Dogs and Fools

Описание: David has been running for years now (10-15). Running from Saul’s relentless persecution. Running from danger. Running at times with certainty, but also running, as we’ll see today, with uncertainty.
David thought to himself, said in his heart, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.”
This is not the voice of faith. This is the voice of desperation and exhaustion.
David knows God’s promises. He knows he has been anointed king of Israel. He knows the Holy Spirit has come powerfully upon him. He knows God has delivered him again and again.
But now he says in his heart—not out loud, not in prayer, but inwardly— “I’m not sure I’m going to make it.”
This is the first sign of danger, the first sign of spiritual fatigue and discouragement: When we stop talking to God, and we start talking and listening to ourselves, to our own hearts. David concludes in his heart: The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Really David? There's nothing better to do than to escape to the land of the Philistines?
This is the same David who killed the Philistine Goliath with a sling and a stone. The same David who refused to kill Saul on two occasions because (in his own words) he was trusting in God’s timing. The same David who wrote beautiful psalms of confidence and courage.
But now David believes the best option is to live among idol-worshipping pagans who happen to be Israel’s greatest enemy at the time. David hasn’t totally turned against God and His people. For now, he only attacks the enemies of Israel. This probably gave David some comfort, but it is a small consolation to know that you aren’t as bad as you possibly could be.
We know later in life, David will have a far more notorious season of sin with Bathsheba, and he will have her husband Uriah killed/murdered (2 Samuel 11). And when we ask ourselves why he had Uriah killed, the only answer is to cover his sin and his lies.
Even though that later event is far more famous than this one, the root of that sin begins right here in chapter 27.
Here, many years before David killed Uriah to cover his sin, David killed these men and women in his raids to cover his sin. The roots of sin must be dealt with, or they come back with greater strength. (Proverbs 26:11) Like dogs to their vomit.
This is a chapter where God may seem absent. But he’s not. David’s faith may not be shining here. His courage may be waning. And his prayers may not be prayed. But God is still the author and finisher of David’s story.
If you are in a season where your faith feels quiet… If you are tired, discouraged, fatigued, or unsure…Take heart from David’s story. God is not only the God of our victories— He is also the God of our valleys. He is not only present when we are strong— He is present when we are weary. He is not only faithful when you are confident— He is faithful when you whisper, “I don’t know if I can keep going.”
And He will carry you through this chapter in your life, just as He carried David through this chapter of his life.