Faith, Fear, and Divine Protection

Faith, Fear, and Divine Protection.
1 Samual 26-31
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (30:6).
The events of 1 Samuel 26-31 involved times of despair and times of faith, times of courage and times of fear.  In chapter 26, we find David again with the opportunity to kill the one pursuer obsessed with putting him to death.  In Chapter 24, David had spared Saul’s life even though David had the opportunity to kill Saul.  In response, Saul stopped pursuing David and even affirmed that David was God’s appointed successor.  However, Saul’s repentance was short-lived.  In chapter 26, we again find Saul in hot pursuit of David with the sole intent of putting David to death.  Saul’s reign over Israel had degraded to only one obsession: to find and destroy David.  In verses 6-8, David again has the opportunity to destroy his enemy.  Unlike before,  when the opportunity for David to kill Saul was purely by chance, on this occasion, it seems as if God had orchestrated the events to allow David to kill Saul (26:12).  However, in reality, it was a test of David’s faith and commitment.  David recognized that God appointed Saul king, and only God could dispose of Saul.  To take matters into his own hands would be an act of disobedience. Instead, David trusted God’s timing and plan.

From the mountaintop of faith, we often quickly descend into the valley of doubt and fear.  Such was the case of David.  For the next chapter, we find David fleeing to the very enemies of Israel.  Rather than staying in Israel and trusting in God’s protection, David resorted to fleeing to Achish and the Philistines, who were the sworn enemies of Israel. Only God’s sovereign control prevented David from doing the unthinkable: joining forces with the Philistines and fighting against Israel.  To make matters worse, when they returned to their homes, they found that raiders had come and taken captive all their families.  As a result, even David’s own men were threatening to kill David.  It was a time when it seemed David’s faith was being undermined by his fear.  

As we examine our lives, we see the triumphs of faith and the distress of doubt.   There are times when we see God’s hand clearly upon our lives, and there are times when it seems as if God has forgotten and abandoned us.  Sometimes we face adversity with excellent resolution, trusting in God and believing in His sovereign plan.  But there are other times with our soul becomes gripped with fear and we feel abandoned even by God. What made David a man of faith was not His perfect life, but His trust in God even when adversity descended upon Him.  Psalm 18 is a psalm that was written in response to the events that were happening.  It is a Psalm that speaks of God’s deliverance and His protection.  In times of difficulty and trials,

God gives us the strength we need (Ps. 18:30-36).  As was the case with David, it is God who achieved the victory, not our strength (1 Samuel 30:23).  Faith does insulate us from the trials of life; instead, it gives us perspective.  Even when life becomes difficult and uncertain, we can still have the firm conviction and assurance that God will guide and protect us through the challenges we face.  Faith and trust do not mean we will not encounter trials, but we can trust God for the outcome.  Are you facing circumstances and trials in your life that give rise to fear?  Does it seem that circumstances are beyond your control?  We serve a living, powerful God who has proven in the past that he will protect His people and accomplish His purpose.  The same God who orchestrated David’s life is the same God who orchestrates our lives. Sometimes faith wavers, and fear grips our hearts.  We can still trust God in those times, for He is unwavering in protecting His people.