The Book of 1 Samuel

The End of An Era

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8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days. – 1 Samuel 31:8-13  ESV

What Saul feared in life, actually took place in death. Right before taking his own life, he begged his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me” (1 Samuel 31:4 ESV). Being captured alive by the Philistines was Saul’s greatest fear because he knew they would treat him with derision and scorn. He was well acquainted with the ways of his enemy and understood that agonizing torture and public execution what be his fate.

The Hebrew word he used is alal</em> and it can mean “to act severely, deal with severely, make a fool of someone” (“H5953 -alal – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 12 Feb, 2017). It carries the idea of mocking, as well as defilement. Saul, the great warrior-king of Israel was petrified by the thought of having to endure the pain and humiliation that the Philistines would inflict upon him, so he opted for suicide. But Saul’s death did not stop the inevitable. Upon finding his body, the Philistines stripped him of his armor and cut off his head. The Book of Chronicles states, “they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon” (1 Chronicles 10:10 ESV). As if to eliminate any doubt as to the cause of Saul’s demoralizing death, the Book of Chronicles goes on to provide the following insight.

So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. – 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ESV

This was not the only time Saul failed to remain faithful to God. He had violated the law of God by disobeying the words of the prophet and by offering sacrifices to God, a duty reserved solely for priests (1 Samuel 13). He also failed to wipe out the Amalekites and destroy all the spoils from battle, disobeying a direct order from God (1 Samuel 15). And Saul had continually ignored God’s clear pronouncement that he was to be replaced as king by a better man. In fact, he actively tried to prevent God’s will by seeking to kill the very man God had chosen as his replacement: David.

So, there was no shortage of reasons for Saul’s abandonment by God. In many ways, he is the one who left God, having chosen to live his life and rule his kingdom according to his own standards and based on his own wisdom. He had been rash, impulsive, prone to placing blame, and reticent to repent, even when proven guilty. He was prideful, arrogant, self-absorbed, and unwilling to humble himself before God. His eventual humiliation at the hands of the Philistines was his own fault; he had brought this on himself. As his world came to a crashing end on the field of battle, he found himself severely wounded, his sons dead, his army fleeing, and the Philistine troops closing in for the kill. His only recourse was to end it all. Falling on his sword was his final act of defiance, an apt ending to a life marked by a stubborn determination to always do things his way.

But Saul’s self-inflicted death didn’t prevent the Philistines from using his body as a propaganda tool. They hung his decapitated body on the walls of the city of Beth-shan, displayed his head in the temple of their god, Dagon, and placed his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth. Saul’s dismembered body became a tool of the enemy, used to promote their victory and humiliate not only Saul but the God of Israel. The armies of the Philistines had defeated the Israelites and their deity with the help of their own gods.

This scene is reminiscent of an earlier Philistine victory over the Israelites when they captured the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in the temple of Dagon (1 Samuel 5). The Philistines treated the Ark as if it was an idol, a physical representation of the Israelite God, placing it at the feet of Dagon to honor his superiority over Yahweh. So, in the same way, placing Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon was a way to show that their god was greater than the God of Israel. In their minds, Dagon had prevailed over Yahweh. They had won and Saul and the Israelites had lost.

But the story doesn’t end there. When the residents of Jabesh-gilead heard what had happened to Saul and his sons, they took action. At great risk to their own lives, they planned a nighttime raid and took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the walls of Beth-shan and gave them a proper burial. No reason is given for why the bodies were burned but it could be because they had been so mutilated by the Philistines that they were beyond recognition. Or it could have been an attempt to prevent the spread of disease. Whatever the case, their bones were buried and a fast was held for seven days. There would be no memorial erected to the memory of Saul. The first king of Israel would not be memorialized or feted with a statue or an official state funeral. His ending stands in stark contrast to that of another Israelite king.

And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor. – 2 Chronicles 16:13-14 ESV

It would become customary for the deceased kings of Israel to have elaborate burials and expensive tombs built in their honor. Such was not the case for Saul. He and his sons were buried under a tree in a non-disclosed spot. No pomp. No elaborate ceremony. No monument to mark their memory.

Just like that, Saul was gone, his memory wiped from the minds of his people. But his legacy of faithlessness and disobedience was left behind in the captured cities of Israel, the lost lives of hundreds of soldiers, and the demoralized remnants of the Jews who no longer had a king. But God was not done. This was not an ending, but a new beginning. While all looked lost and the future appeared dim, God had things right where He wanted them. The Israelites would not be without a king for long; this time, they would find themselves with the kind of king they always needed – a man after God’s heart.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Out With the Old

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1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. – 1 Samuel 31:1-7  ESV

While David and his men were pursuing and defeating the Amalikites, Saul and the Israelites were doing battle with the Philistines. David had sought the help of God and found success. Saul had sought the help of a witch and died in battle, along with his three sons. As a result of his God-ordained victory, David celebrated by distributing the spoils among his men and the elders of Judah. Yet, Israel’s defeat at the hands of the Philistines resulted in Saul’s death as well as the mass evacuation of Israelite cities near the scene of the battle. The Israelites’ loss would be the Philistines’ gain as they took occupation of those abandoned cities.

Two men and two completely different outcomes, yet both taking place at exactly the same time. What is interesting to note is the easy-to-miss reference to King Saul’s armor bearer. Verse six reads: “Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.” This verse stands out because, at one time, David had been Saul’s armor bearer.

And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. – 1 Samuel 16:21 ESV

While just a passing reference in the text of 1 Samuel 31, it is significant to realize that David’s somewhat difficult-to-understand exile from the palace of Saul had been a literal godsend. God had ordained David’s disassociation from Saul to spare David the same fate as Saul. All those close to Saul, including his son, Jonathan, died as a result of his stubborn rebellion against the will of God. Had God not removed His Spirit from Saul and allowed an evil spirit to torment him, David could have remained in his service. David could have been a part of that battle with the Philistines, serving alongside the king as his armor bearer. But it had been God’s plan to separate David from Saul so that he might be spared and prepared to be Saul’s eventual replacement.

This entire scenario was the work of God; He had even warned Saul that it would happen. In fact, when Saul sought the aid of the witch of Endor and asked her to conjure up the departed spirit of Samuel the prophet, God intervened. Much to her surprise and shock, she successfully called up the dead prophet who delivered a chilling prediction to Saul.

“Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” – 1 Samuel 28:18-19 ESV

The end of Saul’s reign was at hand. As part of His divine plan, God determined the time had come for Saul’s reign to end so that David’s could begin. However, the transition of power did not take place immediately. Saul remained on the throne and David was forced to go into hiding – all part of God’s sovereign plan.

Despite David’s earlier defeat of Goliath and his successful battles against the Philistines, this powerful pagan nation still posed a threat to the kingdom of Israel. So, on this occasion, when Saul went up against them in yet another battle, he did so without the aid of David. This time, no young shepherd boy stepped up to save the day. There was no miraculous defeat of the Philistine champion or a rousing defeat of the enemy.

Forced to go into battle without his greatest warrior and without the assistance of the Lord, Saul witnessed the complete destruction of his army by the enemies of God. It should not escape our attention that Saul, while wounded in battle, was not killed as part of the battle. He lived to witness the executions of his sons and had to watch as his kinsmen were either slaughtered in front of him or deserted the battlefield in fright.

Saul was not allowed the dignity of falling in battle at the hands of his enemies. There would be no songs celebrating his valiant last-gasp stance against the enemy. He didn’t go down in a hail of arrows, his blood-soaked sword clutched in his hand and the lifeless bodies of his enemies lying at his feet; he impaled himself on his own sword. Fearing what the Philistines would do to him if they took him alive, Saul chose to end his own life and with that last act of desperation and defeat, Saul’s nearly 40-year reign over Israel (1 Samuel 13:1) came to an abrupt and ignominious end.

Even in the moments before his death, Saul feared man more than he feared God. He was more concerned with falling into the hands of the Philistines than with having to answer to his God. Had Saul been able to read the words of James, he might have had second thoughts about his life-ending decision.

For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The LORD will judge his own people.” It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. – Hebrews 10:30-31 NLT

Perhaps Saul had deluded himself into believing he had been a faithful king and obedient servant of God. Maybe he was convinced that he was a man of integrity. Whatever the case, Saul faced a judgment far worse than anything the Philistines could do to him. It was Jesus who warned, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NLT).

Saul died, just as the prophet had foretold. Israel was defeated and the Philistines were victorious. But God was still sovereign. He was not surprised by the outcome. He didn’t panic. No knee-jerk reaction or spur-of-the-moment decision was necessary to deal with this significant setback. It had all been part of His divine plan and sovereign will.

God had given the people what they demanded: A king. But not just any king. He gave them a king like all the other nations, just as they had requested. Little did they know that their demand would come back to haunt them. They would get what they wanted and much more. God could see into their hearts and knew that their request for a king was actually a rejection of Him as their sovereign. He even told Samuel the prophet, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Samuel 8:7 ESV).

The people’s 40-year experiment with the world’s brand of leadership had come to an abrupt end, and God was preparing to replace their king with a far better one – a man after his own heart. Not a perfect man. Not a sinless man. But a man whose heart had been trained to rely upon and rest in the will of God. A man who had learned the invaluable lessons of trusting God rather than relying upon himself. A man who had experienced the futility of self-preservation and learned the value of reliance upon the Lord.

Saul was done, but God was not. Israel was down, but not out. Their best days lie ahead of them. The king they had longed for was dead but God had his replacement in the wings. The days ahead looked dark and bleak, but a ray of hope shone on the horizon. God had a plan and He was working it to perfection. With Israel’s defeat and Saul’s death, the nation mourned but, little did they know that their best days were ahead of them.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More Than We Deserve

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16 And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord.” 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed. – 1 Samuel 30:16-31  ESV

This chapter marks a turning point in David’s life. He has been through a lot since his early days as a young shepherd boy, tending his father’s flocks. There had been his surprising anointing by the prophet, Samuel, followed by his unimaginable defeat of the Philistine champion, Goliath. Not long after that, he found himself serving as the court musician for Saul, the king of Israel. Then he was promoted to serve as Saul’s personal bodyguard and eventually to the role of a commander in the army of the Israelites.

But then everything went south when Saul became jealous of David’s growing popularity and suspicious of his ambitions. Fearful that David might set his sights on the throne, Saul began a relentless campaign to end his life. That led to David’s flight and the subsequent years of hiding in the wilderness and, eventually, to his escape to the safety of the land of Philistia, where he had been the last 16 months. But with the sack and plunder of his home base of Ziklag and the capture of his wives, along with the wives and children of all of his men, David hit an all-time low point in his life. With his city burned, his wives taken captive by the Amalekites, and his men threatening to stone him, David was facing one of the most difficult moments in his life. His future looked bleak and the prospects of rebounding from this latest setback looked dim.

His men had turned against him, the Philistines had rejected him, and Saul was still out to kill him. But at this critical juncture, David did what he should have done all along; he turned to God. It would have been easy to let his emotions get the better of him and set off in hot pursuit of the Amalekites but, instead, he sought the Lord’s help and received it. Using the Urim and Thummim from the high priest’s ephod, David received a green light from God to pursue the Amalekites.

With the help of a captured Amalekite servant, David learned the whereabouts of the Amalekite raiding party. As the enemy was busy celebrating the success of their raids, David and his men attacked. While 400 of the Amalekites escaped, the passage reveals that the rescue mission was a rousing success.

David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. – 1 Samuel 30:18-20 NLT

God gave David the victory. With the Lord’s help, they were able to free every single woman and child, and recover every single item that had been stolen, along with an abundance of livestock and loot that the Amalekites had taken from other plundered cities. By seeking God’s will and doing things God’s way, David experienced God’s blessing. No deception was necessary. No lies were required. He decided to do things God’s way and enjoyed unrivaled success and a joyful reunion with his family. To top it all off, David’s men went from threatening to stone him to offering him all of the plunder as his reward for saving their wives and children.

But what David did next reveals the life-transformative nature of this event. He returned to the 200 men who had remained behind, too exhausted to join the pursuit of the Amalekites. Not only did he reunite them with the wives and children, but he rewarded them with a share of the plunder. This act of generosity was not well received by all of David’s men. A group of “wicked and worthless fellows” responded in anger, demanding that the 200 stragglers be punished for failing to join the fight. They could have their wives and children back, but they had forfeited their right to serve in David’s army.

But David recognized that their victory had been God-given and that everyone, even those who stayed back and protected the baggage, were to enjoy the blessing God had provided. David knew this whole affair had been God’s doing. It was He who had given them success over their enemies. David knew he didn’t deserve what God had done. This entire mess had been of his own making, yet God had graciously responded in mercy, providing the successful return of their families and the unexpected blessing of plunder. David addressed his disgruntled companions, encouraging them to recognize the hand of God and to respond accordingly.

“No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us. Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” – 1 Samuel 30:23-24 NLT

David wanted everyone to share the joy of the moment and experience the material blessings that God had provided. He not only shared the plunder with his men but had a portion of it sent to the elders of Judah. As far as he was concerned, this had been God’s victory and it was only right to share it with all of God’s people.

This passage provides an important transition point in the story of David’s life. Yes, he is still persona non grata in Israel. He remains a fugitive, living on the run because Saul still seeks to end his life. But his transformation from shepherd boy to king is rapidly coming to an end. Saul remains on the throne, but God’s preparation for David to take his place is almost done. Saul’s demise and David’s rise were much nearer than either man knew.

God has a habit of revealing his abundant grace and mercy at the lowest points of our lives. But we should not be surprised that God appears at our points of crisis because it is in those moments that we tend to seek His help. When our capacity to solve our problems diminishes and our resources for self-preservation finally run out, we typically call out to God – and He hears. Not only that, He answers. When we reach out to God, He responds and rescues us.

This very same principle applies to our salvation. Paul reminds us of the gracious gift of redemption that God made available at our greatest moment of need.

God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8 NLT

In the midst of our sin-saturated, self-centered, death-deserving hopelessness, God stepped in and did what only He could do. He saved us. He gave us victory over sin and death. He blessed us beyond our wildest imaginations, and we are to share that blessing with others, just as David shared the Amalekite plunder with his men and the elders of Judah.

Jesus told His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35 ESV). Our salvation marks a turning point in our lives, when we moved from a life of selfishness and self-centeredness to a life of selflessness and love for others.

In many ways, the words of Paul to the church in Corinth reflect what we see displayed in the life of David in this passage. But they also apply to us. Like David, we have been reconciled to God and enjoy the blessing of His presence, power, and provision. As a result, we are to share the bounty of His love and undeserved favor with others. Our dependence upon God allows us to be generous to others because He is the source of all our needs.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. – 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NLT

Like David, we have been reconciled to God. We have been given a second chance, a new lease on life. We have been spared from a fate worse than death: eternal separation from God. And as a result, we are to share the joys and blessings of our reconciliation with God with others.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

When We Call Out, God Shows Up

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7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14 We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.” – 1 Samuel 30:7-15  ESV

David had returned home to Ziklag to find it had been plundered and all the women and children taken captive by the Amalekites. With all that had happened over the last few days, David’s men were fed up with his leadership and threatened to stone him. Yet, in the middle of a potential revolt, “David drew strength from the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:7 NET). With his wives missing and his life threatened by his own men, David turned to God for help. This was not the first time David sought God’s will in a matter, but more recently, he had tended to make decisions without God’s input. That’s how he and his men ended up living in Ziklag, a city in the middle of Philistine territory. David had fled to Philistia to escape Saul’s ongoing pursuit. But there is no indication that David sought or received God’s approval to live among the enemies of Israel.

Yet, when the time came and David found himself between a rock and a hard place, he cried out and God heard. When he ran out of options and had no more tricks up his sleeve, he turned to God and found his heavenly Father to have a receptive ear and a heart willing to step into the mess David had created. All David had to do was reach the end of himself and cry out to the one who was willing and capable of doing something about his predicament: Jehovah.

There is something about despair that makes us more dependent upon God. Our moments of helplessness and hopelessness tend to drive us to God and play a big part in releasing His faithfulness. He is always ready, willing, and able to save His people, but it requires that we call out to Him. We are reminded of this fact in the story of God’s rescue of the people of Israel when they were living as slaves in Egypt.

Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act. – Exodus 2:23-25 NLT

I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. – Exodus 3:7 NLT

I have seen. I have heard. I am aware.

Those three statements from God should create a sense of relief and calm in us as we recognize His care and concern for His people. Nothing happens in or around our lives that God does not see. When we cry out, He always hears, and there is nothing we can tell Him of which He is not fully aware. Our prayers are not meant to inform God of our predicament but to invite His involvement.

God knew what David was facing. He was completely aware of the problem David had created for himself and already had a plan in place to deal with it. So when David sought God’s guidance, he received it. Using the Urim and Thummim, which were kept in the high priest’s ephod, David sought God’s input, asking him two questions:

“Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” – 1 Samuel 30:8 NLT

First, David wanted to know if he was to pursue the Amalekites and secondly, if he did, would he find success in catching them. And God gave him the green light.

“Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!” – 1 Samuel 30:8 NLT

Not only would David catch them, but he would recover everything they took, including all the women, children, livestock, and loot they had plundered. God was going to bless David – despite David. God would rescue David from the pit he had dug for himself and assuage the anger and resentment of David’s men. All David had to do was draw strength from the Lord. He had to place his hope in and seek his help from the Jehovah.

This would be yet another valuable life lesson for David and contribute to his ongoing education regarding the power and presence of God. He would later turn what he  learned into beautiful words of praise.

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears. – Psalm 18:6 NLT

The following words from Psalm 18 could have been penned as a direct result of this very circumstance in David’s life.

I chased my enemies and caught them;
    I did not stop until they were conquered.
I struck them down so they could not get up;
    they fell beneath my feet.
You have armed me with strength for the battle;
    you have subdued my enemies under my feet. – Psalm 18:37-39 NLT

God is always there when we call. The problem is that we don’t call on Him enough. We tend to try and solve our problems on our own. We tend to doubt that God can or will intervene on our behalf. Somehow we convince ourselves to believe that our solution will be just as effective as anything He comes up with. But when we finally reach the point where our circumstances cause us to give up and cry out, God hears and answers. And when He does, we end up singing His praises just like David did.

The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
    May the God of my salvation be exalted! – Psalm 18:46 NLT

God has a habit of showing up when we call out. He wants to rescue and redeem. He desires to shower His children with His blessings and poor out His grace and mercy on their behalf. David had tried living according to his own faulty plans; now he was ready to rely upon the Lord. God had a plan for David’s life and as soon as David let go of his agenda, God was ready to implement His.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. – Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Oh, the Tangled Webs We Weave

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1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. – 1 Samuel 30:1-6  ESV

In his epic poem, Marmion, Sir Walter Scott first penned the now-famous words: “Oh! What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” No other story reflects the veracity of those words quite like the one recorded in 1 Samuel 30. In this chapter, David and his men return to their home base at Ziklag after having been sent home by King Achish. Undoubtedly, David felt relieved after having narrowly escaped going to war against his own people as an ally of the Philistines. For over a year, David had managed to convince the Philistine king that he and his men had been occupying their time in Ziklag by attacking the enemies of the Philistines. In reality, they had been raiding the enemies of Israel.

David never should have been in Philistia in the first place. He had received no direction from God to take his two wives along with all his men and their families and seek refuge among the dreaded Philistines. But he had, and now his life of deception came back to haunt him as he encountered a less-than-happy reception on his return home.

David and his men discovered that their town had been raided by Amalekites while they were away. Believing that their wives and children would be safe, David and his men had mustered for battle, under the pretense of aiding the Philistines in their war against the Israelites. It is doubtful that David would have raised his sword against Saul or his kindred. More likely, he and his men would have turned against the Philistines as soon as the battle started, but his presence on the battlefield would have exposed him to the wrath of Saul, his mortal enemy.

David’s rejection by the Philistines had been a godsend. He was given a divine reprieve by God and allowed to go home without having to risk his life and reputation in a battle between Israel and the Philistines. But what he found when he arrived home was devastating. Ziklag had been burned to the ground and every person in it had been taken captive by the Amalekites, including David’s two wives. But David was not the only one to suffer loss. Each of his men returned to find their families had been taken captive and they blamed David. It was all his fault.

It’s likely that these loyal servants of David had questioned the wisdom of his plan to hide among the Philistines. When David mustered them to join the Philistines in a battle against their own people, these same men must have grumbled and complained about David’s poor decision-making. But upon returning home and finding their loved ones missing, their frustration reached a breaking point. We’re told that “they wept until they could weep no more” (1 Samuel 30:4 NLT). Then their sadness turned to anger.

David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. – 1 Samuel 30:6 NLT

David had been in difficult circumstances before, but nothing quite like this. His two wives were gone, and his men wanted to stone him. Things could not have gotten much worse, and all of it was David’s doing. He had been the architect behind this fiasco. It had been his decision to seek refuge among the Philistines. It had been his idea to use his base in Ziklag to launch raids against the enemies of Israel. He may have fooled King Achish, but he obviously had not fooled the Amalekites. When they saw David and his men march off to battle, they took the opportunity to raid and sack Ziglag. This was payback for all the deadly raids conducted by David’s men in Amalekite territory. Chapter 27 records how David and his 600 fighting men had left a wake of destruction and death as they raided the villages of their enemies, including the Amalekites.

Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. – 1 Samuel 27:8-9 ESV

In attacking the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, David had been carrying out the will of God. He was doing the very thing God had commanded the Israelites to do when He gave them the land of Canaan. Upon their entrance into the land God had promised as their inheritance, they were to completely destroy all the existing inhabitants. But why? Because God knew that if they failed to do so, the Israelites would succumb to the influence of these pagan nations. The inhabitants of Canaan were not only idolatrous and immoral but they were powerful. Their continued presence in the land would become a constant threat to Israel’s physical safety and spiritual purity. God’s command to eradicate them was to keep the Israelites from becoming like them. However, the Israelites failed to do what God commanded them to do.

But while David’s attacks against the Amalekites had been in line with God’s earlier command to cleanse the land of its pagan occupants, there is no indication that God commanded David to carry out his raids from the safety of his headquarters in Ziklag. David was attempting to do God’s will his own way. He had been trying to remain faithful to God while, at the same time, failing to trust God to keep him safe in the land of Judah. Like Abraham seeking relief from the famine by seeking refuge in Egypt, David discovered that making plans apart from God’s input always produces unsatisfactory and uncomfortable consequences.

Facing the loss of his two wives and the wrath of his 600 men, David could have allowed his emotions to get the best of him and marched off in an anger-infused search for the Amalekites. As a man of action, David must have been tempted to assuage his men’s anger by ordering an attack against their enemies but instead, it states that “David found strength in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6 NLT).

This is a key moment in David’s life. During one of the most difficult moments of his life, David turned to God. The Hebrew word translated “strength” is chazaq and it carries the idea of encouragement or finding courage. Devastated by the news of his wives’ capture and facing a mutiny among his men, David found courage by turning to God. He had made a mess of his life, but he knew he could turn to God for strength, support, and the boldness he would need to handle the situation. With his men seeking to stone him, David sought solace and strength in God, and he would learn a valuable, life-changing lesson from this experience. This watershed moment in David’s life would have a lasting impact and instill in him a growing dependence upon God. Years later, that same Hebrew word, chazaq, would appear in some of David’s psalms.

Wait for the Lord;
    be strong [chazaq], and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:14 ESV

Be strong [chazaq], and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord! – Psalm 31:24 ESV

We can weave some very tangled webs in our lives. Like David, we have the unique capacity to get ourselves in all kinds of predicaments, through disobedience to God’s will or our stubborn insistence on self-sufficiency. It is so easy to leave God out of our decision-making and then wonder how things got so screwed up. But in those moments of confusion and weakness, we must follow David’s example. Rather than making matters worse by taking matters into our own hands, we must turn to God. We must recognize Him as our sole source of strength, comfort, encouragement, and courage.

David could have easily followed up one bad decision with another one. He could have begun scheming and planning, trying to figure out how to get himself out of the jam he had created. But instead, he turned to God. He found strength in the Lord his God. Despite all David’s mistakes and miscues, he knew he could depend upon God. David was confident that God would come through and prove Himself faithful yet again. Only God could untangle the web that David had weaved. David had chosen to rely upon deceit and deception rather than divine guidance and, yet, God would graciously clean up his mess and provide him with the courage he needed to face his fears and fight the battles ahead.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Self-Delusion of Self-Preservation

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1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands’?”

6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel. – 1 Samuel 29:1-11  ESV

While Saul was busy consulting with a witch, David was consorting with the enemy. According to 1 Samuel 27:7, David had been living in the land of Philistia for 16 months, and he had pulled it off by living a lie. He had deceived King Achish into believing he had turned his back on Israel and had chosen to join forces with the Philistines. Evidently, David had been convincing. If there had been an Academy Awards that year, David would have won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Drama. He had completely fooled Achish into believing he was a faithful friend and ally. David’s performance had left Achish fully convinced and willing to defend him to the rest of the Philistine commanders.

“This is David, the servant of King Saul of Israel. He’s been with me for years, and I’ve never found a single fault in him from the day he arrived until today.” – 1 Samuel 29:3 NLT

Even after Achish heard the concerns of his fellow officers, he refused to buy into their fears and expressed to David his unwavering confidence in his faithfulness.

“I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today” – 1 Samuel 29:6 NLT

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God.” – 1 Samuel 29:9 NLT

But while David’s performance had been convincing, it didn’t come without a cost. The longer he stayed in Philistia and kept up his ruse, the more dangerous his predicament would become. It was only a matter of time before David found himself in the awkward and unenviable spot of having to display his true colors. He couldn’t keep up this charade forever. In time, the nations of Israel and Philistia would find themselves at war and David would be caught in the middle. That is exactly the scenario recorded in chapter 29.

The Philistines had gathered all their troops to do battle with the Israelites. King Achish and his men arrived at Aphek on Philistia’s northern border with Israel. Bringing up the rear of his column was none other than David and his 600 fighting men. The significance of this moment is monumental. Here is David, the God-appointed, Spirit-anointed future king of Israel, riding among the forces of the Philistines, one of the greatest enemies of the people of God. This was no longer one of David’s cleverly disguised raids against Israelite enemies (see 1 Samuel 27:8-12). An all-out war between the Israelites and the Philistines was about to take place and David would have to make a decision. Would he fight with the Philistines and risk the wrath of God? Or would he do exactly what the Philistine commanders feared and turn against them in battle and become their adversary (1 Samuel 29:4)?

Without reading ahead, it’s easy to assume that David would have chosen the latter path. After all, he had passed up two opportunities to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9); so why would he suddenly change course and wield his sword against God’s chosen people?

If he did, he would find himself facing two foes: Achish and Saul. For the last 16 months, Saul had abandoned his hunt for David but his hatred for him remained undiminished. He most likely believed David was a traitor who hoped to steal the crown of Israel with the aid of the Philistines. So, if Saul met David on the battlefield, he would see him as an enemy, no matter which side he chose to fight for.

David was in a predicament. His plan to escape Saul’s wrath by living among the Philistines seemed like the logical thing to do at the time, but it appears that he made his decision without input from God. There is no indication that God directed David’s actions or ordered his escape into Philistine territory. Now David was faced with the inevitable consequences of his Godless decision. But while David had left God out of his plan, God had not left David. The Almighty may not have approved of David’s strategy, but He was committed to David’s well-being and future.

Despite David’s actions, God knew David’s heart. Years earlier, when Samuel the prophet was surveying the sons of Jesse looking for the next king of Israel, God told him, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:9 NLT). While David’s decision-making may have been suspect, his motivation was not, and God knew it.

David had been trying to do the right thing. He was still a faithful servant and all the while he lived in Philistia, he continued to fight against the enemies of Israel. But his self-inspired strategy for self-preservation produced a less-than-ideal outcome that only the sovereign hand of God could resolve.

As David and his men arrived at the Philistine camp at Aphek, the other Philistine lords were furious that Achish had brought this former Israeli commander and his men into battle with them. They questioned his reasoning and intelligence. Who in his right mind would allie himself with the man who killed the Philistine champion, Goliath? And, to make matters worse, Achish was the king of Gath, the hometown of Goliath. Yet here he was riding into camp with the man who had songs written about his military exploits against the Philistines.

Their disagreement with Achish’s decision was unanimous and unwavering.

“Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him?” – 1 Samuel 29:4 NLT

They saw David as a threat and Achish as a fool. To them, everything about this scenario was wrong and David had to go. Outnumbered and unable to defend his decision, Achish reluctantly gave in to their demands. Always the performer, David reacted with surprise when Achish ordered him and his men to return to Ziklag.

“What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?” – 1 Samuel 29:8 NLT

It’s interesting to note that David used similar words when questioning Saul’s unjust treatment of him.

“Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true.” – 1 Samuel 24:9-10 NLT

“Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?” – 1 Samuel 26:18 NLT

David couldn’t understand why Saul was out to kill him. But he knew exactly why the Philistines were suspicious of his motivation and worried about his allegiance. Ever the dedicated thespian, David feigned surprise and did his best to act offended by the assertions of the Philistine commanders.

But in reality, this was the best thing that could have happened to David and his men. God had intervened and spared them from having to go into battle. At the very last minute, God stepped in and providentially protected David from the mess he had created. But as the next chapter will reveal, God’s timely rescue of David would not prevent him from experiencing the fruit of his godless decision-making. David had determined to make plans without God’s input and he would have to suffer the consequences. God protected David from having to go into battle with the Philistines, but David would not escape the discipline of God.

God had plans for David that included the years he spent hiding and wandering in the wilderness. God could have put David on the throne the very day Samuel anointed him, but David was not yet ready to be king; he needed to be prepared for the role. He had to learn the lessons God had for him, and a big part of God’s preparation for David would be found in his failure to trust God.

His tendency to make decisions without God’s input would teach him the danger of autonomy in the life of the servant of God. Decisions made apart from God will never result in the blessings of God. Trying to do God’s will his own way would never produce God’s results. This phase of David’s life would provide yet another valuable opportunity for him to learn to trust God, rather than himself.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Sorry He Asked

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8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. – 1 Samuel 28:8-25  ESV

The scene that takes place in this chapter is fascinating and difficult to understand. Saul had long ago lost access to God’s guidance because of his disobedience. God had even removed His Spirit from Saul.

Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. – 1 Samuel 16:14 NLT

As Saul faces the threat of war with the vastly superior Philistine army, he is at a loss as to what to do and decides to seek God’s advice and help, but God remains silent. With the recent death of Samuel, the prophet of God, Saul had lost his counselor and the spokesman for God. To make matters worse, after Saul’s massacre of the priests of Nob, one priest escaped with the high priest’s ephod and was now residing with David. The ephod contained the Urim and Thummim, which were used to seek God’s will (1 Samuel 23:6-12). So, Saul was out of luck and out of options. This led him to do the unthinkable and unholy; he sought out the services of a medium or witch.

While Samuel was alive, he persuaded Saul to remove from the land of Israel all those who practiced witchcraft, divination, and sorcery. God had given the people of Israel very clear orders concerning these matters when they had entered the land of promise.

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.” – Deuteronomy 18:9-12 ESV

God knew the danger of these practices and had forbidden them among His people. He had other plans for them and was to be their only source of wisdom and direction.

“You shall be blameless before the Lord your God, for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen…” – Deuteronomy 18:13-15 ESV

But once again, Saul disobeyed God. In an attempt to get divine help in his time of need, he sought out a medium. He was desperate and allowed his fear to get the best of him. But not wanting everyone to know what he was doing, Saul disguised himself and went to visit the medium at night. He attempted to cover his actions through deceit, not wanting the people to know what he was doing. When the medium was reticent to assist him out of fear for her life, Saul assured her that nothing would be done to her – in direct defiance of God’s command.

What’s fascinating about this story is that the woman was actually able to conjure up Samuel from the dead – or so it would appear. This passage does not validate the practice of necromancy or communication with the dead. It would be wrong to use this story to prove that seances work. What this woman and those like her were doing was conjuring up evil spirits; their practice was demonic. But in this case, God supernaturally intervened and allowed the spirit of Samuel to appear. Even the woman was shocked at what she saw. “When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed” (1 Samuel 28:12 NLT). Whatever appeared before her was unexpected and disturbing to her. Even she couldn’t believe her eyes. It seems evident that both she and Saul recognized the individual in the vision as Samuel, the dead prophet, and the message Samuel gave was clearly from God.

What Samuel had to say to Saul was not good news. If this had been an evil spirit, it would have lied to Saul, telling him what he wanted to hear and giving him false counsel. But Samuel told Saul exactly what was going to happen, and it was anything but comforting.

“Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” – 1 Samuel 28:16-19 NLT

This was clearly a case of too little, too late. While Samuel had been alive, Saul had ignored his counsel. He had repeatedly refused to accept the prophet’s advice, choosing instead to disagree with God’s word concerning David and stubbornly attempting to derail what God had ordained. It is vital to note that there is no remorse or repentance associated with any of Saul’s actions. When he found himself faced with the overwhelming threat of annihilation at the hands of the Philistines, he didn’t call out to God in repentance. He refused to confess his sins. While he fell on his face in a display of humility, it was only out of fear over what he had heard the prophet say. At no point does Saul admit his wrong and beg God to forgive him. He is stubborn to the end, wanting God’s guidance and protection, but unwilling to live his life according to God’s will.

How often do we find ourselves in difficult circumstances and call out to God? The very One whom we have refused to show proper honor and respect in the good times becomes our go-to source in the bad times. We get in trouble and suddenly our prayer lives take on a whole new significance. We cry out. We beg God to save us. There is certainly nothing wrong with crying out to God. In fact, we are commanded to call on God in times of trouble. But God desires for us to come to Him humbly and with a heart of repentance. Saul knew this; he had heard those very words from the mouth of the prophet years earlier.

“What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” – 1 Samuel 15:22 NLT

Years later, after David became king and had committed adultery with Bathsheba, he wrote the following words:

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
    You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. – Psalm 51:16-17 NLT

While Saul prostrated himself before the Lord with his face in the dirt, his prideful heart remained unrepentant and stubbornly unwilling to confess his disobedience toward God. Sorrow over sin is not the same as repentance. Fear of our circumstances is not the same as a reverent fear of God. Saul wasn’t seeking a restored relationship with God; he simply wanted deliverance by God.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

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1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” – 1 Samuel 28:1-7  ESV

The last few chapters have featured a series of repetitive encounters between Saul and David, providing a stark contrast between the lives of the two men. The back-and-forth nature of the narrative repeatedly shifts the focus from one man to the other, revealing aspects of their lives that set them apart. One minute we’re given a look into the life of David, and then the scene shifts to that of Saul. Sandwiched in between were two awkward face-to-face encounters between the two men in which David had been given the opportunity to take Saul’s life but refused to do so.

In this chapter, the two men appear together but not physically. The opening verses of the chapter provide a brief but sobering look into what happens when someone decides to disobey God and take matters into their own hands. While the author has gone out of his way to contrast David and Saul, this preface to chapter 28 appears to make both men responsible for the events about to unfold. Both men have created unnecessary and uncomfortable circumstances for themselves because they have chosen to disobey God.

David is living with the Philistines. Granted, his troops and their families occupy the city of Ziklag, in a more remote area within Philistia but they are still considered vassals or servants of the Philistine king, Achish. In fact, because of David’s deception, King Achish had the false impression that David and his 600 men were actually fighting against Israel on his behalf. Where would he have gotten such an idea? From David himself. Each time David and his troops went on a raid, they would attack the enemies of Israel. But when they returned, they would report to Achish that they had been raiding areas within Judah (1 Samuel 27:8-12). So Achish believed that David, because of Saul, had switched his loyalties and was now a faithful servant of the Philistines.

David must have considered himself some kind of genius. By moving to Philistia, he had escaped the constant pursuit of Saul and found a safe haven from which to continue his attacks against the enemies of Israel. David’s plan seems to have turned out well, but his reliance upon deception was about to blow up in his face because the inevitable happened. The Israelites declared war on the Philistines and King Achish demanded that David and his men accompany him in battle against the Israelites.

King Achish told David, “You and your men will be expected to join me in battle.” – 1 Samuel 28:1 NLT

The dream scenario David had created was about to turn into a nightmare. If he refused to fight alongside the Philistines, King Achish would question his loyalty and, perhaps, renege on his offer of hospitality and protection. Worse yet, the king might realize that David had been deceiving him all along and turn against him.

If David agrees to fight with the Philistines, he will be forced to attack his own people and forfeit any right to the crown of Israel. Maintaining his cover in Philistia would require David to be a traitor to his people. So, in the heat of the moment, David gave Achish an ambiguous commitment.

“Very well!” David agreed. “Now you will see for yourself what we can do.” – 1 Samuel 28:2a NLT

David is forced to continue his deception of King Achish, delaying the inevitable decision he must make. The king assumes that he has David’s full support and allegiance and gives him a promotion.

Then Achish told David, “I will make you my personal bodyguard for life.” – 1 Samuel 28:2b NLT

David, who once served as the personal bodyguard of King Saul, now finds himself offering his services to the king of the Philistines (1 Samuel 22:14). Imagine David’s embarrassment at having to try and explain this promotion to his men. This was a predicament to end all predicaments. David was between a rock and a hard place and it was all his fault; he had no one to blame but himself.

What about Saul? He faced a war against the Philistines and was missing one of his best warriors and 600 of his most battle-hardened soldiers – all because he had chosen to make David and his men outlaws. His obsessive attempt to take David’s life had forced David to switch sides (or so Saul had concluded). In addition, Saul was operating without the aid of a prophet of God because Samuel was dead. To make matters worse, God had removed His Spirit from Saul, leaving him without divine direction. He was a king without a Sovereign to whom he could turn for help and guidance. But this didn’t prevent Saul from attempting to seek God’s help.

When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. – 1 Samuel 28:5-6 NLT

God had gone silent, the prophet was dead, David was AWOL, the Israelites were vastly outnumbered, and Saul was scared out of his wits. But this desperate situation had been of his own making. He is the one who disobeyed God and failed to wipe out the Amalekites. He is the one who refused to wait for the prophet and offered sacrifices to God in direct disobedience to the law of God. He is the one who refused to accept God’s decree for David to be the next king of Israel. Instead, he had repeatedly attempted to take David’s life. Now David had sided with the enemy and Saul was facing consequences that were a direct result of his disobedience and poor decision-making. Like David, Saul found himself between a rock and a hard place, and in a last-gasp attempt to solve his predicament, he would make one more ungodly decision he would live to regret.

Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” – 1 Samuel 28:7 NLT

Because God refused to answer him, Saul decided to turn to a witch for help. His desperate need for guidance drove him to disobey the will of God. Saul knew what he was doing was wrong because God had clearly communicated His policies concerning witchcraft and the occult.

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” – Leviticus 20:6 ESV

“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,  for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.” – Deuteronomy 18:10-12 ESV

Saul had even banned from the land of Israel “all mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead” (1 Samuel 28:3 NLT). But, as Saul felt the walls closing in on him, he denied his own edict and disobeyed the command of God.

Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.”

His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” – 1 Samuel 28:7 NLT

Two men. Two different circumstances. But both found themselves in a predicament of their own making and all because of their disobedience to God. Rather than seeking and submitting to the will of God, they had determined to take matters into their own hands. Now they were faced with the consequences of their Godless decision making. Thomas L. Constable provides us with a sobering summary of what is going on here.

“This whole pericope illustrates that, when opposition from ungodly people persists, God’s people should continue to pray and trust Him for protection rather than taking matters into their own hands. If we initiate a plan without seeking God’s guidance, we may remove one source of aggravation and danger only to find ourselves in another. Such plans may result in some good, but they may also put us in situations where we find it even more tempting to disobey God (cf. Jacob). We should, instead, remember God’s promises (e.g., 1 Pet. 1:3-9; 2 Pet. 1;2-4) and pray for His guidance (cf. Phil. 4:6-7). – Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on 1 Samuel, 2009 Edition

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Where There’s a Will, There’s God’s Way

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1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.” – 1 Samuel 27:1-12  ESV

David was human. He was a flesh-and-blood man who had a sinful nature like anyone else and had to constantly struggle with his own inner fears, feelings of doubt, and the nagging questions regarding his fate. David loved God and wanted to be obedient to His will but he was also driven by an innate desire to stay alive. And the longer his feud with Saul continued, the more he must have struggled to believe that God would make him king one day.

This chapter provides a glimpse into one of David’s weaker moments. The text never mentions God and at no time is David shown to be seeking the will of God. In fact, it would appear that David’s decision to find refuge in the land of the Philistines was made without any input from God. He might have received well-meaning advice from his men but his choice to seek refuge among the Philistines does not appear to be God-ordained. It seems unlikely that God would have instructed David to return to Gath, the very place where he had been forced to feign madness just to save his life (1 Samuel 21:10-14). That far-from-flattering moment in David’s life had been a poor decision and an unmitigated disaster that almost ended in his death.

Yet, in an attempt to escape the wrath of King Saul, David makes the same mistake again and heads to the land of the Philistines. Not only that, he returns to Gath, the scene of his earlier episode of humiliation and near-death. But it’s easy to understand the logic behind David’s decision. He reasoned, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe” (1 Samuel 27:1 NLT).

It all made sense to David because he was convinced that Saul would never stop pursuing him. There was no safe place for him to hide within the land of Judah so seeking refuge from Israel’s mortal enemy seemed like the only logical decision to make. But, once again, David would find that his human intelligence was no match for God’s wisdom. Yet, despite David’s best-laid plans, God would prove Himself to be sovereign and in complete control of every aspect of his life. David would discover the truth of the proverb: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21 ESV).

David’s last journey into Philistine territory, recorded in chapter 21, nearly got him killed. To escape the pursuit of Saul, David showed up in Gath, seeking refuge from Achish, the king of the Philistines. It just so happened that David was carrying the sword of Goliath, the Philistine champion he had defeated in battle. When the Philistine officers questioned the wisdom of providing sanctuary to David and hinted to the king that he would be better off dead, David “pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard” (1 Samuel 21:13 NLT). Unwilling to kill a lunatic, Achish allowed David to escape with his life.

Now, years later, David once again seeks refuge among the Philistines. His doubt and fear cloud his thinking and erase from his memory all that happened the last time he attempted to use this particular strategy.

This time, David is welcomed by Achish with open arms and even given his own city, Ziklag, within the territory of the Philistines. David relocates his 600 men and their families to their new base complete with houses, walls, and protection from Saul. This would have been a welcome upgrade from the caves they had been hiding in for so long.

While living in the land of the Philistines, David employed a strategy that allowed him to go out and attack the enemies of Israel, of which there were many. The text mentions the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. All of these nations occupied the land of Canaan and were part of the people groups that God had commanded Joshua and the people of Israel to completely remove from the land when they occupied it. The Book of Joshua reveals how dismally they failed at keeping this command.

But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day. – Joshua 15:63 ESV

However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor. – Joshua 16:10 ESV

Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. – Joshua 17:12 ESV

Their unwillingness or inability to drive out the inhabitants of the land left them with a constant threat of war and the ongoing temptation to commit idolatry. These nations would prove to be a constant source of temptation and trouble. So David used his new headquarters in Ziklag as an outpost from which he sent raiding parties against these enemies of Israel. His strategy included the complete annihilation of every man, woman, and child so no word of his genocide could reach the ears of Achish.

This clandestine military operation allowed David to attack Israel’s enemies from the safe confines of Philistia. When returning from these excursions, David covered up his activities by lying to King Achish.

When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” – 1 Samuel 27:10 ESV

David wanted Achish to believe that his forays were directed at the enemies of Philistia. But it was all a matter of subterfuge and sleight of hand.

So what do we do with all of this? David appears to have gone to the land of the Philistines, seemingly without God’s permission. Yet, while he was there, he continued to fight the enemies of Israel, clearing the promised land of the nations that Joshua and the people of Israel had failed to remove. But to do what he did, David lied to King Achish. Everything he did while living in Ziklag was based on deception. So was he within the will of God? Was he doing what God would have him do? The text doesn’t provide an answer but the next chapter will reveal how David’s plan eventually placed him in a difficult and potentially deadly position. It would seem that David’s decision to seek refuge among the Philistines was not the will of God, but it did not thwart or derail the plan of God. The Proverbs have much to say about our plans and God’s will.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:9 NLT

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? – Proverbs 20:24 NLT

The prophet, Jeremiah, prayed these powerful, self-disclosing words to the Lord:

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,
that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
Correct me, O Lord, but in justice;
not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. – Jeremiah 10:23-24 ESV

Years later, even David would pen these words:

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand. – Psalm 37:23-24 NLT

We can’t thwart God’s plan, but we can certainly cause ourselves a great deal of pain and suffering when we attempt to replace his plan with our own. We can unnecessarily complicate our lives by introducing detours that are not part of His divine will for us. Abraham and Sarah came up with the idea to use Hagar as a means to fulfill God’s promise to give them a child. But in doing so, they were attempting to do God’s will man’s way. Saul tried to seek God’s aid by offering sacrifices to him but he failed to do it God’s way. He mistakenly took on the role of the priest and brought down God’s wrath rather than His blessing. Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from fulfilling God’s will that He die, by forbidding Him to do so. But Jesus accused Peter of siding with the enemy by seeking the will of Satan rather than that of God.

We must refrain from letting our will take precedence over God’s. We can’t improve or impede God’s will for our lives, but we can certainly make the path more difficult that He has laid out for us. Like a driver who refuses to use his GPS, we can wander off the prescribed course and find ourselves seemingly lost and delayed in our journey. But God continues to recalculate the directions for our life, graciously providing us with another way to reach the destination He has in store for us. Thankfully, many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Learning to Rest in God

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13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord‘s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. – 1 Samuel 26:13-25  ESV

Once again, David found himself with a prime opportunity to take the life of Saul and end his nightmarish existence as a fugitive. He and Abishai had made their way into the Israelite camp as Saul and his troops slept. The two men stood over Saul’s sleeping form and Abishai begged David for permission to take his life. But as before, David refused to take the life of the Lord’s anointed. Yet he did take Saul’s spear and water jug.

Now, standing a safe distance away, David gave Abner, Saul’s commander, an unexpected wake-up call. David yelled across the valley, accusing Abner and his troops of dereliction of duty. He informed them that while they slept, someone had snuck into their camp and could have killed their king because they had failed to do their jobs. As proof, David held up Saul’s pilfered spear and water jug. This was not only an assault on Abner, but a clear statement to Saul that David had more respect for the Lord’s anointed than Saul’s own men did. When Saul’s men failed to provide the king with protection, David was the one to prevent Abishai from taking his life, proving that he was still a faithful servant of the king.

Not only that, there was no evidence that he had done anything to deserve Saul’s ongoing mistreatment of him.

“Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?” – 1 Samuel 26:18 NLT

“Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?” – 1 Samuel 26:20 NLT

He even asked Saul to provide evidence. If Saul could provide David with a specific crime he had committed that was in violation of the law of Moses, David was willing to do the appropriate thing and offer a sacrifice as atonement. But if, as David seems to suspect, Saul’s actions against him are based on nothing more than the bad advice of wicked men, then David calls down a curse from God on them. Why? Because David had not only become persona non grata in the kingdom of Israel, he had no access to the Tabernacle. That meant he was unable to offer sacrifice for his sins and receive forgiveness. David’s despair over this matter was clearly evident in his words to Saul.

“For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord?” – 1 Samuel 26:19-20 NLT

The Tabernacle was the house of God where His Shekinah glory dwelt above the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant. By having to live as a fugitive from his own people and being denied access to the Tabernacle, David was being treated as a foreigner or an alien. It was as if he had lost his citizenship as an Israelite and his status as one of God’s chosen people. Effectively, he was being forced to seek another god to worship, and that thought was too much for him to bear. David craved restoration with the people of God and restored access to the Tabernacle of God. This is reflected in one of the psalms he wrote during his days in the wilderness.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you! – Psalm 63:1-3 NLT

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 63:6-7 NLT

David’s passion-filled words seem to Saul seem to elicit a compassionate reaction. Just as before, Saul appears to see the error of his way and confesses, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong” (1 Samuel 26:21 NLT).

But David was no fool; he knew better than to trust the words of Saul. He had heard this speech before and had learned that “The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips” (Proverbs 18:7 NLT). Saul had no intention of calling off his manhunt, and David knew it. This is why, after their conversation ended, “David went his way, and Saul returned to his place” (1 Samuel 26:25 ESV).

David’s exile would continue. His longing for the presence of God would only intensify. His desire to be with the people of God would grow with each passing day. But during those dark days of the soul, David would enjoy the presence of the Lord. God would faithfully guide, protect, teach, and mold David into the kind of king he needed to be. Had David allowed Abishai to take Saul’s life, it would not have resolved his problems. To do so would have simply created bigger issues because he would have been in violation of God’s law. Like his nemesis, David would have been guilty of taking matters into his own hands and trying to accomplish God’s will in his own way. So, David returned to the wilderness and continued his training in God’s academy of leadership development.

In time, David would learn that he was not alone. Contrary to what he and the people of Israel believed, God was not restricted to the Tabernacle; His presence was not bound to a building. With every step David took in the wilderness, God was right there beside Him. He was with David as he sought sanctuary in the caves. He was watching over David as he slept under the stars. He was David’s constant companion, ever-watchful protector, wise counselor, and faithful guide. It was David’s experiences in the wilderness that would lead him to pen the words of his most famous psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever. – Psalm 23 NLT

Through the darkest valleys and the peaceful pastures, David discovered the comforting truth that his God never abandoned him. No matter the circumstances he faced, David’s faithful God was his constant companion and comforter.

With each passing day and every confrontation with Saul, David was learning another new truth about his God. Even on this occasion, David expressed his confident assurance that Jehovah was guiding and protecting him.

“The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one.” – 1 Samuel 26:23 NLT

David knew that God had been behind his successful infiltration of Saul’s camp, and he recognized that it had been a test of his own integrity and loyalty. Rather than murder Saul in his sleep, David remained faithful to God and refused to violate God’s commands. He venerated God by valuing the life of the Lord’s anointed and expressed his confidence that would reward him for his actions.

“Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.” – 1 Samuel 26:24 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.