1 Samuel 27:1

New International Version (NIV)

But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.”

For Meditation

When we depend on our own resources, there is a point beyond which we can no more endure suffering. It’s our breaking point, the moment in our patience when we can’t take it anymore. It’s the point where we lose it, and nothing matters anymore. David reached this point in his fugitive years when King Saul pursued him for nothing more than the king’s jealousy and fear of losing the crown to the poor shepherd boy from Bethlehem. After years of running and hiding, and refusing to kill Saul for the fear of God, David got to the point of exasperation and sought refuge in the enemy camp of Achish and the Philistines. “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand,” David said (1 Samuel 27:1). The sad truth of life is that most of the time, we walk away from our suffering just when the Lord is standing at the door of our situation waiting to rescue us.. The days of Saul were almost over and Mount Gilboa was a few miles away from claiming his life. The coronation of David was just around the corner; but he said to himself, “One of these days …” So, he did the unimaginable, and made a pact with the enemy.

1. Who wants to suffer? Who prefers suffering to a life free of distress and pain?
2. But, who said the Christian journey is without pain and suffering? How could there be the resurrection without the cross?
3. Despite the persistence  of suffering in the believer’s life, isn’t it great joy to know that we can maintain a living hope in Christ that our final redemption is guaranteed (1 Pt. 1:3; Col. 1:27)?
4. So, how could this hope disappoint us (Rm. 5:5)? Isn’t that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life?
5. Can you, therefore, receive this as sufficient proof that God’s goal in our suffering is to perfect us in Christ until glory receives us (Jas. 1:2-4; Eph. 4:12-13)?

I pray that in your anxious moments, you can reflect on God’s promises concerning His perfecting work in us through suffering, so that you may be encouraged to let dismay give way to hope.

So: Keep pressing on, and wait a little while longer; for, Christ Jesus will come swiftly in His appointed time of your deliverance. Do not lose it before the appoint time in the coming year. Be steadfast and immovable. Your enemy’s end is decreed in heaven, and your victory is at hand. He who decreed it is faithful.

 Shalom