Longing For Revenge

In 1^st Samuel, we have the account of David being driven into the wilderness by Saul’s attempts to kill him. David, a man who once was so confident in the power of God, has lost that trust. In fact, David is so low in his walk with God that he has turned to living with the enemy, the Philistines.

And isn’t that what happens in marriages? In the face of disappointment? In the face of unmet expectations? As a result of a failure to communicate, somewhere along the line Christian couples sometimes stop listening to their Creator and they begin to follow the advice of the enemy in how we treat each other. 

Revenge rather than compassion

Revenge rather than forgiveness

Revenge rather than patience

Revenge rather than love

If you have time, please read chapter 30 of 1^st Samuel. Read and see how this man, someone who is called a man after God’s own heart, handled what was just about the lowest moment in his life.

For those who don’t have time, here’s a summary of what happened. David and his men returned to their encampment one day to find everything gone. Their wives. Their children. Their livestock. All was gone and the rest had been burned to the ground. 

What to do? 

Distraught with anguish. 

Livid with rage. 

Feeling helpless and hopeless with the certainty that everything important to them was gone for ever, these men turned on David. Unfairly blamed, his life in danger from the hands of his own men. Bitter with false accusation, this violent man was tempted to turn on his friends. 

This at last was enough to jerk David’s chain. It caused him to return to his senses and he remembered the One who had taken him out of the sheep pen while still a boy and promised to make him king. David asked God what to do and God said, 

“Go get your stuff back.”

David was up for it but a large number of his men just couldn’t do it. They had nothing emotionally left - not even to rescue their own families. They were broken. They were discouraged. They felt hopeless. They were done. Two hundred men who refused to help their leader.

Long story made shorter - David and the rest of the men went and got what had been taken from every one. They were the ones who risked their lives. They were the ones who had to face the fact that the majority thought it wasn't worth the effort.

In human terms, the ones who stayed home deserved nothing in return. They weren’t giving anything to the rescue operation. Why should they get anything? Here is what made David a man after God’s own heart.

“All will share in what the Lord has given us.”

Like God does with us, David had compassion. Jesus gives to us His love, even though we aren’t deserving of it. He does that for you. How can we who have received freely, not give freely?