Introduction

Good day to all! Let us turn to 1 Samuel, chapter 24. Initially, I intended to title this chapter The Magnanimity of a King, but later revised it to The Character of a King. However, as these exact words are not present in the chapter, I felt it more appropriate to title each chapter with the most fitting phrase found within it, thereby avoiding potential criticisms. Therefore, I have chosen You shall surely be king, and the kingdom shall be established in your hand as the theme for this chapter. These words are, in fact, spoken by Saul himself, as his assessment of David. Consider this: if someone seeking to kill you were to offer such praise, it would signify that you possess qualities far beyond mere competence.

And now I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. (1 Samuel 24:20)

Some corporations employ comprehensive 360-degree performance reviews, wherein individuals with grievances may assign the lowest possible scores. If even a handful of those you have offended cast negative votes, your overall score will inevitably suffer. Yet, if your adversary, even someone hell-bent on your demise, commends you, one can only imagine the depth of respect this rival holds for you. Hence, I have titled this chapter You shall surely be king, and the kingdom shall be established in your hand.

The fundamental question then becomes: Do you possess the virtues befitting a king? The qualities within David are truly extraordinary; his character and magnanimity are fully deserving of the phrase 厚德载物 (厚德載物), which means that great virtue carries all things. It is crucial to understand that without sufficient virtue, one cannot bear the weight of responsibility. At times, when I complain about someone's lack of virtue, I begin to discern good and evil, yet I must constantly remind myself not to judge. Compared to David, I realize how inadequate I am. The figures in the Scripture are truly remarkable. Why is it so difficult to emulate them in this lifetime? It is truly frustrating; we are all too low. The path of emulation remains distant, necessitating diligent study.

On one occasion, I felt somewhat agitated because I felt wronged by someone. I had treated him so well, yet he did not reciprocate, causing me distress. Upon reflection, I realized that my own virtue was lacking. Whenever I feel distressed, I turn to the Tao Te Ching, only to find that a Christian's conduct often falls short of the standards set by Lao Tzu and Sun Tzu, ultimately rendering us 三孙子 (sānsūnzi, a derogatory term). Resolving to surpass even Lao Tzu, I opened the Tao Te Ching and was immediately humbled by a particular phrase: 道生之，德畜之 (Dào shēng zhī, dé chù zhī), meaning that the Tao gives birth to all things—that all things originate from God, and without the corresponding virtue, one cannot bear God's blessings.

After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! (1 Samuel 24:14)

I rebuked myself, questioning my audacity in seeking to establish Chinese Mingding Destiny and engaging in Bible study, delving into Genesis and 1 Samuel, with such limited virtue. Yet, at times, feeling inadequate, I repent, acknowledging myself as merely a wild dog or a flea, finding solace in this realization. I came to understand that my own virtue was insufficient. Instead of dwelling on how others have wronged me, I should focus on how I have wronged others. Considering the grace and favor God has bestowed upon me, my conduct has been wanting, and I must change. The Chinese proverb 厚德载物 (hòu dé zài wù) aptly summarizes the importance of observing the outcome of a person's life.

A mother with a child in their twenties asked me to earnestly pray for their child's virtue. I explained to her that the child's problem was a reflection of the mother's problem, which she refused to accept. She only wanted me to solve her son's problem first. If her own issues remain unresolved, her son's problems cannot be addressed. Others send messages requesting that I and my colleagues come and pray for their son. I wonder, even with financial compensation, whether we would have the time. Ultimately, it is my own lack of virtue, not theirs. My words often offend others. In life, we often encounter peculiar situations, but these situations serve as mirrors, reflecting our own virtue, or lack thereof, which is beneficial.

I once encountered someone who held a Guinness World Record. It is an interesting story. On one occasion, we received a doctoral student who was emotionally distressed due to a relationship issue, to the point of being demonically oppressed and contemplating suicide by jumping in front of a train. After I cast out the demon, he recovered and was able to continue his doctoral studies. Considering the challenges of renting an apartment alone, I suggested that he live with us, where the rent would be about one-third cheaper than elsewhere. We were not concerned about the rental income. He would only bear a small portion, as a gesture of assistance. Later, we agreed that since everyone needed to use the restroom, it was unnecessary for each person to bring their own toilet paper. Each of us would contribute one hundred yuan to purchase toiletries such as shampoo and toilet paper for communal use. Upon hearing this, the doctoral student declared that he would not contribute the one hundred yuan, suggesting that he would occasionally buy some himself.

I understood that he was trying to take advantage of the situation. As a pastor, I could overlook the unpaid amount, but I could not neglect his spiritual well-being. To minister to him, I had to be honest, informing him that he was being rather stingy. His response broke a Guinness World Record. He argued that although he was stingy, he was the most generous among the men of Shanghai. With such an attitude, his life would inevitably be ruined. He came with this mindset, and until the day he left, he never bought toilet paper or shampoo, freely using mine. Encountering such a person, I could not stoop to his level; I had to surpass the standards set by Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching.

Praise God! I did not become angry or upset over this person, as it was not worth being troubled over one hundred yuan. Everything in the house was purchased with our own money. He was allowed to use anything he needed, beyond toilet paper and shampoo. While we may not reach the heights of Lao Tzu, we can certainly compare ourselves to this small person.

I believe that the Tao Te Ching is something that we Christians need to transcend. Later, I discovered that to be a king, one must possess the virtue of a king, lest others point fingers at you and despise your lack of virtue. Thus, I harbor a grand aspiration, a dream that all those among us may be princes in God’s kingdom, destined to be kings. May everything that God entrusts to you and me be firmly established, well-managed through our stewardship. To achieve this dream, I hope that everyone can surpass the standards set by Lao Tzu in the Tao Te Ching.

So it was, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. (1 Samuel 24:1-2)

The previous chapter recounted Saul's attempt to eliminate David, nearly trapping him. However, the arrival of the Philistines caused Saul to turn back and engage them in battle. After driving the Philistines away, he resumed his pursuit of David. In reality, Saul was somewhat better than some among us; at least he personally led his troops to fight the Philistines, engaging in practical work and achieving some success. Unlike some of us who are merely doorstep monkeys, bullies at home, or kings in bed, utterly insignificant outside, yet formidable at home.

He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (Now David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Surely I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. (1 Samuel 24:3-4)

This chapter tells an amusing story. By sheer coincidence, the cave Saul entered was the very cave where David and his men were hiding. David's men urged him to seize the opportunity to kill Saul, as it appeared that the Lord God had delivered Saul into David's hands. Had David killed Saul at that moment, before Saul had even finished his business, the scene would have been quite disgusting. David, however, did not heed his men's advice to kill Saul. Instead, he quietly approached Saul, holding his breath, and cut off a corner of his robe. The text does not describe whether Saul wiped himself after relieving himself. In any case, some of us, after engaging in inappropriate behavior, should not neglect to clean up after ourselves; if you have secretly indulged, wipe your mouth clean. Regardless of Saul’s external hygiene habits, his thoughts and intentions were exceedingly filthy. Seeing this, we must understand that the excrement of someone with intentions as foul as Saul's would be extremely foul-smelling, like Old Horse. We must begin to cleanse the hygiene of our own thoughts.

Now afterward David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his men with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and prostrated himself. (1 Samuel 24:5-8)

After cutting off a corner of Saul's robe, David experienced remorse. Saul, now refreshed, emerged from the cave. David, following closely behind, quickly took a breath of fresh air before calling out to Saul, addressing him as My lord, my king! Regardless of how filthy Saul's thoughts and intentions were, he was still the king, David's king and father-in-law, and an elder in the established order. Saul, hearing someone call him, turned around. David bowed with his face to the earth, prostrating himself. Saul, observing this scene, felt no indebtedness; the odor from earlier was not wasted, as David and his men had inhaled it all.

And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and some urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ (1 Samuel 24:9-10)

David remained clear-headed, inquiring why Saul listened to the slanderous words suggesting that David sought to harm him. In reality, it was Saul himself who sought to kill David; no one was spreading slander. David informed Saul that he could have easily killed him in the cave. Although God had delivered Saul into David's hands, David spared Saul, refusing to harm his lord. David’s logic was impeccably clear: he would not harm Saul because Saul was the Lord God's anointed. At this point, Saul’s reaction should have been one of profound emotion, perhaps even embracing David and weeping with gratitude. In reality, Saul did weep, but he did not approach David, still wary of being stabbed in the back.

Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. (1 Samuel 24:11)

This is what is meant by virtue, 厚德载物 (hòudé zài wù).

Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand. (1 Samuel 24:12-15)

So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day that you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 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. (1 Samuel 24:16-22)

Saul understood everything in his heart, but he became confused when faced with real-life situations. People are like that, sometimes clear, sometimes confused, just like Saul.

To Be a King, One Must Possess the Magnanimity of a King

I often encourage brothers and sisters, especially those I pastor, to emulate King David by having the magnanimity of a king, not like King Saul. While 厚德载物 (hòudé zài wù) is a concept summarized by the Chinese, it is also promoted in the Bible. For the petty and narrow-minded King Saul, the throne became a snare. It would have been better for him if he had not become king. Perhaps his life would have been merely searching for donkeys and sheep. Perhaps such a life would not have caused him distress or inner turmoil. God would not have sent an evil spirit to torment him, and he would not have suffered from mental illness. In short, after Saul became king, his life was ruined by the throne.

In our generation, some are content with a simple life, but others aspire to own hundreds of chain stores, competing to have the most. Back then, it was physical stores; by the time they got out of prison, it was all online, and they missed a golden opportunity. Yet, they refuse to give up. It makes me think that one's position in this world often becomes a snare.

If one's heart and virtue are insufficient, like me, many wonder how I could create Chinese Mingding Destiny? I must expand, learning from David, lest I become like Saul. The throne became Saul's snare. What is the point? It would be better to live a simple life. Therefore, to be a king, one must have the heart of a king, or the throne will ruin one's life. If you want to be a zone leader, you must have the heart of a zone leader. Do not be petty, becoming a petty Saul, zone leader, or group leader. You must understand that our God is the King of Kings, meaning the only position below Him is a king's position. Some say they'll sweep the floor in heaven if they are not good enough. I say the floors there are clean; someone like that would only make them dirtier. Heaven is a sea of glass; someone with such poor virtue cannot even sweep, let alone be a king.

Do our brothers and sisters have a kingly destiny? The answer is yes. But the question is, with a kingly destiny, will you be a King Saul or a King David? Being a King David is good. Some say being a gluttonous king is great because they can eat a lot. But I think my stomach is small; I get full after a few skewers at a barbecue. My mouth still wants to eat, and my eyes see the delicious food but feel it's not enough. This is not about a gluttonous king, but King David, the king of Israel. You must have the heart of a king because with the heart of a king, the throne will not become your snare; with the heart of a tycoon, wealth will not become your snare; with the heart of a zone leader, the position of a zone leader will not become your snare.

So, think about it; David was remarkable. He was not yet king and was fleeing in a sorry state. His enemies were defenseless before him, but David did not kill Saul. Some might wonder why he didn't kill Saul and become king, reforming Israel into the most powerful kingdom. But killing Saul would leave an indelible mark on history. David would be seen as seizing the throne, replacing the king himself. Some might dismiss this, saying Samuel had anointed David, and David was destined to be king anyway. But it would still be David usurping the throne, taking advantage of a vulnerable moment, seizing the throne by killing the former king while he was relieving himself. It sounds disgusting.

David understood he could not be a usurper. A usurper king has a terrible reputation and lacks virtue. Saul was still the Lord’s anointed; who would dare kill the Lord’s anointed and think himself innocent? If David thought the throne was obtained by killing the former king, he would value the throne too much. One day, someone would take advantage of him and kill him in the same way. It would be unsettling. David had to have the demeanor of the King of Israel, ensuring no stain remained in his life when God placed him on the throne. David had to have the virtue and broad-mindedness of a king, not leaving behind a tale of taking advantage in Israel.

Do you want a good reputation? You cannot have a good name if you are always thinking about petty, underhanded actions. Reputation is crucial. If you are an ordinary person, no one will dig into your past, but if you become a king, your ancestors for three generations will be exposed, and everything you have done will be revealed. If David walked down the street and people whispered, That's David, who killed King Saul while he was relieving himself, even if David could not hear, he would feel uneasy. More rumors would spread, becoming increasingly unpleasant. Fortunately, David did not do that. We will discuss what happened later. The throne is indeed a snare, especially for those in high positions, so be careful.

Self-Centeredness: The Root of Tragedy

David had a complete logical system: he could not violate God's way. No matter how powerful one is, if one violates God's way, the end will be tragic. One must let God's way be within you. Thinking only of oneself is called selfishness. Reflect carefully: those who oppose God often suffer. The image of God has kingly honor. God will not argue with you over a small amount of money, even ten or a hundred million, because God has plenty.

Our God has given us all things, giving people the breath of life so that they can live. Therefore, our lives depend on Him. No matter how much we offend God, He has not crushed us; God is extraordinarily gracious. Violating God's word is called lacking virtue; keeping and following God's word is called virtue. This is my own definition of virtue. When people suffer, it is primarily because they lack virtue. Do not think that people seem fine after doing wrong. There is something inside people called conscience. For example, a corrupt official who has caused someone's death is uneasy and suffers.

Recently, a brother flew thousands of miles to visit his sick father, but his father died before he arrived. One day, he felt feverish and unwell, seeking ministry from a pastor. During the conversation, he suddenly discovered the cause. Before his death, his father had transferred millions from his account, and the money was unaccounted for. The brother thought, If it hadn't been transferred, everyone could have gotten a bigger share. The root of his suffering was there, and then he developed a fever. Actually, the money was not his; it was his father's. His father could give it to whomever he wanted. He still valued his father's money. But saying this is very low, and not saying it makes him uneasy. Does this resonate with everyone? According to my guess, there may be more than one such person among us.

I have specifically researched why people suffer. When I see someone suffering, I understand that they feel they have been taken advantage of. Generally, people do not suffer from owing someone. If you feel bad when you owe someone, you are greater than the greatest—like God. People suffer because they feel they have not gained the advantages they should or should not have gained. I have researched this deeply. If someone is suffering, the brothers and sisters around him might secretly tell me that he may feel he has not done well enough in his work and is sorry to everyone. I say that if he is suffering because he has not done his job well, that is easy to fix. His current suffering is because he feels we are letting him down, not because he feels he is letting us down. Actually, like everyone else, I feel bad when others let me down, but I feel fine when I let others down. Selfishness is truly corrupting.

Saul felt the throne was his and he had to protect it. In truth, the throne was given by God and had nothing to do with his ability. Some people suddenly become rich but do not remain humble, constantly shouting that every penny was earned by their own sweat and blood, as if the money was earned by their own ability. If it were not for the government's good policies, he would still be in North Korea. When would it be his turn? You must not attribute this to yourself, or you will easily cause trouble. Who else would people target if not you? Letting you be proud that every penny was earned by you means that every penny you earned must now be spat out. A tragedy! So, never think only of yourself. You must thank the chief architect of reform and opening up. If it were not for his reform and opening up, no one knows what you would be doing now. Some people just do not understand, are very selfish, and always feel they are being taken advantage of. This is the root of all problems.

We must not only be humble but also understand how people can live well and how to walk according to God's word. God's way cannot be violated because you have a kingly destiny but also need the virtue of a king. If you have a kingly destiny, God has chosen you among all things to be a king or prince or princess in God's kingdom. But look at that virtue. In Northeastern terms, it's like, Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself, see what kind of virtue you have? So, our understanding must be clear: we do not live well after being selfish; after being selfish, we are at odds with God, and everything falls apart. If we do not want things to fall apart, we cannot live for selfish gain but must have the virtue and heart of a king.

The Character of a King

It seems like I am not speaking to everyone but to myself. I must constantly remind myself that David was a remarkable person who lived a comfortable life. If you want to live a comfortable and happy life, you must learn from David. His understanding was clear. He saw himself as nothing more than a dog, even a flea. If you see yourself as a king but others see you as a pile of dog shit, you will certainly feel bad. People give you nicknames every day. You think you are a king, but they mock you as a know-it-all king. You think you know everything, but it seems you do not understand much. David saw himself as a dog or a flea, so he did not feel bad. Realizing he was nothing, how could it be his turn to be king?

This generation's Christian theological system makes me very grateful to God. How could it be my turn to create this Chinese Mingding Destiny system, restoring the gospel preached by the Apostle Paul and Jesus Christ? What virtue or ability do I have? But I want to tell everyone that Chinese Mingding Destiny will have a profound impact in future generations. We have truly sorted out many key concepts and definitions in the entire Christian faith, creating a more biblically sound theological system. Of course, we are still far from perfect, and I am just a pile of dog shit. You ask me why I live so happily. Actually, I am happy whenever I feel like a pile of dog shit; I feel stressed whenever I feel great and that others should not treat me this way. So, sometimes you really need to enlighten yourself.

Having the character of a king means not offending God and not arguing for oneself. David was formidable. He trained his motley crew so that they not only fought better than others but also led by example. They did the most work, were the smartest, had the highest martial arts skills, and were the most effective in battle, but everyone received the same share, and he never felt he was at a disadvantage. If David always felt he was being taken advantage of and disliked those six hundred men, he could not have continued, and those six hundred men would not have respected him. These six hundred men personally learned a lesson: their king was too impressive. He could kill King Saul but did not, so David would certainly not target them. David immediately established his image, and later no one would plot against or assassinate David because everyone respected him.

Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)

Like the Bible says, those who live by the sword die by the sword; those who plot against their superiors will be plotted against by their subordinates. Birds of a feather flock together. David was very loyal, never betraying, and always honoring his superiors. Even if his superior wanted to kill him, he would never kill King Saul for his own benefit. A king's character directly influences a group of people. What kind of character you have determines what kind of people you will lead.

Over the past few decades, every time I think of David, I feel so far behind him. Such people are too impressive. Even his enemies would praise him. Let me praise myself a little. Although I do not think much of myself, some people who have left the church have later said that I am too impressive. No matter how badly they treat me, I will not harm them. This is true. I do not harm people; I am too busy blessing them.

Always feel indebted, not always feel taken advantage of. Selfish people often feel they are being taken advantage of, but if you have the character of a king, you often feel indebted. Because when we come into this world, God wants us to become kings so that we can govern this land and be a blessing to it. Blessing means giving, and we freely give what we have freely received. This is a king. Such people will surely be kings, and the kingdom in your hands will surely be strong!

Conclusion

Even if you have a kingly destiny, you must have the virtue and heart of a king. If you truly do, I will make a bold prophecy to you: you will surely be king, and your kingdom will surely be strong in your hands. One day, when we are in heaven, standing before the Lord Jesus Christ, we will receive heavenly rewards. At that time, we will know that we will surely be kings, and God's kingdom will surely be strong in our hands. What a wonderful thing that will be.

May God bless you all!