David, God’s chosen servant (Psalm 78:70) was on constant chase by king Saul, hunting his life down. David fled for his life and reached the wilderness of Engedi. Saul, having got the news of David’s whereabouts didn’t hesitate to hunt him down there either. However, both happened to stay in the same cave and that proved the character of DAVID.

 

David was handpicked by God to the highest administrative post for the nation of His children. What a privileged position! What a precise process!! God took His king and trained him, in real life! Being anointed as king, for several years David was without a kingdom and running for his life.  What is written about Joseph was true of David.  (Ps.105:19- Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him).

 

David the leader chosen by God was tested until God knew that he acquired the desired level of maturity to rule the land and the skill to fight the enemy and especially the integrity of the heart befitting a servant of God. The tests David faced came in 3 kinds:

 

1. Convenient Circumstance
   ​Though David was trained and fit to fight battles, this was the greatest test of all- the test of the integrity of his heart. Here in the same cave was Saul – the one who was literally hunting him down; the one whose mere existence was the only hindrance for David to assume the throne; the one whom David knew, God had already rejected; the one who is destined to go so that David can start his “ministry.” It was the most convenient circumstance to kill Saul.
    

2. Compelling Counsel
   Even David had his own trusted leaders urging him to kill his enemy. But he resisted. David knew that Saul was once anointed by God. And he wouldn’t dare touch him.
    

3. Correct Common practice
   According to the custom of those times (even now), anybody would kill and destroy their enemies. Saul is the enemy and here he is, sleeping a few yards away. It was an easy job! It would be considered a correct action since that was the common practice.

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I believe it is the hand of the Lord that brought Saul and David together in the same cave!! There He proved the integrity of His chosen one!!

 

As David (we) pass through the above tests, what does God expect from us?

Covenanted Conscience

We need to have our conscience trained and controlled by the Spirit of God, that we do not stumble and fall an easy prey to the devil! We are covenanted with God through the blood of Jesus Christ!! May we reflect the conscience of a covenanted servant! If God had anointed him, David knew, God will ensure he assumes the throne at the appropriate time. He didn’t have to kill the anointed of God to reach there!!
 

• David guarded his heart from being tempted by the counsel of his close ones.
   

• David feared God - so he didn’t do anything against His anointed
   

• David trusted God so he knew that God would execute His will in David’s life.
   

• David waited for God for His time for the fulfillment of His promises.

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God is looking to find in each of us a “David”—a leader of maturity, skill and integrity to lead the captives to freedom. Since we do not fight against people (flesh and blood) but against the spiritual power of the devil, we need training. As David himself testifies in Ps.18:34 “He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” And Ps.144:1 “Blessed be the Lord , my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my finger for battle.”

 

In Psalm 17:3 David says : "You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing." Men of God used greatly were tested- Abraham; Joseph; Job; David; Daniel; Jesus! You and I will be tested. It is in your wilderness experience that you will be tested. Oh what a privilege to be tested by God to prove the integrity of his faithful ones! Shall we have a testimony like Job “when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10)?

 

Can you be counted as a man (woman) of INTEGRITY of the caliber of David, so that God can find his trusted leader in you?

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Prayer:

Dear GOD, please help me to walk in integrity all the days of my life so that I can be useful for You. In Jesus name, Amen.