should avoid coups since it amounts to insubordination.
9. Whatever experiences we have, we should take it as the will of God.
10. David has a forgiving spirit as shown in his decision not to kill Saul whom he had the opportunity to kill, as well as in his decision to accept Abner back into his fold.
11. He believes in reconciliation and rehabilitation.
12. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us,
13. provided Before God we forgives repent genuinely.us, he expects us to forgive others. In fact,
14. By this forgiving is a condition our enemies, for God’s we forgiveness.are unknowingly attracting God’s favour to ourselves.

Summary

1. Abner, the late Saul’s army commander came to King David who forgave him and made a feast for him and his men to avenge his brother’s death. This displeased David.
2. Unknown to David, Joab went and killed Abner to avenge his brother’s death. This displeased David.
3. David’s sin against Uriah the Hittite got him a rebuke from God’s prophet, Nathan
4. David also repented and received God’s forgiveness.