1 Samuel 29:6-11 – 6Then 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. 7“Now therefore return and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And what have you found in your servant from the day when I came before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9But Achish replied to David, “I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.’ 10“Now then arise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you, and as soon as you have arisen early in the morning and have light, depart.” 11So David arose early, he and his men, to depart in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
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One of the very common themes that I am seeing in the life of David is the way that God provides a way out for David during his times of trial. In this instance, David had been living and hiding among the Philistines. It finally came about that the Philistines were to enter into battle against Israel, and David and his men were to be in the battle on the Philistine side. However, along with the other accounts of David’s life we have read, we can be certain that David would not have actually fought against Israel. So, what was David to do? Was he to reveal his loyalty in the middle of the battle? Was he to run and hide?
God solved David’s dilemma. The other Philistine lords recognized that David might not be on their side, so they sent him away. With that happening, David was protected by God from having to make a very dangerous or sinful decision. Not only that, we can also find out by reading the next couple of chapters that God sent David back to his city of residence just in time for him to rescue his people from a raiding band of evil men.
How can we know that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to escape it without sin? We know this by reading God’s own promises to us.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Let me say that we can not be absolutely sure that, in every instance, God will provide for us an easy way out. But we can be sure that he will give us a way out that will keep us from sin. God always gives his children a way out of situations that will enable them to do what is right, even if what is right is very difficult.
Dear Lord, I thank you for showing in this account how well you provide for and take care of your children. I thank you that I know that, as life circumstances get complicated, you will always provide a way for me to follow you without breaking your biblical principles. Please help me to be so committed to you and your word that I will never fall into the temptation to take any shortcuts through paths of sin.
Pastor Travis Peterson 