1st Samuel 29 THE NET OF INCONSISTENCY The whole course and bent of a life lived for God can be changed by one act of inconsistency. One's reputation and good name can be lost when we "weave webs" of our own making because of "the fear of man." It is in the times of need and discouragement we need God's guidance and assurance in a special way. If we are not careful and conscious of our own weakness and inability, we sadly take matters into our own hands. In those dangerous times we can make a decision that ruins our Christian testimony, our reputation and our self-respect.
David and his men were following the army of the Philistines right beside Achish the king, as a body-guard. The same man who had delivered Israel from these very people had joined with them, and for over a year had identified himself with them. What would have been his thoughts as he drew near to Aphek and realized that just across there at Jezreel was Saul, the anointed king who he had spared before because of his consciousness of God with him. Jonathan, his closest friend was just over there getting his armor ready to do battle. What would he do if they met on the battlefield? Brothers and kinfolks were in that army they were facing and going to do battle against. Those were the people he had been anointed to lead - and here he was preparing to fight them. One wonders at how far a person can go when they abandon the path of faith and go against their own conscience.
It is possible for us to put ourselves in such a position when we are away from the Lord, that we find ourselves trapped in a web of our own making. Discouragement that comes when we allow ourselves to take our eyes of faith off of God; deceit that follows discouragement creates further strands of ties to the world that entangle us; and lies that we think make things easier for us, form a net of our own making that surrounds us. In such a condition of soul and life we find we are helpless and unable to extricate ourselves from the bondage in which we are found. We cannot escape from the claims of our own inconsistency.
The grace of God worked on David's behalf through the suspicion of other Philistine leaders who wisely asked, "What do these Hebrews here?" The pride and jealousy of others was used by God to cut the bonds of inconsistency David had made for himself and those who followed him. "What are Christians doing in this place?" could well be asked by those who love the world, live in the world and think like the world, rightly ask when a child of God shows up at some event or place that is inconsistent with the life of a Christian. Those love the world know there is no real connection between real Christianity and those who love God, with them. Our lives are different. Our goals are different. Our words should be different and our attitude is different. What would a Christian be doing in a place where non-Christian activities are going on. As believers in Christ, we should never be found where we would not be content to have our Lord with us.
David was not led by the Lord when he went down to the Philistines and he was not led by the Lord to go with them to do battle with Israel. How gracious it was of God to use his enemies to stop his backsliding and willful actions. He probably had a good conscience for the first time in a year when he was sent back to Ziklag. There may have even been a glimmer of light in his soul when he and those who followed him got an early start to get away from the place where his own snare would have captured him and the consequences of his lack of faith would have been poured out on him.
When we are rescued from the path of our own self-will and are delivered from the effects of our unbelief, we are in a position where we can start over and begin in a humble way to regain lost ground and the "years the locusts have eaten." We can do nothing about the lost fellowship, of no significant communion with God, of no song in our hearts that is a result of going our own way without divine guidance. But we can begin again with our God of recovery. "If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Probably the greatest loss we cause is to dishonor God with our disobedience, doubts and fears because we acted independently. When God in grace brings a stop to our willfulness, even though we may be embarrassed and ashamed, we really are glad that we have been stopped. It is then we are in a condition of soul because of repentance and humility to turn again to the Lord and seek the face of God. There will be consequences we have to accept that cannot be avoided, but sometimes those scars left on us will remind us of a time we never want repeated. Inconsistency may not seem all that important until we have passed through the "Aphek experience," and then we will realize the seriousness of what we have done.
1st Samuel 29: 3. “Then said the princes of the Philistines, ‘What do these Hebrews here?’ And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, ‘Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?’”
WHAT DO THESE HEBREWS HERE? 1st God called them out from among the nations of men – He called them to be for Him alone. The same is for us as it was for them – He has separated us to be singularly His own. We don’t belong with the warring crowd – Who oppose God’s righteousness and truth. The cause we serve has already been won – Our public place is where we show God’s glory forth.
What are you doing here with this noisy crowd? Who have released restraint as they seek for fun? This is not a place for you it is much too loud For one who claims to be linked with God’s own Son. You will normally enjoy God in a quiet place – Not where people live for a momentary pleasure. A believer’s joy comes when living by faith – The Spirit reveals God, and His grace without measure.
From every persuasion, creeds and opinions men form – They come together to find some common ground. Leave a conviction here; forsake what is the biblical norm – And with a few “feel-good” things they hope you’ll come around. So why are these “Hebrews,” these “called-out” ones here? Has God called us to join what He called us out of before? No, we are separated, it is to Him we draw near – And stay with our Lord on the “promised land’s” shore.
“There certainly is pressure Father God, to “cross-pollinate” with the warring world, the entertaining world and the religious world. But Thou hast called us to come out from among them and be separate. Give us grace and wisdom to do that very thing. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”