A Tale of Three Kings

by Gene Edwards

Then do you find it strange that this remarkable event led the young man not to the throne but to a decade of hellish agony and suffering? On that day, David was enrolled, not into the lineage of royalty but into the school of brokenness.

God did not have—but wanted very much to have—men and women who would live in pain. God wanted a broken vessel.

Unlike anyone else in spear-throwing history, David did not know what to do when a spear was thrown at him. He did not throw Saul’s spears back at him. Nor did he make any spears of his own and throw them. Something was different about David. All he did was dodge the spears. What can a man, especially a young man, do when the king decides to use him for target practice? What if the young man decides not to return the compliment? First of all, he must pretend he cannot see spears. Even when they are coming straight at him. Second, he must learn to duck very quickly. Last, he must pretend nothing happened. You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear. He turns a deep shade of bitter. David never got hit. Gradually, he learned a very well-kept secret. He discovered three things that prevented him from ever being hit. One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.

How does a person know when it is finally time to leave the Lord’s anointed—especially if the Lord’s anointed is after the order of King Saul? David never made that decision. The Lord’s anointed made it for him. The king’s own decree settled the matter! “Hunt him down; kill him like a dog.” Only then did David leave. No, he fled. Even then, he never spoke a word or lifted a hand against Saul. And please note this: David did not split the kingdom when he made his departure. He did not take part of the population with him. He left alone. Alone. All alone. King Saul II never does that. He always takes those who “insist on coming along.” Yes, people do insist on going with you, don’t they? They are willing to help you found the kingdom of King Saul II. Such men never dare leave alone. But David left alone. You see, the Lord’s true anointed can leave alone. There’s only one way to leave a kingdom: Alone. All alone.

“Better he kill me than I learn his ways. Better he kill me than I become as he is. I shall not practice the ways that cause kings to go mad. I will not throw spears, nor will I allow hatred to grow in my heart. I will not avenge. I will not destroy the Lord’s anointed. Not now. Not ever!”

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.

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

“David taught me losing, not winning. Giving, not taking. He showed me that the leader, not the follower, is inconvenienced. David shielded us from suffering; he did not mete it out.

authority from God is not afraid of challengers, makes no defense, and cares not one whit if it must be dethroned.

“Beginning empty-handed and alone frightens the best of men. It also speaks volumes of just how sure they are that God is with them.

I did not fight to be king, and I will not fight to remain king.

I seek his will, not his power. I repeat, I desire his will more than I desire a position of leadership.

The throne is not mine. Not to have, not to take, not to protect, and not to keep.