Character is demonstrated when Pressured

Read 1 Samuel 26-27.

The incident and words of chapter 26 are so similar to what took place in chapter 24.  The Ziphites told Saul where David was hiding. Saul marched his army to that area and camped.  This time, David crept up to the very place where Saul slept, took the king's spear and water, and refused to kill the king when he clearly had the opportunity.

David's character was demonstrated in three ways:

1. He continued to respect the position of the king.

This was not because Saul deserved it, but because he recognized that all authority comes from God.  So, out of respect for the LORD, David respected the human authority over him.

2. He continued to demonstrate humility toward the king.

Humility may be described as strength under control.

3. He continued to trust God for rewarding his commitments in doing what is right.

"The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness." (26:23)

Though Saul again confessed that his actions were "foolish" and "a great mistake", and even though Saul publicly blessed David and left, David still did not trust him.  To put an end to the pursuit, David took his men and made a cunning alliance with the Philistine king of Gath.  Achish thought David had completely turned against Israel and would conduct raids against Saul's border cities.  Instead, David used his inside access to destroy Philistine cities.  Saul stopped hunting David.  Meanwhile, David waited for God's timing to return to Israel.

There is a picture of Jesus in David's character and actions.  It turns to an application for all of us.

The Apostle Peter described Jesus' sufferings like this: "He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:22-23)