“The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:11).
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 13:22)?
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. 12:12,27).
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. 24:5; see also Num. 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 4:11). May we have David’s spirit in dealing one with another!
D. Martens (adapted)