Today I read 1 Samuel 24, in which David spares Saul’s when Saul went into a cave to relieve himself and Saul went home. Today I considered that Saul was still anointed even though he acted with evil intentions toward David. Not everyone that has been anointed acts right.
Anointed But Wrong
Saul was a king doing part of his duty to protect the people but also acting wrong toward David (1 Samuel 24:1-22). After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he went after David and his men in Engedi. Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. David and his men hid along the sides of the cave. David cut off part of Saul’s clothes but felt bad for doing so. He told his men not to harm Saul because Saul was anointed by God to be king. When Saul left the cave, David called out to him and explained he could have killed Saul but did not. David said let God judge between him and Saul but he would not commit wickedness. Saul acknowledged God gave him into David’s hands and David would be king. Saul asked David to promise not to kill his family line and David agreed. Saul went home.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
There are many people that as some point were anointed to be in positions of leadership or power. That does not mean that they are behaving as God would have them behave. We must still consider whether a leader’s actions align with God’s word. If not we should not follow that action.
Can you think of a time where you know a person is a good leader generally but doing what they asked that time would have been wrong?