The Faction Factor

The Faction Factor
Words of Faith 12-13-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 26:17-25
[17] Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." [18] And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? [19] Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' [20] Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea--as one hunts a partridge in the mountains." [21] Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly." [22] "Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of your young men come over and get it. [23] The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. [24] As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble." [25] Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David; you will do great things and surely triumph." So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

This was the second time that David made his case directly before Saul. It was also the second time that he "repented." The questions asked by David were pointed and revealing. Why was this anointed king who started out with such hope pursuing a man whose greatest crime was to save the nation from a vile marauding giant?
David asked an interesting question-- Could it be that men had incited Saul against him? Of course, there was no popular movement against David, but could a smaller faction have influenced Saul and used his selfish paranoia to divide the nation? If so, David was clear-- Such divisive people should be cursed for the damage they had done to David and to the nation. "If men have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have now driven me from my share in the Lord's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.'"
Centuries later, the Apostle Paul recognized the danger of the sinful nature in men and the factions that war against the Kingdom of God-- The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-20).
David knew the pain of the faction factor. He made it clear that this behavior had driven him from his homeland and inheritance and even pushed him toward worshipping other gods. While David never practiced pagan idolatry, in chapter 27, we will see some of the consequences of this war of personal destruction waged by Saul.
Once again, David made an offering of peace to Saul. He offered the return of the spear and the jug-- the symbols of death and life, power and cleansing. He put these back into Saul's hand because Saul was the anointed leader. It was not yet his time.
Saul uttered a blessing in response, but it was half-hearted at best. He did not invite David back into the land of his fathers or back into the places of worship before Almighty God. His blessing stated the obvious, that David would do great things and surely triumph. Sadly, the two went their separate ways. David was destined to be the shepherd of Israel, and Saul never again tried to interfere with the will of God for the kingdom and its next anointed leader. It was the last time they spoke.
What do we learn from this? Clearly, the damage done by dissension, factions, envy, and discord is far-reaching. These acts of the sinful nature drove David literally out of the land! It should not surprise us that the same selfish ambition and acts of the sinful nature will sometimes drive people from the church and even toward the worship of other gods. It is abundantly clear that we must walk with the Spirit of God and, manifest the fruit of the Spirit-- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-co,ntrol (Galatians 5:22-23).

Father God, fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit. Manifest Your Spirit in me and drive out the acts of my sinful nature. Free me from the desires and motivations that reflect my selfish ambitions. Cause me to live and breathe only for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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