Calling and Wisdom From God

1 Samuel 18:1-16
    1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father's house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said:
      “Saul has slain his thousands,
      And David his ten thousands.”
    8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 So Saul eyed David from that day forward.
    10 And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul's hand. 11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
    12 Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

Wisdom from God.  That is what we see demonstrated in the life of David here.  Though king Saul’s son Jonathan became best friends with the future king David, Saul Himself was set against David out of jealousy and anger.  David knew the danger of Saul, so he acted with wisdom in waging war for God’s people, gaining their love and trust. This God-given wisdom gained the respect, love, and loyalty of the people, but made Saul quite angry because he knew that God rejected him as king due to his disobedience which he appeared blind to.  Therefore when the crowds praised David for victories and openly cried out that he was more successful than the king, Saul began looking for ways to stop him from taking the kingdom.  Saul seemed to miss the fact that the kingdom had already been taken from him, but he did not know of God’s anointing of David for the future throne; he only saw the tide of public opinion shift away from him to David.  When the distressing spirit sent by God overtook Saul, he asked David to play soothing music to quiet the attacks, but then I used the opportunity to attempt the murder of David with a spear.  God protected him from Saul’s plans, for He was with him, not Saul anymore as the LORD’s chosen one.  Saul gave up for the moment, sending David out to battles instead, and David continued to act with wisdom in all he did to avoid death and gain the loving admiration of the people.  We learn from this that God chooses leaders of His people, which now is within the church since there is no longer any nation which is a theocracy, and that leaders are to be wise servants of God’s people.  Being placed in a position is not the same as having a heart for God and His calling to that position; wisdom then gives wise grace to the called one under one not there by His will.  We are to be wise as well as wise to the situation (Matthew 10:16, Ephesians 1:17, 5:15, Romans 16:17-19, Acts 6:3, James 1:5) acting accordingly with the wisdom of Christ and not our own in all we say and do.