Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.” (2 Samuel 15:25-26)
David never fought to be king. That was true when Saul was attacking him, and it was true when his son, Absalom, tried to take over the kingdom of Israel in a coup.
David understood a very important principle in leadership: God appoints authority – not man.
In his humility, David relinquished his power by offering to leave the city without even a fight. After all, it could be that God had ordained the whole thing, and his efforts to stamp out Absalom would simply leave him fighting against God.
Can you imagine what David’s subjects were thinking? Isn’t he going to fight? Is he truly going to allow his son to overthrow him like this? David’s answer to those questions reflected his absolute trust in his heavenly Father’s control over the situation. “I’m not going to fight. If God wants me to be the leader, then He will make that happen.”
If the hands of man are capable of thwarting God’s plans, then God isn’t really a god to be worshipped, is he?
God gives authority, and He takes it away. David understood that important principle – that the almighty God was not out of control.
The next time you’re tempted to fight for power or authority, just remember David’s example of leadership: he simply trusted that his heavenly Father would step in and right any wrongs that had taken place.
Father, help me to be fully submitted to You and to Your plans. Help me to remember that no man is capable of thwarting what You have willed. In those moments when I don’t understand, please give me the courage to trust You in the midst of the uncertainty. Let me find pleasure and peace in submission to You.
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