The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Listening: David’s Conflict Resolution Strategy Wins Saul Over

Through listening, leaders earn the right to speak into the lives of their people. Because they listen, they speak with relevance. And as they listen, they display love, compassion and understanding.

David led well because he listened well. First Samuel 26 describes how he gained the opportunity to take Saul’s life for the second time. David snuck up on the king while he slept. But instead of killing him, David took the king’s spear and water jug and later, from a distance, confronted him with questions. David shows that a leader who listens possesses genuine love.

1. Genuine love is not always popular—be different. Remember David’s men? Malcontents. Disgruntled. More than once they encouraged him to look out for himself and take Saul’s life—but David refused. We must be careful how we interpret circumstances and whose advice we accept.
2. Genuine love needs a clear perspective—be humble. After David took Saul’s spear and jug, he called to the king from a distance. He submitted himself and humbly asked for perspective. “What have I done?” he asked. We will never be able to love people correctly until we see them clearly, with God’s eyes.
3. Genuine love is not defensive—be patient. David knew God put him in this situation for a purpose and trusted him to deliver him. David offers to make a sacrifice if he has harmed Saul or done anything wrong, and he waits to hear Saul’s rationale. Impatience indicates we lack trust and want our rights.
4. Genuine love is powerful—be forgiving. Saul later apologizes to David and admits his wrong. He promises to go home. At this point, David sits in the driver’s seat; he still has Saul’s spear and jug. But he returns them and forgives Saul of everything. Like David, we must trust God to make things right.

What Steps Did David Take?

Note the following steps David walked through with Saul (1Sa 26):

1. He initiated the contact with Saul and set the stage for communication (v. 14).
2. He appealed to Saul’s sense of right and wrong (vv. 15–16).
3. He asked questions and listened for the king’s heart’s response (v. 18).
4. He asked Saul to listen so he could share his perspective (v. 19).
5. He determined to own up to anything he had done wrong (v. 19).
6. He submitted himself to Saul (v. 20).
7. He offered forgiveness and reconciliation as an act of trust in God (vv. 22–24).

How about you? Do you display love for others by listening? Are you a good listener?

Taken from The NIV Maxwell Leadership Bible.