A Testimony of Righteousness
My favorite word for the word of God is testimony. I've said this before. It is the stories in the Bible that we learn about God from. We learn what God thinks of things and how he treats people. And we learn from Bible characters and how they interacted with God and others and how God responded. David loved God's testimonies too. He said The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Psalms 19:7b)
Little did David know that he would be such a part of the Bible himself, and his stories would become testimonies.
Today we are going to look at the righteous. That is, being righteous in conduct and character. "The righteous" are just, fair and stay within the law or the rules. This will be practical righteousness vs. positional righteousness, which is being declared righteous by God after trusting Christ and being justified by grace through faith.
It's not popular to be righteous, especially when you're around those who aren't righteous. When you don't join in with them in whatever unrighteousness they are doing, you'll likely hear sarcasm…"Oh, you think you're so righteous."
That's their perspective. Here's God's perspective: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (1Pet 3:12)
Back to the testimonies of the Lord and David's life. He was righteous in conduct and character. He was just, fair and stayed within the rules. He is our testimony today of what practical righteousness looks like.
Remember that Saul was king, even though David had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king. David was a king in waiting, and Saul was trying to kill him because he was so jealous of him. You remember that during the chase, one time David found Saul and his men asleep, but David didn’t kill him. And then, that same thing happened another time. This time David found Saul in a cave. Rather than kill him, David cut off a piece of his robe. Then he stood in front of Saul and showed him the piece of his robe and explained that he chose not to kill Saul, even though Saul was trying to kill him. David reminded Saul that in no way did he sin against him. He said:
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. (13) As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. (14) After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. (15) The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. (16) And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. (17) And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. (18) And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. (19) For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. (20) And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 1Sa 24:12-20
It’s interesting that it was David’s enemy who pointed out that David was righteous, and he didn't do it sarcastically. David chose to trust God to eliminate Saul rather than eliminate Saul himself.
God did reward David good for what he did. He later did become king. David's emotions may have wanted to kill Saul those two times. He could have done it and claimed self defense.
But here's David's testimony: The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand (vs. 15). This is an Old Testament testimony of the following New Testament command: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Rom. 12:19)
Years later, before he died, here's how David looked back at that time.
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. (2 Sam. 22:21-25)