David is still on the run. God has rejected Saul as king (ch15), David had been anointed as king (ch16), but Saul is still reigning as king, and does not want the kingdom to pass to David. He fears David and seeks to destroy him. David acts with the utmost integrity as twice he refuses to take the shortcut to glory by killing Saul when he has the opportunity (1 Sam 24 & 26).
In today’s reading, he shows that he is happy to leave justice to the LORD. He doesn’t need to take Saul’s life for he knows that God will do that when the time is right (26v10). David is willing to suffer in the wilderness while he waits for God to give him the kingdom.
In David we see a shadow of the true Christ. David is the Lord’s anointed but is tested and persecuted in the wilderness. He has the opportunity to take the glory and avoid the suffering by taking Saul’s life, but he refuses. In this way he points us forward to His greater descendent, the Lord’s anointed -Jesus. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness to take the shortcut to glory, but he refused. He knew that He must suffer for us before receiving His kingdom. Although we don’t suffer in the same way as Jesus, Jesus still sets the pattern for us as His followers, suffering now, glory later.
As we suffer now, we can know that Jesus understands. As the book of Hebrews tells us:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)
Light and Momentary Troubles 
Leave a comment