David's Despair
1 Samuel 27:1-4
As a child of God, every promise in the Bible is yours to claim.
According to American Psychiatry, the average thirty-year-old American male is ten times more likely to be depressed than his father and twenty times more likely to be depressed than his grandfather. At any given time in America, there are between fifteen and twenty million people suffering from depression. From a study by the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44. This depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. While major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.
Many people suffer from times of depression, loneliness, and despair. Even David, the mighty warrior and God's chosen king, found himself in such a time as we see in 1 Samuel 27. Saul had just repented of his pursuit of David, yet David felt despair.
In God's process of molding and preparing a Christian there are often periods of loneliness and even despair. These moments are never designed to discourage us, but rather to cause our trust in God to deepen. God did not keep David from experiencing difficulties, rather He worked through the difficulties to prepare David for greater usefulness.
First Samuel 27 shows David in a period of exile in the land of the Philistines. Assuming Saul would eventually find and kill him, David sought refuge from the Philistines. Notice three reasons that drove David to despair enough to seek refuge with his enemies.
His faith was weak. Time and again David had relied on God to provide and protect him as he fled from Saul. God had sent the Philistines to attack Israel just as Saul had David surrounded. God sent Abigail to provide for David's need after Nabal refused his request. God had never allowed David to suffer while he fled Saul. Yet David found himself doubting God's ability to continue protecting him.
His hope was deferred. David no longer hoped in God's protection, but hoped the Philistines would provide refuge for him. He took his eyes off God and looked to make his own way of escape.
God's promises were forgotten. David forgot the very promise that God had given him when he was anointed king, "And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah" (1 Samuel 16:12-13). David would be the next king of Israel. God promised David that.
Have you been dealing with a time of despair or loneliness? Perhaps you're battling a certain sin or dealing with a burdensome trial. Don't allow yourself to lose faith and forget God's promises. Keep your hope in God and understand that as a child of God, every promise He's given you through His Word is true. He will provide for you, protect you, help you in need, give you grace and wisdom, and guide you through every trial.
Daily Bible Reading
Exodus 4-6 | Matthew 14:22-36
No comments:
Post a Comment