The Fear of Man Brings a Snare...

David begins his days as a fugitive here in Chapter 21 well....he goes first to the house of the Lord.  Things went downhill, however, from there.  Ahimelech, the priest,  was afraid when he met David and asked him why he was alone. David's next move was a lie....which makes it clear that David was not trusting His God to protect him.   The fear of man had brought a snare.  To be fair David probably had two motives for lying here....to protect himself and to protect Ahimelech from getting caught up in the feud between him and Saul.  David's lie is understandable from the human perspective.  Saul was insane.


Despite David's lack of faith...God as always is faithful.  We see His hand here in the sanctuary through Ahimelech...trying to get David's attention.  Ahimelech gives him the showbread to sustain him...putting David's need before the ordinances of God.  Ahimelech also gives him the sword that he used to cut off Goliath's head...but remember that is not the weapon that killed Goliath.  The weapon of faith was David's slingshot...that is what brought the giant down.  David's faith at that time had been strong and his trust wholeheartedly in His God...his fear at this moment has weakened him greatly and was very much affecting his judgment.  David went to the sanctuary of God for comfort...but not with a right heart.  If his heart had been right before the Lord, he would have been convicted of his sin and confessed his lie to Ahimelech.  Instead, he left God's sanctuary with Ahimelech's kindness and good gifts in hand, the lie still on his heart and went of all places to his enemies the Philistines.  


So here we find David going into the Philistine territory...in fact, to Goliath's home town of Gath  to find rest from his enemies.  When you look into all the symbolism, the irony here is very great.  David, the man after God's own heart, the anointed King of Israel,  sustained by the holy bread from the Lord, and carrying the sword of Goliath  looks for sanctuary among his enemies.   Things just get worse from here...the fear of man was once again bringing a snare. 


Verses 11 and 12 read this way:



And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.


David went to Gath hoping for anonymity.  THAT was not going to happen.  In fact, Psalm 56 tells us that the Philistines not only recognized him but captured him as well.  Notice also that the pagans recognized David's as the king of Israel.  The song "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands was the victory song sung after David had killed Goliath.  David was carrying Goliath's sword.  Pretty sure David had much reason to be afraid here.  David needed to remember his God...his protector, sustainer and deliverer, but his fear had overwhelmed him and very much clouded his judgment...like fear will do to each one of us in our own lives if given its way.  Things get worse...


David was afraid...just how afraid is evident in his action.  Once again the fear of man brings a snare. David feigns madness before the King of Gath.  Scripture tells us that the noble, anointed King of Israel, scratched on the doors of the gate and let saliva fall down on his beard.  Fear had turned David into a fool.  God protected him...even though he behaved foolishly but I am pretty sure that God had a better plan in all of this had David placed his trust in Him.  Hindsight, however is 20 to 20.  One of the reasons I love the bible so much is its utter transparency.  David's sins are not hidden from us...neither are his accomplishments...they are all there for our learning and our comfort.  Fear has made each one of us act foolishly at one time or another.  How comforting it is to know that even David, God's anointed King, acted badly...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.


Psalm 56 is penned with this time in mind and helps us understand David's mindset.  The title speaks to David's capture and the events that prompted the writing of the psalm.

Psalm 56

New King James Version (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
My enemies would hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?

I LOVE THIS....AS DAVID POURS OUT HIS HEART BEFORE THE LORD HIS VISION CLEARS AND HE BEGINS TO SEE ALL IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE.  WHY?  BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER LOOKING TO HIMSELF...HE IS LOOKING TO HIS GOD!!!


The downward spiral has stopped!  David's feet are now once again on God, his Rock.  Psalm 34 was also written with this time in mind. It is David's declaration of joy having escaped Gath with his life!  The key verse being this one:


"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."  Do not rely on your own resources...you will only wind up looking foolish.  Look to Him...the full reading of Proverbs 29:25 is this:


The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.


Here is Psalm 34...also in its entirety...I will close with it.  

Psalm 34

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.