Scripture:
1 Samuel 27:1; 26:7-12, 21-25
Mon, 15 November 2021

Slipping from Faith to Fear

Observation:

What does verse 1 tell us about David in the light of 1 Samuel 26:7-12 and 21 to 25?

Deeper Reflection
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING David in his discipleship journey thus far, from being anointed as the next king of Israel (1 Sam 16:12-13) to his recent triumph in sparing Saul’s life the second time (1 Sam 26), which, rather surprisingly, leads to an anti-climax. David slipped from faith to fear: “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul” (v.1). It was like just yesterday, that David said to Abishai with confidence concerning Saul: “As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down in battle and perish” (1 Sam 26:10). Ironically, David’s speaking of Saul “will perish (sapah)” under God’s hand (1 Sam 26:10) shifts abruptly to being convinced that “I will perish (sapah)…by the hand of Saul” (v.1). And for David, “the best thing I can do” was, not trust and rely on his God (cf. Isa 50:10), but “escape to the land of the Philistines” (v.1). Realistic biblical discipleship is three steps forward two steps back. Just like David, we have our own share of the two steps back – but only that we are on a path of progressing three steps forward. The narrator tells us that David “said to himself” those words of fainting faith. And what David “kept saying to himself determined his action”22. “What you say and keep saying to the centre of you will direct your way…be careful what you speak to your heart.”23
22 Dale Ralph Davis, 1 Samuel, Focus on the Bible (Christian Focus, 2000), 283 23 Dale Ralph Davis, 283, 284
Application:

What will I say to myself in times of disorientation in my life?

Prayer:
My Lord and my Saviour, I hold up all my weakness to Your strength, my failure to Your faithfulness, my sinfulness to Your perfection, my loneliness to Your compassion and my little pains to Your great agony on the cross. I pray that You will cleanse me, strengthen me and hide me, so that, in all ways, my life may be lived as You would have it lived.24
24 Adapted from a prayer of Mother Janet Stuart (1857-1914)
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for leaders:
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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