Day 21: R-E-S-P-E-C-T

1 Samuel 18:5

New Living Translation (NLT)

David waiting for word from Jonathon 
copyright V. Gilbert and Arlisle F. Beers

⁵ Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.

I had a hard time deciding what to blog about today. There is just so much to be said about David that it's difficult to choose just one thing! Unless that one thing can be painted with a really broad brush, like the subject of his character.

David was just a decent guy, no matter how ya slice it. No matter what life threw at him, he handled it with dignity, with the notable exception of Bethsheba, which happens a bit later in his life. 

Anyway, to stay on topic, David had a remarkable work ethic. He had unshakable faith and gave God glory in all he did. For example, when he was chided for offering to slay Goliath in chapter 17, he pointed out that God had delivered both lions and bears into his hand as a shepherd, and that God would deliver the Philistine into his hand as well. Then he took a slingshot and brought the giant down.

He was humble. When King Saul offered his daughter to be David's wife, David  couldn't understand why he should be honored in such a way. Of course, there are a thousand better examples of David's humble nature, but I don't want to get ahead of the current chapter.

He went above and beyond when assigned a task. When King Saul told him to bring him 100 foreskins from the Philistines, he brought him 200 instead. 

He was smart. Everything David did, he did successfully. He showed wisdom in his thoughts, decisions, his tactical maneuvers on the battlefield, and in every aspect of his life. It gained him the respect and admiration of everyone around him, and everyone who worked for him.

He was forgiving. When King Saul became so jealous that he sought to kill him, David refused to avenge himself. Even when he was given two perfect opportunities to kill Saul himself, he wouldn't. Instead, he cut the corner of his robe, or took his water jug, and then begged Saul for mercy, even calling himself Saul's servant, and calling Saul God's annointed. Why he couldn't see that God's annointing was long gone from Saul is beyond me.

He was compassionate. Although he wanted to take revenge on Nabal, a wealthy man whose shepherds David and company had protected, refused to be charitable to David's men when they needed food, he stopped and listened to Abigail, Nabal's wife, when she stepped in to undo her idiot husband's stupidity. He agreed to spare her husband's life because of her request. Shortly thereafter, when God caused Nabal to die of a heart attack, David offered to take the widow as his own wife.

So there you have it. If you want to be the kind of person esteemed by God, and admired by people, then you need to adopt the elements of David's character.

• Let your life be a testimony to God. 
• Seek His will in everything.
• Be humble and give God the glory.
• Work harder than you have to.
• Act wisely in all you do.
• Be forgiving to those who wrong you.
• Be compassionate to those around you.

Day 20: 1 Samuel 3-15

Saul gets rebuked. Providence Lithograph Co.1902{ PD-23}

S: 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (New Living Translation)

22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king."

O: I wanted to post this in a different translation than what i have been reading from. i like the way this one is worded more than the other versions. anyway, saul had just fought a battle against the amalekites as God had instructed him, but he only did it half-way. instead of annhilating everything and everyone, he (and his army) spared the king and the best of the spoils of war, insisting that they were for a sacrifice to the Lord. but that is not what God had instructed them to do, and samuel broke the news to saul that he'd been demoted.

A: there is such a lesson to be learned here, and i hope i'll remember it! when God tells us to do something, we'd better not do a half-assed job of it. God isn't going to accept any whiney "but I thought..." type of excuses.  God expects our total obedience, and there are consequences when we decide to hold back just a little for our own reasons.

P: Lord, remind me of this passage when i'm wanting to do things my own way! remind me that you'd rather have my total obedience than for me to do things half way and then try to pass off my disobedience as something that might glorify you... because disobedience NEVER glorifies you. i want to be a woman of integrity before you, God. shape me!