“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” That’s what King David learned the hard way. Once honored as the “giant killer” and noted as the up-and-comer, he was now on the run from a jealous King Saul.

Physically exhausted and emotionally drained, he crossed enemy lines to hide in the land of the Philistines. The good news was that Saul couldn’t find him. The bad news was that the Philistines recognized him as the one who had killed their hero, Goliath. David was afraid, so he “acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” (1 Samuel 21:13 NIV). I love the Philistine king’s response. He said, “Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me?” (1 Samuel 21:15 NIV).

At some point after David was forced out of enemy territory, he reflected on his experience and penned the words of Psalm 34. Today’s passage is a quote from that song of praise.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

David put himself in a bad situation and then had to feign insanity. But even when he crossed into a hostile land; even during his fears; even when he was pretending; the eyes of the Lord never left him. God never turned a deaf ear to David’s heart cry for help.

So maybe you are in a tough spot today, and it’s your own fault. You crossed over into enemy territory. You are scared. And you, a child of God, are pretending to be a different person than who you really are. Please know that God’s eyes are still on you, and God will listen to your prayers. It’s time to look up, see the escape route, and run, don’t walk. Say with David, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:4-5 NIV).

Lord Jesus, thank you for delivering us from the enemy. Thank you for taking our sin and shame to the cross and paying its penalty by your perfect sacrifice. Make clear the escape route for those who need to get out of enemy territory today. In your name. Amen.