In this passage we see another example of David’s trust in God. David was confronted by the Philistines, so he went to God in prayer for advice. David was seeking God’s will for him. He did not rush off and attack the enemy relying on his previous accomplishments even though he had established himself as a formidable warrior. He first sought God. When God made it clear what he wanted, David followed his commands even though his men were scared. Although he followed God’s plan, David had more problems. It is a broken world. Saul still pursued him. David asked God if the people he just liberated would turn on him to save themselves from Saul’s wrath.  God told him he would be betrayed so David and his men moved on once again in faith without complaint.

 

Where do I turn when things trouble me? Too often, I turn to myself. It’s good to be self-reliant to a point. God does expect us to “work it out” and solve life’s day to day or major problems, but he also walks with us at all times. God wants us to remember that without him we can do nothing. Too often the feeling of personal accomplishment leads to forgetting that we get everything we have from God. We may not consciously push him to the side, but we turn from him none the less. This turning from him severs our relationship with him and is at the heart of sin. 

 

Sometimes it takes a problem too big for us to handle – a death, a life threatening disease – to make us turn to God for advice and direction. Sometimes we trust him only when we have to because there is no other choice. If we are asking for what we want, we may not like his answer. But, if we pray to know what God wants us to do and we trust him, we will find his peace. He will be with us and sustain us even in the midst of chaos.

 

Your fellow traveler,

 

Jack