I Samuel 24:7
“And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.”
This account brings up another difference between Saul and David. Saul acquiesced to their words and disobeyed God's command on two different occasions. While David strongly opposed them.
David was feeling the pressure from them to kill Saul. Initially David followed their suggestion by approaching Saul and cut off the edge of his robe. He had gotten uncomfortably close. It's as if he was testing the situation to see if it was God's will. This little experiment made him feel guilty which he saw as God not approving.
This took courage as the circumstances seemed to be a great coincidence. So much so that the people interpreted it as being God's hand which put Saul there for David and his men to kill him. That's hard to argue with. So David started to follow the conventional wisdom and it didn't feel right.
We will find ourselves in comparable situations. We are to check in with God as to how we are to proceed. It gets complicated for we will feel the pressure of the crowd to act a particular way. Their voices can get loud, bringing much confusion. The christian is to check in with God.
Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us what to do; "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." We are to acknowledge Him in all our ways.
This is easier when no one else is involved and timing isn't an issue. We pray and act accordingly. Sometimes we wait as the answer isn't clear yet. If an answer is required immediately, we need to do our best. Sometimes we can apply a little test. David did this by cutting the robe. We are putting others on hold during this test. This can be uncomfortable as we sense their impatience.
Other times the crowd assumes we will do as they say. It's as if they say, "Of course you'll do this. Any fool knows that." When we pause we sense their shock. They say, "Don't tell me you're reconsidering." All of this is rude and meant to intimidate. It takes strength to withstand this.
That's why David responded so strongly. It says David rebuked his men. Sometimes that's required. It reminds me of my mom's advice, "If someone is acting with strength, then we respond in strength." They won't always respond well. Their response is not our problem.
The Lord will train us in these circumstances. We will fail, feel badly and ask God to give us wisdom and courage. We'll get better and hopefully we will act as well as David. Hebrews 5:14 says, "But solid food is for the mature, because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil." It's like being taught in class, then having a lab to practice those skills. God does that with us in the circumstances of life.
This is why David is called "A man after my own heart." That's God's description of Him. What an honor. It says that at the end of our lives when in heaven God will say to us. "Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master."
Thank You God for Your training. Help us to people after Your heart. Help us to pause and check in with You. Give us courage to ignore the crowd and at times to correct them.