FORSAKE NOT WISDOM

And David behaved himself WISELY in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.














God is speaking to this country, throughout the Bible, we must have listening ears.









In some ways, our nation mirrors the story of king Saul and David. In the text below, for instance, David was favored among the people, not simply because he was more victorious in battle (such as one who would slay a more formidable foe of 911), but also because he was more refined and reverenced the hierarchy of deity. David understood that the glory was neither to Saul nor to himself, the glory was to God. King Saul’s problem was not his successor, any more than our leader’s problem is his predecessor. The problem was, and is, INSECURITY. King Saul was so jealous of David, the he allowed a little jingle to obscure his better judgement. He was only able to see his own “sovereignty,” through the lens of his narcissistic need to be praised. Though king Saul appeared to engage David, his immature nature and envy of David, prevented him from acknowledging, the benefits that could come through a sincere alliance with someone of David’s strong integrity. Therefore, he sought to destroy (malign) David. I mean, who on earth, did David think he was, anyway? . . . THE AUDACITY! of this “illegitimate,” (by man’s estimation), descendant of lesser men (hut dwellers, perhaps). One whose only viable experience was, that of a smelly shepherd boy, whom, given the sheer nature of his environment, spiteful men might even label as diseased. What was sadly ironic about that, was, David wasn’t a rival king, foe, or even a defector, he was a military man, serving to protect the very kingdom of a man whose, primary goal, it seemed, was to rescind his legacy and destroy him. Saul’s preoccupation with David was so glaringly, pathetic, that rulers from other kingdoms questioned his leadership.









1 Samuel 18:6-12 6When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. 7As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." 8Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" 9And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. 12Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.









There are times when I have questions, not for rebellion-sake, but in attempt to understand. Certainly, there are many things, of God, that are too wonderful for us; knowledge, which we simply cannot attain; yet, as I have said before, God does not despise our questions. Scripture says: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” One of the peculiar ways of God, is that, oftentimes, when we have questions, and seek understanding regarding our own situations, He will undoubtedly, give us the answer through someone else’s situation. Such, has been the case, for me on several occasions. I had wondered, why God would instruct, His chosen people of Israel, to remain in Babylon: a place of bondage which He had set for destruction, when it was not His will to destroy His people, the Israelites. More recently, in seeking to understand why certain people are allowed to rule/govern, for a set time, I was led to the preceding text, which answered both questions. Sometimes when God bestows on us, that which we ask, or even insist upon, it’s not because He is giving in to our demands, nor is it because it’s necessarily, better for us, but rather that the we, by learning patience, come to understand, that God’s way is always best, because He knows the plans He has for us (He sees the big picture). The answer was almost too simple: In both scenarios, by rejecting what He had set before them, the people caused themselves to have to, shamefully, endure the gardens which they had chosen. In other words,









You made your bed . . .









This is how Isaiah prophesied about this:




Isaiah 1:29 29 . . . and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. (confounded = ridiculous, on-going confusion)




Isaiah 59:7-8 7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8 The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.









I don’t know a whole lot about politics, and even less about great wealth, but this, I do know: jealousy is rottenous, and pathetically so, when perpetrated by one who has power. The biggest misperception some people make about others, which Saul, no doubt, made about David, was that, by refusing to seek revenge, we are somehow weak. Like David, I learned a long time ago, God’s way is better. In true scriptural fashion, Saul’s evil measure was literally measured unto himself, by himself, when he fell on his own sword. Of all of man’s deficiencies, jealousy, without doubt is the saddest and most destructive. Look, no one can, effectively, tell a leader how to govern himself, or a nation, “for the most part,' BUT GOD, has given to us, a complete instructional guide, “the manual,” if your will; moreover, He has set before us wise counsel, that we may gain better understanding of the things ascribed in scripture. We must be receptive.














Commentary: I love the Bible, it’s not only divine, informative and instructional, it’s the most captivatingly, no-holds-barred book I have ever read. The Bible has been translated into many different languages and versions. Street language translation would probably read something like this: Dude, stop being a hater, it’s not a good look. You’ve been sworn in, you occupy the palace, you’re the king; ACT LIKE IT, ALREADY! QUIT TRIPPIN’!