#DailyDevotion Do You Submit Yourself To Those God Placed Over You?

August 11

1 Sam 26:1–25

1Sa 26:9-11  But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”  (10)  And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.  (11)  The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

 

David had been anointed by Saul to be king over Israel yet he does not strike Saul who also has been anointed as king over Israel. Even though Saul had become a wicked king and was trying to kill David. But David leaves Saul’s life in the hand of the Almighty. He recognizes what Paul teaches, Rom 13:1 “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” David is a man after God’s own heart and does not want to find himself in opposition to God.

 

David has a plan to show Saul that he is not opposed to Saul or is trying to take over his kingdom. He shows his righteousness by taking the spear and jar by which he could have killed Saul if that was his intent. Saul is the anointed of God and he is in God’s hand.

 

There is another David, another anointed of God. That is Jesus Christ, the Lord. At his trial he said, Joh 19:11 “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” The Jews should have recognized Jesus as their messiah, their anointed one of God, the new David. Unlike David, the Jews did not honor his being their anointed one. They betrayed him and turned him over to the other governing authorities. Like his ancestor David, Jesus respected the authorities his Father has placed over him and did not resist. Of course this was part of the Father’s plan for our redemption.

 

As Jesus subjects himself to Rome he does so even to the point of death. He does this to ransom you from death. He subjects himself to spill his blood for the atonement of your sins. Yet all authorities in heaven and earth and under the earth, all kings, prime ministers, presidents and legislatures shall bow the knee and confess Jesus as Lord over all.

 

So what are you going to do today? Are you going to subject yourselves to the governing authorities like David and Jesus and honor the Lord’s anointing? Are you going to bow the knee and confess Jesus as the Lord, your Lord and subject your life to his Holy Spirit?

 

Heavenly Father, grant us your grace that we may honor those you have given honor and subject ourselves in faith to your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, glorifying him in everything we think, do and say. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.