The Enemy of My Enemy is my Friend

David fought for God's people. In first Samuel, there are many accounts where the people didn't appreciate what he had done for them.  There was a lot of jealousy and pride.  His reputation was widely known as a warrior. Three times in I Samuel we read the phrase 'Saul hath slain thousands and David his 10,000'. That comparison not only irritated Saul ( Samuel 18:7), but it put fear in some of the Philistines (I Samuel 21:11, I Samuel 29:5) from whom David sought refuge when he had no other place to go. Saul and the Philistines were enemies. The Philistines were considered an enemy of Israel.

In first Samuel 21, the Philistine princes warned King Achish about him.  David, feigning madness, went from them. Certainly in the time period between I Samuel 21 and I Samuel 27, more was known about Saul chasing after David and that there was no place for him to seek refuge. King Achish of the Philistines offered him refuge and gave him Ziklag to settle in. It was located near area of Judah, where his own people lived. King Achish saw David for who he was and knew he could be trusted.

Philistia was a pagan land and did not worship the God of David. It must have been difficult for him just as it is for us in today's environment. David was wise and made the best of what was allotted to him.  God provided for him in just the right way. The book of Philippians (no connection to Philistia) comes immediately to my mind in this regard. The major theme in Philippians is confidence (Philippians 4:13), completeness (Philippians 4:19) and contentment (Philippians 4:11). Knowing what God offers us first makes us extremely powerful to walk wisely among people who don't believe the same things we do.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

The words: 'fear and trembling' convey the message of respect and trust in God, realizing that we need God to the extent we do our best to fulfill what God asks of us. We are completely equipped to do what God sets before us. Read up on confidence, completeness and contentment in Philippians. The Book of Colossians continues along the same vein emphasizing how complete we really are despite what is going on around us.

Refined Gold

 Psalm 18 contains some golden nuggets that  give us a view of how God blessed and helped David in times of trouble.  Life wasn't always easy for him but God was his shield-like protection through it all because he continued to trust in God.

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:30

God's way is perfect (complete, sound). The word 'tried' as it was written in the Hebrew means 'refined' as in metallurgy. In refining gold, several steps have to be taken to sort out the other less desirable elements that get caught up with gold making it less pure.

We mine the Bible for the truth of the word of God. When we find truth it can be put to the test and it stands. It is pure gold. David did that over and over  and Psalm 18 is his witness.

Godly Collusion

After recent hearings in Washington, I am amazed by so many politicians that openly exhibit political motives going against someone or thing compared to those who are trying to do what is right and good. I am not naive to the fact that many people do things out of self interest at whatever cost to those with whom they don't agree, but it never ceases to amaze me how far people will go to disparage someone else they see as a competitor. In a competition, someone needs to win and someone needs to lose and therein lies the the problem.

David and Saul were supposed to be on the same side. They started out on the same side, but as time went on Saul continued to move to attack David. He followed after him doggedly obsessed with him. Saul was Israel's king. He was supposed to be looking out for the welfare of Israel. David always seemed to be looking out for Israel, so when Saul continued to chase after him, he made all his decisions based on the fact that Saul was King of Israel. Dave had opportunity to kill Saul, but didn't. Saul actively tried to kill David, but God protected David.

A clear example of David's heart is found in I Samuel 23. The Philistines attacked Keilah, a city of Judah. Saul was busy chasing David.  David was concerned about Keilah and asked God if he should go there and fight the Philistines.  God told David to go and that he would rescue them from the Philistines.The 600 men with David were afraid but in David's mind it was 600 men to 1 God. God won in David's mind.

For Saul, Keilah was the place he might catch David. I don't think Saul was thinking about the Philistines. David somehow knew what Saul was up to and asked God about staying in Keilah and whether the people of Keilah would turn him over to Saul to save themselves even though David had rescued them from the Philistines. God told David they would give him over to Saul. So David left Keilah and then Saul was no longer interested in going there.

Leadership is defined in many ways by men according to their own motives, desires and needs. I have heard people talk about 'natural leadership ability' as requirement for position. I'm really not sure what natural leadership ability is, but as I think back through the Old Testament, we can look at Moses as a leader, or Joseph and David and many others.  The families and people around these men did not quite think of them as leaders in the worldly sense. Their lives, however, were connected to God.  Moses was the meekest of all men (Numbers 12:3). Joseph was a 'man in whom the spirit of God is' (Genesis 41:38). David was a man after God's own heart' I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). Their leadership ability lay in their dependence and love for God and many wonderful things happened because of it.

The greatest example today is Jesus Christ. The world was not kind to him, even his family at times doubted him, religious leaders criticized him, and political leaders didn't know what to do with him. He listened to God and led back then and continues to still lead today to bring people to God.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:20-21

Wisdom and Spiritual Understanding

The Colossians of the New Testament were faithful believers and, although Paul may not have traveled to Colosse, he had heard about their love in the spirit from Epaphras a 'fellow-servant 'of God. In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he expressed his hearts desire for them. What a great vision he had for them! God had put that desire in him.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Colossians 1:9

The greatest thing you can believe and pray for in people is that they are filled to the brim with the knowledge of God's will. Many people have a knowledge of God and what he can do, but a smaller number of people really see God's will. The word 'will' is translated from the Greek word 'thelema' and has to do with God's love and his desire for the best in the lives of people.

Practically applying God's word in our lives rests and continues with wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Wisdom is skill in using knowledge and it involves spiritual understanding. Wisdom is mentioned many times in the book of Proverbs.  Solomon, who wrote Proverbs asked God for wisdom and wisdom he got!

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

The book of Proverbs is loaded with tremendous practical application of God's love in the daily challenges of life as we relate to others and how we function as human beings. So often when I am having difficulty in understanding situations, the book of Proverbs comes to the rescue in getting to the bottom of what is going on.

I have met many people who know and recite the words of the Bible verbatim, but have little understanding as to how it really benefits them. They can recite and teach the great ideas in the Word but without wisdom and spiritual understanding the words of the Bible are just words. Too often, people quit their pursuit of God and fall back on emotion, feelings or other diversions to add juice and meaning to their lives. They miss out on the greatest resource that has ever been available for mankind.

The word of God is living and was never meant to be dull theology.  It is exciting! God has given us the gift of holy spirit to ensure that the 'eyes of our understanding can be enlightened' (Ephesians 1:18) when we look to God's word. The gift of holy spirit was made available to all who believe after the ascension of Jesus Christ to his highly exalted position as the head of the Church of God.

10 That ye might walk worthy (translated from the Greek word 'axios' conveying balance in regards to weights) of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Colossians 1:10-19

Behaving Oneself Wisely

In I Samuel 18, the words "behaving oneself wisely" appear several times as describing David's actions working during Saul's reign as king. David's wise behavior benefited Saul for a while until Saul started eying David as a competitor and fear started to take a hold on his thinking. The more Saul was afraid, David's actions was described as 'behaving wisely','behaving very wisely' and 'behaved more wisely' in chapter 18.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. I Samuel 18:29-30

God worked in David.  At times Saul tried to kill David and at other times he tried to trap him:

20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law. I Samuel 18:20-22

Wise thinking is different than overthinking. Saul was a perfect example of overthinking. Fear was involved and it grew and motivated him.  David's actions were a result of trusting God (yes, there is active thinking in trusting God) and having a lack of fear.

So many times in life we have to deal with negative things and puzzling human behavior. We all, at times, allow emotional feeling to take control of our thinking. The puzzling behavior may indeed be real, and sometimes emotions may alert us to that fact, but it is our response that divides the rubber from the road. David was dealing with some dark situations but he believed and trusted God. Read through the Psalms written by David. You will find some great prayers recorded by David there which are great examples of David pouring his heart out to God.