Day 140

1 Samuel 26:1–28:25; John 11:1-54; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 15:22-23

THE INTERTWINED STORIES of King Saul and David are nearing their end, and the divergent paths they chose were never clearer than in today’s reading from 1 Samuel.

Even though David had spared Saul’s life and Saul had repented of his continued attempts to assassinate David, the uneasy peace didn’t last. David never felt secure returning to the king’s household. Instead, he continued to move around, and when Saul heard he was camped in the wilderness of Ziph, he gathered three thousand elite troops to overwhelm David and snuff out his life once and for all.

As the cunning warrior he was forced to become, David received word and scouted out the encampment of King Saul. David spotted the king asleep with his general, surrounded by a ring of warriors who were also asleep.

With the assistance of Abishai (one of his own elite warriors), David snuck into the camp and penetrated the ring of warriors without detection. Saul’s spear was near his head, and David could have plunged it into the sleeping king. But instead, he took it and the king’s water jug and crept back out of camp.

When they had reached a safe distance, David called out to the king. The ordeal was an embarrassment to Saul’s elite warriors and another humiliation for King Saul. Again, Saul repented before David and vowed to leave him alone, but David knew it wouldn’t last.

“Someday Saul is going to get me,” David thought (1 Samuel 27:1). And this knowledge propelled his decision to defect from Israel and swear allegiance to the Philistine King Achish of Gath. Saul stopped hunting for David once he became a Philistine.

King Achish gave David and his six hundred men (and their households) the city of Ziklag, but they were expected to honor their allegiance to the Philistines, including fighting in their battles —even if this meant fighting against Israel —and it wasn’t long before this expectation was put to the test.

The Philistines assembled for battle far to the north of Ziklag, near Jezreel, and David and his men assembled with them. Frantic with fear, King Saul asked God what to do, but God did not respond by any means, which led Saul to hammer the final nail into his own coffin. Under cover of darkness, Saul sought a medium to conjure up the prophet Samuel for direction —and indeed, Samuel came forth.

“‘Why have you disturbed me by calling me back?’ Samuel asked Saul.”

‘‘‘Because I am in deep trouble,’ Saul replied. ‘The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.’”

“But Samuel replied, ‘Why ask me, since the LORD has left you and has become your enemy? The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David. . . . What’s more, the LORD will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The LORD will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat’” (1 Samuel 28:15-17, 19).

We’ve followed the story of Saul throughout his entire reign, and we’ve seen in vivid detail what unrestrained fear of others leads to. These insecurities that we keep in check are capable of completely undermining our lives and leading us to total destruction. Although they may be common to us because we’ve grown accustomed to them, they do not lead us on a path toward wholeness or toward knowing intimacy and identity in God. Saul’s story offers a clear picture of just how poisonous our fear and insecurity can become. As we near the conclusion of our time with Saul, invite the Holy Spirit to show you how these things have affected your own story and relationships.

MEDITATION:

Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!