Reconciled

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

RECONCILED

1 Sam 24:8-22

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.' 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. 14 "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand." 16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. 17 "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

NIV

 Those words, “You are more righteous than I”, are from Saul to David, but also prophetic about us and the LORD. He is our righteousness. How can any man be righteous unless it comes from the LORD? However, David was surely a man after God’s own heart. He could have killed Saul, and he would have been justified because Saul was bent on doing evil by trying to kill David. It would appear they were enemies, except David did not want to kill Saul. In fact, he addressed Saul as master, as the LORD’s anointed, and as the king of Israel. There was reconciliation that happened that day, as it ended with an acknowledgement by Saul that David was meant to be the king, and when he sat on the throne, that he would be gracious to Saul and his descendants. David gave his oath to Saul. What a lesson for us to take to heart. We should always be the ones to do the work of reconciliation. If there is any division between us or ill feelings toward us by someone, and we become aware of it, we should be the ones to make every effort to be about peace and harmony. If we become aware that we are having some ill feelings, such as jealousy, envy, or angry, like Saul had been feeling toward David, we should first ask the Lord for his forgiveness, which of course, he will not only forgive, but removes our sin, then we need to ask the person we have had those unrighteous feelings toward for forgiveness. No matter which side of the fence we stand, it is our responsibility to seek reconciliation. However, we should never think that we are more righteous than another, even if it appears, we could be, as we see David was more righteous than Saul. It is right that the Lord would judge us, as he will judge us all. It is not so much judging between two people who may be at odds with each other, but he will judge each of us according to our deeds. That is not to mean our “Good works”,  but the bent of our heart. The Lord will judge each according to what we have done. If we are persistent in doing good by seeking glory, honor, and immortality, we will receive eternal life. However, we do not seek glory, honor, and immortality for ourselves, but those words define Jesus. He is the only one worthy of glory, honor, and immortality. The opposite of that are those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth, who is Jesus, and follow evil. It comes down to the only good we can do is follow Jesus, although doing good things for others is following Jesus, but the only thing that will be judged for is who we seek, and his name is Jesus. Just as Saul and David were reconciled, through Jesus we have been reconciled with God, even though it seems difficult to understand, God reconciled Himself to us.