David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. – 1 Samuel 30:6

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 31, 2012): 1 Samuel 30

There is a story told of a wise king in ancient times. This king was faced with a plague in his nation. The plague was just beginning, and so the King decided to quarantine the area affected. He sent his own army into the city and destroyed the bridges. Then he positioned officers at all of the routes out of the city with orders to shoot anyone who tried to escape. It was a hard decision, but a necessary one because a kingdom was held in the balance. But in an age when the plague seemed to ride swiftly through whole continents, this plaque was restricted to a single city in a single kingdom. The king was honored by the nations for his quick thinking and rapid response time.

Eventually the plague ran its course in the city. And the wise king sent in workers to rebuild the bridges and take care of the damage that had been caused during the quarantine. Everything was repaired and rebuilt better than it was before the plague hit. The king himself came to the city to open the final bridge and honor the inhabitants who had paid such a high price for the salvation of a nation and a continent. But the tale is a tragedy, because the city took this moment to exact their revenge. As the king moved onto the bridge, rebels closed in on both sides. A short battle ensued, after which the king was taken prisoner and eventually hung for what the city saw as his crimes.

History is filled with similar stories about kings and leaders who have made the right decisions only to pay for the decision with, at the least, their careers, but often with their very lives. Being right has never been protection against bad things happening. And sometimes right is not the popular choice. And that is why being right often requires a strength of character.

David had made the right moves. He was the chosen and the anointed of God; a man of God chasing down a God sized dream. And yet, even though he was on the side of right, he had to suffer through some reversals. And like the city of the mythical king, his own men wanted to kill him.

But David found his strength in God. And the courage to continue down a path that was right.

Tonight ends another year. I hope we had the courage to be right this year, and pray for an increased to courage to continue to chase down the God sized dream in front of us in the year that is to come.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 31