1 Chronicles 14:13-17: a reflection

13The Philistines made another raid in the valley. 14David inquired again of God; and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Turn away from them, and come on them opposite the mulberry trees. 15When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16David did as God commanded him; and they attacked the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer. 17The fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him on all nations.

The Philistines raid Israel a second time, in the same valley where David had defeated them before; and notice what David does. He does not presume that the method that worked last time will work again; he inquires of God afresh. And God gives him a different strategy this time: do not go straight up after them, but circle around and come at them opposite the mulberry trees, and wait for the sound of marching in the treetops before you go. David sought God anew, and received new guidance for the new situation, rather than presuming on the old.

Notice that David inquired of God again, rather than presuming on the past. He had won here before, by a particular means; he might have simply repeated what worked last time. But he sought God afresh, and God gave him a different plan for this occasion. David did not presume that God's guidance last time was a formula to apply this time; he asked again, and received fresh direction. The new situation called for seeking God anew, not merely repeating the old method.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can presume on past guidance, applying yesterday's method to today without seeking God afresh. We can assume that what God led us to do before is simply what we should do again, and stop inquiring of him; but David sought God anew for the new situation, and received a different plan. Do not presume that the way God led you before is automatically the way for now; seek him afresh for each new situation, as David inquired again rather than repeating his old strategy. God's guidance is not a formula to be applied without further seeking; it is a living direction to be sought anew. Keep inquiring of God for each situation, rather than presuming on past guidance, as David sought God again and received a fresh plan, rather than assuming the method that worked before would work again.

Lord, the Philistines raided Israel a second time, in the same valley where David had defeated them before; and notice what David did. He did not presume that the method that worked last time would work again; he inquired of you afresh. And you gave him a different strategy this time: do not go straight up after them, but circle around and come at them opposite the mulberry trees, and wait for the sound of marching in the treetops. David sought you anew, and received new guidance for the new situation. Show me that David inquired of you again, rather than presuming on the past. He had won here before, by a particular means; he might have simply repeated what worked last time. But he sought you afresh, and you gave him a different plan. He did not presume that your guidance last time was a formula to apply this time; he asked again. The new situation called for seeking you anew. Take that to my heart, for I can presume on past guidance, applying yesterday's method to today without seeking you afresh. I can assume that what you led me to do before is simply what I should do again, and stop inquiring of you; but David sought you anew for the new situation. Keep me from presuming that the way you led me before is automatically the way for now; help me seek you afresh for each new situation, Lord, as David inquired again. Your guidance is not a formula to be applied without further seeking; help me keep inquiring of you for each situation.