1 Samuel 21: What Makes Strong Men Fall

1 Samuel 21 is a chapter all about David's lack of faith in his Lord. Although he has been doing well trusting the Lord so far in this book, in this chapter, David takes a turn for the worse. From this chapter, we can clearly see that even the most faithful of the Lord's saints can easily fall back into sin if they do not stay on their guard.

Let's take a brief look at who David has been so far in the book of 1 Samuel. In chapter 16, David is anointed king, showing that there is great blessing that will someday come upon him. In chapter 17, we see David's faith as he defeats Goliath. In chapter 18, we see David's God-honoring friendship with Jonathan as well as his marriage with Michal. In chapters 19 and 20, we see David's faith in God as Saul is starting to try to kill him. However, between chapters 20 and 21, something happens, and David starts taking matters into his own hands.

In chapter 21, David first lies to the priest in order that he may receive bread and a weapon for battle. David told the priest that he was on official kingly business so that the priest would grant him his request, when the reality was that David was fleeing from the king. Secondly, David deceives the king of Gath in this chapter. After meeting with the priest, David flees to Gath for refuge, but he soon finds out that it is not a safe place for him. Rather than trusting in the Lord's deliverance, David deceives the king to let him go from their city without question. Though this chapter is certainly a confusing one, through it we see David's lack of faith.

The question that we must restle with this morning is this: what makes strong men fall? David was doing great, but all of the sudden something happened and he was no longer trusting in the Lord. So, what made him fall? The answer to that question can be found in verse 12: "And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath." What makes strong men like David fall? Answer: fear.

The very same God who commanded David to not be afraid was the very same God who was able to protect David amidst his greatest fears, yet amidst David's fear, he did not believe this. Amidst his fears, David turned to himself rather than to God. In this chapter, we learn a great lesson. Fear will either turn us towards God or towards ourselves, and ultimately what we do with fear shows us what is in our heart. If we turn to ourselves amidst fear, we show that our heart is not fully sold out to God. Yet, if we turn to God in fear, we find that our heart is fully trusting in the Lord who can protect us.

So, what do you do with your fears? Do you turn them over to God, or do you seek to handle them yourself? Christian, let me encourage you to deal with your fears by turning them over to God, for if you do not, great sin will come upon you. If you do not deal with your fears in the right way, it will make you fall, even if you are the strongest of men. Christian, fear no more, but trust in the Lord. Amen.