There are many decent people who have a conscience and sense of morality, but when it comes to facing the darkest aspects of humanity, how will they respond?
Will they seek the glory of God in times of battle and lead in the midst of their enemies? Or will they turn to blood-lust and unhinged revenge? The answer depends on the source of their righteousness.
The bible says "...there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Rom 3:12. We can be righteous in our own eyes and do good things by our own standards, but God ultimately requires our faith alone.
Take King Saul and young King David for example:
Saul was considered a good person, as he was anointed by the Lord to be the first king over the Israelites, but shorty after his anointing, he strays from the commandments of the Lord. He acts rashly and fails appeal to the Lord for direction when the Philistines assemble against him.
"Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart..." I Samuel 13:12-14
Enter young David, who is not yet King, but comes to Saul's defense to slay the giant Philistine, Goliath.
Saul offers David a sword and armor to get the job done, but David declines them both, having not yet proved them in battle. Instead he uses a mere sling and a stone to take down the giant.
Before launching the stone that kills Goliath, David proclaims, "...the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's..." I Samuel 17:47
From this day on, King Saul hunts David out of fear and jealousy, but even so, David never separates himself from the will of God. Even when he finds Saul in compromising positions:
"And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish." I Samuel 26:9-10
To sum this up, we have Saul, who was anointed and given great opportunity to rule, but squanders it by following his own ideas of righteousness. His kingdom is taken away.
And then there is David, a faithful warrior, who always made supplication to the Lord even in times of battle. His kingdom is established forever and eventually brings in Jesus Christ, God made flesh:
"And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." II Samuel 7:16
This is not a story about the King of Israel being a coward, defeatist, This is a story about victory through faith and obedience to God.
There is a great difference between a good person and a faithful person. Good people don't inherit the Kingdom of God, so to speak. They simply waste away with all of the bad people they fought so hard to defeat.
Righteousness comes only through God and our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
I Samuel 15:22
The word obey means to obey God, not every antichrist person in a position of authority.
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6
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