David’s Humility

When David heard about the death of Saul, though Saul had been trying to kill him for some time, we see the following reaction:

“Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.  They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”  — 2 Samuel 1:11-12

I am amazed at how faithful David remained to the fact that Saul was originally God’s anointed king.  This was more important to him than the issue that Saul wanted to kill him.  It seems clear that David is more concerned with God’s choice rather than his own safety.  Truly a “man after God’s own heart”.

But even more – the verse tells us that all the men with David appeared to be in equal distress over the matter.  Not only was David a faithful man of God – he had also surrounded himself with men who felt just as strongly about God’s place in their lives.  David’s special gift?  He was always able to return to the place in his life where God comes above all else.