Solving Our Own Problems: 1 Samuel 21:10-15
Life gets more difficult when we lean upon our own understanding. Relying upon our own understanding opens doors to unintended consequences. We might create more problems for ourselves. We can unintentionally hurt people around us in our inability to predict reaching consequences of our choices. Our decisions create habits affecting us far into our future. We cannot possibly know the full scope of our actions. God is the only one who can set a perfect course into righteousness.
David goes among the Philistines, who were a warrior people having much in common with David apart from the god they worshipped. This decision makes sense for David, who could be looking for an opportunity to become a mercenary. The Philistines are a fair choice ideologically, assuming his own people are not an option.
There is one reason potentially making this decision poor. David killed Goliath and has his sword. David has history with the Philistines. Anyone recognizing David or his sword puts his safety at risk. Anyone who lost a family member during the battle would find it difficult to permit David to be among them.
Eventually, David’s history catches up with him. Achish’s servants recognize him and realize he is the person about whom the Hebrew people sung songs. David is the warrior whom the Hebrew people lifted above their own king. The Philistines bring David before Achish to see what should be done about David.
Once more, David feels the pressure closing in. He hears the words the Philistines say about him and reads the writing on the wall. Once more, David relies upon his own understanding. Once more, David resorts to putting up a false front. Instead of being honest in his dealings with Achish, David lies.
David acts like he is insane. He makes strange marks on the doors and the gates. He drools and allows himself to have an unkept appearance. He makes people not want to be around him. He wants them to be afraid they might become like him if they spend too much time in his presence. He wants them to cast him aside and consider him harmless. After all, what fun is there in getting revenge on a person who is insane and doesn’t realize they’ve been defeated?
David’s plan is shrewd. David convinces Achish it isn’t worth the time to deal with him. He wins his freedom and the Philistines toss him to the side.
While David is shrewd, he isn’t overly honest. He certainly isn’t forthright. He’s continuing to follow his own understanding and trying to get himself out of his own situations. He’s using human tactics to solve human problems rather than relying upon godliness. David hasn’t abandoned his faith in God, but he has decided to lean on his own understanding. We’re about to see what happens to David. Life gets more difficult when we lean upon our own understanding.
