Speared (With the E Crossed Out)

By Alessandra Velsor

“The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did, he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in their campaigns.”—1 Samuel 18:10–16 (NIV)

“What do you do when someone throws a spear at you?” Every reader is asked this question in A Tale of Three Kings by Gene Edwards. If you haven’t read this book, it’s a MUST read! But really, what would you do if someone threw a spear at you? Would you throw one back at them, or would you simply dodge it and keep on doing God’s work like David did?

David’s popularity grew every day as large as Saul’s jealousy and insecurity. The king’s days of his reign are numbered, and the writing is now on the wall. Saul knows David will be ascending the throne, but how? Will it happen organically, or will there be foul play? Can he trust this young shepherd who’s done nothing but serve his King?

One thing for certain is that David CANNOT trust the mad king. An evil, distressing spirit is now in Saul and his prophesying was more like babbling out of a man who’s not right in his head. Saul sends David to battle in the hopes of getting him killed, but David comes back with courageous stories to tell about how he’s defended his nation by defeating a literal giant!

With David’s fame, he should have his musicians and servants by now; yet, David remains humble through all his successes. He shows up for duty to play the lyre, as he always has, for King Saul. But Saul has other plans. He doesn’t just throw one, but two spears, and he speaks his intent out loud to himself. He fears being replaced so why not get rid of the one who would replace him?

The king has lost most–if not all–of his marbles and David is now in trouble. A new enemy has been revealed, and it’s not a Philistine or Goliath, but the king himself! Aren’t both on God’s side? Thankfully, although Saul attempts to have David speared, God spares him.

What if I told you we all have much more in common with King Saul than we do with David? I know it’s not what you want to hear, but if David retaliated, it would have been the beginning course of this young to-be king in spear throwing and more! This world teaches us to throw spears, lawsuits, words, fists, and vengeance at those who attack us so personally. And David could have reacted by throwing a spear or exposing the madness—it would have been the perfect way to take over the throne! Instead, David respected the fact that just as God had anointed him to become king at some point, Saul was currently the anointed king. So, who IS the Lord’s anointed one?

“But in the midst of your tears and your frustration, remember that you know only the question, not the answer. No one knows the answer. Except God. And he never tells.”—Gene Edwards

Mr. Edwards likes to describe David’s experience as God’s university for broken people and Saul was God’s chosen way to crush him so he wouldn’t become like him. It sounds masochistic, but as Christians, we know God works best in our pain and brokenness. And when we’re standing right in the middle of the valley with spears being thrown at us, we learn there’s a better way to handle fears and disillusionments—and it’s NOT by throwing spears at others.

Pause: “You have your eyes on the wrong King Saul. As long as you look at your king, you will blame him, and him alone, for your present hell. But be careful, for God has his eyes fastened sharply on another King Saul. Not the visible one standing up there throwing spears at you. No, God is looking at another King Saul. One just as bad—or worse. God is looking at the King Saul in you.”—Gene Edwards

What do you do if someone throws a spear at you, or are you the one doing the throwing?

Practice: Pray for your King Saul. Or, if you’ve conducted yourself like him, ask for forgiveness and hope for reconciliation.

Pray: Father, create in me a clean heart that doesn’t want to harm but to build upon the foundation of Jesus. Help me turn my other cheek if one gets slapped. Help me remain humble and meek when someone is purposely trying to get a reaction out of me. Help me become a better spear dodger than an expert spear thrower. Like You were with David, walk with me and show me Your ways are better than this world’s. I love You, and I trust You. Amen.