1 Sam 28 - Scary Tactics

In this chapter God remains absent from Saul. As a result Saul is seeking guidance to why He is no longer speaking to him. He cannot find a word from God. Since he no longer has any spiritual advisors, he essentially seeks out a “witch” to be a spiritual mediator for him. Are you kidding me? How far has he fallen?

I can’t figure out which is more odd to me; the fact that Saul had cowered to witchcraft or the fact that God used it for His good. He actually speaks to Saul through this way. What a sad spiritual indictment of Saul that God would rather communicate through a witch than directly to a man He had once appointed as King of Israel. In it… Samuel appears… weird… but here is the reply, and it affirms the removal of God’s hand from Saul, and His continued favor of David.

“Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines." 1 Samuel 28:16-19

Just a thought… we place too much stock and pride in our position or title. Here, Saul was still the King of the nation of Israel, yet he was at the lowest point of his spiritual life. His position was not proof of how he was doing. His distance from God was the proof. None of us would trade places with Saul in this moment. Makes me think of the lame 1987 movie “like father like son” (I know it’s probably redundant to use “1987” and “lame movie” in the same sentence) where Dudley Moore and Kirk Cameron swapped places… no way, no how would I want any of that.

1 Sam 27 - Back to Gath

Apparently this is a highly debated chapter in scripture. Many believe David had given up and made a bad (or at least selfish) decision here to head back to Gath. And that he was giving up. I just don’t see evidence of that. And it seems like weird timing to do that after such a cool scene and seemingly victorious effort in chapter 26. Instead I see some great insight to the heart and mind of David… and even more so, the fruit of a journey of faith.

“But David thought to himself, "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand." (1 Sam 27:1)

It didn’t say God led him or told him. It simply tells us David “thought to himself” (more closely translated ‘said in his heart’). And he was right, Saul stopped his pursuit. Verse four says, “When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him.”

Typically when I hear that inner voice, especially when it turns out to be right, I attribute it directly to hearing God. I wonder if in this scripture we don’t see the result of David being so close to God, so used to hearing His leading, and knowing His heart so well, that he began to think and in this moment choose His way without even hearing it. Maybe that’s the journey. Maybe it’s ours too.

Weird thought that is not a theological claim, simply a weird thought: It makes me wonder that if we don’t make the right decisions or have the right faith attitudes, if God doesn’t always take us the way of some form of trial until we eventually learn the right things that increase our decision making ability and/or faith attitudes. Each time David waited on God, it left him inches from Saul, which was a part of His refining plan. Once his faith was at a place in which he intuitively made the right decision, he found peace. If we remember, Gath was the place God led David in the first place. But then, instead of acting civil and being the man God he was, he acted insane.

He had now come full circle. Physically and Spiritually.

This time, David was armed with a greater level of God’s wisdom. And his faith was stronger. Immediately he took a humble posture before Achich. He let him know he was no threat to him and his intentions were pure.

“Then David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” vs. 5

And Achish gave David what he requested. Once at a place and under an authority in which David felt he must act crazy. Now, under a different strategy, he lives as a welcomed citizen. I’m not going to take this so far as to wonder if he’d of acted this way the first time if all the following experiences were unnecessary, but it most certainly makes me think about God’s refining through our experiences.

I’m so encouraged today to see God’s leading and David’s maturing as he literally learned to “flee” eminent danger in the Lord, take major risks in the Lord, remain faithful under any circumstance in the Lord, and eventually find a season of peace through it.

David went through it all. He experienced it all. God took him there. He didn’t become bitter or negative, never expressed (to our knowledge) confusion instead he held the banner high and led others through his trial. Oh yeah, and eventually he would become King of Israel and his lineage would be that of Jesus.

Lord, I say often that I know your plan is bigger than mine. I’m reminded this morning how true that really is. I know that it’s not about me. Literally nothing is. Nothing corporate and nothing personal. If our pursuits are right, it’s always about you and your Glory, not ours. You are amazing. Your ways are divine. Thank you for your greatness. Amen.

1 Sam 26 - Making of a Man

This is a great look at the repetition of God’s faithfulness in his journey with Saul. And in it we find God’s dual purpose playing out (if not more). Along this journey is an opportunity, and as a leader, David jumps on it:

“David then asked…"Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?" "I'll go with you," said Abishai. So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.” 1 Samuel 6-7

Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." – 1 Samuel 27:8-10

Here we certainly see the "making of a man". It’s a biblical and historical example of one leader investing in another. David did not need to bring anyone with him. It probably would have been easier and less risk to go alone. Yet he chose to. And he took the one who volunteered to go. Could you imagine the faith in a leader you would have to have, and the courage that you would have to possess, in order to walk into a camp like this with just the two of you?

God continued to build David's faith as well as Abishai's. He’s teaching us too. He’s teaching us that no matter our capability or our courage... we are nothing with out a word from God and a trust that when we follow it, God will be shown faithful.

1 Sam 24 - More than Words

“The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.” 1 Sam 24:4

David is a bigger man than me. (No duh, right) I don’t know if any of us can really understand how intense, how emotionally draining, and how spiritually thick this whole journey was for David. Talk about a ride. What gave him this confidence and strength? A word from the Lord.

"The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.” 1 Samuel 24 6-7

David heard from God. And he did what He said. Seems like a simple concept. But is it really? We spend so much time searching for what God is saying next, sometimes we forget about what He’s already said, even when the answers are already there as well. If we would just do this: Do what God has told us, things would never be the same.

Here are some more "Words" from the Lord. There is little room for misinterpretation.

“Love God.”

“Love your Neighbor.”

“Obey my commands.”

“Do what I have been doing.”

“Take my yoke upon you... For my burden is light.”

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

“Trust in God. Trust also in me.”

1 Sam 23 - Circumstance

Sometimes God doesn’t make sense. Actually, if we were to see any pattern in God, it would be that He doesn’t make sense. Not really. What I mean is that His logic is beyond ours. When we look at circumstances and situations, we see them differently than God does. I know I mentioned this recently somewhere, maybe in another blog, maybe a recent sermon (I can’t actually remember) but the whole “first will be last”, “lead through serving”, and gaining “life through death” is simply opposite to our nature. Sometimes that disconnect can lead to frustration when trying to follow God. Especially when we’re only trying “half-way”. But we can learn from this pattern. For example, look at Saul’s pursuit of David in 1 Samuel 23. Although we know how the story ends, David was literally running for His life, and God redirected him.

“When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," he inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" The LORD answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah." 1 Samuel 23:1-2

In the middle of his flight from Saul, God calls David not only to get involved in a new fight against a formidable opponent, but also to a location marked by vulnerability.

“Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, "God has handed him over to me, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars." And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.” – 1 Samuel 23:7-8

One would think God would create situations in which David could find simple refuge. Lay low for a while until this all blows over. But He doesn’t. He constantly keeps David in the game and the journey of his development as future King. As seen in verse 2 he goes, not just to defend Keilah, but to attack the Philistines. (There’s a huge difference between the two postures. One that as believers we should learn from.)

Later we find Saul literally nipping at the heels of David at Sela Hammahlekoth (vs.26-28). Had Saul not received message that the Philistines were invading his land, who knows what would have happened next? Once again, God had allowed Saul to close the gap. David was probably sweatin' it big time here.

It’s really a tangled web. A complicated matrix, if you will. And all along God is using it to call out and refine David for what is yet to come.

What a great reminder to look beyond our circumstance. Last night, Matthew shared at ANC from John 11 about circumstance. His main point was the question: “Do we allow ‘who’ God is, to overshadow our circumstances, so that we have the peace of God regardless of the details?”

I think that’s exactly what’s going on with David. He’s not just learning to be a better fighter. He’s not just learning to be a better leader. He’s not just learning methods of survival. He’s not just learning new strategies of politics with foreign leaders… on and on.

He’s learning to trust God for who He is. And it doesn’t always… check that… it rarely looks like we think it would. Here, God doesn’t give David clean escape. Here God keeps Saul right on his heels. He constantly puts David in situations where he has to choose to increase his dependency through obeying God’s leading, even when it appears to be a back tracking of sorts, even down the road when he has the opportunity to end it all through taking Saul’s life.

Each of of us could probably pluck David out and put ourselves in this situation. Not the situation of war and pursuit, instead with the situation and pattern of seemingly confusing and random circumstance. God is moving us somewhere. That somewhere is not a location, a level, or a time. It is a place of trust in who God is. It’s a place of peace, regardless of the circumstance.