A Tale of Three Kings

by Gene Edwards

How strange, is it not, what suffering begets?

There in those caves, drowned in the sorrow of his song and in the song of his sorrow, David became the greatest hymn writer and the greatest comforter of broken hearts this world shall ever know.

These were David’s darkest hours. We know them as his pre-king days, but he didn’t. He may have assumed this was his lot forever.

Think on this.

Suffering was giving birth. Humility was being born. By earthly measures he was a shattered man; by heaven’s measure, a broken one.

This is beautiful! Suffering gives birth to humility. Suffering teaches us we aren't all that special.

David did not lead them. He did not share their attitudes. Yet, unsolicited, they began to follow him.

Research this.

There is a vast difference between the outward clothing of the Spirit’s power and the inward filling of the Spirit’s life. In the first, despite the power, the hidden man of the heart may remain unchanged. In the latter, that monster is dealt with.

The gifts of God, once given, cannot be recalled.

Keep in mind that some who have been given the very power of God have raised armies, defeated the enemy, brought forth mighty works of God, preached and prophesied with unparalleled power and eloquence . . . And thrown spears, And hated other people, And attacked others, And plotted to kill, And prophesied naked, And even consulted witches.

However, the passing of time (and the behavior of your leader while that time passes) reveals a great deal about your leader.

And the passing of time, and the way you react to that leader—be he David or Saul—reveals a great deal about you.

Legalism is nothing but a leader’s way of avoiding suffering.