How to Pray for God’s Will (1 Sam 23.21)
Saul said, “May you be blessed by the LORD for showing me compassion!
Background
This scene follows immediately after the previous prayer. It is another example of David escaping from Saul’s clutches. This time, though, Saul offers a blessing upon a group of men who informed the King of David’s whereabouts. That is, the king asks for God to bless people for doing something against God’s will. What can we learn from a such a prayer?
David had been hiding in the Wilderness of Ziph with his men. He learned that his location had been revealed, and heard that Saul was coming to find him and kill him. Saul’s son, Jonathan—also knowing of the plot—came to David to give him encouragement. He told David that his father would not capture him, that David would be king of Israel someday, and that Jonathan would be his “second-in-command.” Once again, Jonathan, though heir to the king, refused to act selfishly. He knew that God anointed David as the next king, and he submits himself to that reality—which relegates him to second status. Jonathan’s words to David were his way of renewing and restating the covenant he had made with him (1 Sam 20).
Some of the Ziphites (the inhabitants of the land where David was hiding), go to Saul and tell him that David is there. Since Ziph was a desert area, resources would have been scarce. David had about six hundred men with him, who would have needed many supplies. This may be one of the reasons the Ziphites betrayed the location to Saul.
Upon hearing this information, Saul offers prayer-blessing upon them. In contrast to Jonathan, Saul is thinking of his own status instead of God’s will. Even the words of his prayer show his self-centeredness: he blesses them because they are showing him compassion. His fear of losing his status blinds him to God’s work, and his prayer reflects that attitude.
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