David’s Deliverance 大卫的解救
Dexu Xia
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22
Today's Scripture 1 Samuel 21:10-15
Today's Insights When “the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled [Saul] with depression and fear” (1 Samuel 16:14 nlt), David was enlisted to soothe him by playing the lyre (v. 23). The king “liked him . . . and David became one of his armor-bearers” (v. 21). But Saul’s admiration for him was short-lived. After David defeated Goliath (ch. 17), Saul was overtaken by jealousy and tried to kill him (18:6-11). In chapter 21, David is on the run from Saul and hiding among the Philistines, Israel’s enemies. He “pretended to be insane” (v. 13) because it was believed that harming someone who was insane would bring misfortune. Even as David took desperate measures to escape death, his psalms exhibit his trust in God. He wrote, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). When trouble strikes, we too can put our trust in God.
Today's Devotion In the semifinals of his high school wrestling tournament, Dave cracked a rib on his right side. He won the match but wondered how he’d survive the championship with a damaged ribcage.
In the finals, Dave limped out to the mat on his left, uninjured leg. So his opponent targeted Dave’s left leg throughout the match. Dave protected his right side and won.
Another “Dave” used deception to extract himself from a tough situation. David had been fleeing a murderous King Saul. He found refuge among Israel’s enemies, but word soon got to the enemy king that David was a Hebrew war hero (1 Samuel 21:11). Fearing for his life, David “pretended to be insane . . . making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” (v. 13). The ploy worked (vv. 14-15).
Good people can debate such tactics and arrive at different conclusions. But Psalm 34 sheds light on David’s experience. There, David credited not his deception but God for his deliverance. He sang, “I sought the Lord, and he . . . delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4). And again, “This poor man called, and the Lord . . . saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6). David had sought safety with the Philistines, but he found his only reliable refuge when he turned to God (vv. 8, 22).
Reflect & Pray
When have circumstances caused you to take desperate measures you regretted? How does turning to God first change your response?
Dear Father, when I rely on my own cleverness, I get into trouble. Please help me see my challenges as an opportunity to turn to You.
By Tim Gustasson
耶和华必救赎他仆人的灵魂；凡投靠他的，必不致定罪。（诗篇 34:22）
今日经文：撒母耳记上 21章10-15 节
今日洞见： 当“耶和华的灵离开扫罗，有恶魔来扰乱他”（撒母耳记上 16:14），大卫就受召弹奏竖琴来安抚他，恶魔便离了他（16：23节）。国王“喜爱他……大卫就作了扫罗的拿兵器的人”（21节）。但扫罗对他的赏识并未持久。在大卫击败歌利亚之后（17章），扫罗因嫉妒而起意杀他（18:6-11）。在21章中，大卫正躲避扫罗的追杀，藏身于以色列的敌人，非利士人中间。他“装作疯癫”（13节），因为当时人们认为伤害疯子会招致厄运。尽管大卫采取了绝望的手段来逃避死亡，但他的诗篇却彰显了他对神的信靠。他写道：“我惧怕的时候要倚靠你”（诗篇 56:3）。当患难临到时，我们也可以信靠神。
今日灵修 在高中摔跤锦标赛的半决赛中，戴夫右侧的一根肋骨裂伤了。他赢得了那场比赛，但却担心带着受伤的肋骨该如何撑过决赛。 在决赛中，戴夫拖着未受伤的左腿，一瘸一拐地走上赛场。于是，对手在整场比赛中都针对戴夫的左腿进行攻击，因此戴夫护住了右侧，最终赢得了胜利。
另一位“大卫”也曾利用计谋让自己脱离困境。当时，大卫正逃避一心想杀他的扫罗王。他在以色列的敌人那里寻求庇护，但敌国的国王很快就得知大卫是一位希伯来的战争英雄（撒母耳记上 21:11）。大卫因惧怕丧命，便“装作疯癫……在城门的门扇上胡乱涂画，任由唾液流在胡须上”（13节）。这招奏效了（14-15节）。
对于这类权宜之计，好人之间也可能见仁见智，得出不同的结论。然而，诗篇34篇让我们得以窥见大卫当时的经历。在那篇诗中，大卫将自己获救归功于神，而非他所施的计谋。他唱道：“我曾寻求耶和华，祂就……救我脱离了一切恐惧”（4节）。他又说：“我这困苦人呼求，耶和华便……救我脱离一切患难”（6节）。大卫曾试图在非利士人那里寻求安身之所，但唯有当他转向神时，才找到了真正可靠的避难所（8、22节）。
反思与祷告 你是否曾因环境所迫而采取过令自己后悔的权宜之举？若能首先转向神，你的应对方式会有何不同？ 亲爱的天父，每当我倚靠自己的小聪明行事，往往会陷入困境。求祢帮助我，将所面临的挑战视为转向祢的契机。
作者：蒂姆·古斯塔森