In this morning’s reading, we see firsthand the power of David’s thought life! At this point, David has likely been on the run from Saul for at least four years. A grueling time it has been! There is no sense of stability. No rest. He and his men live out of caves. And all of his energy goes into just staying one step ahead of Saul—exhausting! On top of this, David has refrained from killing Saul twice. David confesses it would be wrong to touch the LORD’s anointed. Talk about feeling stuck! Well, David has been thinking about this a little too much. Notice how his thoughts get away from him.
But David kept thinking to himself, “Someday Saul is going to get me. The best thing I can do is escape to the Philistines. Then Saul will stop hunting for me in Israelite territory, and I will finally be safe.” (1 Samuel 27:1, NLT)
So what does David do? He moves in with the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:2-4)! Here are the news headlines Saul gets to publish in Israel: DAVID DEFECTS TO THE PHILISTINES! Another headline reads, DAVID SETTLES IN GATH!, and another, ACHISH GIFTS DAVID ZIKLAG! Ouch! This is not a great moment for David! Aren’t the Philistines Israel’s enemy? Wasn’t Goliath from Gath? David accepted a gift from Achish? What was David thinking? That’s a good question; what was David thinking?
Here is the problem summed up in a phrase. Notice verse 1 again: But David kept thinking to himself… David couldn’t get outside of his head! David locked himself in a thought cycle no bigger than his reasoning. David is caught in an echo chamber! And what thought keeps echoing around in his mind? Saul is going to kill me! David repeatedly thought that Saul would kill him, and it was only a matter of time. Is it really only a matter of time? Not if God has anything to do with it!
Notice the solution from David’s echo chamber: “The best I can do is…” That sounds massively limiting and terribly defeating, but it is honest, as it is the best David can do without God in his thoughts! Is this the same David who killed Goliath? Is this the same David Samuel anointed to be the next king of Israel? Yes, but now he has settled in the land of the Philistines! How did this happen? It started by entertaining one little faithless thought: Saul will kill me. That thought was not a proper thought; it was a wrong thought. That thought was not good and honest; it was a deceiving thought. The power of a thought!
It’s easy to get caught in an echo chamber, isn’t it? This is where a single faithless thought can bounce around and massively limit our perspectives with the idea that this is the best I can do! So, what’s the solution? How do we interrupt this destructive thought cycle? Notice what the Bible says…
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:7–8, ESV)
Believers, with God, our options are not limited; we don’t have to settle for the best we can do! God has a plan, and this we know! God is faithful, and this we know! God is in charge, and this we know! God will make a way, and this we know!
Thank you for joining with me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 1 Samuel 25:1-27:12.