Daily Devotion for December 4, 2024

 

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read 1 Samuel 24:1-19.

Saul had become insanely jealous of David. David was charming and a fierce warrior in service to Saul against the Philistines and that led to his popularity. In fact, David was becoming more popular than King Saul and that led Saul into a blind rage. Saul was intent upon killing David.

In today’s scripture passage, we find that David and his men are hiding in a cave from Saul and his pursuing army. While they were hiding in the cave, Saul entered the cave to use the restroom. When David’s men realized this, they urged David to take advantage of this opportunity and kill Saul before Saul had the chance to kill David. David snuck up behind Saul but felt remorse and only cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. When Saul left the cave, David confronted him, told him what had happened, showed him the corner of the robe that he had cut off and asked why Saul was intent on killing him. Saul tearfully replied that David was the more righteous man for having spared his life when Saul had treated him terribly.

By sparing Saul’s life, David had gone against the “conventional wisdom” that urged him to kill Saul before Saul had a chance to kill him. As we approach this second Sunday of Advent, we think of Joseph who also went against the “conventional wisdom” and did the right thing by Mary, his betrothed. When she came to him with this fantastical story that she had become pregnant by the Holy Spirit of God, he could have divorced her, shaming her and condemning her to a life of poverty (or worse), but he did the right thing and took Mary as his wife. By doing the right thing, he became the earthly father of God’s Son.

Personal Worship Option:

Think of a time when you had a choice between doing what was expected and doing what was right. How did that go? Pray: “Gracious God, I try to do what is right, but I don’t always get it right. Lead me, guide me to do your will in all things. Strengthen me through your grace to love others as you love me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”