After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! "Now's your opportunity!" David's men whispered to him. "Today the LORD is telling you, 'I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.'" So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul's robe. (1 Samuel 24:1-4 NLT)
I don't know about you, but every time I hear someone teach about integrity it challenges me to be a better man. Integrity can have different meanings, but in Scripture the concept always has two components to it:
1) Consistency in one's walk
2) That walk is with God
David is being hunted by Saul for no good reason. Saul wants him dead. David has an opportunity to put an end to this man hunt by killing Saul. It's almost as though God delivers Saul into David's hands for this purpose - at least that's what his friends think. David thinks otherwise:
But then David's conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul's robe. "The LORD knows I shouldn't have done that to my lord the king," he said to his men. "The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the LORD's anointed one, for the LORD Himself has chosen him." So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and shouted after him, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. Then he shouted to Saul, "Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn't true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, 'I will never harm the king—he is the LORD's anointed one.' Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. "May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. As that old proverb says, 'From evil people come evil deeds.' So you can be sure I will never harm you. (1 Samuel 24:5-13 NLT)
I've heard it said that integrity is shown by the person you are when no one else is looking. I agree. That is true. David takes us a step further and shows us that integrity shines when your friends tempt you to do evil, yet you choose to do good.
Do you have integrity?
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