1 Samuel 27:8-28:2

​Are you consistent in making God-honoring decisions?

Perceive: David appears to be operating on his own while he, his family members, and six-hundred loyal soldiers are all living in enemy territory. He is making decisions without his counselor Samuel, his friend Jonathan, or apparently his priest Abiathar. Although he is helping the future of Israel by destroying certain desert tribes, he must lie and deceive to complete these raiding missions. Furthermore, his raiding missions include killing entire villages and every inhabitant. Some people feel David is compromising his faith and endangering those around him. Others feel he is endearing himself politically to the Philistine king as well as to the inhabitants of Judah. Regardless of your view, David is living a dangerous life amidst the sworn enemies of Israel and God.
 
Practice:  Repeated trials can bring out the best in us or bring out the worst. One of the worst is to compromise God’s standards, which leads a man to more carnal living. God’s men are not to pretend to live peacefully in the enemy’s camp. When we lean on the arm of the flesh, we always end up in some trouble. Whenever we move into the enemy’s camp, we can expect all sorts of enemy activity and none of it is good.
 
Pray:  O mighty God, help me to stay out of the enemy camp as I live my daily life.  

​This devotional challenge comes from The Heart of a Lion - King David of Israel and is available on Amazon.com

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