Vince Miller Podcast

Are you wearing a temporary mask or a permanent one?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in Chapter 21 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "Man On The Run."

Yesterday, David ran to Gath, the former home of Goliath, with Goliath's sword. The King of Gath realizes he is there, so let's see what David decides to do next. Let's read 1 Samuel 21:12-15:

And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?" — 1 Samuel 21:10-12

So we discover that David is not just a shepherd, poet, musician, lover, and warrior but also an actor. Is there anything this strapping young man cannot do? And it is believable! He drools on himself and writes a little graffiti on the city's walls, and the King falls for it. David is labeled a madman. I assume that since he had seen King Saul act like a madman and got away with it, maybe he assumed he could get away with it, too. I don't know for sure, but it worked!

But what captured my attention today is the stark contrast between Saul's tactics in Gibeah and David's in Gath. Saul surrounds himself with sanity to hide his insanity. David uses insanity to hide his sanity. For some reason, Achish's pronouncement of his insanity provides him with temporary safety until he can escape to the coming location.

Occasionally, wearing a temporary mask is necessary in life-threatening situations. Enemies surrounded David; therefore, temporary pretending was needed to preserve his life. The problem is that many use this tactic as a perpetual means to maintain a persona that is not remotely true. Therefore, their playacting becomes a perpetual lie they tell about themselves.

But this is not true of David. David's act was only temporary. While publicly pretending, he privately anchored his mind and soul to the truth about God in God's Word (as revealed this week in Psalm 34 and Psalm 56). This was not a permanent act by David, only temporary until he found a means of escape.

If you must wear a mask as a temporary shield against an enemy, do so sparingly. Don't fake it until you make it, and then continue with the act only to become a fake. And since this is usually not needed, stop pretending, be authentic, take off the mask, and trust in God.

#DavidOnTheRun, #AuthenticityInFaith, #TrustingGod

1. In what areas of your life do you feel pressured to wear a mask or pretend to be someone you're not? How can you seek God's truth to find your authentic self?
2. David used a temporary act to escape danger, but he anchored his heart to God's truth. How can you balance the need for self-protection in difficult situations with a commitment to living authentically in your faith?

Stop pretending and take off the mask.

Father, help me discern when it’s necessary to wear a temporary mask for my protection while staying rooted in Your truth. Grant me the courage to remove false facades and embrace my authentic self as I navigate life’s challenges. Amen.

Let My Life Be Worship.

Are you trying to outrun your fears?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in Chapter 21 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "Man On The Run."

Yesterday, David ran to Nob to Ahimelech, the priest. Today, he is going to run somewhere new. Let's read 1 Samuel 21:10-12:

And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said to him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,

'Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"

And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. — 1 Samuel 21:10-12

If we go back to Chapter 5 in our study, we will remember that there were five main Philistine cities, and Gath was one of them. A Lord led each, and Achish led Gath.

So David runs 23 miles southwest into Philistine territory, probably thinking that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." But don't forget Gath was the hometown of a great Philistine warrior named Goliath, and David had just acquired his sword. Even worse, once he gets there, his folk hero status precedes him as some of the servants of Achish quickly notice him and reference the folk song the Israelites sang about him.

But David is aware of what is going on. He knows that running to Achish might provide temporary cover from Saul, but it might also put him in harm's way with Achish and the Philistines. Still, he runs the risk, and now his fears only increase, and he learns that a man can never outrun his fears.

There have been a few times in my life as a man of God where adverse events keep happening to me that lead to waves of fear. When it is just one or two events, I am usually okay. But after a few similar events, questions began stirring in my mind. Eventually, I will fixate on one of two theories: either I have done something unrighteous to provoke these events, or my righteousness has provoked injustice that is hunting me down. Either way, this is a very lonely feeling; suspicions and fears begin to take hold in my mind, which is a direct attack on my faith in God.

To this point, David has fought many great battles with great enemy warriors, but I think the battles within his mind are the most intriguing.

So, let's back up a few days to our devotional on Sunday (see post here). If you remember, we said a couple of journal entries were made during this time. Songs that David wrote during his time in Gath. Psalm 56 is one. Listen to the song he secretly wrote during this very lonely time that tells us how he was fighting this battle in his mind:

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. — Psalm 56:1-13

Hopefully, you see that David realizes he may outrun Saul but he will never outrun his fears. He must fight his waves of fears in faith with the truth of God.

This is what you have to do as well.

When surrounded by fear, you cannot outrun your fears. You also cannot let the waves of your fears beat you down. You need to fight them by finding shelter on the Rock. Let the waves of your fears beat against the Rock of Your Salvation. God and his truth are firm and unchanging. Look down upon your fears, and do not be afraid. There is nothing man can do to you when you trust in God.

God. Given all the events surrounding me and the wave...

Do you need provisions today?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in Chapter 21 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "Man On The Run."

Remember, David runs to Nob, where the Tabernacle is located, and speaks with Ahimelech, the priest. Today, he asks Ahimelech for something interesting. Listen to 1 Samuel 21:8-9:

Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.” — 1 Samuel 21:8-9

God's church is the place to find spiritual provision.

David runs to the Tabernacle because he needs provisions. The Priest has no problem giving David this provision because he understands it was God's provision for David to begin with. God gave David the sword to slay Goliath, and Ahimelech understood this. This trophy was merely on loan, kept in the Lord's house for safekeeping. He understood that God was the owner and he was a mere steward of the things of God.

The church should always be a place for us to find provision. Not just natural provisions (like bread and weapons) but a place for spiritual provisions. And why? Because they're God's provisions, to begin with. God is the provider of all provisions, both natural and spiritual. And we should freely give them because they were freely given to us.

The church should be a place where humanity finds the spiritual provisions they need. The greatest of these needs is salvation. A provision you need that you cannot earn, for which God paid and freely gives to you. If you need his salvation, seek it; he provides it to all who call on his name and surrender to him.

God, we surrender to you. We need your provision of your salvation. Amen.

#GodsProvision, #SpiritualNeeds, #ChurchCommunity

1. Where in your life do you need to trust God more for His spiritual or physical provision, and how can the church support you in meeting that need?
2. What provisions has God already given you that you might be holding onto too tightly rather than using them to serve others as a steward of His blessings?

God provides salvation. Run to his house.

Lord, I acknowledge that all I have comes from You, and I trust You to meet my every need. Help me to rely on Your provision and use what You've given me to bless others in Your name. Amen.

God Is Able.

Are your friends really foes and, therefore, hard to trust?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in Chapter 21 of 1 Samuel. I've titled this chapter "Man On The Run."

Remember, David is at Nob, at the Tabernacle, talking with Ahimelech. There is someone present this day, a spy of sorts. Listen to 1 Samuel 21:7:

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen. — 1 Samuel 21:7

Doeg is a crucial figure in the next chapter, so note this occurrence and what we learn today.

There are two details about Doeg worth noting. First, he is an Edomite, a people who have been enemies of God since the time of Moses. The big question is why King Saul allowed an Edomite a place of any authority in his kingdom. Second, we learn that he does not have a minor role. He is the "Chief Shepherd." If you recall, David was a shepherd, too, and we would assume he was one of the best. However, David can not be both a shepherd and a warrior, so Saul must choose someone else with this skill. But his choice is a captured opponent, illustrating again the deteriorating discernment of Saul, which will play into his evil hands in the next chapter because Doeg is not just a captured opponent and chief shepherd but a contracted spy.

Sometimes, people who look like friends may actually be foes.

This principle is so hard to teach young teens. During the impressionable teen years, when teens are desperate for acceptance, they sometimes surround themselves with compromising people, which leads to compromising decisions. This was a hard-learned lesson for each of my children.

But adults fall for this, too. When building new relationships in new situations, we can assume that people have our best interests in mind, only to find out later that this is not entirely true. Thus, we learn time and time again that some people who look like friends might be foes. Once we get burned, we trust less, become less vulnerable, and become more suspicious of those who might be foes.

Unfortunately, one application of this reality is within a church small group. Many men hesitate to join a small church group because they perceive members as foes rather than friends. This may seem like a copout, but in small to medium-sized churches, I think their concerns are legitimate. Opening up about our hurts and hangups is risky when we are concerned that someone might breach confidentiality and share that information with others.

This was David's situation. All of David's present problems were within the church and his family. He did not know who he could trust or with whom he could be vulnerable. He was suspicious at every turn. He then turned to the men of God, Samuel and now Ahimelech, only to later discover that nearby Doeg was a spy who would sell them out.

When we are in vulnerable situations, we need friends, not foes. But if we become vulnerable and get burned by a friend who was really a foe, it's hard to be vulnerable the next time. If this happens too often, we can become resistant to any form of vulnerability. But here is the rub: only by being vulnerable can we test a friendship and build lasting friends that stand the test of time. Vulnerability is difficult to learn, slowly gained, quickly lost, and risky to recover. This is why so many men have many issues with vulnerability.

But you need to work through this. Past issues with foes are not present excuses for your lack of friends. You need at least one believing friend you can trust and be vulnerable with in this life. And it's not exclusively your spouse. It's someone of the same gender, with grounded biblical beliefs, who can speak the truth in love and give you the spiritual direction you need. So get a Jonathan, not a Doeg, and build a friendship that will last the test of time.

#TrustWisely, #FriendshipMatters, #VulnerabilityInFaith

1. Who are the "Doegs" in your life—those you initially trusted but later realized may not have had your best interests at heart? How can you discern true friendship in the future?
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle with vulnerability? What steps can you take to build authentic relationships that foster trust and support, similar to David and Jonathan?

Be vulnerable and build a lasting friendship.

Father, help me to discern the true intentions of those around me, guiding me to build authentic friendships rooted in trust and faith. Grant me the courage to be vulnerable, knowing that in sharing my struggles, I can find the support and encouragement I need. ...

What happens when skill becomes a snare?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

David is currently residing in Philistine territory under the shield of Achish, and he is battling enemies of Israel that Saul has left unaddressed. But listen to this interaction with David and Achish in 1 Samuel 27:10-11:

When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. — 1 Samuel 27:10-11

So David was battling enemies of Israel, but according to this text, he was telling Achish he was battling territories in Israel. This was an outright lie. But as you can see, Achish never found out about it because David was wiping everyone and everything out, so there was no paper trail. This is quite a cunning deception by David.

It is hard to endorse what David chose to do in this situation. Yes, it was a tenuous situation. Yes, it was cunning. But David is also starting to slip up, and rather than trust in God with a sense of abandonment like he had before, he is now beginning to use his skill and strategy to save himself. And in my humble opinion, the deception and strategy used here remarkably resemble the situation with Uriah and Bathsheba. He uses deception to hide the pregnancy, deception to lure Uriah home, deception to persuade Uriah to sleep with his wife, and deception to put Uriah in a situation that leads to his death. David is trying to hide the paper trail. But in this case, he is trying to hide the paper trail of his sins from God, not Achish.

As Sir Walter Scott once wrote:

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"

This is the problem with deception. If you practice it even one time, and it works, you will practice it again. Eventually, deception will become entangled with your skill, and you will try your hand at deceiving God, which will bring you to ruin.

David’s skill once served him well, but that skill became a snare. My advice? Don’t follow his example. Don’t put yourself in situations that tempt you to deceive. Instead, stay reliant on God. Let Him be your shield, and practice obedience—not deception—in every situation!

#TrustGodNotDeception, #LessonsFromDavid, #ObedienceOverStrategy

1. Where might you be tempted to rely on your own skill instead of trusting God’s guidance?
2. How can you pursue transparency with God in challenging situations?

Don't be deceptive, ever!

Lord, help me to trust in Your ways above my own skills or strategies. Keep my heart honest and my steps obedient to You. Amen.

Clear the Stage.