I Samuel 24:3-4
“He came to some sheep pens along the road. There was a cave there and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were huddled far back in the same cave. David’s men whispered to him, ‘Can you believe it? This is the day GOD was talking about when he said, ‘I’ll put your enemy in your hands. You can do whatever you want with him.’’ Quiet as a cat, David crept up and cut off a piece of Saul’s royal robe.”
“At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! ‘Now’s your opportunity!’ David’s men whispered to him, ‘Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with him as you wish’’ So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.”
Through the turmoil of the preceding chapters David learned to listen for God in a new way. For months he had hidden, been betrayed by the locals, run and hidden, only to be betrayed again. At Saul’s vulnerability David’s men responded from a human point of view and put God’s stamp on it. When we listen to God, who excels at working upside down and inside out, we are liberated from the prison of our point of view. Because David listened, God had opportunity to call out to Saul’s heart once more and David’s men grew in respect and awe of their leader.
Lord, emotions make it hard to hear you in the heat of the moment. Let me be rooted in you so I respond to everything as you would. Give me your point of view.