Title: Surely You Are More Righteous than Me
Contents
- 1 Samuel 24:1-24.
* Today's text is a chance for reversal that occurs in the process of Saul's continued pursuit of David. “A chance to turn around”, a very pleasant and sometimes exciting word. Everyone has so-called “chances” at some point in their life. The decisive moment of whether to seize this “chance” or not. However, “chance” does not necessarily lead to good results. Obviously, in various circumstances and experiences, seizing this “chance” would make a huge difference in life, and it was expected to hit the jackpot, but the result is rather “a handshake at the end of a trick”, sometimes bringing great harm. I think this is the beauty of the so-called “chance” of life and God's mysterious order.
If you look at today's text, a "chance of turning back" came to David. In the meantime, David was only being chased by Saul's continuous siege and relentless pursuit. It was a chance to blow Saul, who was defenseless, with a single sword in a cave full of darkness. David's servants also suggest to David not to miss this opportunity. “Behold, the LORD said to you, ‘I will deliver the enemy into your hand, and do to him as you think is good.’ And this is that day.”
David then gets up again, goes out of the cave, and calls out to Saul from behind. Looking back on Saul's reign, David "prostrated himself to the ground and bowed down," so David really respects Saul as the anointed master at that time. Even though he was the perpetrator who had just rushed in to kill him. He then confesses that he could have killed the king with his own sword and with his own innocence, but was unable to kill the anointed one.
Sometimes I feel a bit cramped when I hear these words. Only then will justice be realized and injustices will be resolved? Being still is stupid. In this day and age, it is not at all a sin to use various means and methods to create public opinion. It sounds like advice.
But at this time, I am moved by the change in Saul's cruel attitude. Of course, Saul was not completely changed, and Saul himself paid the price for his sin, not on David, but on God. But looking at David, who had been good to him, Saul raised his voice and wept. It was definitely an honest cry full of sincerity. And I make this confession. “I mistreat you, but you are good to me, and you are more righteous than me.” No matter how bad a man may be, no matter how unscrupulous he may be, he knows who is righteous and who is not. It is because they cannot speak with their mouths and cannot practice them, but most people can discern true righteousness only with rational judgment and conscience. Had David retaliated, Saul would have felt the same way. “I mistreat you, so you are retaliating against me. Yes, you and I are Napa, so why do I have to hand over my kingship to you?”
As I look at the way the world is going these days, I feel that the moment a “reversal chance” comes to each other, the stupidity of asking for it and getting frustrated is repeating itself. It was like that five years ago, and it is still the same five years later. No one, whether from the opposition or the ruling party, the former president or the current president, can hear the heartbreaking confession that “I abuse you, but you treat me well.” The ruthlessness of power is too superficial and too peripheral to be dismissed as such a law. Now, I feel that these cruel acts and abusive language are gradually affecting not only those in power, but also various interest groups and civic groups. And we Christians who live in this culture also confess that they are not free from the desire for blood to spurt upside down by this “chance of reversal”.
Thinking of David again, I meditate on the God whom he completely laid down his will and feelings and depended on. The only reason David did good to Saul despite his abuse was not because David was good at all, but because David feared God more than Saul. There is no other reason. He could not take revenge on Saul because he was experiencing the fear of God, his reign, and his judgment as real. Although God is patient with our injustice and the injustice of the world, He never forgets. That is why we do not solve our injustices and injustices with our own hands. It's not going to be a problem that can be solved with just one or two patience. So was the relationship between David and Saul. This is the reason why you should do good and keep going to the end without getting tired. Obedience and patience from God will eventually lead the wicked to confess, “I mistreat you, but you are good to me, and you are more righteous than me.”