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Post by LS on Mar 8, 2014 18:15:10 GMT
Or better yet, has God ever put you in circumstances that had you acting crazy at some point? I was listening to Tony Evans teaching on the trials believers face, during which time he posed the question that is the title of this thread. When I heard his question I immediately answered, "Yes!". He then gave the example of David feigning madness in front of King Achish ( 1 Samuel 21:13 ). He didn't elaborate on that passage, so as soon as I got home I found a wonderful resource in Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Samuel 21 . I suggest that everyone set aside a bit of time to read this commentary; it's so rich in lessons that I wouldn't do it justice by attempting to paraphrase it; here's a snippet: Matthew Henry also points to something I'd never noticed before, which was how David's lie to Ahimelech ultimately led to the deaths of Ahimelech and his family 1 Samuel 22:22 A must-read: Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Samuel 21 |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 18:29:44 GMT
I did not even know they had a commentary on line, which you think about it, it makes sense. I have Halley's commentary at home but searching many commentaries interests me.
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Post by LS on Mar 8, 2014 19:23:28 GMT
So, why did Tony Evans' question grab my attention? Because, as The Lord states in Hebrews 12:6 none of us escape the chastising hand of The Lord. Although I knew The Lord personally as a child, I'd gone astray in my teen years and finally repented and turned back to The Lord (by His grace, of course) a month before turning 23. By age 26, The Lord led me to take a step of faith that preceded caring for our mom for 10 years. During those 2 years of chastising / preparing me for what was to come, I can honestly look back and see a lot of David's behavior in 1 Samuel 21 happening in my life. In fact, I don't even like to look back because I sometimes cringe at how weird I must've come across to others. It was an "all-in" time of walking in faith. A friend of mine is walking that road right now and I can see David's behavior and my behavior in his actions as well. In fact, he was the one who brought it up on the phone the other day when he said, "I'm saying things that I wouldn't normally say and doing things I wouldn't normally do because I don't know what to do; it seems like God's not responding to my prayers". If you've ever been there, you know what I'm talking about  |
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 8, 2014 20:03:59 GMT
I've felt driven crazy because of trials in my life. I've felt literally beside myself. I've never 'acted' crazy to get out of a situation, or because I was afraid.
I think with the trials at this point of David's life, he must have felt like he was genuinely losing his mind some of the time. He had so many trials.
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Post by LS on Mar 8, 2014 20:25:40 GMT
I agree, Elizabeth. I think that David feigning madness to get himself out of a tight spot was something that was unique to his situation at the time. But it does point to the fact that he turned to his own resourcefulness instead of relying on God; which one tends to do when one believes their prayers are going unanswered.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 20:30:12 GMT
That was a great commentary, Jim! Thanks for sharing that.
Oh, yes, I can relate to the crazy part. There have been times in my life that the trials were so heavy that I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown. I did my best to act normal like there was nothing wrong because I didn't want people to see how messed up I was inside. But I remember the first time that it happened to me was a few days after I got saved. I went through a trial so horrendous that I went into a deep depression. The world looked black, and I went through a period of hopelessness where I couldn't see a way out. It literally took all the strength I had to get out of bed to go to work. I didn't miss a day of work and did my job well, but there were times when I didn't think that I was going to make it. The only thing that got me through that was clinging to the Lord like a life preserver.
The next set of trials, again, had me reeling. I went to work with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Like last time, I put a smile on my face and acted like there was nothing wrong, but deep down inside I felt like I was losing it. Again, I got through it by clinging to the Lord, Who eventually delivered me from the trial, but I got to say that there were times where I didn't think I was going to make it.
I don't remember questioning the Lord about it at the time. I just accepted it, and went through it the best that I knew how. But looking back in hindsight, I can see how the Lord used those times of trial to be able to use me now to comfort those who have gone through a similar situation. Many times we don't know how to comfort someone or to help them if we never experienced the same situation first hand. Well, the Lord redeemed what I went though in order for me to help others.
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Post by LS on Mar 8, 2014 20:37:56 GMT
Wow Leeza, that depression started a few days after being saved? I cannot imagine how I might've responded to that. Knowing me, I would've definitely been questioning The Lord about it though. Quite a testimony, Leeza, thank you so much for sharing!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 20:43:36 GMT
Although I knew The Lord personally as a child, I'd gone astray in my teen years and finally repented and turned back to The Lord (by His grace, of course) a month before turning 23. fun fact, we have most of this in common. I turned 23 last year in November, which was the year (a few months before November, more exactly) that the Lord fully drew me in to Himself. The only difference is about whether or not you call "knowing the Lord as a child" being raised a Catholic and attending Sunday school from my childhood up until I was 16 or 17, or something like that. I'd say I learned things about Him, mostly of the New Testament, prayed (sometimes), and even noticed small things that indicated Him being there, but I can't say I "knew" Him, as I feel a big difference between how it is now and how it was then.
Anyway, as for the main question, I can't say I ever felt like the Lord was making me either crazy or act crazy, but I have wondered if I myself was going crazy because this world made me feel that way. A certified "kook," some would say, even though I can't make practically anything that's not a quick meal yet. 
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Post by shiloh on Mar 8, 2014 20:55:17 GMT
Good commentary by Matthew Henry, LS. I have read many of his commentaries before. Jack Kelley also has some great teachings on 1 Samuel.
I'm going to just put this in a nutshell. David knew he had sinned and acknowledged it before the Lord. Yet God deemed him righteous because God Himself called David a man after His own heart. He hated his sin and humbled himself before the Lord.
He was a sinner, was on the run and contrary to what he thought would happen or the way things would go. Aren't we all like that? As Matthew Henry stated in his commentary, David was a man of great faith. That's the key.
Remember, it isn't what WE did, it's what HE did for us.
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Post by shiloh on Mar 8, 2014 21:03:51 GMT
BroJohn...lol...we must have been posting at the same time. That cracked me up but don't feel bad, we're all a bunch of kooks. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, anyone?.....lololol. One of my sisters used to live in a rural area called Claridon and I used to come up with headlines. I called her the Claridon Kook. "Claridon Kook Quits Cooking".... because she was mad at her family one time and said she wasn't going to cook that night. She still laughs about that.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2014 21:18:52 GMT
Lol, Shiloh, I can see why she laughs. I tried to picture the whole thing and it's actually kind of funny. I got the "kook" from the "too many kooks in the kitchen" joke from one of your posts last year, never fled my mind that one.
I just read your experience, Leeza. Sounds like you had a few spiritual attacks right off the bat. Praise the Lord that He got you through it, though.
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Post by elizabeth on Mar 8, 2014 21:23:42 GMT
Shiloh, you make me laugh.
LS, you made a very important point:
" But it does point to the fact that he turned to his own resourcefulness instead of relying on God; which one tends to do when one believes their prayers are going unanswered."
David was trusting the Lord sometimes during this time, but he wasn't doing it consistently, I guess. That is like us, I guess. Sometimes we walk in faith, and sometimes we take things into our own hands.
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Post by morningstar on Mar 8, 2014 21:33:01 GMT
Jim, I really liked that!!..
And I really like everyone's comments, I just marvel at how the Lord works in each and everyone of us differently, and it really overwhelms me to think that He knows us all so intimately, every hair on our head (or bumps on your scalp), every thought, blink of an eye, e.t.c. all of this He knows and see's instantly I mean just think of all the believers, and those who are yet to believe..I guess it would take us an eternity to know Him right?
Leeza quote: I love it! Your words reflect my thoughts...and it's an ongoing experience, If one thing I learned in my life is I won't buck Him anymore, whether good or bad He WILL use it to His Glory.
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Post by LS on Mar 8, 2014 21:35:42 GMT
BrotherJohn: Wow, we do have a lot of similarities. What I meant by knowing The Lord as a child was that Jesus became very real to me at age 7; I had prayers answered throughout grammar school and even had a sore throat healed during a "blessing of the throats" ceremony when I was around 10. I knew He was real, I just chose to ignore Him and His ways as a teen and into my 20s. "Certified kook" ...LOL
Thanks so much for your feedback BrJ!
Shiloh, indeed it's all about what He's done for us. I'm just saying that even though we know The Lord, we're sometimes allowed into situations in which our faith is tried and we don't we don't respond faithfully; and the perfect example of that is found in 1 Samuel 21. If "a man after God's own heart" can act like that, then I don't feel so bad about my crazy actions in the past. I was just happy that Tony Evens pointed it out and Matthew Henry connected the dots, so to speak, with David's actions and the Psalms that were a result of David's trials during that time.
EDIT: (I type slow)
Morningstar, thanks so much for your feedback. Yes, it is indeed amazing how God deals with us as individuals, knowing how far He can push us and when to ease up, with the goal being our growth, in Him, to His glory.
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Post by shiloh on Mar 8, 2014 22:08:02 GMT
Absolutely, LS and I understand what you're saying and what everyone else said here. Leeza had a good point and I can identify with that. The Lord will use a trial in my life (even if I'm baffled as to why it's happening) and later use it for His glory, which I praise His Holy Name for. We can't identify or help unless we let the Lord take us through those particular trials. I find I have more compassion and I LOVE that the Lord is glorified through Him using me. We want to be willing vessels. More often than not, we feel like a David and we flee or feel alone ..or say, Lord, What are You doing?... and we ask the 'why's'. What we really don't see is how He will use it.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
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Post by shiloh on Mar 9, 2014 5:55:59 GMT
I love reading everyones perspectives and thoughts on things. They bring in so much I have never thought of. Yes, LS. I guess many would consider us HMCK (Heavenly Minded Certified Kooks)....lol...I just came up woth a new acronym for all of us.
Except I won't need any acorns or leaves though..hahahahahaaaaaaaaaa.
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