When Men Let Their Guard DownSample

Day Three – Be Dependent on God

The tragedy of Ziklag happened because the men were out of the picture. They could have prevented it. For a brief period of three days they let down the walls of protection, which left everything vulnerable to attack, and the enemy seized the opportunity.

One has to ask, How could they even allow such a thing?

The truth is that David and his band of men got overconfident and let their personal guards down. David, who normally leaned on and pressed into God, relaxed a bit and did life his own way. This included making a couple deals with another enemy, the Philistines (1 Sam. 27:7), out of his fleshly wisdom. It would cost him dearly. Though he never left his love for God or even doubted he was God’s anointed, David at times strayed from his total dependence on God as his source of strength and direction.

There are always consequences when we try to do life independently, without seeking God’s counsel. One of the weaknesses of many men—maybe most men—is at times they want to go it alone, to do it on their own, to be independent. That independence can be a double-edged sword.

As men we must live a life of seeking God, walking in the Spirit, and renewing our dependence on Him. If we don’t, we will blow it. David and his band of men did. The enemy was right there waiting to rush in and take their most treasured assets.

Hear me: our adversary is very patient. Big acts of sin and lapses in judgment that bring us down rarely “just happen.” They are a result of our personal walls being broken down over time and our drifting away from dependence on God.