Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
The story of David and King Saul in the Bible is an encouragement to all who feel themselves unjustly opposed or even persecuted for their conscientious beliefs they hold in all honesty, but who find themselves opposed.
David was loyal to the principles of "church organization" in that he knew that Israel as a nation must have a government, and (in those days) a government must have a king. He knew that the prophet Samuel had anointed Saul to be Israel's king, apparently with the approval and guidance of the Lord. David humbled himself to believe this even though King Saul wanted to murder him! "Saul became David's enemy continually" (1 Sam. 18:29).
It was a very severe test for young David, who was either still in his teens or just out. But David humbled himself to what he knew was Reality. He is a perfect example for those who today feel persecuted by supposed "servants of God."
On one occasion David as a fugitive happened to be hiding in a cave when who should come in to "attend to his needs," but the great King Saul himself! David's friends who were hiding with him back in the shadows urged him to seize this opportunity that God had apparently given him, and kill his enemy; but David refused to lift his hand against "the Lord's anointed" (1 Sam 24:1-6). So loyal was David to the principles of "church organization"!
Those who face unjust opposition and even persecution in seeking to do what God says, will not be forsaken by the Lord. He will permit them to be tried, even severely so, for the Lord permitted David to have every excuse to believe that the Lord would indeed forsake him; but David held on to his faith in the Lord.
Here is the Lord's solemn promise to those who serve Him faithfully today, even in the face of severe opposition and persecution: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 13, 2008.
Copyright © 2014 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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