A Different Kind of Fight

I’m currently reading “Lincoln – Team of Rivals”, a book that chronicles the rise of Abraham Lincoln’s political career and his election as our 16^th President. There are many parts of his life that I didn’t know. There are also many facets of American History that I wasn’t aware of. For example, the southern states had already started secession before Lincoln arrived in Washington to be inaugurated. The civil war is definitely brewing at the point I’m at in the book. It is definitely a dark spot in our nation’s history.

As I’m reading in 1 Samuel and David is fleeing for his life from King Saul. It seems to be shaping up to be a civil war with David leading a rebellion. Check this out…..

¹So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. ² Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

³ Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, “Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me.” ⁴ So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold. (1 Samuel 22:1-4 NLT)

It feels like a “circling of the wagons”, which is a phrase that came from another time of fighting in US History.  The settlers heading west to claim territory, circled their wagons at night for protection from the Indians who didn’t want them there and didn’t want them to take their hunting land.

I often consider myself a peacemaker. I will try to find common ground so that both sides can come to a solution amicably. That is not always possible.  Some will dig in with their position and will not adjust and negotiate at all. Often the person with the most power wants to fight. King Saul and David were at odds mostly because Saul was jealous, and he realized that he didn’t have the favor of God upon him. He saw in David the favor and leading of God. I think he may have even saw the peace of God in David’s soul and it was clearly absent in his. A fight can break out when one person has something the other person wants and it’s most often, power.

I think we can see David’s big heart emerging as he takes care of his parents during this time. He is also a person that broken people can come to and hang with. During this time David was fleeing Saul, his leadership was starting to be seen.  I recently heard someone say that a crisis doesn’t necessarily define a leader as much as it reveals the qualities or flaws of a leader.  As David faces this different kind of war, he will display strong character and the presence of God which brings out His respect for the Lord’s will in all things. I want to be a leader like that. I want the peace of God to lead and direct all areas of my life, especially my leadership responsibilities.

Pressing On!

Dwayne