Newsletter Vol.3, #41—November 11, 2007

Matthew 12 ⁵Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? ⁶I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. ⁷And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

What Will You Do With The Spear?

Steven Harper

The story of David and Saul is an interesting one, to say the least. They first meet when Saul was troubled with an evil spirit and he sought someone to play music for him. One of his young men told him, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him” (1 Sam. 16:18). So Saul sent for David and David then became favored in the sight of Saul, becoming his armorbearer. Furthermore, whenever Saul was distressed by the evil spirit, David would play the harp and the distressing spirit would depart (vv. 19-23). In the beginning, the relationship seemed to be favorable, but it would soon take a turn for the worse.

We probably all know the story of David and Goliath and how this shepherd boy rose to the occasion and defeated the giant, even as the King whose armor he carried was cowering in his tents (1 Sam. 17:11). While the entire Israelite army ran from the giant (v. 24), David ran out to meet him (vv. 40-48). At first, Saul doubted the ability of David to meet this man (v. 33), but David trusted in the Lord for deliverance (v. 37) and he went out to meet him without the usual weapons and armor of battle (vv. 38-40). Even Goliath scoffed at the very idea of this young man daring to challenge him, but when the "battle" began [it was truly a one-sided fight], the words of David rang true, for in one swing of the sling, Goliath was quickly and stunningly defeated.

After that heroic event, Saul took David to himself and would not even allow him to go back home to his father (18:2); it is then, too, that Jonathan and he became close friends (v. 3). David rose to be a man over the “men of war” and was “accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants” (v. 5). But after one particularly successful campaign, David returned to the praise of the people, who were singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (v. 7). This angered Saul and thus began the end of the amicable relationship between the two (vv. 8, 9). Saul eyed David jealously from that day forward and it was not long before Saul's jealousy demonstrated itself for all to see.

In fact, it was the very next day that the distressing spirit once again came upon Saul and David once again played the music to soothe him. This time, though, Saul had a spear in his hand and he cast it at David, clearly intending to kill him (v. 10, 11). David escaped Saul this time and would also escape another attempt later (19:10). When Saul had the spear, his intent was to kill the one he perceived as his enemy — and he tried hard to do just that.

Let's fast-forward a little bit to another time, not far removed from the days when Saul tried to kill David. In fact, Saul is still trying to kill David, and David has fled into the wilderness to escape him. Saul has gathered 3,000 “chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats” (24:2). While pursuing David, it happened that Saul entered into a cave to relieve himself, not knowing that David and his men were hiding there (v. 3). David did not kill Saul when he had opportunity, but simply cut off a corner of his robe to prove that he intended Saul no harm (vv. 4-15). David clearly showed to Saul and everyone within view that, though he had opportunity, he would not lift his hand against the anointed of God, and also showed himself to be a better man than Saul.

Later, while Saul again pursued David with another 3,000 men (26:2), Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah while David stayed in the wilderness (v. 3). That night, David and some of his men crept into the camp and he and Abishai came upon Saul, sleeping on the ground with his spear stuck in the ground next to his head (v. 7). Upon seeing this, Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!” (v. 8) But David said, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” and, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go” (vv. 9-11). David then left the camp and called back to them and, when they had sufficiently awakened, showed the spear and jug of water of Saul and proved himself, once again, to be more honorable than Saul (vv. 13-16).

Now, to the point of telling this lengthy story:

David himself would write [possibly even while he was fleeing Saul and hiding in that cave] of men who pursued him and whose “teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Psa. 57:4). He would also write of his enemy whose “words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (55:21), and others, “who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words, that they may shoot in secret at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear” (64:3, 4). The wise writer would tell us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). Now let's put all these words together and consider an important lesson: words can be dangerous, depending on what we do with them, just like the spear of King Saul.

When Saul had his spear, he used it with evil intent; when David had the spear in his hand, he manifested a heart of righteousness and mercy. Often, we have the same power with us — but by our words! Remember, the wise writer said, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”! Spiritually-speaking, we have the power to either save or destroy a life, so what will we do when we have the spear in our hands?

I know of no parent who would hand their child a spear; most parents I have met have sense enough to know that it is a dangerous weapon and must be used with caution. Maybe we parents should be teaching our children to use their words carefully — words that can be just as dangerous as that spear, depending on how they are used. Let us never forget that how we speak has often just as much effect as what we speak — if not more so. When we have the power of [spiritual] life or death in our hand, what will we do with the spear?

I fear far too many Christians are casting spears with abandon, carelessly wielding their words to the point that others within earshot are being emotionally and spiritually wounded by these thoughtless words. We cast spears when we talk about the problems of others or problems in the church in front of others, particularly unbelievers; we cast spears when we talk about others' problems but never talk to them; let's use the spear for good and spend our time speaking things “good for necessary edification” (Eph. 4:29). And if you ever have a doubt whether or not you should speak or be silent, often, it is best to remain silent (Prov. 10:19).

The wise writer said, “whoever spreads slander is a fool” (Prov. 10:18), yet many disciples do not hesitate to pass on slanderous words. He also warns against the whisperer and backbiter (16:28; 25:23), yet many disciples gleefully talk about others behind their backs. Let us be reminded that the psalmist said it is the one “who does not backbite with his tongue” that will stand before God and His throne (Psa. 15:3). Let us also follow the example of our Lord, who, “when He was reviled, did not revile in return” (1 Pet. 2:23). I should be pleased to hear the words of my brethren, but sometimes I truly wonder what some say about me when I am not around after overhearing what they say about others who are not present.

So how do you prevent slander, backbiting and gossip? If it is you — don't open your mouth when tempted; if it is someone else, walk away and do not listen. A gossip, slanderer or backbiter is successful only if someone listens.

TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ ~ harperwest@yahoo.com