the Chosen People

David The Madman

David escapes danger by pretending to be insane—yet even in fear, God’s presence never leaves him.

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Psalm 34:18
Have you ever felt so desperate that you had to pretend to be someone else just to survive? In 1 Samuel 21:11–15, David flees for his life and ends up in enemy territory. To avoid death, he pretends to be insane. It’s not a glorious moment—he’s not slaying giants or leading armies. He’s terrified. Yet in this low point, God is still near. Psalm 34, traditionally linked to this episode, reminds us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” We all wear masks sometimes—fear, stress, anxiety. Like David, we may feel we’ve fallen too far to be seen by God. But He sees through the disguise and draws near. When survival feels messy or humiliating, God’s steady presence is still with us. Trust isn’t about always feeling strong. It’s about knowing we’re never truly alone, even in our weakest, most uncertain moments.
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The Chosen People Devotionals

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