2 Samuel 1:16: "For David had said to him, "your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the Lord's Anointed".
In order to grasp the full meaning of this incredibly revealing verse, it's important to look at the full context in which it is written.
The full context happens to be the entire book of 1 Samuel. Saul's erratic nature, jealousy of David, and inherent mood swings fill the book of 1 Samuel with dramatic chase scenes. All in all, Saul tries to kill David on numerous occasions, failing each time. It's David's responses to the attempted murders that make the verse above so powerful.
Near the end of his reign, Saul wasn't so hot of a king, let alone a God-fearing man. He hunted David down in attempt to destroy him. Each time, David declared his loyalty to Saul, and asked "why does my Lord want to kill his servant?". True humility. On multiple occasions, David could've easily killed Saul, but didn't.
So when Saul finally dies, it seems natural to think that David might be relieved, thankful, glad, excited. Instead, he is grieved. He didn't think of Saul as his enemy. In fact, the man who claimed to have killed Saul was executed by David because the Lord's anointed is untouchable in David's eyes.
What if I viewed people as if they were the Lord's anointed? How would it change my perspective, my relationships, and how I treat people? Dramatically.
There are many reasons David was called "a man after God's own heart". I think his view of people was one of them, because he truly looked at Saul as unconditionally as a man could, and respected him regardless of his faults.
Truly challenging.
Lord, I pray that you give me your eyes so I can see what you see.
May your Word permeate my life
