RIGHTING THE WRONG
DAY 125-126: Perhaps the hardest thing to do is to comfort someone who is suffering for doing what is right. What do you say? Can you promise that things will get better? What if they don't? Do you tell them it's not fair? How does that help? When character and integrity and obedience to God puts someone in the cross-hairs what is the comfort?
I appreciate the tutorial I got on this today as I read the next passage in the saga of the first king of Israel. If you recall, Saul was selected by God to rule the people but he himself repeatedly shunned God's authority by doing things his own way. So God chose a replacement, someone "after His own heart." He chose the youngest of Jesse's sons, a young man who was a mere shepherd but with great courage and commitment. Even though Saul still ruled, God anointed David with his authority and His spirit. In time, God would install him as King.
In the meantime, Saul was spiraling downward. After witnessing David's bravery and skill in killing the enemy giant Goliath, Saul made David a commander. The soldiers were thrilled and the people began to praise David above Saul.
"So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David." 1 Samuel 18:9
Saul's jealousy lead to fear and he demoted David to the commander of only 1000 men. David had been incredibly loyal to Saul. Before he killed Goliath, he became the King's official musician. Whenever Saul felt unsettled or fearful, David would play to sooth him. He was a loyal friend to Saul's son Johnathan. He even became one of Saul's armor bearers. For all this he was rewarded with a demotion that was unfair and unjustified. It was a public embarrassment that any person would resent.
"But David faithfully led his (1000) troops into battle."
David, who was capable of leading 10,000s (and had) did not clamor for justice. He continued to be faithful with whatever was in his care - trusting God with his reputation. There was a time in my professional life when I could completely relate to David. The temptation at the end of the day was to say, "If everyone else is going to act like crazed lunatics and get ahead, why don't I?" And the answer echos back from examples like David, "Because my true King does not reside on the earth."
For David during this time, that was his only consolation as the right things he did kept going wrong. He bravely led his troops to great victories, but Saul only became more jealous. Saul sent him into more and more battles hoping David would be killed, but "All Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle." David married Saul's daughter but Saul even tried to use her to kill David. Saul tried to turn the troops against him, and his son Johnathan. Eventually, David had to escape an assassination plot and flee to the prophet Samuel.
To this point, David had done everything right. Though he was God's rightfully anointed new king, he did not try to usurp Saul's throne. He was loyal and trustworthy. He took every slight with grace and continued to serve faithfully in his responsibilities. He was forgiving and humble. For the slights, insults and attempts on his life, he held no grudges, but tried to reconcile. And when the situation became deadly, instead of lashing back, he fled rather than kill Saul.
For all of that, he was a hunted man. For David, right had gone horribly wrong. From Saul's perspective things had gone horribly wrong, too. Saul was loosing his power base and his popularity. He was also loosing his mind. For Saul though, it was wrong that had gone wrong. Both men were suffering - but not equally. Their story helped me to see the consolation I was looking for. If there is any comfort in suffering for doing right, it is that we suffer for doing right - rather than suffering for doing wrong.
We live in a fallen broken world in which suffering is sadly a part of our reality, but there seems to be two ways we can suffer. Here, Saul and David are the illustration of what is described by Peter:
Day 125 of 365
1 Samuel 17
1 Samuel 18:1-4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11
Day 126 of 365
1 Samuel 18:5-30
1 Samuel 19
John 8:31-59
Psalm 112:1-10
Proverbs 15:12-14
In the meantime, Saul was spiraling downward. After witnessing David's bravery and skill in killing the enemy giant Goliath, Saul made David a commander. The soldiers were thrilled and the people began to praise David above Saul.
"So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David." 1 Samuel 18:9
Saul's jealousy lead to fear and he demoted David to the commander of only 1000 men. David had been incredibly loyal to Saul. Before he killed Goliath, he became the King's official musician. Whenever Saul felt unsettled or fearful, David would play to sooth him. He was a loyal friend to Saul's son Johnathan. He even became one of Saul's armor bearers. For all this he was rewarded with a demotion that was unfair and unjustified. It was a public embarrassment that any person would resent.
"But David faithfully led his (1000) troops into battle."
David, who was capable of leading 10,000s (and had) did not clamor for justice. He continued to be faithful with whatever was in his care - trusting God with his reputation. There was a time in my professional life when I could completely relate to David. The temptation at the end of the day was to say, "If everyone else is going to act like crazed lunatics and get ahead, why don't I?" And the answer echos back from examples like David, "Because my true King does not reside on the earth."
For David during this time, that was his only consolation as the right things he did kept going wrong. He bravely led his troops to great victories, but Saul only became more jealous. Saul sent him into more and more battles hoping David would be killed, but "All Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle." David married Saul's daughter but Saul even tried to use her to kill David. Saul tried to turn the troops against him, and his son Johnathan. Eventually, David had to escape an assassination plot and flee to the prophet Samuel.
To this point, David had done everything right. Though he was God's rightfully anointed new king, he did not try to usurp Saul's throne. He was loyal and trustworthy. He took every slight with grace and continued to serve faithfully in his responsibilities. He was forgiving and humble. For the slights, insults and attempts on his life, he held no grudges, but tried to reconcile. And when the situation became deadly, instead of lashing back, he fled rather than kill Saul.
For all of that, he was a hunted man. For David, right had gone horribly wrong. From Saul's perspective things had gone horribly wrong, too. Saul was loosing his power base and his popularity. He was also loosing his mind. For Saul though, it was wrong that had gone wrong. Both men were suffering - but not equally. Their story helped me to see the consolation I was looking for. If there is any comfort in suffering for doing right, it is that we suffer for doing right - rather than suffering for doing wrong.
We live in a fallen broken world in which suffering is sadly a part of our reality, but there seems to be two ways we can suffer. Here, Saul and David are the illustration of what is described by Peter:
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But
how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and
endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God.
We can suffer for doing right, or we can suffer for doing wrong. When right goes wrong, God is pleased with those who "bear up under the pain of unjust suffering."
God's pleasure is the great
(and sometimes only)
consolation!
(and sometimes only)
consolation!
1 Samuel 17
1 Samuel 18:1-4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11
Day 126 of 365
1 Samuel 18:5-30
1 Samuel 19
John 8:31-59
Psalm 112:1-10
Proverbs 15:12-14
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