“David inquired of the LORD.” This is a wonderful commentary that characterized the life of King David. Saul had pursued David, seeking his life. But now Saul had been killed in battle. Any other person in the sandals of David would have immediately set about to do away with any rival factions, any people who had been loyal to the previous ruler. But David was not just any other run-of-the-mill kind of king. He did not presume to act on his own accord, or know exactly what he should do. Instead, he inquired of the Lord.
David not only did an astounding thing by not wiping out those loyal to Saul, but he did one better: he showed steadfast love to the men of Jabesh-Gilead who had been devoted to Saul. David blessed instead of cursed; he acted kindly instead of coldly; he honored the memory of Saul instead of stamping out any vestige of him from the land. David did not venture to immediately consolidate his power and rule over Israel and Judah. Rather, he sought God, and his actions reflected the nature and character of God.
Perhaps our words and actions do not always reflect the character of God because we dare to speak and act apart from inquiry of the Lord. Maybe we only seek the Lord if we have enough discretionary time at the end of the day, or if we are in a pickle we want to get out of. What if we began each day with seeking the Lord? What if our default disposition and immediate knee-jerk reaction to everything was to ask God what we should do? If we carve plenty of time to do so each morning, maybe we will be known as people who show steadfast love, and people who are after God’s own heart.
Loving God, you are attentive to all I say and do. Let my words reflect your gracious character, and my actions work in accord with your good purposes to the glory of Jesus. Amen.
