1 Sam 29 - Divine

God is incredibly divine. As if we didn’t know that. His ways are truly higher than ours. Early in the book of 1 Samuel, God had already made a promise for David. He was called out through Samuel to be the succeeding King of Israel. Yet at this point, chapter 29, it seems unlikely this would ever be realized. David was no longer under the favor of Saul, and he was now partnering with the enemy of Israel.

But to the best of his ability, David had lived a biblical faith in remembering God’s calling. David didn’t force this issue… if he did… he probably never would have settled for “harp player” of the King. Instead he knew God would remain faithful. Even in the chase, we see the heart reflected in David to never raise his hand against Saul,

"And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way." (1 Samuel 24:6-7)

In 1 Chronicles 16 we see a reminder of how God remembers His covenant and the connection between his faithfulness and ours in respect to our treatment of His anointed.

“He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations… Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." (1 Chronicles 16:15, 22)

The same is quoted in Psalm 105:15

So here is where I’m blown away by God’s sovereignty: David was in a sticky situation here. As an ally to the Philistines… he HAD to be “ready” and “willing” to fight when needed. And apparently he was. I wonder if he was literally tormented in his heart knowing that the possibility was ahead that he might stand toe-to-toe with Saul. But the scenario never arrived. He was rescued.

“But the Philistine commanders were angry with him and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle.” 1 Samuel 29:4

God was in this. He carried out his “punitive” will on Saul and Israel by the hands of the Philistines. David and his men did not have to rise up against the “Lord’s anointed”. And he became one step closer to becoming the King of Israel.

Father, So many steps don’t make sense to me. But I know that to you they do. Help me to trust each step forward, each step backwards, each waiting period, each moment of crisis, each moment of hope, each success, and each time I see failure. More than anything God, may I be found faithful in doing what you have called me out to do as a husband, father, friend, and pastor. Amen.