Originally posted in Sept 24, 2018, this is a re-post of an older topic that I’ve been pondering on again the last couple of weeks. Many Christians are convinced they are pursing God’s desires and will tell you boldly that their actions serve Him, but that doesn’t mean that their actions actually do align with God’s desires or that God is pleased with what they are doing. Deception is one of Satan’s favorite tools, and we need to be aware of and on guard against how Satan uses lies to twist us into his service rather than the service of God.
In 2 Samuel 1:1-16 a man comes to David, who is hiding from King Saul, to tell David of the results of the battle between Israel (King Saul) and the Philistines. The man tells David that King Saul and Saul’s son Jonathan are dead, but not only that, the man goes on to take credit for King Saul’s death, saying that upon Saul’s request to be killed “…I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.” 2Sa 1:10
This man calls David “my lord” yet this man does not know David at all.
Presumably he thought David would be happy to hear the news that Saul and Jonathan were dead, likely assuming that, because David had been fleeing Saul, David would be thrilled to be delivered Saul’s crown and bracelets and probably even reward the man for his part in Saul’s death.
Yet, anyone who had spent time with and knew David, knew King Saul’s death was not something David sought. They also would have known that David deeply loved Jonathan and would be heartbroken by his death.
No one who knew David would have proudly come to tell David this news.
This man thought his stated actions and what he had brought would please David, because He was mistaken about David’s nature, David’s goals, David’s heart, and David’s judgment.
David respond to his man:
“How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’” ~2 Samuel 1:14-16~
When we take an action thinking it will be pleasing to God, but we haven’t take the time to know God we can end up doing evil rather than good. In the same way, just because someone else claims to be serving God does not mean that they are or that God is pleased with their actions.
Challenge: Take the time to know God, so that you will know what is truly pleasing to Him and what is displeasing to Him, so that you do not do evil in His name but rather what is right and good.
When the rocks speak 
Great example! Very thought-provoking.