The camp was calm, cool, and quiet. The sound of crickets and livestock was met with the gentle snoring of Saul and his army. During their pursuit of David on Hachilah hill, Saul and company grew weary and took a nap in a trench. David was made aware of this tremendous opportunity to end this cat-mouse game with Saul. While the evening was still young and quiet, David could easily and stealthily make his way to the king, ending the ongoing tumult of Saul’s insistent and persistent pursuit of David.
Ps 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
“Who will go down with me,” asked David. Young Abishai, with excitement, responded that he would love to go. The thought of ending this incorrigible king’s pursuit was enticing. Abishai hung on to every word and movement that David uttered and performed because after-all, “this is the giant slayer!” Being with such a man was an honor and a privilege, even if it meant they were to run for their lives from a murder-crazed king. But why keep running? Why not take matters in their own hands. “It is just us here – we could simply end it all now with 100% justified-action before the Torah” thought Abishai.
As they slipped through the camp, they came upon Saul who was laying on his side near his consumed dinner plate, drink, and spear. Saul was in a heavy sleep; you could tell he was dreaming by the movement of his eyelids and the mumbling noises he was making. (Who knew that the old king still dreamed dreams?) Perhaps he was dreaming of reducing David to a heap of bones and sinew. As Abishai saw the same spear that was cast at David, he thought to himself, “I could easily stop Saul’s breathing by using his spear, penetrating it through his body into the earth.” As he mentioned the idea to David, David quickly dispelled the idea. Killing a man as he sleeps and killing God’s chosen King, even though it would be justifiable, was the furthest thing on David’s mind. “Let God take him out in His own time” was David’s wise word to Abishai.
David was fortified with integrity. At this time in his life, his secret thought-life was as translucent as his actions. When young Abishai looked upon this unbelievable leader, he saw pure veracity in action. What was demonstrated before his eyes was the pinnacle of upright principles. Why? What attributed to David’s insistence of integrity? Why was he wholly bent on honor? I am convinced that hope is a major contributor to a man’s uprightness.
Hope can be defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In Hebrew, hope is “betach” which means a place of refuge or safety; assurance; confidence. David learned to expect God to answer his prayers. He had hope that God was faithful; that God would not allow Saul to succeed in ending his life; that the same God that delivered him from Goliath, the lion, and the bear would deliver him from a crazy king. He had hope that, given enough time, Saul’s life would end without his intervention. And he had hope that God was just and good and that even if he died, God’s ways are better and higher than his ways.
Ps 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Friend, when we have hope, we can relax and let God fix the problem. We do not need to lie, cheat, or manipulate the situation. There is no need to rush in a hasty decision which may permanently impact someone else’s life. We can rest in the fact that God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Eph 3:20) God’s thoughts toward you are of “peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jer 29:11 Let God control the things we cannot control. He is faithful! Trust Him and do the right thing. “Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” I Peter 5:7
Ps 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Jer 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Ps 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
1Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
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Thanks you for providing feedback! We will continue with new content weekly as the Lord leads. God Bless!