Hand of God

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

HAND OF GOD

1 Sam 26:1-12

26:1 The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?" 2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4 he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.   5 Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him. 6 David then asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" "I'll go with you," said Abishai. 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. 8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." 12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.

NIV

Another moment when the LORD was involved directly in the life of David. He and Abishai enter the camp, where three thousand fighting men lie asleep. Why were there no perimeter guards on duty? It should have been customary that when an army camps, there would be those assigned to walk the perimeter being on guard duty. Yet, David and Abishai walked right into the tent of King Saul. This would also be normal for there to be a special attachment, the king’s guard that stands just outside the tent opening, protecting the king. Yet, David and Abishai walked right in and stood next to Saul as he slept. This was totally the hand of God at work, for he had put Saul and all the army that was with him, especially those who were in the tent with Saul, into a deep sleep. Who can measure the power of God over his creation? He has the power to cause men to be in such a deep sleep that men could stand right over them and talk and not be heard, and wake those asleep. God is sovereign over the people he made in their image. He can cause us to be in deep sleep, he can cause us to be changed, or he does the work of transforming us into who he intended us to be. He can work miraculously within our lives. He can anoint us through the Spirit who lives within. He can cause anything within us. David was just a man, but the LORD was upon him, or with him, and he would not do anything against the LORD’s leading in his life. Although in the flesh, he had the opportunity to put an end to Saul’s life and any conflict. But the LORD has another plan and works for the good of those who fear him, as David did and as we do. We simply have to learn to put all our trust in the plan of God for our lives. We have to learn from David, but more importantly, from Jesus, as to how we are to live within the hand of God. We may try to make our own way, but we know that could bring us trouble, so we face our Lord, seeking, listening, following his ways, for then we will find victory over death, but also over life. Let us submit ourselves to the All-powerful, All-knowing God of heaven and earth, who has all authority over his creation. We are His to do with as He pleases. He caused an army to fall into a deep sleep. He can cause anything within us, for we are his people who are in the hand of God.