I Samuel 24:21-22 “Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my Father’s house. So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
It is so frustrating when you receive exciting news but before you have time to process it, someone shakes their head and interjects, “Consider the source!” And just like that, your bubble is burst!
What an unfortunate phrase! Those three short words, “Consider the source,” prove to be game changers. They indicate the bearer of the news lacks credibility. Perhaps the speaker is not a good listener and misses out on pertinent detail. It’s possible the bearer of the news does not seek truth, rendering them an unreliable source of information. But, for whatever reason, their words cannot be trusted.
In scripture, David’s relationship with King Saul offers a glimpse at the perils of “consider the source” people. King Saul’s jealousy placed David in danger. But when David extended grace and spared the king’s life, Saul offered a rare gesture of gratitude. Not only did he apologize to David, but he also called for a truce. However, what happened next must not go unnoticed. “Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”
Do you find this a bit odd? After living in caves and running for his life as a fugitive, certainly David longed for home. So why not head there as quickly as his legs would take him? Why, instead, return to his safe place? Might it be that Saul’s words and actions rarely lined up with truth? Yes, Saul was a “consider the source” person. And if you know the rest of the story, you realize the wisdom in David’s caution, for Saul was not to be trusted.
Their story gives us cause to examine our own character. Do our actions flow from a heart meriting trust? Are our words honorable or are they disregarded as soon as we walk away? Do others feel the need to follow up what we say with additional sources of proof? If so, might we be a “consider the source” person?
Our actions and our words reside within the same heart. If we seek the heavenly Father, all we do and say will be found trustworthy. So may we pray for a heart beyond reproach. May our words flow from truth. And may our actions reflect the spirit of our living God.
Father God, may we always speak with truth and love. May we never be regarded as a “consider the source” person.
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane