Consider This: The Path to Peace

About 1000 years before Christ, God’s people wanted to be like the people around them. They wanted a king! Saul was chosen, and he reigned for 40 years (1 Samuel 10).

Eventually, Saul became disobedient, and God rejected him. David was chosen as Saul’s replacement (1 Samuel 16:1-13), but he had to wait approximately 16 years to take the throne.

During those years, Saul became increasingly jealous of David. Soon, Saul felt so threatened by David’s popularity that he determined that David must die. In the palace one night, Saul threw a spear at David (1 Samuel 18:7-11). Next, he sent David into battle, hoping that he would not return (1 Samuel 18:25). When that did not work, Saul commanded his army to go to David’s house and kill him, but David escaped (1 Samuel 19:1). Saul then threw another spear at David but missed again (1 Samuel 19:8-10). Saul then sent more men to get David, but he eluded them (1 Samuel 19:11). Finally, Saul announced openly that David must die (1 Samuel 20:31). Saul spent the better part of his last years chasing David through the hill country, trying to kill him (1 Samuel 24 and 26).

The remarkable fact in all of this is that Saul’s hate for David never caused David to hate Saul! David had several opportunities to take revenge on Saul, but he refused (1 Samuel 26:8-11). David did not let his outer circumstances alter his inner character. He did not allow the chaos around him to become chaos within him.

The question is, “How did he maintain his peacefulness while his whole life was in turmoil?”

David had an unwavering belief that God was in control and that he was being looked after.

Years earlier, David leaned on that same belief when he fought and defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:34-27). The difference between the scared army of God and brave young David was that one believed God would look after him, and the others were not so sure.

That is how David maintained his peace when life was difficult.

That is how we will too.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

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