“But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
1 Samuel 29:8 (NIV)

In yesterday’s post/podcast, I shared the story of a particularly challenging season in which I was impatient and sick of waiting for God to fulfill the promises that had been made with regard to my career. During that time I’d been a finalist for a CEO position with another company – but failed to get the job. I confess that a big part of me was disappointed.

It was just a week or two later that my business partner and I had one of the most contentious meetings I could remember. My frustration, which was already at an all-time high, shot into the stratosphere. I remember crying on the hour drive home.

The following Sunday I saw a colleague and confidant who was one of the only people who knew about my off-the-charts frustration. He was also the only person, other than Wendy, who knew about my job interview to be CEO for another company. I shared with him about my contentious meeting with my business partner, then I shared with him how discouraged I was that I didn’t get the other job.

“I’m so sick of this! So sick of waiting,” I told him. “I just wish I’d gotten that job. I want to move to another city where no one knows me and get a fresh start!”

As we were exiting the room, a dear friend and prayer warrior approached. She gave me a hug and asked if she could pray for me. Of course, I said “Sure!” I never turn down another person’s prayers for me.

My confidant and Wendy were both there along with my confidant’s wife. They all gathered around me, laid hands on me, and my prayer warrior friend began to pray. She was praying blessings over me — and then she stopped — she went silent for a few seconds — and then she said, “The Father says, ‘I see those suitcases in your hands. I want you to drop them. Let go of them. I’ve got you.”

In today’s chapter, David finds that his own decision to run in fear has trapped him between a rock and a hard place. He’s been living with and serving Israel’s enemy – Achish, King of Gath of the Philistines. The Philistines were actually a Federation of five city states who each had their own king. Achish was one of them.

All five Philistine Kings decided to go to war against Saul and Israel, and Achish calls David and his men to fight for him on the side of the Philistines. David has a serious dilemma. David picked up his suitcases and fled to Philistine territory because he lost confidence that God would protect him from Saul. He’s been deceiving and manipulating Achich with regard to his loyalty. Now, that decision has placed him in a moral trap.

If David and his men go into battle with Achish against Saul and Israel. David has three choices:

• Fight against Israel and betray his people. (God wouldn’t be happy)
• Refuse to fight and betray Achish. (Achish would kill him for the betrayal)
• Switch sides during battle (Risking destruction from both sides)

David has maneuvered himself into a corner. Then something unexpected happens. The other four Philistine Kings, who know David is a Hebrew and was formerly one of Saul’s warriors – tell Achish that they don’t trust David’s loyalty to Achish. They think he’s a double-agent. They demand that Achish send David away. God uses the distrust of pagan Philistine commanders to rescue David from the consequences of his own compromise. The very people who threaten David’s security become the means of his deliverance.

It’s a masterpiece of divine providence.

And, as I meditated on the chapter, and on God’s divine providence, my mind wanders back to that other job. What if I had gotten the job? I saw the potential job as my salvation from my troubles and frustrations — but what if God was saving me from far deeper troubles than I could ever imagine?

David’s fear led him into Philistine territory. His compromise created impossible choices. His own strategy became a trap. Yet God was already working behind the scenes.

The beautiful truth of today’s chapter is that God’s providence is not limited to my best decisions. The Philistine commanders become God’s rescue team without ever realizing it. How many times in my journey have I been angry about a closed door only to discover later that it likely saved me from disaster?

The job I didn’t get.
The relationship that ended.
The deal that fell through.
The opportunity that disappeared.

At the time it felt like rejection. Years later I recognize it as protection.

David thinks he is being excluded. In reality, he is being delivered.

And perhaps that is the enduring lesson. Sometimes the most gracious thing God does is refuse to let me proceed down a road I have chosen for myself.

The closed door may not be God’s absence.

It may be His mercy.

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