Today’s passage: 1 Samuel 29:1-11
Helpful thoughts:
- Perhaps at the same time Saul was seeking a medium to hear from Samuel, King Achish was hearing from his Philistine commanders.
- The Philistine commanders were right to question David’s inclusion. Their memory was not short (1 Samuel 14:21). They had already been fooled once.
- David’s words to Achish are once again ambiguous. When David referred to “my lord the king,” he could have meant Achish, Saul, or even the LORD!
- David served Saul, and Saul rejected David.
- David pretended to serve Achish, and Achish trusted David.
- However, the lord whom David would ultimately be “reconciled to” and serve was neither of these kings. (Verse 4)
Questions to consider:
- Considering what Samuel has just told Saul, what has David been kept from being involved in once this battle gets going? How has God used the Philistine commanders to bring about His will? Is anything too hard for the Lord?
- This battle that is coming is critical to the life of David, and he is not able to fight it. He must trust God to win this battle. How does this pattern remind you of the Gospel message? What victory has Christ won for you that you could not win on your own?
- How does this pattern also apply to prayer? When we pray, what are we asking God to do and what are we acknowledging we cannot do?