When we know or believe something is our due, it is tempting to seize it when the opportunity arises. A young man called to the Ministry may bypass formal training and a call to a congregation, and strike out on their own, for example. Or we are unfairly treated, and an opportunity comes to enact revenge at our own hand, instead of leaving vengeance to God. Surely God would not give the opportunity and desire if he did not expect us to seize it?
Well, actually, God does exactly that. We must wait on God’s timing for taking on responsibilities, or seeing injustices answered. In 1 Samuel 24, David understood that fact. Leaving aside an opportunity to seize the throne by killing Saul in his moment of weakness, David demonstrated his fitness for the kingship and as God’s servant. This fitness looked forward to Jesus, who also demonstrated his fitness by waiting on God’s timing, and encourages us to do the same.
God foiled Saul’s plans by sending the Philistines to attack, drawing away Saul from his pursuit of David. After Saul chased off the Philistines, he learned of David’s new hiding place and set out again on the hunt (vv.1-2). Arriving at a cave, Saul went inside to use the conveniences… but surprise! It was David’s hiding spot (vv.3-4).
This left David in a particular dilemma. Was this God putting Saul into his hands, to end the royal rivalry once and for all? David’s men certainly thought so (v.4). They nudged David to action, who on the way had second thoughts and instead only cut off a piece of Saul’s robe (vv.4-5).
Even that seemed to affect David’s conscience, and he strongly argued with his followers who sought to finish what David could not (vv.6-7). David understood that Saul was God’s anointed, and that it was for God to arrange Saul’s demise, not for David.
No doubt Saul was shocked and horrified as he headed away from his loo stop to find David poking his head out of the cave shouting “My lord the king!” (v.8). David defended himself and pointed out his innocence, even when opportunity arose (vv.9-11) and asked for God to dispense justice toward him (vv.12-15).
Clearly David felt he was subject to injustice. He was willing to publicly call Saul out for that injustice which Saul had attempted to deal to him. But David was not willing to be his own instrument of vengeance. David relied and trusted on God alone to be the one to vindicate him and bring justice upon Saul’s head, in God’s time.
Hearing this, Saul was overcome by the whole situation and wept (v.16). After recovering himself from the shock and the situation, Saul spoke in response to David. Saul admitted that David was better than him “for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil” and piously hoped that God would bless David for his goodness to him (vv.17-19).
Secondly, Saul acknowledged publicly what he did not desire, and what his own son Jonathan had publicly recognised and acknowledged: that David would be king after him (v.20).
Finally, Saul sought from David a promise that David would not wipe out his family line to settle any contenders to David’s kingship (v.21). Saul worried that, much like former Soviet despots today and the contemporaries of his day, David would ensure that nobody descended from the former leader was around to challenge his claim to the throne. David gave his word that no “mishap” would befall Saul’s family at his hand (v.22).
With that, Saul left off chasing David and went home. However, David knew better than to trust that things were now solved, and returned with his men to their hiding place (v.22).
David could have taken the opportunity to seize the throne using his powers and what seemed providentially plated before him, but he chose to wait on God’s timing.
One day, a son of David also faced the temptation to take the throne without walking the path of suffering, when Satan offered Jesus all of the world if Jesus would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:7-10). Jesus could have seized the opportunity to reign over Creation, he also knew that this was not part of God’s plan. Jesus’ path to the throne ran through the Cross, dying for our sins.
Because Jesus, just as David did, waited on God’s timing, he now reigns on high as God’s Anointed eternal king. Because Jesus waited on God’s timing, he has paid the penalty for our sins and freed us to serve him.
Jesus has also freed us to lay aside our claims to vengeance, and to trust in God to bring justice to those who hurt us. While that is not an easy thing to do, Jesus’ death satisfied God’s justice on our behalf. God’s justice will come to those who do not repent.
God knows what is best. Like David and Christ, we should wait on God’s timing in life.
