Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 29:1-2, Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. 2 And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish.
The Philistines are preparing to fight against Israel, God’s people, and David is marching in review with the very enemies whom he once fought against, in defending the people of God. He is as much out of place amongst the Philistines, as we are, who call ourselves Christians, when we choose to march alongside the world. We could very easily blame Saul for David choosing to flee and dwell amongst the Philistines, but when it comes down to it, this was David’s choice. Whether David realized it or not, he was in a very difficult and compromising situation. He was trapped. How did David end up here? David’s decision to dwell among the Philistines came about because of discouragement and despair. In chapter 27:1-2 it says, “And David said in his heart, ‘Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.’ 2 Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.” The last place David wanted to be was on the opposite side of the battlefield, fighting against the people whom God promised he would someday lead as king. As Christians, if we are not careful to stay focused on the Lord when times of discouragement come, we could very easily make decisions, in our despair, that lead us to feeling trapped in the world, and ruin our testimony for Christ. David had to live in such a way before Achish that even Achish came to David’s defense in trying to convince the Philistines leaders that David was now loyal to the Philistines, and not to Israel. Would it not be to our shame, as born again believers, that the world would see us more like them than as Christians? How long will we walk with the world and be friends to the world before we realize that we are in the world, but not of the world? Jesus, in praying for His disciples, prayed this way in John 17:14-18, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” When we get discouraged, or experience feelings of despair, we must be careful to seek the Lord’s guidance in the decisions we make. In those times it is of utmost importance that we go to God’s Word to find the encouragement we need. Verses, such as the ones found in Isaiah are great verses to be reminded of God’s faithfulness in times when we are feeling discouraged and hopeless. Isaiah 40:31 promises “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 43:2 also promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” The one important thing to note in this situation David found himself in was that God remained faithful to David, did not forsake Him, and actually gave him a way out. When all was said and done, as we read the rest of this chapter, God used the Philistine leaders’ mistrust to remove David from the position of fighting against his own people. The Lord is still as faithful to us today as He was with David back then. When we find ourselves in difficult situations and temptations, even ones that we put ourselves in as a result of our choices, God still gives us a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13); so that in reality, we have no excuse to continue down a path that will not be good for us. The bottom line is that our God and Savior is faithful to us, in spite of us, and always gives us a way to escape the traps we sometimes find ourselves in.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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