The Silent Psalmist

There are sixteen months of the Psalmist’s life in which you find no song. They are the months that David was living in a land not his own, under the rule of Achish king of Gath. It does seem so odd that David, who led the nation of Israel against a Philistine of Gath name Goliath, would at some point in his life pledge allegiance in the same streets the giant ran as a child.

What lead to his compromise? First, David started looking in the wrong direction, “David said to himself…” (1 Sam 27:1) Then, David questioned the promises of God; “… I will perish.” Remember even Saul affirmed the prophecy that David would be king (1 Sam 24) Then he acted on his own flawed logic “There is nothing better for me to do…” David thought shallow, moved quickly and invested deeply.

There was no song because David became complacent in Gath with the false since of security that comes with sin. There was no song, because he gave over the authority of his life to a king that God had given him victory over when a giant fell. There was no song because the land of compromise became the home of David’s family, his men, and their families. There was no song because he lived a life of duplicity. David would fight the Israel's other enemies on one front, appearing against Israel on the other, and kill anyone who could testify of the truth.

David lost his identity as the enemy called him friend. He lost his purpose as he tried to convince the king that he would fight against Saul and the children of Israel. And he fell into depression upon finding the enemy had destroyed his home while he was chasing after a battle he had no business fighting.

The parallels are striking. When comprise begins by looking in ourselves for our answers and direction we logically lose our identity in Christ. When we continue by questioning the Word of God we lose our purpose. And as we invest in the flawed reasoning derived from the previous mistakes we will trade true treasures for destitution and depression.

Thankfully we know that upon seeing his home empty and in shambles David cried unto the Lord, and the Lord heard him. How many songs of victory, songs of sustenance, songs of peace, could have been sung had David looked to the Lord the first time around?