David's Spirit

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 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
What a heart of love David had for the Lord—so much so that whatever and whoever had His mark and His unction was of great value to David—so much value, in fact, that David feared to raise his hand in such a way as to do him (King Saul) harm—even though he wrongly was David’s enemy. In David’s view, whatever touched the Lord’s anointed touched the Lord Himself. Is it any wonder that the Lord called David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:2222And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (Acts 13:22))?
On the road to Damascus the Lord Jesus said to Saul of Tarsus, “Why persecutest thou Me?” In that solemn question, Saul realized that Jesus views His own dear children and Himself as one. What touches and affects them, affects Him (1 Cor. 12:12,2712For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)
27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)).
Do we approach one another in this same spirit and love? Is He so sanctified in our hearts that we deal with whatever is His with meekness and fear? From the mountaintop (in a figure, from God’s viewpoint) even Balaam must say, “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” (Num. 24:55How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! (Numbers 24:5); see also Num. 23:2121He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. (Numbers 23:21)).
Beloved, if I realize that you belong to Him and have infinite value to Him, then you will be precious to me. I will deal with you carefully—though firmly at times. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:1111Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:11)). May we have David’s spirit in dealing one with another!
D. Martens (adapted)