The Bigger Picture

After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man arrived from Saul's army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground before David in deep respect. "Where have you come from?" David asked. "I escaped from the Israelite camp," the man replied. "What happened?" David demanded. "Tell me how the battle went." The man replied, "Our entire army fled from the battle. Many of the men are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead." (2 Samuel 1:1-4 NLT)

David had been chased by Saul for quite awhile now.  Saul wanted David dead.  Saul didn't want David to rule as king, even though he had been anointed by God's Prophet, Samuel.  Saul wanted his son, Jonathan, to rule as the next king.  Saul was willing to kill David to ensure that happens.  David, as a result, was on the run for a long, long time.

Saul is dead now.  Jonathan, Saul's son, is dead now.  Nothing stands in the way of David being king of all Israel.  David can succeed the throne and doesn't need to remove anyone to get there.  Does he celebrate this day?

David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the LORD's army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day. (2 Samuel 1:11-12 NLT)

There are three times in life when people tend to pause and look at the "big picture" to reexamine their priorities: birth of a baby, their wedding day, and death of someone close.  Someone's response to one of these three events can tell you a lot about that person.  David was no exception.  His response tells us a lot.

David grieved that day for Saul, the man who wanted to kill him, Jonathan, the man who would have succeeded Saul as king, Israel's army, who David did a much better job of leading, and the nation of Israel, even though the nation will be "better off" with David now as king.  In other words, Davids reaction was not selfish.  The loss of his king, even a bad one, was reason to grieve.  The loss of the king-to-be was also the loss of a friend.  The loss of Israel's army represented not only military power, but the families of every one of the soldiers.  The land and people David loved were hurting - and so was he.  So, he grieved.

I try to put things in my life that help me "back up" and see "the bigger picture" on a regular basis.  Reading God's word and spending time in prayer help me reevaluate my priorities far more than during "major events" of birth, marriage, and death.  During these times with God, I try to understand His perspective and His priorities.  Then, I adjust mine to match His.  It really does make a difference when you see the bigger picture through His eyes.