The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 21:12-15,
"David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, 'Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?'"
"David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, 'Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?'"
Here is a fascinating account! David was afraid that Ackish would turn him over to Saul to kill him. He avoided the threat by feigning insanity, something we might not expect. Certainly something I would never have expected!
What might we expect? David was chosen by the Lord to be the new king of Israel, and so if threatened, we might expect the Lord to send legions of angels to protect him. If not, at least provide some kind of protection through others that might side with David against Saul. But we don't read anything of that.
What we do see is David engineering his own escape by acting like a mad man. Was this God's "will"? Was it God's intent to have David escape by acting like a fruitcake, instead of a more respectable approach through military action or some other demonstration of strength? I don't know... but I do know this is what happened, and it became another link in the protection of David to see him through to the throne, replacing Saul.
Sometimes we assume we know how God might accomplish something. And, if it isn't accomplished in a manner we expect, if it doesn't conform to our preconceived notion, we might dismiss it as something removed from the purview of God.
Sometimes we assume we know how God might accomplish something. And, if it isn't accomplished in a manner we expect, if it doesn't conform to our preconceived notion, we might dismiss it as something removed from the purview of God.
I don't know if I have ever heard over the years a sermon on this event. However, that does not mean there isn't something to learn from it. What I learn from this is that God's purposes might be accomplished in a manner I might not ever expect! I certainly would not have expected David to escape Saul's clutches by acting like a mentally disturbed person in front of King Achish. Yet, this is exactly what happened.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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