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 27:1,
"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.'"
David, with his band of 600 warriors, together with their wives and families moved to Philistine territory to escape the hand of Saul. Saul had determined to kill David as the Lord had chosen him to replace Saul on the throne. David and his band lived in Philistine territory for sixteen months.
Saul's rejection by God was a result of his proclivity to make choices and act on the circumstances he saw about him, rather than trust in God. David here looks to be operating from a very similar perspective.
However, I have to admit that I'm not certain on this. It may be that great faith, such as what David had demonstrated earlier, informs us that God expects us to respond to threats, etc. wisely. Make choices, employing godly wisdom and act without presuming on God.
I do note that, while in Philistine territory, David engaged in genocide, "Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes." Verse 9. Also, "He [David] did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, 'They might inform on us and say, "This is what David did."' And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory." Verse 11.
"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.'"
David, with his band of 600 warriors, together with their wives and families moved to Philistine territory to escape the hand of Saul. Saul had determined to kill David as the Lord had chosen him to replace Saul on the throne. David and his band lived in Philistine territory for sixteen months.
Saul's rejection by God was a result of his proclivity to make choices and act on the circumstances he saw about him, rather than trust in God. David here looks to be operating from a very similar perspective.
However, I have to admit that I'm not certain on this. It may be that great faith, such as what David had demonstrated earlier, informs us that God expects us to respond to threats, etc. wisely. Make choices, employing godly wisdom and act without presuming on God.
I do note that, while in Philistine territory, David engaged in genocide, "Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes." Verse 9. Also, "He [David] did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, 'They might inform on us and say, "This is what David did."' And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory." Verse 11.
One of the great disappointments in David's life was that the Lord refused to allow David to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, bestowing that honor on his son, Solomon. The Lord's refusal was because David had engaged in so much bloodshed. I wonder if the activities of David, while in Philistine territory, where a part of the Lord's calculation...
I am reminded that faith does not make a person perfect. God does that through his Holy Spirit, perfecting us over time, never to reach perfection until the resurrection, as that old sin nature remains with us in this life. David, a man of great faith is a good example of this. He trusted in the Lord, fully convinced of God's ability and faithfulness in following through on all his promises. Yet, we see this same man of faith engaged in adultery with Bathsheba and the murdering of her husband, Uriah. Was his moving to Philistine territory another example of David's imperfections?
Just musing here on some things I'm unsure of. One thing I am not unsure of is, while faith brings us a standing of righteousness before God, it does not make us perfect in this life.
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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