I’m pretty sure there are times that I’m just one step in either direction from crazy. I’ll begin thinking about a matter that has not transpired, but is possible yet not certain, such as someone or something happening that could cause conflict in my life. And then low and behold I’ll play out the conflict within the recesses of my mind until I’m fully aggravated at that same someone or something. Is any one else so insane?
It brought to my mind the time that King David pretended to be insane when Saul sought his life. He sought refuge with the enemy and then began to regret it.
1 Samuel 21:10-15 KJV
[10] And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. [11] 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? [12] And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13] And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. [14] Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? [15] Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
THERE WAS AN ACTUAL REASON TO FEAR
Saul and his men weren’t a fairy tale, they were very real enemies to David, and no doubt a plot of Satan who knew that the hand of God was upon David with great purpose. Anyone that seeks to do the will of God and serve Him is going to have a target on their back, not only by Satan, but the world as well. I don’t want to put myself in the caliber of King David, because I’m not; but does God not care about the smallest in His Kingdom as much as the largest? Is not the souls of the people we care for as important in God’s eyes as were the people in David’s day. It was a different dispensation of time, when God was dealing with Israel. But now God deals with the Gentiles and our mission, like that of David, is to protect the children of God and guide them to Heaven, much like Moses guided the children of Israel, and David lead his men of valor.
So David had a reason to be very concerned about his safety.
THERE WAS A POSSIBLE REASON TO FEAR
When I think about the arguments of my mind, some of them are just nonsense and distraction, but then there are others that I feel perhaps it’s the Lord’s way of warning me that there may be something in my future I need to guard my mind and heart on. The world would call it a gut reaction. But my gut has got me in trouble plenty of times, I prefer to think about these times as perhaps a Holy Spirit reaction. After all, is He not of greater influence on me than my belly… don’t answer that. It’s apparent sometimes He’s not. But when it comes to the matters of my mind, it’s as much of a battle ground as that of King David.
And when I think about the way I handle things in my life, it’s as crazy as the way King David acted to prevent the King from having him killed. That nonsense and distraction is the very way I handle dealing with possible painful or fearful things in my life. I love telling and writing stories, so that’s the place my mind goes when I want to avoid reality. I’ll provide myself a scenario of possible ways something will play out… as King David wisely did, but mine is not always so wise.
David had fled from Saul without so much as a sword. But in the house of the Lord was the sword of Goliath, which the priest gave to David when he told him he had fled in haste on the Kings business. What he didn’t tell the priest was that the King’s business was to kill David who he now considered an enemy. A fact that got the priest who helped David and 84 other men of God slain by the swords of Saul’s men.
David had acted crazy because he was afraid of the men of Gath, who may or may not have killed him. David knew God’s hand was upon him for great things, but it still didn’t stop the fear, whether or not it would have happened.
When I think about the petty things in my life that cause me stress and anxiety, they are nothing in comparison to David’s battle, but they feel every bit as threatening. A spiritual battle may not cost us our lives, but the darkness of the spiritual realm can cause us to see visions of evil against us. As we get closer to end times and Satan is more aware of his own demise, will we not be a threat to him just as those of the past were. The bloodline is done. It was finished on the cross and Satan can no longer have any threat toward it. But to God’s Kingdom we are the hope of someone hearing the Word of God. The Sword each of us has is one that Satan cannot steal, which is the Word of God. We’ve been given that by our High Priest. He has made sure that it is available. Whether or not we choose to pick it up in battle is our own. But for certain we’ll be better off with the Sword of the Lord in our hand and in our minds than without it. There’s no peace at all with out it.
I’ve managed to write myself happy again today.
David only pretended to be crazy to get out of the predicament he was in. The world thinks we truly are crazy, and sometimes I’m borderline. But where I know I have a sound mind and a sound doctrine is in the fact that I am a chosen vessel for such a time as this, and so are you if you are in service to the King. By “in service” I mean a saved man or woman, who God saved with purpose.
Are you distracted today, are you stressed over things in our out of your control? Those are the weapons of warfare that Satan is using against you. Take my advice and get out your own sword, the Word of God, and let God fight this battle for you. And then tell someone about it, they may be going through the same type battle and you could be an encouragement for the Kingdom.
Amen!