“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”
1 Samuel 24:1-7 (KJV)
Opportunities abound everywhere and they come in various shapes, sizes, packages, avenues and platforms. There are numerous opportunities we must NOT miss in life!
It however sounds a bit absurd when you are to NOT take certain opportunities in a world where opportunities abound and you are encouraged to maximize every opportunity that comes your way!
Why waste opportunities in life? Why would you rather not take opportunities?
If anyone were to be asked right now, what he/she would do if given an opportunity to meet the president of his/her country, various 1001 answers will surface. It may even be as simple as just to take a picture with the president or have a handshake but everyone will have something to do with the opportunity. Some will however not maximize the opportunity because they were never prepared for it. That is not the focus for this write-up today however, but to consider why one should rather NOT take an opportunity than waste the opportunity!
It is a different thing to take an opportunity and waste it while it’s an entirely different thing to refuse to take the opportunity all together!
In this passage, David shows us that there are times in life that we may have to NOT take some opportunities no matter how easily and cheaply they are presented to us. Even when there are voices that justify the need to take the opportunities, one must be sensitive and sensible to know that some opportunities are NOT to be taken!
So what on Earth are the opportunities that one must NOT take especially as believers?
“And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul….”
Taking a revenge and dealing with King Saul was an opportunity David needed to take to live at peace especially after it had become evident that Saul was after his life. It was natural for David to get rid of Saul at this point but he restrained himself from taking such a beautiful opportunity. This was an offer that he could have mistakenly termed divine opportunity but he was quick to remember the Word of the Lord which says:
“Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” 1 Chronicles 16:22
Lesson: The importance of letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly.(Colossians 3:16).
The Word of God you have read and stored in your heart will come up at some critical junctions of decisions in your life, so keep reading, meditating, memorizing and obeying the Word!
David restrained not only himself from touching the Lord’s anointed King Saul, but he kept his men from also doing the same. He didn’t look away as an excuse for his men to carry out the act. He could have walked away and allowed those men to help him get rid of Saul. He would have given the excuse that it was done by his men and not himself directly (even though he gave the consent indirectly). He knew that whether himself or his men, touching Saul, was violating God’s principles and so he forbade it!
God’s anointing was still on Saul and that means His signature was on him. His name and honour was still on Saul so, touching Saul was a direct confrontation on God! David was not ready for a collision with God, so he refrained from touching Saul. What an understanding he had!
Anything whatsoever, that carries the name, honour, anointing of God, is a no go area for you to touch or handle carelessly as a believer!
Once God has put His name on a thing or person, please be careful how you touch or deal with it!
The servants or the properties of God are not for you to handle or use carelessly! The Word and instructions of God are not for you to handle carelessly!
The covenant box of God was handled carelessly by the Philistines. They not only touched it, they opened to see what was inside as against the instructions of God. Even Uzzah also tried to help handle it and keep it from falling but all those were contrary to instructions! (1 Samuel 5&6; 2 Samuel 6)
We live in a generation where people (including believers) no longer have respect for God and everything that bears the name of the Lord. Believers carelessly take the slightest opportunities to cast stones at God’s servants, some ministers of the gospel seize opportunities to merchandize the anointing, many desecrate the altars of God for selfish reasons, others use the pulpit or position opportunities in the Church for personal gains/purposes…(the list is endless).
David refused to take the opportunities to help and defend himself. He was quick to push the opportunity of defending himself back to God!
Lesson: It is not every time that we will have to take opportunities at helping or defending ourselves; but may have to totally abandon the decisions in the Hands of God who knows best how to handle our matters. We must leave them to God in prayers and wait on and for Him to show up for us.
David was wise to NOT take the opportunity of taking a revenge on Saul even when he had it at his fingertips!
You may have to NOT take opportunities at people for the errors they have committed against you but allow God to defend you like He did David.
May the Lord bless you with the wisdom you need to know when NOT to take opportunities that can be to your detriment in life and purpose. Amen!
©️Funmi Adebayo
“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”
1 Samuel 24:1-7 (KJV)
Opportunities abound everywhere and they come in various shapes, sizes, packages, avenues and platforms. There are numerous opportunities we must NOT miss in life!
It however sounds a bit absurd when you are to NOT take certain opportunities in a world where opportunities abound and you are encouraged to maximize every opportunity that comes your way!
Why waste opportunities in life? Why would you rather not take opportunities?
If anyone were to be asked right now, what he/she would do if given an opportunity to meet the president of his/her country, various 1001 answers will surface. It may even be as simple as just to take a picture with the president or have a handshake but everyone will have something to do with the opportunity. Some will however not maximize the opportunity because they were never prepared for it. That is not the focus for this write-up today however, but to consider why one should rather NOT take an opportunity than waste the opportunity!
It is a different thing to take an opportunity and waste it while it’s an entirely different thing to refuse to take the opportunity all together!
In this passage, David shows us that there are times in life that we may have to NOT take some opportunities no matter how easily and cheaply they are presented to us. Even when there are voices that justify the need to take the opportunities, one must be sensitive and sensible to know that some opportunities are NOT to be taken!
So what on Earth are the opportunities that one must NOT take especially as believers?
“And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul….”
Taking a revenge and dealing with King Saul was an opportunity David needed to take to live at peace especially after it had become evident that Saul was after his life. It was natural for David to get rid of Saul at this point but he restrained himself from taking such a beautiful opportunity. This was an offer that he could have mistakenly termed divine opportunity but he was quick to remember the Word of the Lord which says:
“Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” 1 Chronicles 16:22
Lesson: The importance of letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly.(Colossians 3:16).
The Word of God you have read and stored in your heart will come up at some critical junctions of decisions in your life, so keep reading, meditating, memorizing and obeying the Word!
David restrained not only himself from touching the Lord’s anointed King Saul, but he kept his men from also doing the same. He didn’t look away as an excuse for his men to carry out the act. He could have walked away and allowed those men to help him get rid of Saul. He would have given the excuse that it was done by his men and not himself directly (even though he gave the consent indirectly). He knew that whether himself or his men, touching Saul, was violating God’s principles and so he forbade it!
God’s anointing was still on Saul and that means His signature was on him. His name and honour was still on Saul so, touching Saul was a direct confrontation on God! David was not ready for a collision with God, so he refrained from touching Saul. What an understanding he had!
Anything whatsoever, that carries the name, honour, anointing of God, is a no go area for you to touch or handle carelessly as a believer!
Once God has put His name on a thing or person, please be careful how you touch or deal with it!
The servants or the properties of God are not for you to handle or use carelessly! The Word and instructions of God are not for you to handle carelessly!
The covenant box of God was handled carelessly by the Philistines. They not only touched it, they opened to see what was inside as against the instructions of God. Even Uzzah also tried to help handle it and keep it from falling but all those were contrary to instructions! (1 Samuel 5&6; 2 Samuel 6)
We live in a generation where people (including believers) no longer have respect for God and everything that bears the name of the Lord. Believers carelessly take the slightest opportunities to cast stones at God’s servants, some ministers of the gospel seize opportunities to merchandize the anointing, many desecrate the altars of God for selfish reasons, others use the pulpit or position opportunities in the Church for personal gains/purposes…(the list is endless).
David refused to take the opportunities to help and defend himself. He was quick to push the opportunity of defending himself back to God!
Lesson: It is not every time that we will have to take opportunities at helping or defending ourselves; but may have to totally abandon the decisions in the Hands of God who knows best how to handle our matters. We must leave them to God in prayers and wait on and for Him to show up for us.
David was wise to NOT take the opportunity of taking a revenge on Saul even when he had it at his fingertips!
You may have to NOT take opportunities at people for the errors they have committed against you but allow God to defend you like He did David.
May the Lord bless you with the wisdom you need to know when NOT to take opportunities that can be to your detriment in life and purpose. Amen!
©️Funmi Adebayo
“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”
1 Samuel 24:1-7 (KJV)
Opportunities abound everywhere and they come in various shapes, sizes, packages, avenues and platforms. There are numerous opportunities we must NOT miss in life!
It however sounds a bit absurd when you are to NOT take certain opportunities in a world where opportunities abound and you are encouraged to maximize every opportunity that comes your way!
Why waste opportunities in life? Why would you rather not take opportunities?
If anyone were to be asked right now, what he/she would do if given an opportunity to meet the president of his/her country, various 1001 answers will surface. It may even be as simple as just to take a picture with the president or have a handshake but everyone will have something to do with the opportunity. Some will however not maximize the opportunity because they were never prepared for it. That is not the focus for this write-up today however, but to consider why one should rather NOT take an opportunity than waste the opportunity!
It is a different thing to take an opportunity and waste it while it’s an entirely different thing to refuse to take the opportunity all together!
In this passage, David shows us that there are times in life that we may have to NOT take some opportunities no matter how easily and cheaply they are presented to us. Even when there are voices that justify the need to take the opportunities, one must be sensitive and sensible to know that some opportunities are NOT to be taken!
So what on Earth are the opportunities that one must NOT take especially as believers?
“And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul….”
Taking a revenge and dealing with King Saul was an opportunity David needed to take to live at peace especially after it had become evident that Saul was after his life. It was natural for David to get rid of Saul at this point but he restrained himself from taking such a beautiful opportunity. This was an offer that he could have mistakenly termed divine opportunity but he was quick to remember the Word of the Lord which says:
“Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” 1 Chronicles 16:22
Lesson: The importance of letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly.(Colossians 3:16).
The Word of God you have read and stored in your heart will come up at some critical junctions of decisions in your life, so keep reading, meditating, memorizing and obeying the Word!
David restrained not only himself from touching the Lord’s anointed King Saul, but he kept his men from also doing the same. He didn’t look away as an excuse for his men to carry out the act. He could have walked away and allowed those men to help him get rid of Saul. He would have given the excuse that it was done by his men and not himself directly (even though he gave the consent indirectly). He knew that whether himself or his men, touching Saul, was violating God’s principles and so he forbade it!
God’s anointing was still on Saul and that means His signature was on him. His name and honour was still on Saul so, touching Saul was a direct confrontation on God! David was not ready for a collision with God, so he refrained from touching Saul. What an understanding he had!
Anything whatsoever, that carries the name, honour, anointing of God, is a no go area for you to touch or handle carelessly as a believer!
Once God has put His name on a thing or person, please be careful how you touch or deal with it!
The servants or the properties of God are not for you to handle or use carelessly! The Word and instructions of God are not for you to handle carelessly!
The covenant box of God was handled carelessly by the Philistines. They not only touched it, they opened to see what was inside as against the instructions of God. Even Uzzah also tried to help handle it and keep it from falling but all those were contrary to instructions! (1 Samuel 5&6; 2 Samuel 6)
We live in a generation where people (including believers) no longer have respect for God and everything that bears the name of the Lord. Believers carelessly take the slightest opportunities to cast stones at God’s servants, some ministers of the gospel seize opportunities to merchandize the anointing, many desecrate the altars of God for selfish reasons, others use the pulpit or position opportunities in the Church for personal gains/purposes…(the list is endless).
David refused to take the opportunities to help and defend himself. He was quick to push the opportunity of defending himself back to God!
Lesson: It is not every time that we will have to take opportunities at helping or defending ourselves; but may have to totally abandon the decisions in the Hands of God who knows best how to handle our matters. We must leave them to God in prayers and wait on and for Him to show up for us.
David was wise to NOT take the opportunity of taking a revenge on Saul even when he had it at his fingertips!
You may have to NOT take opportunities at people for the errors they have committed against you but allow God to defend you like He did David.
May the Lord bless you with the wisdom you need to know when NOT to take opportunities that can be to your detriment in life and purpose. Amen!
©️Funmi Adebayo