Someone in the bible who I believe passed the Lord’s tests in the wilderness well, is David. I’d like to share with you examples from the Scriptures, which show us that the motives of his heart, and his intentions were pure.
It seems like David was still quite young (probably in his teenage years) when Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel. The Lord instructed Samuel to go to Jesse’s house (David’s father), to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel. When Samuel arrived and saw Jesse’s eldest son, he immediately presumed that God had chosen him because of his physical stature and appearance, but the Lord had refused him. God had chosen David because He knew what was in David’s heart.
So it was, when they came, that he (Samuel) looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!”
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 NKJV
Samuel then anointed David as the next king of Israel based upon God’s instructions, but David had to wait approximately 15 years before he sat on the throne, ruling as king of Judah, and then 7 years later, as the king of Israel. David first had to go through wilderness seasons in preparation for the calling God had on his life. David spent the next 13 years running away from king Saul who wanted to kill David because he had become so jealous of him. David spent approximately 13 – 15 years in the wilderness hiding away from Saul. God used this time to prepare David for the huge task of ruling over His people (Israel). I believe that God used David’s wilderness seasons to strengthen his faith in the Lord, teach him obedience, test his heart, and develop his character.
David knew that he was next in line to be king, and on 2 separate occasions he had opportunity to kill Saul and take his crown, but he didn’t. He spared Saul’s life, even though he knew that Saul was continually seeking him to kill him. It is quite possible that the Lord was testing David’s heart on these 2 occasions, and I believe that David passed these tests well. Sparing Saul’s life shows us that David’s heart was pure before the Lord. It also shows incredible humility as well as strength of character.
Let’s take a look at both accounts in Scripture:
David spares Saul’s life:
So he (Saul) came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)
Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.”
So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?
Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.
Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.
1 Samuel 24:3-12 NKJV
David spares Saul’s life for the 2nd time:
So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.
Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”
But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” David said furthermore, “As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.”
So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”
Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”
So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”
1 Samuel 26:7-16 NKJV
Like David, we may also go through tests during our wilderness seasons, which build and refine our character. Sometimes the Lord gives us tests just to see if we will be obedient. Other times He gives us tests to show us the condition of our heart, or the intentions of our hearts. Each test has a purpose, and the purpose is to either refine us, purify us, mold our character, build faith or hope where its lacking, or even to show us those things which are hidden in our hearts – like past hurt, disappointment or doubts. The Lord shows us these things so that we can deal with them, and ultimately overcome them with His help and guidance.
I pray this message encourages you to trust the Lord and the path that He is leading you on. He knows what lies ahead for each one of us, and He knows how to get us to where we need to be. He is faithful. Thank You Jesus!