24 Friday 2014 - tunnel vision

24 Friday 2014 - tunnel vision

David’s servants said to him,
“This is the day of which the LORD said to you,
‘I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; 

Although the LORD tells David that he will delivery Saul into his hands that doesn't mean David is free to do with him whatever he wants. Reading the phrase "into your grasp" might make us assume that that is precisely what the LORD intends, but David eventually realizes that it is not.

“The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s anointed, as to lay a hand on him,
for he is the LORD’s anointed.”

A lesson which we should draw from this is not to run ahead of the LORD's plan.  We may experience great exhilaration and joy when the LORD acts in our lives.  This is good.  However, the temptation is to run off on our own, conflating the plans we form at such times with the consolations we receive from God.  We then easily imagine our plans our his will.  David stops himself before he hurts Saul.  Because he does so Saul's heart is softened once more.

May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
And now, I know that you shall surely be king
and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession.”

The main reason that David initially "had some thought of killing" Saul is fear.  After all, Saul is pursuing him to kill him.  But David is ultimately able to entrust his cause to the LORD.

In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,
till harm pass by.

He realizes that the "LORD will be judge" and he is able to take comfort in the fact the he will ultimately grant him justice beyond the reach of his enemy.  We can all trust in the LORD in this way.  If we trust in him he will eventually put us beyond the reach of our enemies as well.

Let us be attentive to the LORD as he directs us.  That we conflate our plans with his is a problem not because our plans are too great for him but because they are not great enough.  They are too narrow.  He appoints us to drive out demons.  He gives us the grace to soften even hardened hearts like that of Saul.

He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:

Let us not run ahead of him.  Even if it seems like a safer bet let us trust that the plans he has for us.  They are greater than our own.  They are greater, in fact, than anything we can ask or imagine (cf. Eph. 3:20).

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.