“That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11 But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” 12 David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. 14 Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? 15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?” 1 Samuel 21.10-15
This was not David’s finest moment. The man who killed Goliath, the “slayer” of thousands, the future king of Israel, acting like he is insane with saliva running down his face.
We know why he did it: to survive. Who left his post in the palace with soldiers, now with just a sword, but facing a potential enemy who would love nothing more than to say he killed David? He had to do something to survive. Were his actions honoring God? Could he have just trusted the Lord to protect him and not made himself out as insane?
Sometimes, like David, we do certain things in order to survive. Maybe we tell little white lies; sometimes we adopt a different behavior or act in a way that is unlike who God has made us to be. Sometimes we even resort to sin to fill some deep inner “need,” which in truth is just the flesh giving a false alarm. Regardless, the Lord has us. He knows us, and He loves us. He wants us not to put on any disguise that would distract from our goal of chasing after Jesus.
David put on a disguise in order to preserve his life. Perhaps God would have found a better way, but for this instance, David’s way worked. It reminds me of those Jews who hid from the Nazis rather than be taken to WWII concentration camps and eventually killed. They did what they needed to do in order to survive.
Let us be bold in our faith and confident in our God to both protect us and to meet all our needs. Let us not find ourselves sinking into insecurity or sin that will draw us away from Him. Remember who you are and what you are: a child of God, fully embedded into His family of faith.
Turn back to Christ. Trust in His words. Tell Him that you need Him. Find your worth in Christ alone and seek His guidance for your life this day and for the days to come.
“O Lord God, David was a complete mess! Look at him running away, pretending to be insane, acting in a way that is unbecoming of Your man. And then, as You know, I often do the same thing. I forget my strength lies in You; I seek my own way; I struggle against the temptations of this world; I fail to be obedient. Save me now, Lord Jesus. Hide me in Your love. Harbor me in Your grace. Place Your angels around me to guide and protect me from the evil one. Allow me to find my rest in You. I love You, Lord, and praise Your name. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen