Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Theme: BE YE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES

Text: “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.” – 1 Samuel 18:14,15.

Comment: After the slaughter of Goliath the Philistine, David received encomiums from the women while they returned from the battle. “And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands:  and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1 Samuel 18:6-9) Saul developed an evil heart against David and tried to kill him. But David, according to the text for today “behaved himself wisely” and by God’s grace he was preserved.  Even when he (David) on two occasions had the opportunity to revenge he did not do so but “…said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul.” – 1 Samuel 24:6,7.

 Christians should emulate the godly disposition of David, who was wise in his dealings with his master, using various means to avoid falling into Saul’s trap. Also David did not take revenge against Saul. The Bible says: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath… Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:19-21.

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