These chapters are filled with bloodshed. It is hard to read and understand because of the vast cultural divide that exists between the time of David and now. But if you can put aside all the warring and fighting and acts of vengeance for just a moment, something else quite remarkable is revealed. An important aspect of the character of David, the man whom the scripture describes as “a man after God’s own heart,” is revealed in these stories. Even though Saul had turned from following the Lord and had tried to kill David, David continues to show honor to Saul because he was the Lord’s annointed. He could have easily set aside any claim Saul had to the throne and pursued it quickly, knowing that God had revealed that he would be the new king over Israel. But David does not take this matter into his own hands. David waits on the Lord to accomplish the thing. And David goes beyond that. He publicly punishes those who do harm to Saul. And not only did he honor Saul, but his offspring as well. David displays for the people his humility and obedience to God by his public mourning over the death of his enemies who had been God’s appointed rulers. It is an important lesson in character–character that trusts God to bring about what God has promised and to do it in God’s time.
This is a lesson for modern day believers also. Though the cultural circumstances God is working in today are very different that the time of David, the principles are the same. When God promises something, God always keeps his promises. And through whatever circumstances are presented, God is faithful to use any and all of them. Even the circumstances that appear against us or evil, God can use for his own purposes. The purpose in the time of David was to maintain the kingdom of Israel in order to see through the promise of the Savior from the line of David and the tribe of Judah. That promise is fulfilled in the birth of Christ. Now that same promise involves proclaiming the salvation found in Jesus to all peoples and all nations. In this promise, God does use adverse circumstances.
My good friend Peter Kuzmic, an evangelist and minister of reconcilation in the Balkans, has preached the gospel for many years all over Eastern Europe. But many of the countries did not allow religious freedom and there were many obstacles to sharing the good news of the gospel with many people. When the Balkan Wars broke out in the 90’s all of sudden Croatia and Slovenia were flooded with refugees from surrounding republics of the former Yugoslavia. The ravages of war brought the opportunity to preach the gospel to people who never before had the chance. Peter did not only preach to them, he also fed and clothed them and gave them hope. His benevolent work across ethnic and religious lines opened avenues for preaching the gospel to many more people than he could have imagined. God really can use evil for good just like Joseph said way back in Genesis 50 when we began our reading through the bible. It was true for Joseph. It was true for David, and it is true for you and for me.