Mourning a Leader in Decline
David was a fugitive hunted by a leader whose time was passing. The decline of Saul was a long drawn process, affording many opportunities to hunt and destroy the besieged successor – David, seen wandering in the harsh wilderness of Engedi . Three thousand chosen men were with Saul on his mission of assasination, but all they could achieve was a humiliating encounter in which they came to the realization that a piece of the king’s skirt had been cut by the very one they were hunting down. The divinely protected David was presented with the opportunity to destroy his tormentor and take over the throne …. but even the mere after thought that David had cut off just a piece of the skirt of the King caused him anguish … for we read that his heart smote him.
1 Samuel 24:5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
David eventually became what God had ordained him to be. I have often wondered what would have happened if David seized the moment and accelerated the script to emerge as the new leader replacing an already mad monarch. I suspect his end would have been like Gehazi, like Absalom, succumbing to the fate of those obsessed with their ambitions especially when there may be valid arguments for their lusts.
David was a leader, decades before his crowning … already displaying the virtues of patience, fear of God and sensitivity to timing and purposes of the Almighty. Saul was already dethroned although he kept the title … the angels in heaven could only observe a mad loser unable to trace a path of correction and repentance … instead preoccupied with trying to destroy and discredit another … given to sponsoring bad stories, harassment and assassination plots.
There are lessons for the present leader and for the leader to-be. Repentance, correction and retracing ones step to please God are always available options for those God has ordained to remain relevant for His glorious future. Leaders can err and find their way back if given the grace to make this choice to return and mend their ways. However, those who sense the urge to take over as leaders cannot accelerate the process with propaganda, murder, theft and plots … and will often have to wait long for the cup of the other to be full … waiting for God’s appointed time.
David was not ready, and was humble enough to know it. David knew above all that he needed God’s endorsement more than the votes of a roaring landslide majority. The murderous ineptitude of Saul may have been a good reason for some to terminate his reign, but for David who had learnt to see through the lens of heaven …all that mattered was the divine timetable.
The fool has said in his heart that there is no God and does as he pleases, using his natural senses to please his valid aspirations. But David knew … a tenure on the throne without God’s backing would only expose him to a sure trap – a wicked snare … even as the cheering of men suggests otherwise. It was better for David to remain in the caves, waiting on God and learning the lessons he would one day need.
David mourns his act of embarrassing Saul …his heart smitten with shame. Saul is more confused, more desperate as his clarity deteriorates further. His madness persists. To think you can continue to obtain divine favor that excludes self-examination, humility and repentance is indeed the height of insanity.
