2009 – Day 121.May 02 – A Clear Conscience

2009 – Day 121.May 02 – A Clear Conscience

Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 24: 8 - 21 … Linked to 1st Samuel 24 for your study …

My Journal for Today: Yesterday, in exposing the first eight verses of 1st Samuel 24, Chuck Swindoll indicated that David’s attitude and actions in this passage are illustrative of the words David’s son, Solomon, who would write years later in Proverbs 16: 7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” And this was certainly the case when we see the turnabout in attitude involving Saul after he heard David’s lament and declaration of a clear conscience in today’s text.

However, Swindoll also points out a more logical truth. You may have a Saul in your life, one who’s out to get you. Maybe he’s one who would do anything he could to make life miserable for you. However, if you turned it over to God, telling him much the same thing David did to Saul, that you’ll just let God be the judge, … that person may just go on making life hell for you.

In today’s life picture, David’s righteousness turned Saul’s heart from pursuer to confessor. And David becomes a model of how we should turn our human heart into a witness for God’s righteousness. However, even if Saul had some back and declared that he would still pledge to take David’s life, at least David’s conscience was clear; and David’s witness to God’s way would be a strong one. And that’s the point of this lesson from God’s word.

Do I (or you) harbor ill feelings, grudges, or anger against anyone? Has my (our) anger turned into a root of bitterness, against which the Bible (in Hebrews 12: 14-15 – linked for study) clearly warns can damage our witness as Christians. David’s conscience was clear; and he had the piece of cloth from Saul’s robe to give witness to his honoring God by not taking the life of God’s anointed king and to leave vengeance to God.

I hope we all can pass this little test of our conscience. Personally, at this moment in my life, I know of no one with whom I hold any grudge or ill will; and I pray that attitude remains. I also pray that given a scenario like the one we have studied in the life of David, we would pass God’s test and have a clear conscience.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, if there ever be one tendency to judge the heart of another, may I defer that judgment to you and claim Your peace from a clear conscience. Amen