1 Samuel Chapter 26 – The Will of God (3)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
The third story in chapter 26 is almost a replica of the story in chapter 24. Here, Saul changed his mind and came after David again with three thousand men. Again, an opportunity presented itself. Vs 12 says that a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them. And again, everything is laid out for David.
Vs 7 tells us that the spear was struck in the ground just by the head of Saul. This was likely the same one that had been used to spear David (1 Samuel 18). What would you have done in David’s shoes?
What is the will of God?
Abishai again persuades David in verse 8 that killing Saul is the will of God. Saul had changed his mind. Would David also change his mind?
God was really testing the endurance of David this time. The first time that David committed to keeping the will of God, God had provided a way out for David. But what would you do when things turn unfavourable a second time? Would you still stick to your commitment?
It would actually be reasonable for David to ask, “What if Saul keeps on changing his decision? What if he keeps on coming after me? Maybe God is asking me to finish him here.”
Have we changed our commitments?
Sometimes, we also reconsider and change our commitment. Saul was the best example of someone who constantly changed his mind. Saul had previously said “I have sinned”, but here he came after David once again. Saul removed all the mediums from the land of Israel, but when his own life was in danger, he went looking for a medium himself.
Are we like Saul or are we like David?
Many of us made commitments to God when we received the Holy Spirit. We told ourselves, “I must live for God, or I must attend more services, or I must read the bible and pray every day, or I must change my life…”
Are we still as committed today, or have we changed our commitments?
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise
—Hebrews 10:36
Time is often the greatest challenge to our faith.
Therefore, endurance is also most necessary to do the will of God.
Doing the will of God for a moment is easy, doing the will of God for a lifetime is difficult.
Doing the will of God when it is favourable is easy, doing the will of God when it is unfavourable is difficult.
We see that David was always committed to doing the will of God. Even when the situation was unfavourable to him, even when he was insulted and had to swallow his pride, he was committed to the very end. And we know that David proved the good, acceptable and perfect will of God throughout his life.
Would we also prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God throughout our lives? Are we committed to doing the will of God to the very end?