You might be familiar with King Saul’s attacks against David. Saul was so intent on killing David that his attempts against David’s life caused David to seek asylum among the Philistines (1 Sam 27:1-2). David found favor with Achish, one of the Philistine commanders, and with Achish’s permission was able stay in an area of Philistine territory called Ziklag (1 Sam 27:6). The Philistines were gearing up to fight the Israelites and Achish invited David and his men to fight with them. David obliged (1 Sam 28:1-2). However, the other commanders of the Philistine army did not approve of David fighting with them. They feared that he would be a traitor, jeopardize their mission, and hand them over to the Israelites. So they rejected David from fighting with them (1 Sam 29).

David was disappointed but had no choice but to go back with his men to Ziklag. When they got back to Ziklag they found out that their homes had been raided and their families had been taken captive. David’s men were so distraught about the situation that they even considered stoning David. Despite the setback David encouraged himself and sought God. God gave him the green light to go after their families’ captors. David and his men went after them, caught up with them, defeated them, rescued their families and not only got back what was taken from his people, but also returned with their enemy’s possessions (1 Sam 30).

If we examine that story carefully we can learn some vital lessons about how God uses rejection to protect us. It was sad that David chose to live with the Philistines because of Saul’s attacks against him. Because of Saul’s rejection, not only did David choose to live with the enemy of his people, he was also willing to fight with the enemy against his people. The rejection he experienced from Saul caused him to make the enemy of his people his friend, and make his friend, his people, his enemy.

Unfortunately, that is sometimes the case with some people. Because of the rejection they experienced with the Sauls of their church, they’ve chosen to live their lives apart from God and befriended the Achish’s who are against God. Not only do some individuals who have succumbed to the bitterness of rejection left the Church to align with some who are against the Church, some have also chosen to fight against the church and its values. Interestingly, David was rejected from fighting with the Philistines. Other leaders of the Philistines who pulled more rank than Achish rejected David from fighting with them.

Despite David’s disappointment, the rejection enabled him and his men to get back to Ziklag on time to find out that their homes had been raided and their families had been captured. Had David not been rejected, he would have fought and killed his own people, and be way out of God’s will. He would have lost his family and his possessions, as it was likely that the people who captured them would have been long gone by the time they came back from war. He would have also lost the loyalty of his men, who would have probably killed him once they got back to find out that their families were gone and never to be recovered.

But because David was rejected, he was kept in God’s will by not fighting against His own people. He was kept in good standing with his men despite their brief but understandable anger against him. He was driven to seek God for direction, which helped them rescue their families, recover their possessions, and plunder their assailants. God gave them double for their trouble. Those were the purposes for which David was rejected. God does the same for us.

I acknowledge that sometimes we experience rejection from people of influence and leaders; whether in church, at home, at work, or in society. I also acknowledge that such attacks causes some of us to be offended so much so that we lose our faith, and begin not only to live apart from God, but live and hang out with the wrong crowd. If you are dealing with this predicament I want to encourage you not to respond that way. Even if you have, God can still get you back on track. Don’t be surprised if He uses the people that you’re not supposed to be hanging out with to accomplish this objective.

Just like God used rejection to protect, redirect and provide for David, God uses rejection for your protection, redirection and provision. He uses it to get you from fighting the wrong war to fighting the right war; the war for your faith, your family and His favor on your life. Even though the devil, the enemy, may have used the rejection of a friend, a leader, or a significant other to turn you away from God, God can use the rejection of an enemy, someone who is against God, to turn you back to Him and His purpose for your life.