Deeper Reflection
OUR DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY is marked by moments or seasons of orientation, disorientation and reorientation. So was David’s in 1 Samuel. Orientation: David’s story begins with the calling of God, which is foundational in our discipleship journey: he was anointed as the next king of Israel (1 Sam 16:12-13). And he was living in favourable life situations: his successful military exploits (1 Sam 17:48-51; 18:5), loving relationships with people (1 Sam 18:1-4, 16, 20). It was summed up as “David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him” (1 Sam 18:14). Adversity arose amidst David’s prosperity: “Put David to death” (1 Sam 18:6-11; 19:1). And this threw David into disorientation: “David fled and escaped” (1 Sam 19:10, 12, 18; 22:1; 23:13; 27:1). David suffered much affliction from Saul’s relentless pursuit after his life. But we may feel that the afflictions we suffer are too much for us to bear, that in our weakness we waver in faith and go astray, just like David, who took things into own hands and fled to Gath twice (1 Sam 21:10-15; 27:1-7). But God often takes gracious initiative toward us to bring us to reorientation. God in His quiet providence delivered David from being killed by Saul (1 Sam 23:13-14, 24-28) and from wrongly killing Saul (1 Sam 24, 26). A hallmark of David’s reorientation was: When he was “greatly distressed” in a very difficult crisis, he “strengthened himself in the LORD his God” and sought the will of his God (1 Sam 30:1-8).