Daily Devotional for Monday 29th January
Double agent
David is ‘undercover’ with the King of Gath (Achish - who is a Philistine), hiding from King Saul, and, unbeknown to Achish, ravaging towns belonging to allies of the Philistines (chapter 27). Achish thinks David is a solid ally, and now is the acid test – will David prove his loyalty by actually fighting against his own people, the Israelites? But it never comes to that – the Philistines war-leaders don’t share Achish’s trust in David, and won’t let him take part. Once again this is like the plot of so many films, isn’t it? I think what the writer of Samuel wants us to take from it is that unexpected twists of plot work once again in David’s favour – ‘someone up there’ is looking after him. He slips away quietly, presumably greatly relieved not to have to fight Saul and the Israelite army. And both David and the writer of Samuel know very well who is ‘up there’ looking after him – the Lord God of Israel.
So far, the main story of 1 Samuel has been one of fighting and hiding as far as David is concerned. Is he really God’s chosen king? He isn’t living in ‘green pastures’ beside ‘still waters’ (Psalm 23). Most of the time he is in the ‘valley of the shadow of death’. Yet many of the Psalms are either by David or dedicated to him (73 bear his name), and at least 10 have been linked with specific episodes in his life. Overall, they tell the same story – faithful perseverance through difficult times leads to ultimate peace and security – where we ‘dwell in the house of the Lord forever’.
Time to reflect…
Our lives may not have the drama of David’s, but we all go through dark times.
Paul knew this very well and wrote:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4)
A hymn that inspires me says:
“Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing”
Pause to pray…
Let’s use this hymn to be our prayer for today:
“Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing”
