See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
1 Samuel 24:11 (NIV)

As I’ve progressed in my life journey my heart and mind have increasingly and repeatedly returned again and again to Shakespeare’s Macbeth. For those who don’t remember high school Lit, it’s the story of a middling field general in Scotland who experiences a brilliant victory. On his way home from battle, he meets three weird sisters who utter a prophecy that he will ascend to become a nobleman, and then to be King of Scotland.

Macbeth writes his wife this prophetic news, and as he returns home the King of Scotland decides to spend the night at Macbeth’s house as he is traveling through. Macbeth and his Lady decide that the King’s timely visit must be providence. It’s their opportunity to make the prophecy happen.

They murder the king of Scotland.

Immediately, Macbeth begins a long, slow descent into madness.

Macbeth came to mind as I read today’s chapter about Saul, another King descending into madness. In today’s chapter, Saul continues his all-out murderous search for David. He goes into a cave to relieve himself not knowing David and his men were hiding in the back of the same cave. This is David’s chance to go the way of Macbeth and take his destiny into his own hands.

David refuses to take destiny into his own hands. He leaves it in God’s hands.

Instead, he cuts part of Saul’s robe off to prove to the Mad King (also his father-in-law), that he spared Saul’s life.

As I meditated on this episode in the quiet this morning, I thought about the straggling end of the list of the fruits of the Spirit: self-control. As I pondered, I realized that in my entire life I can’t remember hearing one message, I can’t think of one book, that address self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. I’ve heard and read a lot about love, joy, peace, and patience. But self-control? …. crickets.

In Jewish thought there is a concept called yetzer hara. It’s literally translated “evil inclination” but the concept is really “self-centered inclination.” Rabbis note that there are many things in life that a “self-centered inclination” lead us to do that are not necessarily evil. One rabbinic saying says that without the yetzer hara, a man would not build a house, marry a wife, have children, or engage in business. In other words, ambition, desire, competitiveness, self-preservation, and the drive to achieve are all tied to the yetzer hara. Those impulses become destructive only when they are ungoverned.

The spiritual task, the Rabbis teach, is not annihilation of yezter hara, but mastery over it. In other words… self-control.

Exhibit A?

David in today’s chapter. He is given the opportunity to make his destiny happen. David’s men are essentially appealing to David’s yetzer hara:

Seize the opportunity.
Protect yourself.
Eliminate the threat.
Take the throne.

The rabbis would say that the real battle in the cave isn’t David versus Saul, but David versus David. Every human instinct says, “Do it.” But, unlike Macbeth, David exhibits self-control. He restrains himself. He demonstrates mastery over yetzer hara. And with that, we see the character of a true king developing.

In the quiet this morning, I once again realize that the wilderness was not merely hiding David. It was forming David. Anyone can trust God when there is no opportunity to take matters into their own hands. The true test comes when the opportunity is right there…

The email is drafted.
The cutting remark is loaded.
The revenge is available.
The shortcut is open.
My enemy is suddenly right there for the taking.

And in that moment I discover whether I trust God’s timing or my own. Many of life’s most important moments don’t look like opportunities to do wrong. They look like opportunities to do the right thing the wrong way.

David understood something that I confess I often forget: If God has truly promised something, then I don’t have to sin to obtain it. What God intends to give me never needs to be stolen. So the question lingering in the cave at En Gedi is one I’m carrying into my day: What promise, outcome, victory, or vindication am I trying to force with my own hands that God is asking me to trust Him to provide?

Because I don’t want be Macbeth. I want to be David.

Please share this post with someone!
If you got something good from it, please “Like” it.
Comments are welcome.

RETURN TO THE MAIN WAYFARER BLOG PAGE

Subscribe and Get Every Chapter-a-Day Post Delivered Right to Your Email!

Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify
Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.