1 Samuel 24: A Different Look at Temptation

"... and said to David, 'You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.'"

1 Samuel 24:17

David has his opportunity to kill king Saul, but instead he stealthily cuts a corner from Saul's robe.  Afterward, David confronts Saul in the open, showing the fabric and pleading his case for innocence.  Saul is overcome with grief and weeps openly, exclaiming his awe for David's righteousness and exclaiming that he would certainly become king.

There is a very interesting parallel to be drawn here, which might help put this into perspective.  We often refer to our individual struggles with sin in terms such as these - temptation pursues us, the devil awaits, can't rest or give them a chance to catch up to us.  In the same way, Saul (driven by a spirit of evil) pursues David.

Sometimes, we find little niches where we can hide for a little while and be safe from the temptations which ail us individually.  David found a small cave to hide in, where Saul didn't find him.

Occasionally, we are given a chance to strike against our temptations and destroy them.  David had the opportunity to kill king Saul.

What we do with these opportunities defines our righteousness.  The first option is to do nothing - in which case we end up in the game of hide-and-go-seek with our temptations and ultimately with sin.  The second option is to strike out against our temptations, in which case we can sometimes eliminate entire styles of temptation, but then ultimately have to fight the same battle again with the next set of temptations which comes along.  The third option is to show temptation that you have already won, by approaching it with grace and care.  Take only a small token of it - something that you can show to yourself and others who know of your particular struggles as a sign of your righteousness, something that you can show to the evil one as a sign that you have had your chance to strike against him, but instead you are willing to let God be the judge.  Only by doing this can you truly overcome and be free of the temptations God places in your life - give them back to God.

Question of the Day:

What particular sins do you struggle with daily?  What are the particular tempting factors which cause it to be such a struggle for you?  What token can you take away from them to show them that you're able to live with them and still remain pure?  

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, give me the integrity to make righteous decisions when You place my pursuers in my path.  Give me the strength to overcome temptation the way You did in the wilderness - with Truth and a clear head.  Help me to remember this lesson the next time my temptations pursue me, and help me to approach them as what they are - a tool You have put into my life and given special privileges to in Your quest to create a better me.  Amen.