David's Decent

David's flight from Saul is one of incredible detail. We see where he goes, who he meets, what he wants and where he ends up. Why? Because we are looking at a moment in David's life where his faith waned and his strength was sapped. Like all of us, he found himself making questionable decisions along the way.

First, we see David lie to the Priest for the purpose of self-preservation:
1 Samuel 21:2 (ESV) And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.
He hasn't been sent by the King, he's running from him.

Then we see David want and secure a sword. And what an ironic choice he's given:

1 Samuel 21:9 (ESV) And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

We must remember this is the man who said to Goliath, "the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). This is the man who courageously brought no sword to the most fearful battle of Israel's history. This is the man who slung a stone and won THE great battle. Now he is the man who turns to the very weapons and means of victory he previously scorned.

Next, we see David flee to the very hometown of Goliath, the city of Gath:

1 Samuel 21:10 (ESV) And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath.

Finally, when feeling the heat in Gath, David decides to pretend to be insane so that he won't seem to be a threat. 

1 Samuel 21:12–13 (ESV) And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.

Now the question is asked very simply: How can this great man who was once so full of great faith be undone so completely in the face of Saul's threats? Did not Goliath present a larger threat? Did he not already kill both lion and bear? Where is the man who killed his "tens of thousands?"

Perhaps this chapter is a warning to all Christians. No one is exempt from moments of weakness and fear. It is how we respond to it that makes the difference. David forgets to do something very simple throughout this journey. He forgets to pray. The boy who was so full of passion for God and who penned songs accordingly (Psalm 23, 42, 63 among others), has let his prayer life slip quietly away. Isn't that how it happens for us? A few days, then a week or month go by and we have neglected our time with the ONE who matters most... and the ONE who can help the most. 

Perhaps David's quick ascension to prominence in the kingdom fed into him an overabundance of self-confidence that quenched his reliance on God. Now he's turning to worldly weapons and means he previously thought useless! The same can happen to us. The two great locals of temptation are when we are really high and really low. When we let our heights take us away from God, we forfeit the strength and confidence that comes from the Lord who rules above all power and authority. Pride comes before a fall. Before we know it, we are turning to the world's means of manipulation and self-preservation instead of abiding in Christ. 

Finally, we should note how quickly all this happened for David. He fell hard and fast. This chapter in 1 Samuel is very short underlying the swift decline of David's life of faith. We do well to take heed to what's missing - time with God. Then we do better to take time with Him now.