***We all need to forgive. Forgiveness is what highlights our lineage as God’s children. Choosing to fight against forgiveness is damaging to our offenders, as well as to us. God’s heart is all about forgiveness. Love does cover a multitude of sins. Refusing to forgive may be prompted by the thinking that it is right not to because of the nature of the injury. However, injuries only continue as we travel that path. We never win fighting God, especially when we do not have the heart to forgive,***
If we are not careful, we can find ourselves fighting against God. This can occur when we intensely desire something regardless of the harm to anybody else. We know God wants us to look out for the needs of others as Christ did (Phil. 2:3-8). But, our hearts can become insensitive to those needs that can put us on a different path than God wants us to walk. When we insist on fighting against God, we will not have the fulfillment we desperately crave.
King Saul is a prime example of someone that tasted the bitter, disappointing fruit of fighting against God. The longer Saul ruled, he began making choices that he knew were not what God commanded him to do. Eventually, this led to the proclamation that God rejected Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:23). Even though God announced his lineage would not continue as the kings ofIsrael, Saul was determined to fight against it, regardless of the harm to others.
David was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king ofIsrael(1 Samuel 16). Even though David would not begin reigning until years later, he began rising in influence and popularity in the eyes of the people. King Saul was bitter with jealousy and envy, and made several attempts to kill David. David was very loyal to King Saul, and did nothing to hurt him. Jonathon, Saul’s son, even used this truth to convince his father that his desire to kill David was not right. Saul made an oath to Jonathon that he would not put David to death (1 Samuel 19:6). Sadly, Saul lied, and he continued to fight against the inevitable by seeking David’s life.
How do we know that Saul’s intense desire to kill David was a result of his fighting against God? How can we know that Saul was not deluded and thought killing David may be what God wanted? Besides God telling Saul that he was rejected as king, Saul admitted to Jonathon that as long as David lived, Jonathon’s throne would not be established (1 Samuel 20:31). He wanted the throne to continue through his family more than he desired to submit to God. He did this even if it hurt David, or Jonathon.
Fighting against God left King Saul a sad man at the end of his days. His popularity decreased. His actions against David led to the deaths of many honorable men inIsrael. Saul died a lonely death in his quest to kill David. Saul’s irrationality increased as he sought to fight against what he knew was the truth. The truth may not always be pleasant if our desires are different from it. Regardless of how much we think we want something, if it is against what is right and true, we will end up being very miserable. Fighting God is a losing battle. The best thing for us to do is trust His love for us, and submit to his plan for our lives. Life is not about me. Life is about us all, and seeking to care for the needs of our neighbors. That is God’s will, and fighting against it will never bring happiness.
