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 29:6-7,
"So Achish called David and said to him, 'As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.'"
David had fled from King Saul and stayed with the Philistine king, Achish in Gath (the town that the giant Goliath that David had killed was from.) When the Philistines marched against the Israelites, David and his men accompanied Achish.
Although Achish trusted David to fight with him against Saul and Israel, the Philistine commanders demanded he be sent back. They expected David would turn against them in the battle. David protested, but was sent back nonetheless.
I can't help but see God's hand in all this. Where as both David and Achish wanted David in the fight, he was prevented from doing so. When we read of the battle that ensued, Israel was crushed, Saul fell on his sword, and most importantly, Saul's son, Jonathon, was killed.
David loved Jonathon as a brother. It is difficult to assume that David would not have come to Jonathan's aid in the battle and endangered himself as the Philistines slaughtered the Israelites. The Lord had other plans for David, and it is my assumption that God influenced the Philistine commanders to keep David out of the fight.
If this is so, what we see is that David was greatly discouraged when he was not allowed to join the fight, as he communicates in his protest to King Achish, "'But what have I done?' asked David. 'What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?'" However, his discouragement was due to the actions God took to use David elsewhere in his purposes.
"So Achish called David and said to him, 'As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don't approve of you. Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.'"
David had fled from King Saul and stayed with the Philistine king, Achish in Gath (the town that the giant Goliath that David had killed was from.) When the Philistines marched against the Israelites, David and his men accompanied Achish.
Although Achish trusted David to fight with him against Saul and Israel, the Philistine commanders demanded he be sent back. They expected David would turn against them in the battle. David protested, but was sent back nonetheless.
I can't help but see God's hand in all this. Where as both David and Achish wanted David in the fight, he was prevented from doing so. When we read of the battle that ensued, Israel was crushed, Saul fell on his sword, and most importantly, Saul's son, Jonathon, was killed.
David loved Jonathon as a brother. It is difficult to assume that David would not have come to Jonathan's aid in the battle and endangered himself as the Philistines slaughtered the Israelites. The Lord had other plans for David, and it is my assumption that God influenced the Philistine commanders to keep David out of the fight.
If this is so, what we see is that David was greatly discouraged when he was not allowed to join the fight, as he communicates in his protest to King Achish, "'But what have I done?' asked David. 'What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can't I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?'" However, his discouragement was due to the actions God took to use David elsewhere in his purposes.
The message to me in this is that although we may find our disappointments in this life, we may actually be experiencing those due to God's intention of using us later on in a way we may not see. It won't be until we are down the road that we can look back and see God's purposes for the disappointment he allowed or even manipulated in our lives.
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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