Forbearance is a virtue the story of David teaches us. At the peak of his adolescence, David was anointed king. It wasn’t until he was thirty years old that he officially ascended to the throne- 2 Samuel 5:4. Little did he know, at the time of his anointing, that he would live as a fugitive for over a decade, constantly on the run and fearing for his life. This forbearance period was crucial to his journey, shaping him into the king he was destined to be.
The school of patience that David went through began before his anointing as a teenager. Unbeknown to him, God was meticulously preparing David to become the leader of his people through his occupation as a shepherd. During this chapter of his life, God was the guiding force, teaching him humility, patience, courage, and gentleness.
Forbearance that leads to trust
Imagine receiving an unexpected promotion at work, but here’s the caveat: you don’t know when or how it will happen. How would you deal with that?
After his anointing and victory over Goliath, the giant, David suffered persecution at the hands of his father-in-law, King Saul. During those stressful and lonely years of being on the run, David’s trust in God’s promise was tested and strengthened, providing him with the reassurance of faith. The ultimate test: restraining himself from harming Saul when he had the chance to.
Choosing right
During one of those stressful persecutions, David had the chance to end with his persecutor. Saul and his people were stepping on David’s tail. Without knowing it, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself where David and his soldiers were hiding. Prompted by his people to kill Saul, David cut off a piece of his father-in-law’s royal robe instead. David knew that when the time came, God would make everything right for him and Saul. His forbearance translated into kindness. Kindness is the next fruit of the Spirit we’ll talk about!
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. –Galatians 6:9
You may also like:
2 thoughts on “Forbearance, a virtue”