Scripture:
1 Samuel 21:10-15
Thu, 9 September 2021

Lost in Disorientation: David’s Wavering Faith (3)

Observation:

What does David’s behaviour as described in verses 12 to 13 tell us about him?

Deeper Reflection
CONSIDERING ACHISH as his best hope in his desperate situation, David sought asylum from him. But David’s best hope crashed! What he thought would be a safe place turned out to be a dangerous one. He was now “in their hands” (v.13) – “under arrest, confined and taken into custody”.7 David must now think of how to escape. David’s attempts at self-preservation by lying to a priest (1 Sam 21:1-9) and seeking security from an enemy (vv.10-12) had both backfired. And now he had to act out of character in a bizarre manner to ensure his own safety: “he pretended to be insane in their presence” and “acted like a madman” (v.13, NIV). For David, this was his only way out. In his pretended insanity he “scribbled on the doors of the gate” (v.13). Perhaps, he was “writing nonsensical graffiti or symbols associated with cultic curses”.8 And he demeaned himself by “letting saliva run down his beard” (v.13). “The beard was an obvious and important symbol of manhood in that culture, and desecration of one’s beard – especially with spit (cf. Num 12:14; Job 30:10) – would be an obvious indication of derangement within the context of their culture.”9 David’s act convinced the Philistines that he was no longer a threat to them. In 1 Samuel 21, David was hardly in touch with God. But God was with him, speaking to him through “the sword of Goliath” (1 Sam 21:9) and the Philistines’ recognition of him as “David the king of the land” (v.11).
7 Dale Ralph Davis, 219 8 Robert D. Bergen, 1, 2 Samuel, The New American Commentary (B & H, 1996), 224 9 Robert D. Bergen, 224
Application:

In what ways am I wavering in my faith in God and what will I do about that?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To have their hearts directed to Christ’s steadfastness10
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

10 2 Thessalonians 3:5

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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