I’ve often wondered what book of the Bible people in the past have held onto the most during seasons of war, plagues and uncertainty. But I suppose it’s like asking which virtue is the most important to a Christian that they use it when in the most danger, as if it were a weapon.
C.S. Lewis puts it like this: That any debate over what quality of a Christian defines their salvation best is “like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary”. To remove one blade would render the entire object useless, but for the sake of the time we currently live in, I believe faith is as important as ever, if not slightly more.
David and Saul
In the book of Samuel, David is being hunted by King Saul because Saul knows that God is with David and will most likely take over his kingdom. After being close to captured almost three times, David was provided the opportunity to kill Saul and end his own troubles twice, but chose not to. God had promised David that he would deliver his enemies into his hands and all he had to do was wait.
When the most feared leader in the land is personally hunting you, I’m sure the last thing you’d want to do is wait. With every minute that passes, your own fears would begin attacking you and the desire to want to give yourself up would only grow stronger. How long till they find me and kill me? What if God is too late? The mental torment would surely creep in before the armies were even close to you.
But to take control off of God and give up or attempt to kill them first would be an action born out of fear. If David had decided to act on his fearful urges to kill the King, it would be as if he said to God, “I don’t believe you’ll come through on your promise to me”. David would have been terrified as he was once at the helm of Saul’s army and knew the true strength of it and the nature of Saul’s leadership.
It’s a choice
It’s no surprise when we run into trouble or when the control that we worked so hard to attain, is relinquished to God without our “permission”. But for the same reason that we go to church and read our Bibles, we must be reminded of what we believe and what was promised to us.
Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5-6 says: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths’. In times of financial stress, health concern, and changing winds, the only thing that remains immutable are the promises that God has given.
David had multiple chances to kill Saul, but to kill him would be an act of fear (fear that God wouldn’t deliver him into his hands). If he killed him, he would forfeit faith for fear and in return most likely his promised kingdom for death. As author, Bob Proctor said: “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose!”