November 11, 2015
1 Samuel 21-Part 3
So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.
1 Samuel 21:13 NIV
Shall we say a prayer for those who are sacrificing as they serve in our military? We can also be thankful for those who gave their life to keep America free.
LET IT GLOW
We left David eating showbread and getting a sword from the priest at Nob's Tabernacle. Doeg, a servant of Saul's who took care of his mules, was there, too.
Verse 11 tells us, And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
Problem for David was that the officers of Kin Achish were unhappy with his being there. The Philistines recognized the man who killed Goliath, the hometown giant. Could the song and dance featuring David's heroism have spread to the Philistines? The pagans always seemed to know what was happening with the Israelites. Since David's identity was discovered, he was in a pickle of a situation.
Did it make any sense that that the man who wad sustained by sacred bread of God found refuge among pagans, that the man after God's own heart changed his address to Gath, or that he who carried Goliath's sword goes to Goliath's hometown?
When we are out of fellowship with God, do we do crazy things?
What encouragement can we find here? David wrote Psalm 34 at this time in his life. In it, David says he will praise the Lord at all times.
According to this Psalm NLT, what does God do for us?
- He answers when we pray. (v. 4)
- He frees us from all our fears.(v. 4)
- He gives radiant joy to those who look to Him. (v. 5)
- The LORD listens to our prayers. (v. 6)
- He saves us from our troubles. (v. 6)
- He gives us an angel to guard us. (v. 7)
- He surrounds and defends all who fear Him. (v. 7)
- He provides all we need and lack no good thing. (v. 9)
- He gives a long and prosperous life to those who keep their tongue from speaking evil and telling lies. (v. 12,13)
- The LORD's eyes watch over those who do right. (v. 15)
- His ears are open to their cries for help. (v. 15)
- He rescues His people from all their troubles. (v. 17)
- He is close to the brokenhearted and rescues crushed spirits. (v. 18)
- God redeems those who serve Him. (v. 22)
- He does not condemn those who take refuge in Him. (v. 22)
LET IT GROW
David realized there would be no escaping for him. He was afraid what the king might do with him. Off with his head, probably, as David did with Goliath. So David devised a plan. He pretended to be insane. It was a custom back then for the mentally unstable to not be harmed. David scratched on doors making marks and drooled in his beard.
Falwell says that no man in his right mind would violate his beard in that day.
I found verse 14 to be comical: Finally King Achish said to his men, "Must you bring me a madman? We already have enough of them around here! Why should I let someone like this be my guest?"
Why was David on the run in the first place when the Lion of Judah watched over him? Yet, how could he learn to depend upon God while sitting in the palace, singing to the king?
Does David's crazy plan work? We will find out in the next chapter.
LET IT GO
Run to the Lion of Judah in times of need.
Be crazy for Jesus and crazy about Jesus.
Trust God for everything.
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