Teflon Sinners

It had been a tumultuous stretch of time for David. He had gone from tending sheep in obscurity to being part of the king’s household and numbered among his closest advisors. Then the king had gotten it in his head that David was conspiring to kill him, forcing David to flee his wrath. After the king had received intelligence that David was located in the wilderness of Engedi, he went after him. However, when “nature called” Saul entered a cave where David and his men were hiding. The king was compromised and David was given an opportunity to rid himself of his mad pursuer.

Those with David encouraged him to strike; but he couldn’t. Saul was the Lord’s anointed and David could not bring himself to touch the Lord’s anointed. Instead, David stealthily snipped off the corner of Saul’s robe. Even that gesture troubled David’s soul. But the corner provided proof that David was not guilty of Saul’s charges. Outside the cave David confronted Saul with his evidence of innocence and placed his case before the Lord saying, “May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”

This is an encouraging picture of the righteousness that is ours in Christ. As Christ’s perfect righteousness has been imputed to a believer's account we, too, have evidence to lift up in the face of accusations, whether they come from the world, our own soul, or the devil. This is not to say that we are necessarily innocent of charges that might be leveled against us, as was David of the charges of Saul -- we very well might be guilty. But clothed in the righteous robes of Christ damning charges cannot stick.  When the finger is pointed we do not hold up our own filthy rags to thwart the accusation; our evidence is Christ’s righteousness. So clothed, we can say with Paul, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:33-35). No one and nothing!