David and the Psalms - Episode II

This is part two of a series on a Theology of Suffering based on David's reaction to painful experiences in his life. The first episode was on Ahimelech and Doeg. (BTW, I just love saying "Doeg". I am pretty sure that oe indicated an umlaut: Dög). 

Episode 2 – Captive of King Achish of Gath

David presents himself to King Achish (pictures from the BrickTestament)

At the end of 1 Samuel 21 (:10-13), David flees from Saul to King Achish of Gath. King’s Achish’s men report of David’s battle prowess and "David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. 

So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard."

That's right, our King on the Run is drooling in his beard and pretending to be insane - not unlike Hamlet who was only "mad north by northwest". 

Let's look at how David frames this episode in the Psalm he wrote about it. It becomes obvious that writing Psalms was a form of journalling and reflection as well as a dialogue with God.

Psalm 56:

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune “Dove on Distant Oaks.”

1  O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me.

My foes attack me all day long.

2  I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me.

3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

5 They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me.

6 They come together to spy on me— watching my every step, eager to kill me.

7 Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down.

8 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

9 My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!

10 I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.

11 I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

12 I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.

13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping.

So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

Facts:

• Constantly hounded
• Slandered
• Afraid
• Death threats

Principles:

• God is aware of his sorrows. I really like verse 8 where we see that God not only knows about my sorrows, but is gathering all my tears and writing down all my sorrows in his book!
• God is on his side!
• No fear in what mortals can do to him. Trust in the midst of fear. [Though note that this seems to contradict his actions of pretending to be insane.] 
• Sacrifice of thanks - in the midst of captivity. What does he really have to be thankful about at this point? 
• Walking in God’s presence. 

It seems to me that in these imprecatory Psalms David is trying to talk his heart into feeling what his head knows to be true. 

Theology of Suffering - David and the Psalms - Episode I

This past week I helped teach a Crisis Response Training workshop under the auspices of the Mobile Member Care Team. I took a version of this workshop in 2003 and it was there that I was made aware that we all have a Theology of Risk and of Suffering. And that got me started on a life-long study of these ideas, something made easier by dealing with a considerable number of crises. 

One thing that became obvious to me as I worked through the workshop materials again was the distinction between a Theology of Risk and a Theology of Suffering. The ideas had become intertwined in my thinking. It was only when I was asked to do a devotional on Theology of Suffering that I realized that what I had prepared had more to do with Risk. 

A Theology of Suffering really looks at PRESENT and PAST suffering and how to understand it. 

• Does God allow it? 
• What is its purpose? 
• Does it mean I have done something wrong?
• If we are doing God's will, why does he allow these things to happen to us?  

A Theology of Risk builds on the answers to these questions. It looks forward in the FUTURE to plan for negative events that will bring loss, suffering and possibly death. 

• Are these things to be avoided at all costs? 
• Should they be mitigated to allow maximal work for kingdom purposes? 
• Does God provide protection if we are doing his will? 
• Is it fearful to look at real dangers and pull back?

__________________________

This is a revision of my previous blogpost on a Theology of RISK in David's life, looking at how he dealt with suffering in those same stories. 

King David had an interesting response to suffering. 

He definitely believed that God could protect him and kill his enemies as he had with Goliath.  

“You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.… And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”1 Samuel 17:45-47

But he did not expect God’s victorious provision and rescue to happen every time, at least not immediately. He had confidence that it would happen someday even if today was one where evil men were triumphing over him.

This “man after God’s heart” was a complex and nuanced man, living in a complex world. He is mentioned in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:32-34 and lines up nicely with the ones on the victorious side of the list. 

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

But also seems to fit in with those mentioned in vs 37-38 who 

“went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.”

In fact, David was on the run from 1 Samuel 19 – 2 Samuel 1, - fourteen chapters -  a refugee, unable to claim the throne and destiny promised to him by God.

He had a call – an obvious anointing to be King. How did he reconcile that promise with the obvious fact that God was not bringing that about?

In David’s actions, we see a bedrock confidence in the Sovereignty of God. He knew that God had a purpose for everything that was going on, even if he didn't understand. He also had convictions about what it meant to be “the Lord’s anointed” and that respect for God’s designs carried over how he related to Saul.  

Throughout his time on the run, there were plenty of laments against God and cries for justice that are immortalized for us in the psalms. Let’s look at a few of those against the backdrop of the events he was facing.

Episode one – Ahimelech and Doeg

After David fled from Saul, he travels to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest in 1 Samuel 21. Ahimelech is frightened to see David by himself with no troops. David lies to the priest (!) saying he is on a secret mission for the king. He asks for bread and is given the Bread of the Presence and the Goliath’s sword which he accepted. (Surely this was a reminder to him of God’s power to protect him, even as he fled.)

Apparently the whole encounter with Ahimelech is overheard by “Doeg the Edomite”, Saul’s chief herdsman (vs 7), who eventually recounts this to Saul.

Some time later, in 1 Samuel 22:9-22, we see the sad consequences of David’s visit to. Doeg went back and reported the incident to Saul who sent his men and Doeg himself to slaughter Ahimelech and the rest of the Lord’s priests: “eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies”

David, as leader, feels responsible for all that happened: “I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family.” (:22)

This story is troubling on many levels. We see here the heavy weight that is on leaders and also the unintended and unexpected consequences that our actions and decisions can have on others who are “innocent bystanders”. Ahimelech had “consulted God for David.” Why, during this time of consultation with Ahimelech, did God not reveal Saul’s plans to them so that these 85 priests and their families might be spared? No answer is given and we are left to trust that God was in control and had good purposes to accomplish out of this.

Let’s look at how David interpreted this - what principles to draw from it?

Psalm 52:

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Doeg the Edomite said to Saul, “David has gone to see Ahimelech.”

1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
2 All day long you plot destruction. Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor; you’re an expert at telling lies.
3 You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.
4 You love to destroy others with your words, you liar!

5 But God will strike you down once and for all. He will pull you from your home
and uproot you from the land of the living.
6 The righteous will see it and be amazed. They will laugh and say,
7 “Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”

8 But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
9 I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.

Principles to help while in Suffering:

• Remember that God will deliver justice one day.
• Trust in God’s Unfailing love – in his good name.
• David thrives in God’s presence, like an olive tree!

Look for Episode 2 and 3 coming soon.