A Costly Mistake

1 Sam 22:22
David said to Abiathar, "I knew it--that day I saw Doeg the Edomite there, I knew he'd tell Saul. I'm to blame for the death of everyone in your father's family. (The Message)

Synopsis
David is fleeing King Saul who is trying to kill him. He tells the priest Ahimelech that he's on a mission from Saul, and Ahimelech helps David. Saul's chief shepherd, Doeg, happens to be in the neighborhood and sees this. Doeg tells Saul that Ahimelech helped David and Saul has all 85 priests in Ahimelech's family group killed along with their families, even their livestock. Only one survives: Abiathar. When Abiathar meets up with David, David takes responsibility for the catastrophe.


David could have blamed Doeg. He could have blamed Saul--David didn't kill anyone. Saul didn't have to kill them. Maybe Doeg wouldn't have told Saul. Who knows? But David very decisively takes the blame, and the obligation to protect Abiathar.

David was on the run, he was alone and friendless. What could he do anyway? Kill Saul's official? Taken all the priests and their families with him to exile? He didn't even have bread to feed himself. But David didn't rationalize his responsibility away.

It's uncomfortable to take blame. It triggers all my guilt issues. But if I won't take blame then I won't take responsibility. I lose the opportunity to learn, and to be mindful of my responsibility in the moment. The next time David is in the moment and he sees a "Doeg", he'll be motivated to take action, rather than blame-shift or rationalize until its too late.

David's mistake was that he didn't take action when he could have. Blame-shifting and rationalization can paralyze me from taking action in the moment. So I need to be able to claim the blame to give myself the respond-ability.

I can't take blame well; I get bound up in condemnation. It paralyzes me in the moment. But I have found that "There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus!" If I'm robed in Jesus's righteousness I can resist condemning myself and I can take the blame and responsibility.

I'm going to practice taking the blame, standing in the righteousness of Jesus, and take action. Jesus doesn't call me to feel as much as he calls me to act.
- posted by Jor @ 12:03 PM -