Stealing into Saul's camp... he took Saul's water bottle and spear from next to his head... while he slept... while all slept...
Again... David respected the anointing... convicted Saul with his words... and Saul went home...
But David said in his heart,
I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.
1 Samuel 27:1 Amp
The running for so long... was wearing on David... despair set in...
Because of this despair... loss of hope... he ran to take refuge among the enemy...
Despair leads us to bad places... dangerous places...
While living among the enemy... David lied to stay safe...
Even though he made continuous raids against the enemies of Israel...
he told the enemy he was plundering the villages of Judah...
Because David lied... he had to make sure no one in any of the villages where they raided survived...
No one could be left alive... who might give him away...
Despair... leads to fear...
Fear leads to desperate measures... death... lies... sin...
And I wonder... Is there any area of my life where despair is creeping in...? where I might choose to find refuge with the enemy...? rather than trust God...?
Throughout the period of David's running... God was in control... He was with him... He knew... He watched... and He was waiting... for David to turn to Him...
David's charade put his and all his men's families in danger... and the men blamed David...
They wanted to stone him... they despaired for their wives... and children...
But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
1 Samuel 30:6 Amp
In his deepest despair and loss... David turned back to God...
God guided him to pursue the attackers... and He made the way for David and his men to rescue all who had been captured... in addition to much plunder...
What if David had sought encouragement and strength from God before turning to the enemy for refuge in the first place...? might much of the fear...? ...lies...? ...loss...? been avoided...?
Remember... don't give into despair... and fear...
Seek God... His encouragement... and His strength...
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psalm 28:7 ESV
This week's readings...
Monday 2 Samuel 3:26- 5:25
Tuesday 2 Samuel 6-7
Wednesday 2 Samuel 8-9
Thursday 2 Samuel 10-11
Friday 2 Samuel 12
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