Short-Cuts!

1 Samuel 26:7-9, “So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. (8) Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." (9) But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?”

Sometimes we get tired of waiting on God; we become impatient longing to see results and answered prayers. At times, we become so impatient that we want to take the wheel, having control of situations, attempting to make things happen! I have learned that when we decide to take a short-cut, we can short-circuit our destiny! It happens on God’s timetable, not ours.

David was anointed to be king, yet he had to wait seven long years until that time would come. And before that time would come, he would find himself running for his life in fear of being killed. Then, his friend, Abishai, informed David of a short-cut. Discovering Saul asleep, he encouraged David to strike Saul with a spear, and then all roads looked clear for David’s reign. How easy would that have been? However, David had an understanding that if he laid a hand on Saul, the Lord's blessing and anointing would no longer be on his life. David knew that if his kingship was going to be successful, that it had better be on God’s timetable and not his own.

When Abishai offered to kill Saul, his intentions for David were good, but he was putting David’s destiny at risk. We all have friends who have good intentions, who speak into our lives. But, sometimes friends with good intentions can still give advice that’s contrary to God’s plan. We must be careful to never let anyone persuade us into wrong decisions, even if they mean good! Seek God’s voice, “Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways, He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6)!