Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was an incredible Man of strength and courage. He was also a very gentle, loving Man. It takes a real man or woman to have that combination of attributes.  “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22, 23)

          Any one can be a self-centered old grouch. Being self-centered comes easily because of our fallen human nature. It takes discipline plus a powerful, dynamic personality to always show love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

David had many of those attributes. We first heard of David when he was a teenager guarding his father’s sheep. The prophet Samuel had gone to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king of Israel. But none of the sons he brought before the prophet qualified, so they sent to the pasture to get Jesse’s youngest son David.

The next time we hear about David was when he killed the giant Goliath. As a result of that act if courage and obedience to God, King Saul rapidly promoted David. Unfortunately the spirit of jealousy crept in and Saul’s love and admiration for David became fear and jealousy.  Now Saul wanted David dead.

God did not want Saul to be jealous. God did not cause the hatred and fear. However, God did take advantage of the situation to strengthen David for his journey.

Perhaps you have been in difficult situations yourself. They were not your fault. They were not fun. In fact, you often cried out to God, “Why? Why me?” And you got no answer. Perhaps this illustration will help.

One day a man heard God say, “Every day I want you to go outside and push against that large rock in your yard just as hard as you can.” The man took it to mean that God wanted him to move the large rock. Day after day for many weeks and months he tried his best to move the stone. Nothing happened.

One day in total frustration he cried out to God. “Now look, God, every day I have done my very best to move that rock. Nothing has happened. I need your help. The task is too much for me to bear. I just can’t do it.”

And the Lord said, “Son, I did not ask you to move the stone. I just asked you to push on it. Now look at your body! Look at how strong you have become. Look at how well your muscles are developed. Think about how much your health has improved.”

As believers we need to expect opposition. That’s just the way life is.

 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

            Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. ”  -Jesus, in Luke 6:26-31

When the entire world may be against you, remember that God is still on your side. “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) 

During the years between David’s anointing as King and his appointment as king, David did not sit around wondering when God was going to do something. He actually reached out to the disenfranchised people and built a strong fighting force out of them.

This group of men helped many people during those years. David was doing God’s work; he was developing his leadership skills; and he was earning the right to be the king.

Too many people are seeking positions when they should just be busy doing God’s work.

Not only was he facing his problems head-on, he was busy worshiping God. Many of his psalms were written during these times of struggle.

Perhaps we can compare this training to the internship, then residency, program that physicians go through as part of their training. They receive low pay, little respect, work lots of hours doing really hard, thankless work. But, during those four to six years they save lives and alleviate suffering.

David had many enemies. His father-in-law truly hated him. 1 Samuel 26 tells a story about God allowing David to show what he was down in his heart. David was given a wonderful opportunity to take things into his own hands, put Saul out of his misery, and promote himself right into the throne room of Israel.

  Let’s look at how he handled it!

Someone told Saul where David was hiding, so Saul took 3,000 chosen men and began to search for David. The odds were definitely against David in the natural, but God was on his side.  

When David saw that Saul had brought the men to trap him, he sent out scouts to verify what Saul was doing and how strong his enemy truly was.

After Saul and his army had set up camp night had come, so they went to sleep. Saul was surrounded by those committed to taking care of him.

David asked for someone to go to the camp with him. Abishai volunteered to go. Talk about courage! David knew that he should go. What he did not know was how much God had prepared the way for him. When they got inside the camp they found Saul asleep and Abner and the soldiers were sleeping as well. Saul’s spear was stuck in the ground near his head.

Abishai knew what to do. “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice.”

            Listen to David’s response: David said to Abishai, “Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD Himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go.”

So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.

(Romans 8:31, 32)  “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”                    

Now, what should David do about his enemy? 1 Samuel 26:13 - Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

David said, “You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord's anointed. Look around you. Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?”

Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.”

And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may He accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.'

“Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea--as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly.”

“Here is the king's spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

That, my friends, is grace under fire. This is what God expects of each of us. Jesus reflected this love and power when He was arrested and tried. He willingly gave His life as a ransom for our souls.

How in the world do we arrive at a spiritual level where we can accomplish these things for God? It is only through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let’s go back to the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, 24 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

This is the way to handle our enemies. Love them. The question is simply, do I really want to reach this level? Let’s look at the benefit.

          “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.

“If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”  -Jesus, in John 14:12-17