20240430

disappointments

1 Samuel 29:1-11 (JDV)

1 Samuel 29:1 The Philistines gathered all their camps to Aphek while Israel was camped by the spring in Jezreel.
1 Samuel 29:2 As the Philistine leaders were passing in review with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review behind them with Achish.
1 Samuel 29:3 Then the Philistine commanders asked, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” Achish answered the Philistine commanders, “That is David, servant of King Saul of Israel. He has been with me for a considerable time. From the day he defected until today, I’ve found no fault with him.”
1 Samuel 29:4 The Philistine commanders, however, were enraged with Achish and told him, “Send that man back and let him return to the place you assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle only to become our opponent during the battle. What better way could he ingratiate himself with his master than with the heads of our men?
1 Samuel 29:5 Isn’t this the David they sing about during their dances: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands?”
1 Samuel 29:6 So Achish summoned David and told him, “As Yahveh lives, you are an honorable man. I think it is good to have you fighting in this unit with me because I have found no fault in you from the day you came to me until today. But the leaders don’t think you are reliable.
1 Samuel 29:7 Now go back peacefully and you won’t be doing anything the Philistine leaders think is wrong.”
1 Samuel 29:8 “But what have I done?” David replied to Achish. “From the first day I entered your service until today, what have you found against your servant to keep me from going to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
1 Samuel 29:9 Achish answered David, “I’m convinced that you are as reliable as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
1 Samuel 29:10 So get up early in the morning, you and your masters’ servants who came with you. When you’ve all gotten up early, go as soon as it’s light.”
1 Samuel 29:11 So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

disappointments

Changes are beginning to happen in David’s life, and it is a good thing that they are. He has been with the Philistines so long that he feels hurt when their commanders reject him. God has a plan for him, and it is time for him to move on in order to fit into that plan. Disappointments for us can be equally hard to take, but we need to leave room for the sovereignty of God to work out his plan. Our disappointments might just set us up for God’s appointments.