Today’s 333 Devotional: “The Golden Rule Lived Out”

David was relentlessly and ruthlessly chased by King Saul who was trying to kill him. But it wasn’t because of anything David had done, rather it was because the Spirit of the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.

“Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.” (1 Samuel 18:12)

David, however, didn’t respond in kind. Rather he prayed for Saul, and even when he had a chance to kill Saul he didn’t respond to Saul’s evil with evil of his own. In essence David lived out the Golden Rule.

David described this time saying, “They reward me evil for good, to the sorrow of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; and my prayer would return to my own heart. I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.” (Psalm 35:12-14)

This may have been the precursor to what Jesus said when He gave His Sermon on the Mount.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them.” (Luke 6:27-31)

God is calling us to a higher standard than that which is lived out by those in the world today, which is to get what you can, whenever you can, and by whatever means you can.

Instead, God is calling us to treat others as we want to be treated, and then, treat them even better.