Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?”– 1 Samuel 27:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 28, 2012): 1 Samuel 27

I am football fan; at least of the American or Canadian variety of football. And one of the teams I like to watch are the Seattle Seahawks. Growing up, they were simply the team that I was able to watch the most. So I learned to cheer for the team that I was the most familiar with. Over the years I have laughed and cried with the Seahawks. This year it has been a bit of both (lately it has been more on the laughing side.) But as a Seahawks fan, one thing I know is that the Seahawks love to play at home. Now, all teams like to play at home, but for the Seahawks the advantage is that home is the loudest place to play football in the NFL – and that makes a big difference. As a result, at least this year, the Seattle Seahawks are a hard team to beat at home.

And that is exactly what every sports team wants to be. To be able to say “not in our house” to visiting teams is the desire of every sports organization. Home field/court/ice advantage is supposed to mean something. It is a place that the team knows and feels comfortable with – a place where the fans react positively when they see their team enter the playing surface. A place where the team can say – It is good to be home.

David was now in exile. He had no home court to move to. And his fear was that that meant that there was no place that was not trying to influence him. He would always be in the heat of the battle – whether they were on the battlefield or in the political arena in their new home in the middle of the Philistine nation. So David had a request. Give me a place where can live – a place to call home. Behind the simple request is a place where David can protect his army from the vices of the Philistines and away from the jealousies and frictions that may have erupted between David’s men and the local military personal. In essence, it was a place where they could simply be – and be welcome. And there was also a desire to be away from a place where the army might unintentionally cause offence to the people. If that were to happen, they might lose their safe place of refuge. David needed a home.

We all do. Home is important. It is a safe place where we can go and simply be. I hope you have found that place in your life.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 28