David prayed and trusted in God. He waited for God for many years to rescue him from a life he did not want to live. God did not send an army of immortal spiritual beings we call angels to strike down all his enemies so David could be king of Israel. Instead, God enabled him to pursue his enemies and overtake them.
After King Saul committed suicide in a battle with the Philistines, David’s house and the house of Saul fought for many years. (2 Samuel 3:1) David did not just sit idle as he waited for God’s promise to become a reality.
First, there was something that David had to refrain from doing. He must not kill God’s anointed King Saul. This would have been a sin. The continual decision to hide from Saul was not easy. It meant he had to live the life of a fugitive and in exile. Yet he knew he should not sin by killing King Saul.
Second, there was something David had to do. His house had to fight the battles with Saul’s house after Saul and his son died. The civil war lasted for many years. David understood and acknowledged that the victories were possible only because of the Lord God. David pursued and crushed the enemy. God armed him and made his enemies turn back. The enemy cried for help, but the Lord did not answer their pleas. David beat them.
When I pray to God for help and deliverance I know there are things to do and not do on my part. First, I have faith always no matter how hard life gets. Second, I have to refrain from sin even though it means life circumstances can be hard. Third, I need to engage in the work God has for me.
The apostle James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:2-8)
