SOAP 04/24/2012; 1 Samuel 29:6

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11
     
S)"⁶ Then Achish called David and said to him, 'As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army are pleasing in my sight; for I have not found evil in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, you are not pleasing in the sight of the lords.'"
     

1 Samuel 29:6 (NASB)

    

O) I recently started using a phrase, "If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy." It's simple and true. I think a lot of people feel like trust is a given, or they feel like trust should be given to them based on their own perspective. I imagine David felt a little bit like that, but here we see something a little different. David did, in fact, show himself trustworthy. He was fully willing to go to war for the Philistines, even against Israel. I have no doubt that he would have fought and so would the other Hebrews who were with him, who followed him loyally. But here we see that there was distrust stirred up among the lords of the Philistines, so the king sent David packing. I'm reminded of another phrase, an older phrase, "The LORD works in mysterious ways."


A) Even when I'm doing everything right, carrying myself with integrity and loyalty and righteousness, there will be times when things don't work out. Maybe I won't get the promotion I've earned. Maybe some disaster will strike, despite my precaution and efforts to prevent it. In those moments, I need to trust the LORD, to know that He's in control of my destiny. I'm not sure how it would have turned out for David, had he fought against the nation he would eventually lead. I can imagine it might've ended poorly. People have free-will, but we also know that the LORD can give us favor in the eyes of others, and He will work all things for the good of those who love Him... (Romans 8:28), but I will not always see what He sees for my life. So, if I am trustworthy but not trusted, if I am loyal but not excluded, if I am upright but scorned, if I am innocent but persecuted, I will choose to trust the LORD.

     

P) Father, Your goodness and grace are beyond my circumstances. I will choose to trust in Your loving-kindness and Your will for my life. Holy Spirit, remind me to pray for the will of the Father coming to pass, more than what I want. My perspective is obscured, my vision is incomplete. I will strive to be all the things You've called me to be, God, and I will trust You in every circumstance. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.