Not-So-Quiet-Time: 1 Samuel 26-27

At-Home Bible Guide for the Week of 9/13

Day 1: 1 Samuel 26:1-4
Saul had been spared by David in 1 Samuel 24, but now the king is chasing his servant again. He is spurred on by people who are assisting him in evil—tempting him with the opportunity to sin. We can all be influenced by those around us. Are the most influential people in your life aiming you toward godliness or do they have different priorities? Pray that God would give you and yoru family partners to help you live faithfully. 

Day 2: 1 Samuel 26:5-12
Rather than fleeing danger, David and some of his courageous men went into the heart of Saul’s camp. Perhaps this was a strategic move to try to deter Saul from chasing him and his men. Like Saul, David had people with him who encouraged him to sin. However, David said no to sin. Regardless of the situation, we are responsible for our own actions. Ask God to help you to stand against sin like David rather than cave in before  temptation like Saul. 

Day 3: 1 Samuel 26:13-25
In verse 19, David asks if Saul had been stirred up to chase him by the Lord or by men. Of course, it was men. Saul was not listening to God’s voice or striving to follow Him. Then Saul told Daivd that he would stop chasing him and that David could return (21). David wisely chose not to trust Saul here. Of course, David and his men wanted to stop living life on the run, but they understood that they could not believe Saul or follow his leadership at that time. Ask God to give you wisdom to know who you can trust. And pray that the Lord will make you trustworthy.

Day 4: 1 Samuel 27:1-7
David did not trust Saul’s offer of peace at all. While fearing for his life, David ran again into the land of the Philistines. David went to Achish, the king of Gath. This is significant because Gath was Goliath’s hometown (17:4). David’s life had turned so far upside down that he felt safer with the king who had commanded Goliath than with the king who had offered him armor to fight Goliath. There are times in our lives today when we can feel that the world has been turned upside down. Sometimes we can feel like we have lost everything. But remember: if our God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31). 

Day 5: 1 Samuel 27:8-12
Even while David was hunted by Saul, he continued to fight to help Israel. This passage shows him leading raiding parties against Israel’s enemies. Certainly, this was not where David wanted to live. However, he was being used to keep God’s people safe. The Lord puts his people in the right places at the right times. Ask God to use you for his glory where he has placed you today. 

Catechism Connection: 106
The Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Saul and David were both tempted, but they did not give in to temptation. WSC 106 says, “We pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support us and deliver us when we are tempted.” Ask Him to help you run from sin.

Monthly Memory: Hebrews 11:1, 6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.