JOY "God Protects David From Himself" January 30, 2013

January 30, 2013

1st Samuel 25:1-44

God Protects David From Himself

I   David and Nabal   1st Samuel 25:1- 22

II  David and Abigail  1st Samuel 25:23-44

(The famous New York diamond dealer, Harry Winston heard about a wealthy Dutch merchant, who was looking for a certain kind of diamond, to add to his collection. Winston, called the merchant, told him that he thought he had the perfect stone, and invited the collector to come to New York to examine it. 

The collector flew to New York, and Winston assigned a salesman to meet him, and show him the diamond. 

When the salesman presented the diamond to the merchant, he described the expensive stone, by pointing out, all its fine, technical features. The merchant listened, and he praised the stone, but he turned away and said, "It's a wonderful diamond, but not exactly what I wanted."

Winston, who had been watching the presentation from a distance, stopped the merchant and asked, "Do you mind if I show you that diamond, one more time?" The merchant agreed, and Winston presented him, with the same stone. But instead of talking about the technical features of it, Winston spoke spontaneously, about his own genuine admiration, of the diamond, and what a rare thing of beauty it was. Abruptly, the customer changed his mind and bought the diamond.

While he was waiting for it to be packaged and brought to him, the merchant turned to Winston and asked,"Why did I buy the stone from you, when I had no difficulty saying no to your salesman?"

Winston replied, "The salesman is one of the best men in the business, and he knows more about diamonds than I do. And, I pay him a good salary for what he knows. But I would gladly pay him twice as much, if I could put into him, something that I have, that he lacks. You see, he knows diamonds, but I love them!" )

This story, illustrates one of the single greatest principles of persuasion, as you  come along side of someone, with words of wisdom and influence----- People are far more persuaded, by the depths of our beliefs, and emotions, and the sincerity of our words, than they are, any amount of logic or knowledge that we possess. I believe that Abigail believed, with her whole heart, that she was doing the right thing, when she went to see David----or I don't believe that she would have gone. And I believe she knew, that God was leading her, step by step, and I believe that her honesty, in speaking the truth, and her conviction in what she was saying, was what got David's attention. This is a remarkable lesson about persuasion, forgiveness and doing the right thing, even when we don't want to… 

I  David and Nabal

Samuel's death is briefly mentioned here-----it's marked, with very little fanfare, except for the words, which actually speak volumes, "…and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house in Ramah." 

Samuel's death must have been particularly hard on David, who had just said good-bye to Jonathan, for the last time, and had just left his parents in care of the king of Moab, and he was continuing to run, from pillar to post, in order to keep ahead of Saul. 

Samuel, had been the man of God, who had anointed David king, because God had told him to---- and Samuel is who David ran to, when Saul first started showing his displeasure with him. And Samuel, was David's only real link, with the promise of his kingship. He must have felt much like we feel, no matter how old we are, when our parents pass away. We feel like orphans----because the last link with our childhood is gone, He must have needed to get away to grieve, because the scripture says, that he went into the wilderness of Maon----which, is the actual wilderness, that the Israelites spent their 40 year wanderings in. 

Since it was just outside of the Promised Land, he might have thought that Saul wouldn't follow him there, and he could have some measure of peace for awhile.  

Because David was going from place to place, with a following of at least 600 men, they couldn't remain in complete isolation. They were bound to run into various and sundry people ,from time to time. This passage describes one of those encounters. David and his band of men, while they were in the desert, came to know some shepherds, who were in the service of one of David's distant clansmen, from the tribe of Judah, who just happened to be a very rich man, named Nabal. It was sheep-shearing season, which was a joyous time in the life of a shepherd. Taking care of the sheep and protecting them from their predators and living their lives, day and night, in the elements, was really hard, often lonely, work-----they needed some time to refresh themselves----so the shearing time, had become a social outlet for them---- a time of great celebration and well-earned relaxation.   

David, sent ten of his young men, to visit Nabal, to let him know, that while their company was camping near the area, where his shepherds were tending his sheep, that they had treated Nabal's shepherds with kindness and respect. And they had provided them protection, from the marauding bandits and outlaws, roaming the wilderness, which was a common practice, of the day. And for that kind of protection, it was customary for the protectors, to receive provisions, from the ones being protected. 

(In Deuteronomy 15:7-11, it says, "But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan, because the year for counseling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That's why I'm commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.") So it wasn't crazy or rude or presumptuous for David to make his request to Nabal, to give them, any provisions, that Nabal could spare.

Nabal, on the other hand, was totally rude to David, and, he was thumbing his nose at God, because, he would have known, from the Deuteronomy passage, what God had outlined, as the correct way, for his people, to treat each other, and, for how to offer hospitality, to anyone else who needed it. Nabal refused to acknowledge that David's men had helped to protect his shepherds and their flocks. He didn't even send a token gift---- instead, he insulted David, inferring that he was no better than a runaway slave, who was being insubordinate to his master---- and he sent the messengers back empty-handed.

 In David's day, as well as ours, simple hospitality demanded that travelers---ever how many there were----be fed. Nabal was very rich and could have easily afford to meet David's request. David wasn't asking for a hand-out---he and his men had been protecting Nabal's workforce--- and, part of Nabal's prosperity, was because of David's good-natured vigilance. We should be generous with the people who protect us and keep us safe and help us prosper----even if our government doesn't have laws that make us---we should do it, because it pleases the Lord.    

( Just a few days before Christmas, a postal worker, at the main sorting office found an unstamped, handwritten, messy envelope addressed to God. Curious, he opened it and discovered that it was from an elderly woman, who was in great distress because all her savings----$200---had been stolen. As a result, she wouldn't have anything to eat for Christmas.

The man went to his faithful postal workers and took up a collection for the women. They all dug deep and came up with $180. Putting the money in a plain envelope, with no note or anything, the postal workers sent it by special courier to the woman, that very day.

A week later, the same postal worker noticed another unstamped letter that had been addressed to God in the same handwriting. In it, he found a brief note which said: Dear God, Thank you for the $180 that you sent me for Christmas, which would have been so bleak otherwise.

P.S. It was $20 short, but that was probably because of those thieving workers at the post office.) 

How many of us have been criticized for trying to do the right thing? How many of us have been blamed for doing something we didn't do? It sorta makes you want to give up, doesn't it? It makes you think, "why knock yourself out, when all you get is a slap in the face?" 

That feeling is understandable-----that's why we should be affirming and encouraging to each other. When we see someone doing the best they can, we need to let them know, just how much we appreciate their effort----we shouldn't blame them or give them a hard time, for what they weren't able to do. On the other hand, if we're the one expecting to get affirmation and praise---we shouldn't hold our breath, we shouldn't expect it. We should do what we do, because its the right thing to do, not because we're going to get something in return.  We should take comfort in the fact that we're in good company---In 1st Peter 2:20-21, Peter says, "If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 

People will criticize us, and it will hurt, but we have to remember what Paul says in Galations 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.")

When David was told about what had transpired with Nabal, and the things that Nabal had said, he became irate. David had acted honorably. His men could easily have taken whatever they needed, from Nabal's flocks, but they hadn't. David expected Nabal to honor God's command, and he expected a positive response, in return for his positive actions. When David realized that Nabal could care less, how unjustly he was treating him, David was determined to achieve justice for himself. He ordered his men to to arm themselves, and he did the same thing---- and then, they set out to kill Nabal and every male, in his household. 

David had regretted and repented, the cutting off, of a sliver of Saul's robe, because he knew that he had insulted God's anointed one----but Nabal was a different story.

David had tolerated Saul's mistreatment, because Saul, was the anointed king of Israel. David considered himself Saul's servant, in spite of Saul's wicked and vindictive behavior. 

Nabal, was a different story, though. He was not David's superior. He was not God's anointed king, and David didn't appreciate the demeaning treatment, that he had received at Nabal's hand.

David was not thinking or behaving as a man of faith, when he set out to kill Nabal, and the men in his household. He was just intent on taking action, in response, to how he was feeling. Nabal would have suffered dire consequences, if it hadn't been for the wisdom of his beautiful and intelligent wife, Abigail. 

One of Nabal's servants had gone to her with an account of what had happened, including a warning, that David was likely to retaliate. She wasted no time in gathering generous portions of food (bread, wine, grain, raisins, figs and sheep). She packed everything portable, on donkeys, and sent the bounty on to David. 

You can't help but wonder, would she have been able to gather so much food, so quickly, if Nabal hadn't been giving a party-----but as it always is---- it was God's provision----the timing was perfect----Nabal had planned a fit-for-a-king banquet----if Abigail hadn't told him about it, the next morning ---Nabal wouldn't even have missed what she gave to David.

II   David and Abigail

Abigail worked her way down the mountain, out of sight of David, and his men. David was grumbling and complaining about Nabal's insults, when he and Abigail, suddenly came face to face, on the path. She dismounted from her donkey, and prostrated herself in front of David, in absolute deference to his status. She knew who he was and so did Nabal-----but the difference was, she trusted his reputation, and Nabal could have cared less about it. God, must have been important to her, and must not have been, to Nabal. 

(Its not always easy to do the right thing----knowing Nabal's reputation, and seeing how he treated David and his men, you can guess how he must have treated Abigail----she was brave to go against him, even if it was secretly at first---and even more brave, to tell him about it the next morning. Nabal was drunk, and would never have missed what she took to David----so, for Abigail to tell him about it, shows us the purity of her motives, and her integrity---she wasn't a thief or a liar---she wanted to please God, more than she wanted to look out for herself.

And that doesn't even count how brave she was to go out to meet David, who sounded, at that point, like a wild man on a rampage-----David needed someone to remind him who he was, and to encourage him to let go of his anger, and to talk some sense into him-----How often do we hesitate to go to someone to encourage them to do what is right? Are we afraid that we might make them angry with us, or that they'll think, that we're self-righteous? Do we think, that they already know what the right thing to do is, so they don't need us to tell them? 

Sometimes, the Lord will lay something on our hearts that needs to be told to another person, and we need to pray about it, and then we need to go to that person, in love and humility and gentleness, and tell them the truth about what the Lord's laid on our hearts, so that they can step away from themselves and behave the way God would want them to.  

 The truth is, there are times, when we all need to be encouraged to do something, that we know in our hearts is the right thing, and we just don't want it to be.

We're like David was, when he set out for Nabal's property, he was in no mood to listen. But thank goodness, he stopped to hear what Abigail had to say. If he had ignored her, he would have been guilty of offending God----this makes us realize, that no matter how right we think we are, when somebody we trust with spiritual things, comes to us, to share wisdom with us,we must always be careful to stop and listen to them. The extra time and effort and willingness to hear, can safe us pain and trouble, in the long run.) 

Abigail was everything that Nabal was not. She was beautiful and she was polite, well-spoken, submissive, honest, and ready to take on, all the responsibility and blame, for her husband's nasty attitude and his wicked behavior. She referred to herself, 6 times, as David's maidservant, and she called him her lord, 14 times. She didn't even try to cover up for Nabal----and even though she called him a fool, she risked her life to save his. 

David knew from experience, and because of his character and integrity and his spiritual insight, that there was no honor or status, in killing fools. Abigail wasn't making fun of Nabal, when she called him a fool--- and she wasn't attempting to make light of, or exaggerate, his faults----she was just being truthful, about how foolish she knew that his behavior was. And at that point, it hadn't been very long, since David himself, had pretended to be insane, so that he wouldn't be killed by the Philistines. Perhaps that's what calmed him down, and softened his heart enough, to be able to listen and hear, what Abigail desperately needed to tell him----in order to protect the innocent people in her household.

Abigail tactfully, pointed out how vengeance, would be detrimental to David. Through her, God made David see, that shedding blood, for personal revenge, was a grievious sin. Abigail acknowledged God's hand on David, and she exhorted him to avoid wrongdoing, at any cost, for her sake and the sake of her household--- but more for David's sake.

She summed up the central theme of David's trials in the wilderness. She was basically reminding him, that he was out in the wilderness, to find out what God was doing, and who he was before God. Unlike Saul, David was going to be given a lasting dynasty, because the battles that he fought, were the Lord's, not his own, and not the world's. But in order to fight the Lord's battles, David had to be pure and free from wrongdoing or unrighteousness, for as long as he lived (no regrets). 

Because David was faithful to seek after the Lord, especially when he messed up, the Lord God Himself had promised to make David's life secure. Even if someone was pursuing David with the intent to take his life, they would be flung away from him, like a stone in a slingshot, by God Himself. God had made him king, over Israel----David didn't need to have Nabal's bloodshed on his conscience----and he didn't need to seek his own personal revenge----he  needed to trust the fact, that God, would take care of his enemies----the truth is, David needed to come to the end of himself. 

(We need to remember that the wilderness is not a random place, where we test ourselves, to find out how strong and resilient we are; its the place where we discover the strength of God, and God's faithful ways of working in and through our lives. And we need to remember, that in the middle of adversity, God still expects us to behave righteously---like we're children of the King. In Matt 5: 38-48, Jesus taught the disciples to go beyond the Old Testament command of an "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". He expects us to love our enemies, instead. God expects us to behave with pure motives and right behavior, especially in the middle of hardships and trials----because that's when people are watching us and they can get the clearest picture from us, of who Jesus is, and what we have in Him.) 

Abigail pled with David, to accept the gifts that she had brought, and she asked him to forgive her transgression----she don't mention Nabal again, after that.

Her words stopped David in his tracks. He knew she was right, and he praised her in front of his men. She literally, had been a godsend----she had been used by God, to prevent David, from taking vengeance on Nabal, by killing him, and then being guilty, of shedding other innocent blood, by murdering his whole household. And, her timely arrival and wisdom, kept David, from playing like he was God,which was what he would have been doing if he had taken matters into his own hands, without consulting God first, and what he would have been doing, if he had taken a life, that God hadn't told him to----

If Abigail had not acted so quickly, David would have carried out his plan----which, was the furtherest thing, from God's plan. 

With some measure of relief and thankfulness, David must have gratefully accepted Abigail's gifts and sent her home in peace.

David left vengeance in God's hands----and it came quickly-----When Abigail got home from her meeting with David, Nabal was drunk from the huge party he had thrown that night. She bided her time and waited until he was sober, the next morning, before she told him about her encounter with David. (When we have to discuss difficult matters with people, especially with family members, timing is everything. We need to ask the Lord for the wisdom to know the best time for confrontation and for bringing up touchy subjects.) When he heard the news, it looks like, that he either had a heart attack, or a stroke, and then,10 days later, God took his life. 

Scripture says, that David rejoiced at the news, not so much that Nabal was dead, but that God had sent Abigail to pull him up short, so that he didn't do something in haste, that he would have regretted for the rest of his life. 

David wasted no time in asking Abigail to marry him----her behavior had been selfless and wise and brave, and David wanted to reward her, for her loyalty to her household, and to him. Abigail didn't even hesitate----she agreed to marry him immediately.

David's marriage to Abigail, counteracted Saul's continued betrayal. Whatever Saul attempted to deny David, God more than made up for.   

During that time, for some reason, that we aren't given, Saul had another change of heart about David and he started pursuing him again----- and He also gave Michal away to another man, while she was still married to David----although, we will see later, that David did take her back again, when he could-----

In this chapter, in the back story, before David was king, we've gotten a glimpse of a remarkable aspect, of his character---- and we've seen, through his behavior, just why he was a man, after God's own heart. He was able to forgive his enemy. The fact that it happened, under the influence of Abigail's God-guided wisdom, just underlines the fact, that for a man to be stopped in his tracks, by a woman, was not normal, especially in that ancient world. This clearly proves, that David was different---- he was marching to the sound of a different voice, from the other powerful men of his day. 

William Arthur Ward said, "We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge and we are most like God when we forgive."

This remarkable aspect of David's behavior, is strikingly similar, to the behavior of Jesus-----who didn't come, in His first coming, to condemn us---He came to save us, through forgiveness. When Jesus comes again, that will be the time for judgement---but in the meantime, this is the time for forgiveness----and we believers, need to take a lesson from David, and practice forgiveness, more than we do judgement.

JOY "David Still on the Run" January 23, 2013

January 23, 2013

1st Samuel 23:1-24:22

"David Still On The Run"

I              Hiding From Saul    23:1-29

II             David Spares Saul's Life       24:1-22

Sometimes, its very hard to keep on going, when we don't seem to be getting anywhere. William Barclay tell the story about Thomas Carlyle. It seems, that Thomas Carlyle, had just finished the first volume of his book, The French Revolution, when he gave the manuscript to his friend John Stuart Mill, and asked him to read it, so that it could be proofread.

It took Mr. Mill several days, to get through it, and as he read, he realized that it was truly a great literary achievement. Late one night, as he finished the last page, he laid the manuscript aside, by his chair, in the den of his home. The next morning, the maid came------ and seeing papers on the floor, she thought they were just discarded trash----so  she threw them into the fire, where they became nothing but ashes. 

The next morning, March 6, 1835---he never forgot the date---John Mill, had to go see Thomas Carlyle and tell him what had happened. In deep agony and heartfelt remorse, Mill told him, that his work had been destroyed. Carlyle felt so bad for Mill----so he told him that it would be alright, not to worry about it----- that he would just start over in the morning, and write it again. 

Finally, after much apologising, John Mill left and started back home. Carlyle watched his friend walking away and said to his wife, "poor Mill, I feel so sorry for him-----I couldn't make him feel any worse than he already does, I didn't want

him to see, how crushed, I really am.

Then heaving a sigh, he said, "well the manuscript is gone , so I better get to work, it isn't going to write itself. 

It was a long hard process, especially because his inspiration was gone. It's always hard to recapture the verve and the vigor, if a person has to do the same thing twice. But, he sat down and worked diligently and consistently, until he finally completed the work, a second time. 

Thomas Carlyle walked away from disappointment. He couldn't do anything about a manuscript that was burned up---he just had pull up his bootstraps and keep on walking-----that's how it is with us, there are so many times when we just have to get up, and get going, and get on about our Father's business-----we can't argue with "it is what it is---we just have to trust "that whatever it is--- will be what God wants it to be".

Two frogs fell into a deep bowl of cream,

one was an optimistic soul;

but the other took the gloomy view,

"we shall drown," he cried, without more ado.

So with a last despairing cry,

He flung up his legs and said, "good-bye".

Quoth the other frog, with a merry grin,

"I can't get out, but I won't give in.

I'll just swim around till my strength is spent,

Then will I die, the more content."

Bravely he swam till it would seem

His struggles began to churn the cream.

On the top of the butter at last he stopped, 

And out of the bowl he gaily hopped

What of the moral? tis easily found:

If you can't hop out, keep swimming around.

I      Hiding From Saul    1st Samuel  23:1-29

While David was encamped with his men in the Forest of Hereth, word came to him, that the Philistines were terrorizing the walled city of Keilah, at the southern end of Judah-----they were attacking them at their most vulnerable

place----their food source and their livelihood----they were stealing the grain from their threshing floor----

Threshing floors were open circular areas, where the grain kernels were separated from their husks. (In order to separate the grain from the husk, farmers would toss their grain into the air. The wind would blow the husks away, leaving only the grain. The process is called winnowing.) By looting the threshing floors, the Philistines were robbing Keilah's citizens of all their food supplies.

This should have been Saul's problem-----but David was a born leader and he loved his people and had been trained to defend them against their enemies, especially against the Philistines----he was already thinking like the King of Israel should think. 

Through the Urim and the Thummim, that Abiathar, the priest had brought, from the ransacked town of Nob-----David sought the Lord's guidance, before he took action. And he listened to God's directions----he asked him the same question twice, just to be doubly sure, and then he proceeded accordingly. (Rather than trying to find God's will, after the fact, or having to ask God to undo the results of our hasty decisions, we should take time to discern God's will beforehand. (Runway Lights) We can hear Him speak through the counsel of others, through His word, through the leading of the Spirit in our hearts (inner conviction), as well as, through circumstances.) Now David's men, weren't eager to come out of hiding---they were afraid of Saul, but they were even more scared of the well-trained, blood thirsty, pagan Philistines, so they tried to convince David not to go---- But, God told David that he would deliver the Philistines into his hand, and David believed Him----- and then, he convinced, his men to believe God too------and as a result---God gave a decisive victory, to David's rag-tag bunch, of misfit, malcontents.  But their victory was a short-lived thrill, because it pinpointed their location for Saul.

And when Saul heard, that David was located in a walled city (one with gates and bars), he thought he had him trapped---- he thought God was putting David, at his mercy. Saul wanted to kill David so badly, that he would have interpreted any sign, as God's approval, to move ahead with his plan. Had Saul known God better, he would have known what God wanted and wouldn't have misread the situation. God would never have approved of cold-blooded murder. 

Saul needed to realize, and so do we, that not every opportunity, that comes our way, is sent to us by God. We may want something so badly, that we can assume any opportunity to obtain it, is of divine origin.  But, as we can see from Saul's case, this may not be true. An opportunity to do something against God's will, will never be from God, because God doesn't tempt us, He only directs us. When opportunities come our way, we need to double-check our motives. We need to make sure we're following God's desires and not just our own. 

In addition, to God supernaturally, directing and guiding David----David must also, have had some incredible scouts, and private citizens, being his eyes and ears, because he was always one step ahead of Saul. When David got word of Saul's intent to trap him, he called for Abiathar to bring the urim and the thummim to him again, so that he could ask God what they should do----(you would have thought, that the towns-people of Keilah would be so grateful to David for having preserved their freedom, that they would have protected him----but they were too afraid of Saul's wrath (I'm sure they had heard what had happened at Nob)----God let David know, that Saul, would come, if David stayed there, and the people of Keilah, would turn him, over to Saul, when he got there.  So, before that could happen, David left. He took his men into the desert, where they could hide in various strongholds, near the town of Ziph.  

Saul wouldn't let up, in his search for David. It wasn't enough, that David wasn't the leader of his body guards, or even  in the army, any more. It wasn't enough, that David had left his wife and his home, and was wandering from pillar to post, with no secure place to lay his head at night. And it wasn't enough, that Saul was using fear, to turn whole towns against David------Saul wanted David dead, he wasn't going to stop at anything less. Saul hunted him day after day, and God helped David elude Saul day after day-----David must have been so tired of the whole thing-----our commentary says "how discouraging it must have been for David-----constantly on the move, constantly needing food and water for six hundred men, constantly  having to hide----innocent, yet hunted." 

But God knew what would make David feel better----he knew what he needed---He always knows what we need------Saul couldn't find David----but God allowed Jonathan to find him. With all the bad news, that David had been receiving about the whereabouts of Saul----and the uncertainty of his day to day situation----what a pleasant surprise, it must have been, when Jonathan showed up, unexpectedly. We aren't told a lot about the reunion, but, what we do know, is significant------Jonathan did everything he could, to affirm David. And, it was more than a pep talk----because he helped David renew his strength in God. He encouraged David not to be afraid-----and he reminded him, that God was protecting him, because He intended for David to be Israel's next king. And Jonathan affirmed the truth of the fact, that he knew that he was secondary to David----and he reminded David that he was his most loyal servant and supporter. And they renewed their covenant with each other, one last time.

When life happens, and we don't know how or why it happened-----when it seems like we can't do anything right and the world seems to be winning, and we can't see any light at the end of the tunnel-----when we can't see God's hand in any thing----we need to go to the scripture, and there, in God's word, we will find hope for the future, and comfort for the present, and peace with the past. Romans 15:4 says," For everything that was written in the past, was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope." And because Jesus has charged us with taking care of each other------ as believers, it's our responsibility to support and encourage each other. 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us, in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble, with the comfort, we ourselves have received from God."  That's what Jonathan did---which was the best thing he knew to do---- to support and encourage and comfort David-----he brought God's word to him, and it renewed David's heart…

This may have been the last time David and Jonathan were together. Their friendship was much more than just companionship, they truly enjoyed each other's faith in God, and trusted one another, with their deepest thoughts and closest confidences. Their relationship was strong and reliable and blessed, because it was rooted in their love for God.

Saul's pursuit of David continued-----and about that time, a group of Ziphites, reported David's approximate whereabouts, to Saul-----scripture doesn't tell us why----maybe they wanted to curry his favor, or maybe they wanted to avoid his wrath-----but whatever the reason was, their betrayal, was particularly grievous, to David, because they were from the same tribe that he was from, the tribe of Judah. 

But this time, Saul was more calculated in his game plan. He didn't go rushing out with his army. 

Since David had escaped his efforts several times already----it was making him look inept, so he wanted to make sure that he didn't come back empty-handed again. Saul instructed the Ziphites to watch David closely, and to make note of his habits and his hiding places, and that when he knew he would have success, Saul would close in on David, for the kill. 

Again, God made sure that David was warned----and he and his men kept moving-----until the day came when David and his men found themselves on one side of the mountain, with Saul and his men on the other side. Just when it seemed like there was no way that David and company could escape-----God intervened, and sent a messenger to Saul, with the news, that the Philistines were attacking, and that he and the men were needed. Saul, thankfully, responded immediately, which allowed David to escape again.  

II    David Spares Saul's Life      1st Samuel 24:1-22

David and his 600 men moved to the wilderness of En-gedi, and found it a good place to hide, because of the many caves in the area, Those caves were used by local people for housing, and as tombs. For David's men, they were places of refuge. Some of them were large enough to hold thousands of people. (amazing) Many of them are still there today----and when you look up a description of En-gedi, it is described as an oasis-----so there must have been some beauty to the area. 

As soon as Saul dealt with the Philistines, he returned to his pursuit of David----he took 3000 trained soldiers with him, to fight David's 600 men. But before Saul had found David, he stopped at a cave to have some privacy for a bathroom break. Little did Saul know, but he had chosen the exact same cave where David and his men were hiding.   

David's men said to him, "Now's your opportunity! Today, the Lord is telling you, 'I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish'." 

But scripture doesn't record, that God made any such statement to David, or to his men. The men were probably offering their own interpretation of some previous event, such as David's anointing or Jonathan's prediction, that David would become king, or God promising to deliver his enemies into his hands, meaning the Philistines, as well as other enemies. When David's men saw Saul entering their cave, they wrongly assumed that it was an indication from God, that they should act. (This was another example of thinking that something was from God, without any real direction from Him)

David had a great respect for Saul, in spite of the fact that Saul was trying to kill him. Although Saul was sinning and rebelling against God, David still respected the position he held as God's anointed king. David knew, that it wasn't right to strike down the man that God had placed on the throne, and he also knew, that his time would come to be king but that time wasn't yet. 

And he knew, that if he assassinated Saul, that he would be setting a precedent, for his own opponents, to remove him, sometime in the future, if they didn't like him, or his method of kingship. Romans 13:1-7 teaches that God, has placed the government and its leaders, in power. We may not like it and we may not agree with them, but like David, we are to respect the positions and the roles, of the people that God has given authority over us to. But, there is one exception. Because God is our highest authority, we should not allow a leader, to pressure us, to violate God's law.

So, instead of yielding to the urging of his men, to kill Saul----David used the cover of darkness, and Saul's distraction, to slip up behind him and cut off a sliver of his cloak.  

The means we use, to accomplish a goal, is just as important, as the goal we are trying to accomplish. David's goal was to become king, so his men urged him to to kill Saul, when he had the chance. David's refusal, was not an example of cowardice, it was one of courage----the courage to stand against the group, and to do what he knew was right. We should never compromise our moral or spiritual standards, or what we know the Lord would have us do, by giving in to group pressure or by taking the easy way out. 

(Before the break-up of the Soviet Union, Christians were routinely persecuted for their faith, by the Communist regime. There are many inspiring stories of courageous Christians, behind the Iron Curtain, who were willing to die for their faith, during that difficult period in the world's history. But there is one story, about a house church, that testifies to the truth, of how important it is, to have the courage to stand up for what we know is right. 

Their was a small group of believers, who gathered in a home, for church, who were afraid to carry their bibles, so they memorized large sections of the New Testament and then recited scripture to each other.

Every week they would arrive at the house, at different times, to avoid arousing the suspicions of KGB informers. On one particular Sunday, the church members were all safely inside the home, with the windows closed and the doors locked, as was their custom. They began the underground church service, by softly singing a hymn and praying.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and two soldiers, armed with automatic weapons, walked in. One of them shouted, 'Everybody up against the wall!!!!" and then he said, "anybody who wants to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ, you can leave now and no harm will come to you, but the rest of you stay!!"

Two or three church members left, and then another one, scurried out….

"This is your last chance! the other soldier warned, "either turn your back on this Jesus of yours, or stay and suffer the consequences.!!" 

Another member left. Then, two more, covered their faces and slipped out, as quietly as they could. Nobody else moved. Parents, with small children, trembling and crying beside them, murmured reassuring words to them and kept their hands on them----even though they fully expected to be gunned down, on the spot, or at the very least, imprisoned for life.

After a few moments of silence, the soldiers closed the door and looked back at the church members left standing against the wall. One of them said, "keep your hands up----but this time, lift them high in praise to the Lord Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters. We are Christians, too. 

We were sent to another house church, several weeks ago to arrest a group of believers. But instead, we were converted, we didn't mean to frighten you, but we have learned, that unless people are willing to die for their faith, they can't be fully trusted ") We have to trust, that the Lord will give us the courage to stand up for Him and for what is right, when either a planned or an unexpected opportunity, presents itself. 

David's men must have been shocked, when David refused to take advantage of the situation, to take Saul's life, and even more shocked when David felt remorse for just cutting off a piece of the royal robe. David, being a man after God's own heart, though, knew immediately, how wrong, what he had done, was. David's act, symbolically attacked, Saul's claim to the kingship ----he was implying the transfer of power from Saul, to himself. But more importantly, David recognized that he had struck a blow, not just at Saul, but also at the Lord. The Lord had placed Saul in his position and the Lord would remove him, in His time, and not one second before. David raising his hand against Saul, meant that he was rebelling against the Lord. 

David, with unprecedented bravery, and a conviction about what was right, followed Saul out of the cave, out into the light, abandoning all efforts at self-protection or evasion. David addressed Saul, as his Lord, the king, and as his father, and he showed reverence and submission to Saul, by bowing low to him.

He begged to Saul, to set aside any rumors he might have heard, and to only judge David's guilt or innocence, for himself, based on David's actions. 

Saul must have been astounded, when he heard David's familiar voice behind him. He quickly determined that David wasn't seeking his defeat or his death and that he wasn't attempting to gain the throne, by removing Saul from it. Saul could also see, the sliver of his robe, that David was holding up. His life had been in David's hands, but by coming out into the open, proving that he had nothing to hide, David was placing his life in Saul's hands. He quoted an old proverb, to convince Saul, that he was no threat to him or his kingdom----he compared himself to a dead dog with a single flea.   

There is a difference in remorse and repentance-----remorse, is being sorry that you got caught, in your behavior-----and, repentance, is being so sorry for your behavior, that it changes you heart.

Saul's speech, makes me think he was suffering from remorse, but that he wasn't really ready for repentance…. his response to David, is a classic example, of what seems to be, sentimental, emotional spirituality. Saul conceded that David was correct in his assessment of what had transpired between them---- and he admitted that he knew that David was the rightful king, who would eventually take over the kingdom. 

There was nothing in his words that suggested that Saul didn't feel and believe what he was saying, while he was saying it, at the time. But there was no character to back it up----and there was no covenant or agreement between him and David, on which they could have built an honest relationship, that was grounded in prayer and repentance and obedience and trust, like there had been, between Jonathan and David----- Saul, displayed heartfelt, religious emotions, but neither his life, nor his behavior changed one iota, which would lead you to believe, that his heart didn't either.

(In 1976 a little 10 year boy, from South Africa, named Julian, fell down while he was chasing butterflies in a field of tall grass. Soon afterward the boy's left eye started hurting, so he was taken to a doctor. The doctor couldn't find the source of the irritation, so he just gave the boy some ointment, and sent him home. 

Eventually, Julian's eye problem went away, but about a year later, the boy started complaining of cloudy vision. His parents took him to an eye specialist, who was stunned by what he discovered.

Apparently, when Julian had fallen in the grass, a year earlier, a tiny grass seed had implanted itself into his cornea. Slowly, the seed had grown and had actually sprouted two little leaves in Julian's eye. The seed had to be removed immediately, in order to save the boy's vision.) When sin imbeds itself into a heart, like it had into Saul's---- over time, it can grow into something that can, gradually damage or destroy a person's soul. Sin can't be removed with ointment only Jesus can get rid of it----that's why He went to the cross-----but we have to be willing to recognize when sin is sin and yield ourselves to the Lord's surgical incision.

Our commentary directs us to 2nd Corinthians 7:10 which says, "For the kind of sorrow that God wants us to experience, leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death." 

Worldly sorrow leads to death, but godly sorrow leads to repentance----a turning from sin and a turning to forgiveness and change. When it's godly sorrow, that grips our hearts,  it will cause us to to want to be different and to take the steps to change. Sadly, the scripture never shows us any fruit, born of godly sorrow, in Saul. Is there something in each of our lives, that needs to be spiritually, surgically removed----some pattern of behavior or habit that needs to be changed or forgotten----are we hurting someone else by our refusal to give it up----we need to lay our hearts bare before the Lord and seek His forgiveness and His strength to accept it and move forward. 

Saul, in his emotional vulnerability, wanted David to swear, that he wouldn't kill off all of his descendants. That was a common practice of the time---- for new kings, to kill off every other possible heir to the throne-----especially descendants of the preceding king. Saul didn't realize that David had already made that promise to Jonathan, and that that was why he had no qualms about making the same promise to Saul. 

And David kept his promise----he never took revenge on Saul's family or descendants. Most of Saul's sons were killed later, by the Philistines and the Gibeonites. But David had promised to be kind to the descendants of Saul's son, Jonathan, and he kept his promise. 

Saul may have responded to David for the moment, but David didn't trust him, so he didn't go back to his court. Saul went home and David and his men went back to their stronghold. 

During times of adversity, there will be people who will attack us. They will slander us and seek to destroy our reputation, but we can turn to God and He will protect us and guide us and deliver us. David wrote two Psalms, during the time he was hiding out in the caves----in Psalm 57, it says that he cried out for mercy and then he said "…in You, my soul takes refuge…" and in Psalm 142, it says that he again cried out for mercy, and then he declared to God, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." 

We are blessed that we have David's words written down, because we can take comfort and courage and strength from them. 

As David's story continues, we can see that God was continuing to allow adversity, and David's own perseverance, to mold him, into the man that God knew that David was going to become. 

JOY "David the Fugitive" January 16, 2013

January 16, 2013

David the Fugitive

1st Samuel 21:1-22:23

I              David Seeks Help   21:1-9

II             David in Hiding           21:10-22:5

III            Saul's Wrath               22:6-23

David went from being a hero in the court of Israel to a wanted fugitive almost overnight. His future had been bright and promising. Samuel had anointed him to be the future king of Israel, even though it had been done in secrecy, in front of no one but his father and his brothers. He had been the armor bearer and chief musician of King Saul. He had married the princess-----Michal----the king's daughter, which elevated him to a place of honor. And his best friend was the crown prince----the one who should have been heir to the throne. He should have been treated with respect and honor, in a way that befitted his royal status-----but David found himself being treated like a criminal, who was running for his life. In what seemed like a split second, adversity and hardship had become his constant companions.

God intended for David to have a glorious future-----he would, eventually, make him king. And God would make a covenant, especially with David, that insured that the Lord Jesus would be one of his descendants. But before that could happen, David had to learn to trust God, during the times of affliction in his life, as well as during the times of blessing.

David had some growing to do and God had some lessons to teach him-----the way that David responded to the adversity that came crashing down on him, is what developed the godly character in him, that he needed to rule over Israel and to be a man after God's own heart. David had been on the mountaintop----he knew what that felt like-----but he needed to know what it felt like to be in the valley too----we all know what that feels like, because we can't stay on the mountaintop all the time----it may be breathtakingly beautiful----but the air is thin and the foliage is sparse, and the trees grow far apart, and the water supply is often scarce------so, we need to spend time in the valley----- because that's where most of our growth happens------the grass is lush there and the cool clear river or creek water, full of the nutrients from the top of the mountain, runs through it, and the trees are close together and give us shelter and shade from the sun and the rain----and we may have to work hard, but we can see and enjoy the fruit of our labor. 

God created us, so He knows that, in our lives, we need both mountaintops and valleys----other-wise we would become complacent or self-satisfied or indifferent, and wouldn't appreciate the value of either one. It truly does take one, to appreciate the other. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote the phrase, "into each life, some rain must fall." This statement is painfully true, because each one of us, at any point in time, has to face and walk through difficulties and heartache and trouble and injustice. Sometimes, only a little rain falls and sometimes, it pours. Often, we struggle to manage our problems, and we look for those we can admire and emulate, who have survived even greater hardships. 

There is one Christian inspirational speakers organization----which lists 39 different speakers for the category, "Overcoming Adversity". Some of these speakers, are survivors of cancer, tragic accidents or horrible crimes. Some of them are former POW's, terrorist victims, or individuals who suffer from disabling diseases. The initial circumstances may be different, but each speaker has faced some type of adversity and has come through it, with a deeper appreciation for life, a stronger character and a greater understanding of the faithfulness of God. Its important, for us to hear, what people have to say about what the Lord has done or is doing for them----its important for us to be those people who are doing the telling. 

Marty said Sunday, in the early service, that the joy in our hearts, that floods our souls, like the sea billows roll, should be so strong, that it knocks people down spiritually----the way ocean waves knock us down physically-------  

because, as believers, we know what we've been spared----(which is hell)----and we know, Who will never leave us or forsake us and Who will walk with us, though every valley, giving us courage, and the will to survive, and an unwavering hope in the future-----

Before David could become the Lord's chosen king-----he needed to walk through the valley and have some rain fall into his life. God wanted David's time, as a fugitive, to teach him how to face adversity and hardship head-on-----

and He didn't let him do it by himself-----when we read the Psalms, we can clearly see that God was with him every step of the way and that David never lost sight of that fact---even though he lamented sometimes, about the circumstances he found himself in, and wondered why God let him get into them in the first place----- he always came back around to God, being ever in control, and ever faithful, and ever merciful.  God also gathered a group of mighty men around him---to protect him, who would fight with and for him--- and He gave him a priest to advise him, give him scriptural counsel, who would keep him accountable to God. God wanted David to learn trust Him and to honor His will, no matter what storm was raging around him-----to hold onto Him, because, the reality is, there was nothing else that He could hold onto------and there is nothing else we can hold onto either----

Adversity is always painful, but the Lord can turn it into something that is useful or even beautiful. 

In the Beatitudes, Jesus taught that believers will be blessed when they are persecuted because of righteousness---Matt 5:10-12 says---that when people lie about us or insult us, or are mean to us, for the Lord's sake, we are to rejoice in Him, anyway, because He already has our reward in heaven.

James in 1:2-4, tells us to consider it "pure joy", when we face trials of many kinds----because the testing of our faith though adversity builds perseverance and faithful perseverance builds godly character.

Peter reminds us on 1Peter 1:6-7 that we may suffer grief in different kins of trials, but these hardships and difficulties come in order to prove our faith genuine and to give "praise, honor and glory" to Jesus.

Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:5 that if we remain faithful in suffering, then we will be counted "worthy of the kingdom of God." 

And in 2 Timothy, Paul says that God will surely vindicate those who suffer for him. 

Jesus, suffering on the cross for you and me, is the most precious truth, that we have to cling to, when we're experiencing adversity-----everything else, pales, in comparison-----if we will look deep into His eyes and cling to His hand---we will get through anything, not just somehow, but victoriously, with overwhelming peace and overflowing joy---- and we will be refined, and fit for the purpose, that He created us for, in the process----

(A little piece of wood once complained bitterly because its owner kept whittling away, cutting it, and filling it with holes. But the one who was cutting it so remorselessly, paid no attention to it's complaining. You see, he was making a flute out of that little piece of ebony, and he was to wise to stop just because the wood didn't understand and kept complaining. He said to the little piece of wood --- "without these holes, and all this cutting, you would be a black stick forever----just a useless piece of ebony. What I'm doing now may make you think that I'm destroying you, but instead, I will change you into a flute, and your sweet music will charm the souls of men and comfort many a sorrowing heart. My cutting you is the making of you, for only then can you be a blessing in the world.")

I        David Seeks Help    21:1-9

David had no choice but to flee from Saul's court. He knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Saul was determined to kill him. God had great things in store for David, but God knows what it takes, to make us into the people that He needs for us to be, so that He can use us----and it's different for different people, that's why our life experiences are so different, and why He gives us chance after chance after chance----and why, because there is only way to Him, He will allow many ways to Jesus. 

God knew what it would take, to turn David into the man after His own heart, who could be the king that He desired for him to be, to rule His people. God knew that David needed to learn how to stay faithful in trusting Him, when he faced hardship and adversity.Throughout this time of running and hiding and scrounging for food and for shelter and safety----David had to learn to live and to relate by faith, trusting in God's purposes and His will----in spite of his own popularity with the people and and his skill as a warrior. (He reminds me of Robin Hood, in how the people loved him and made him a hero, while, at the same time, he was being hunted down by the king as a common criminal). He needed to believe and to trust, that God would save him from Saul and make him king, with all the honor and blessing, that that would bring, at the right time and the right place, with the same kind of faith that he had, that the sun would come up in the morning. 

When David climbed out the window of his house, running for his life, he headed to Nob, a sanctuary town, where the priests lived and where parts of the tabernacle, appear to have been taken to, after the Ark of the Covenant was relocated to Kiriath-Jearim. (after it had been misused by the Israelites, captured by the Philistines, and then retrieved by the Israelites during the days of Eli). 

David had been to Nob before, and had sought advice from Ahimelech, the high priest, there. 

But when he got there, this time, he made Ahimelech nervous, because he arrived by himself and he was obviously in a hurry and was unprepared for his mission. And Ahimelech's suspicions weren't helped by the fact, that David was vague in his requests and in his response, to the priest's two questions----"Why are you alone and why is no one with you?  David was creative in his answers----he told Ahimelech, that the king had charged him with a private matter, and, he implied, that it was such a secret mission, that even his men couldn't know about it and had to be left at an undisclosed location. 

Technically, David didn't tell Alimelech a bold-faced lie, because he didn't use Saul's name and he didn't describe what the private matter was----but he didn't tell him the whole truth either-----so, any way you look at it---he deceived him----because a half-truth, is a whole lie. We don't know why David lied-----it could have been that he was afraid that Ahimelech wouldn't help him if he knew that Saul was chasing him, or maybe he thought, that the less Ahimelech knew about him and his plans, the safer the priest and his family would be, if Saul came to question him. But, regardless of his reasoning, his lie, put everybody in even greater danger. (Lying is never the right answer, and there will always be consequences to answer to when the lie is uncovered.) 

The Holy Spirit had fallen on David, but that doesn't mean that he was sinless. He had fears and shortcomings that tempted him to yield to sin, just like the rest of us do. According to the theologian Gene Getz, who wrote David: Seeking God Faithfully, David's behavior in this situation, indicated that he didn't trust God, to be able to protect and deliver him from Saul. Instead, he tried to take matters into his own hands. I personally think that David believed that God could, but I'm not sure that he believed that God would. I've been where David was, and I know each of you have too, at some point in time-----and I've made the same kind of mistakes that he did------but I'm learning to seek the Lord, for guidance and for patience and for insight and for wisdom and for protection and for security, instead of my own experience and ability or the advice and experiential knowledge, of someone else-----I'm learning to say, like the father, of the boy with a demon, that Jesus cast out in Mark 9:14-29 said, "O Lord, I believe, help my unbelief", and then, to trust that He will. Pamela Reeve says, "that, believing, is resting in the fact, that God has an objective, in leaving us on the scene, even when we feel like we're useless to Him and a burden to others" and "that believing, is engaging in the deepest joy, of the promise of heaven, knowing and trusting God's unfathomable love for us, as we walk through the thorny desolate now…" and, that believing, is speaking truth in love, even at the cost of position or relationships."

David asked Ahimelech for 5 loaves of bread. But the only bread on hand, was the 12 loaves of consecrated bread, that symbolized the presence of God, among His people, as well as His loving care, that met all their physical needs. The specially made loaves were set before the Lord every Sabbath. And the old loaves that were removed, were only supposed to be eaten by the priests. Because of David's human need, the priest gave him the bread. (His only stipulation was, that David and his men be ceremonially clean----meaning that they hadn't had sexual relations within 24 hours-----because their law stated, that any loss, of emission from the body, like blood or semen, needed 24 hours to be restored, and that they were ceremonially unclean, until that 24 hours had passed, and couldn't participate in any ceremonial rites, until then. David assured him that they were, that they never went into battle, ceremonially unclean, they treated every mission as a holy one. 

Ahimelech had to go against the Law to give the bread to him, but he put David's need and his life, ahead of religious ceremony. This upheld God's higher law of love----centuries later, Jesus referred to this incident, and he made it clear, that it was the right thing to do-----that it is always right, to do good and to save life, and that life and human need, always take precedence over legalistically, following the law. This isn't teaching us that Jesus condones disobedience to God's laws, its teaching us that we have to use compassion and discernment in enforcing God's laws.

David was not the only servant of Saul, at Nob, that day. Doeg the Edomite (descendant of Esau) was also there. Scritpure says, that he was Saul's head shepherd----but that must have involved more than just watching the sheep-----it must have been some position of leadership, because later on in the story, we know that he used military skill to kill a lot of people. We aren't told why he was detained before the Lord, just that he was.

Ironically, from our perspective, but not circumstantially, from God's----David, who needed a weapon, because he had escaped unarmed, ran straight to the place, where the first sword, he had ever used, was kept. Goliath's sword was kept behind the ephod, which was the special vestment that the High Priest wore, when he was serving on ceremony days, that was made with two pockets, containing the urim and the thumin, which the Israelites used to discern God's guidance and His direction. David may or may not have known the sword was there, but he asked Ahimelech for a weapon, perpetuating the lie, that his mission was so urgent, he hadn't had time bring one of his own. Ahimelech reminded him, that David had cut off Goliath's head, with the only sword that was stored, had at the tabernacle. David was thrilled to take it. 

At Nob, God provided David with food and a means for his protection. When we are in the middle of a crisis, way too often, we forget, that God, hasn't gone anywhere. If we lose a job or face an illness or experience a broken relationship or have to engage in tough love----we immediately worry about how we are going to get through the difficulty or the heartbreak------but we have to learn, to consciously remind ourselves, that God is faithful. We need to learn to trust Him in the good times and the bad ones; on the mountaintops and in the valleys, and whether we're in the wilderness or in a crowd-----We have to remember that He's always the same and He's always good, and He always has our best interests, in the center of His heart. Difficult times can deepen our trust in Him. In Matt. 6:33, Jesus gently reminds us,"not to worry about what we will eat or what we will drink or what we will wear, instead, He call us, to seek God's kingdom first, and then all the other things will be given to us." 

II           David in Hiding    21:10-22:5

David's next stop, in his flight from Saul, was to go to Gath. It was one of the 5 major Philistine cities and it had been Goliath's hometown. It was about 23 miles from Nob. We aren't really given the reason why he went there. Maybe he went there because he thought it was the last place Saul would look, and he would be safe there; maybe he thought he could form an alliance with the king there, whose name was Achish----because sometimes it works really well, when 2 former enemies unite to fight a common enemy. Maybe he thought he could lose himself in a place where nobody knew him, until he could figure out what to do----kind of like hiding in plain sight-----he had no way of knowing that his fame had spread so far, that not only did King Achish' s servant recognize him------but they even knew the first victory song, that the Israelites had sung about him and Saul-----"Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousand….". They knew that he was "the" David, who was viewed as a leader of the Israelites and had killed many Philistines, the biggest one being Goliath. 

Technically, the servants had mistaken David as "the king of the land", giving laud to his military prowess. Saul did still rule in Israel-----but ironically----in this situation, we can see God's sense of humor and His sense of justice----- David had been anointed as the next king, secretly-----and eventually He would become King of the Israelites, publicly, and he was going to become the king, who would defeat the Philistines once and for all. David didn't know it and neither did the Philistines, but God was preparing him through his crazy hardships, to be king over the entire  Promised Land, including the Philistine cities. 

Scripture says that David heard and paid attention to the servants words------and that hey made him afraid------David decided to take the initiative and pretended to be insane. He made marks on doors and drooled into his beard. I don't know how long it took, but the ruse worked. Achish chastised his servants, for allowing an insane man, into their midst, insisting that they get rid of him. In the ancient middle east, this type of insanity was considered to be the result of divine possession or affliction, so it was the custom, not harm mentally unstable people. Fortunately for David, Achish didn't regard threat has a threat, to him or his people, so he let him live----and David was able to escape from another king, by the skin of his teeth.

There is something sad about this part of the story to me-----David wasn't trusting God-----so, not only did he run to a place and a people, who could never help him and who didn't know or care about his God, but he had to resort to demeaning behavior, so that he could escape. His behavior was a far cry, from the behavior of the courageous young man, who had stood up to Goliath. David needed to get beyond his fear and find his faith. He was confused and he was running for his life, but if he had stopped and just listened for a minute, he would have heard that voice behind him, saying----"this is the way, David, walk in it…" (Isaiah 30:21)

But, in spite of everything----and our lesson commentary says, because of everything, David was beginning, with each new hardship, to trust God just a little more----it was during the time at Achish's court, when he was pretending to be insane, that he wrote Psalm 34----I love verses 19-20 from that Psalm----"the righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time, for the Lord protects the bones of the righteous, not one of them is broken."

When David left Gath, he went east, into the hill country of Judah, and hid in the Cave of Adullam. It was about 10 miles from Bethlehem, David's hometown, so, when his brothers and his father's household, got wind of where he was, they followed him there. I'm sure that they came to comfort David and show their solidarity, but they must have been scared of what Saul might do to them, too----this tells me, that they must have had faith in David's ability to lead them---- and that, in the long run, David would be the victor. 

Scripture also says that David began to grow a band of followers that grew to 400 men in a very short while, It was made up of men who were in trouble, or in debt or discontented. They were outcasts who could only improve their lot by helping David become the king. David's control over this group of men, shows his resourcefulness and his ability to lead and to motivate other people. Its hard enough to build an army out of good men, but its even harder, and takes even greater leadership, to build one, out of the kind of men, who came to follow David. Out of this group of unlikely people, God began to form David's kingdom----they were no longer individual tribes, with a loose alliance to each other; they had begun to be, one united kingdom. (This is a precursor to the kingdom of God----when Jesus walked on the earth, the outcasts of society were drawn to Him too----and even now, the downtrodden and the discounted are looking for another way----when they recognize their sin----they come to the Lord Jesus, seeking His forgiveness, rejecting the world and desiring to be a part of His kingdom.)

David left the cave to go to Mizpah, in Moab, to ask the king there, if he would grant asylum to his mother and father, until he knew God's will for his life. He was banking on the king honoring his request because his great grandmother Ruth, was from Moab.  What a good boy he was-----in the middle of his uncertainty, he made sure that he had his parents taken care of and in a safe place, protected from Saul and his anger against him-----David wasn't perfect, but we can clearly see the purity of his heart, as he met the needs of the people, that he loved, and who were under his care. 

When he left Moab, he went to a place that was called "the Stronghold"---some scholars believe that it was, the fortress, Masada-----the Jews celebrate Hannakah, even today, because of the miracle that happened there---when their lamps burned for 8 days and never ran out of oil----but nobody really knows. While he was there, the prophet Gad came to him and told him that God had said that it was time to leave and go to Judah. 

And David went---- he didn't hesitate, and he set up camp in the forest of Hereth, which was located just west of the Dead Sea. The implication was, that this place, was the one that God had chosen to provide for and protect David and his family. David's quick obedience to move himself and his family to a place that took him close to Saul, shows us, that he was trusting God, more and more.

III          Saul's Wrath    22:6-23

This passage describes one of the greatest tragedies that happened in the history of the Israelite monarchy. Saul's jealous, personal vendetta against David escalated into the unjust murder of the faithful priests at Nob, their families and the destruction of all of their possessions. We can see how Saul's sinful conduct stands out, in clear contrast, to David's growing faith and trust in the Lord.

Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree, which is the kind of place, where ancient tribal chieftains would sit and mete out justice to their people. But Saul was so far removed from being able to hand out justice that I don't think there was anyone but Doeg, the Edomite, who would take anything he said seriously.

 First, Saul turned his own officials against himself, by accusing them of allowing Jonathan to make a covenant with David, to kill him. Everybody could see how distorted Saul's thinking was-----they knew David was in hiding from Saul's relentless pursuit. David didn't want to kill Saul----at the point, he was still a loyal servant to Saul. 

Doeg didn't have any qualms, about telling Saul, that he had seen David talking to Ahimelech at the sanctuary in Nob. He let Saul's bitter anger and jealousy blow the information out of proportion in his mind---made him think that David was conspiring against him with the priest----when the reality was, that David, even though he was young, immature and spritually impatient, was seeking protection and guidance  from the Lord----Doeg must have been trying to elevate himself in Saul's mind and in his army. His selfish ambition, sent Saul over the edge and caused the destruction of a whole family. 

Based on Doeg's testimony, Saul summoned Ahimelech and his entire family to him----and he accused him of conspiracy and treason. Ahimelech was an honorable man----he defended himself and his actions by defending David. He listed 5 points about David's character that Saul could not dispute-----he was Saul's servant; he was loyal; he was the kings son-in-law; he was the captain of Saul's bodyguard and he was highly respected in Saul's household. For Ahimelech, it was impossible conceive of David as being a traitor who would rebel against Saul and want to take his life-----he knew David---he had gone to see Ahimelech, many times before this, to seek the Lord's counsel and direction. He hadn't known that there was anything going on between David and Saul-----David's lie should have protected Ahimelech, but Saul was not a sane man, so he couldn't trust the truth of Ahimelech's words. 

So, Saul gave the order to his bodyguards to kill Ahimelch and all his family and everybody in the town of Nob, but they refused---they were David's friends and they were followers of the Lord----that task would have been odious to them----but Doeg was happy to carry out the destruction. He killed 85 priests and all their families and all their livestock and he destroyed all their possessions. He was as evil and demented as Saul. 

Saul didn't succeed in obliterating the line of Ahimelech----because Abiathar, his son escaped and fled to David. It had to have been an emotional moment when Abiathar told David what Saul and Doeg had done. The new depth of David's character and the painstaking growth, of his faith in God, is stunningly apparent in David's response to the sad and tragic news. Instead of blaming Saul and Doeg for the tragedy, David accepted the responsibility for the needless deaths. And he comforted Abiathar and invited him to stay with him, where he would be safe. Abiathar escaped to David with an ephod housing a urim and a thummim. The ephod was probably the only symbol of the priesthood which survived Saul's raid and made it into David's cap. Saul thought he had destroyed Israel's priesthood, but when david became king-----he installed Abiathar as the high Priest and he remained in that position during david's entire reign.    

(David wrote Psalm 52 after this incident, and he gives insight into Doeg's motivation and what eventually happened to him------the contrast between the two men described in the Psalm, is clear----Doeg trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others, but was eventually destroyed himself-------but David trusted in God's unfailing love, even in the middle of uncertainty and tragedy and was eventually elevated to a position of great leadership and authority) 

 Treasures

One by one God took them from me

all the things I valued most

till I was empty handed

every glittering toy was lost

and I walked earth's highways

grieving in my rags and poverty

 until I heard His voice inviting

"lift those empty hands to me."

And I turned my hands toward heaven

and he filled them with a store

of His transcendent riches

till they could contain no more

and at last I comprehended

with my stupid mind, and dull

that God could not pour His riches

into hands already full.

Heavenly Father, our souls cry out in pain and grief during times of trial and adversity. Please give us the strength to hold onto you and make it through. Please help us to remember that when we trust in you, during our hardships and pain, we are changed--- we grow and godly character is built. And please, teach us what we need to learn about helping others in times of pain and sorrow---so that we can be a blessing to them, and make sure, that we point them, always to you, as the only source of comfort and wisdom and direction. Thank you that Jesus was obedient to You and went to the cross to suffer in our place and to show us,  that the only way to walk through our own suffering----is to keep our eyes on you. Please help us to follow His example, so that we will draw closer to you, and so that will be counted worthy to be one of your children, and so that we will be a good example for people, who are watching us during our trial. 

And Father, please may our faithful response to suffering, be a witness to the saving power of the Lord Jesus-----that will lead anybody who's watching, to a saving faith in Him. In the precious, holy name of Jesus, Amen.

JOY "The Fall of Saul and the Rise of David" January 9, 2013

January 9, 2013

The Fall of Saul and the Rise of David

     1st Samuel 16:1-20:42

I     Lesson 10   The Heart of David

       1st Samuel 16:1-17:58

II    Lesson 11  Jonathan and David  

        1st Samuel 18:1- 19: 24

III   Lesson 12   Sacrificial Friendship

         1st Samuel 20:1-42

Welcome back----its really good to see everybody….

I hope everybody was able to get their homework done and to feel like you have a good understanding of these chapters, from your small group time. I know it wasn't easy, because it hasn't been easy to wrap them up----but I'm going to try and give you a brief summary of each chapter, emphasizing each chapter's most important points. And I hope we can do these chapters justice. I'm going to number the points as we go along….

I          The Heart of David 16:1-17:58

"The entire church listened with rapt attention when our pastor called all the little children forward for their sermon. As they gathered around him, he held up 2 bananas. In one hand the banana was discolored with brown and black bruises all over it, and in the other hand, the banana was smooth and yellow, with no blemishes at all. The one banana appeared to be spoiled and over-ripe, and the other one looked perfectly appetizing----ready to eat. 

What the children and the congregation didn't know, was that the pastor had purposely, prepared the 2 bananas for his object lesson. The night before he had put one banana in the fridge, so that he could hasten the discoloration of it's skin, to make it unappealing, and then, he had very carefully poked a tooth pick down one side of the other banana, numerous  times, so that it would spoil the fruit in a much less obvious way. 

The pastor said, " I have two bananas but I can't tell you which is good and which is bad---I want you to tell me which one is which." First, he held up the ugly discolored banana and asked the children how many of them wanted to eat it. None of their hands went up, and the looks of disgust on their faces, and their exclamations of gross and yuk…. let the pastor and the congregation know exactly what they were thinking. Then, he held up the nice-looking banana, and asked the children, how many of them, would eat that one. Every single child's hand went up. 

Then the pastor said, "sometimes fruit may look good on the outside, when its really rotten on the inside." And he proceeded to peel the yellow banana with no blemishes (the one that he had sabotaged with the toothpick) and the children could clearly see that the inside of the fruit was ruined---it was mushy and brown and weepy. It was clear to everybody, that no one  would eat that banana.

Then, he peeled the banana with the discolored and bruised skin-----it was beautiful inside----it was firm and ripe and ready to eat---mouthwatering, even--- everybody wanted a taste of it. 

The point of the pastor's message to the children, was, that when God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's son's to be king over Israel, Samuel began to look on their outward appearance, much like he had when Saul was chosen, thinking that God wanted somebody who was tall and strong and already a man. But God had other ideas, He wanted David, who was young and still growing, and sensitive to the things of God, to be the king over His people. In 1st Samuel 16:7, God told Samuel, 'Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' 

This is a great lesson to remind us that we need to be careful when we make assumptions about what God wants-----because, just because something may look good on the outside doesn't mean that it's good on the inside, and by the same token,  just because something may look bad on the outside doesn't mean that it's bad on the inside. God doesn't care about our outward appearance or the face we present to the world----- He really only cares about how faithful to Him, we are in our hearts----because, if we are faithful to Him, then, we will be faithful to each other, and faithful to share His Gospel with the people we come in contact with. Jesus warned us in Matt. 6:21 "…that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. 

And we are going to see that David's life, from the beginning, when he is called in from the field and anointed, till the day he dies, as Israel's greatest earthly king, even though he is not perfect, by any means, clearly teaches us this truth.

When chapter 16 opens we can see Samuel mourning for Saul. We don't know if it was because he felt like he had lost a good friend, or because he missed a man that he had shared major events in life with or if he was just so disappointed in Saul's continual disobedience to Almighty God. But what we do know, is that God told him to stop fretting over it and get up and go on to the next task He had called him to----which was to go to Bethlehem, find a man named Jesse and anoint his son to be the next king over Israel.

1.) There is a time and a season for every thing.

Our commentary for this week, reminds us that Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season, for every activity under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." The key phrase is "there is a time." Samuel had mourned for Saul long enough-----God wanted him to pick up his bootstraps and keep on working.

"times and seasons" come and go in our lives, and we have to have our hearts so open and tuned to the Lord, listening for His guidance and direction as we read the scripture and talk to Him in prayer, that we are ready to keep on a steady path if he tells us to, or we're ready to turn around and go in a completely different direction.

 We need to be so in tune with the Lord that the loudest heartbeat we hear is His and it magnifies His voice to us-----Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it." 

Is there something we need to move on with or do we need to run away from it? Is there something we need to be silent about or is it time for us to speak up?

Is there someone we need to hold at arm's length or do we need to embrace them? We need to learn that we can trust the Lord to lead us where and how He wants us to go---emotionally, spiritually and physically.

As Samuel traveled to Bethlehem, he had to pass right through Gibeah, which was Saul's hometown-----the scripture says that Samuel was afraid that Saul would catch wind of what God had told him to do and would kill him because of it---but we aren't told that God even addressed Samuel's fears---He just gave him enough information for his next step----and He assured him that once he got where he was going, God would tell him what he was supposed to do there.

2.) God leads us one step at a time.

God doesn't lay out our entire lives in advance-----if He did, we wouldn't live them----we would just sit back and wait for Him to act. Instead, He gives us information and direction, on a need-to-know basis, when we can handle it, as much as we can handle, at the time. (The other morning, I let Lizzie's dog out to potty in, the pitch-black dark, just before dawn----I had a flash light---but I could only see, one step in front of me, at a time)---sometimes that's the way it is with God-----He only illuminates our path, one step at a time----but that should't keep us from obeying------that should make us obey, all the more---because it keeps us in close communication with Him and keeps our ears constantly listening, for His voice----2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We walk by faith, not by sight"-----It's a trust issue----when we can't see God's hand, we have to trust His heart and obey His commands anyway.

Samuel got to Bethlehem---where his presence scared the elders there to death----possibly because they had been present at his last public appearance and had seen his anger at Saul's disobedience and witnessed his public execution of King Agag of the Amalekites. But Samuel put their mind at ease, when he invited them, along with Jesse and his sons, to consecrate themselves and join him for a sacrifice celebration. 

At some point, during the celebration, Jesse started introducing his sons to Samuel and Samuel waited to hear from God which one He had chosen to be  the next king----but God rejected them, one by one.

3.) "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart." 

      (1st Samuel 16:7)

We know that Saul was a tall, handsome, impressive looking man----Samuel must have been expecting the next king to look like that too. But God warned him about judging a person by their outward appearance. When we judge people by their outward appearance or the persona that they present to the world----we run the risk of overlooking truly wonderful people, or we run the risk of encouraging prideful behavior, that can be detrimental to the character of another person. We judge people by their weight, their looks, the beauty of their bodies or their faces, their intelligence, their clothing, their physical abilities, their wealth, their popularity and their possessions, just to name a few. None of these can really tell us about the character of the person, though.

Fortunately, God can see the heart of a person and He judges us by the faith in Him, that He finds there, which ultimately, defines our character. 

Most of us spend hours every week, maintaining our outward appearance----we exercise, and we eat right and we spend time and energy and money on skincare and cosmetics and nails and toes and hair and clothes----to make us---- not even feel beautiful, most of the time, just presentable and acceptable-----and while there is nothing wrong with this-----the truth is, we need to spend more time nurturing the beauty of our hearts and our spiritual selves, on the inside----- through prayer and study and obedience, because in the long run, that's what the Lord is looking for; its what He cares about.

God knows that each one of us is just a sinner, saved by His grace-----and He knows whether or not we hunger and thirst after His righteousness; and He knows how many of us, despite our sinful natures, seek to obey Him as best we can and want to do His will, even when our will is weak. He knows….

Jesse had brought 7 sons with him to the feast and God rejected each one for the kingship, as they were presented to Samuel. Samuel was puzzled and questioned Jesse---which led him to call for his younger son, David, to come in from where he was tending the family sheep. God made it clear that David was the one, even though he was still just a boy. David was anointed king, but it wasn't a public anointing, like Saul's had been. David wasn't publicly anointed until much, much later. The scripture says that the Holy Spirit came upon David with a mighty power, from that moment, of his anointing, forward. And he wouldn't be crowned and seated on the throne of Israel for a long time.   

But even though Saul was still legally king, God was setting David apart and preparing him for his future responsibilities.

4.) God always keeps His promises; what He says will come to pass, will happen, in His time. 

We have to remember that God has given each of us many wonderful promises----we've already seen many come true in our lives----and there are others that are yet to be realized; and some won't come true, until we see Jesus in heaven----but we can rest assured, they will happen, in God's time, if He says that they will. We can stand on Hebrews 10:35-36, which says, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."

Scripture says that just as surely as the Spirit of God had come upon David, He had left Saul. and in his place the Lord had sent an evil spirit to torment him. There's no way we can really understand this---we just have to accept the fact, that there is nothing in heaven or on earth, that isn't under God's authority, including satan and his demons. The consequences that Saul had to suffer because of his disobedience to God, were a lot worse than he could ever have imagined.

When the evil spirit plagued Saul, there was nothing that could soothe him, Eventually, though, a servant came up with the idea that harp music would make him feel better. Another servant knew David and knew that he wasn't just a beautiful brave boy, but that he knew the Lord and was a skilled harpist. So he suggested that David be brought to serve Saul at court. Saul loved him. Every time that David would play his instrument--- the evil spirit tormenting Saul, would go away. Saul made David one of his armor bearers and he asked Jesse to let David stay and serve him. And so, scripture says that David stayed part of the time with Saul and part of the time in his father's field, with the sheep.       

5.) There is no such thing as a coincidence.

This clearly was all part of God's divine plan. He was working behind the scenes, through natural events, to accomplish His will. If God doesn't prevent something, He is allowing it, for a purpose. When Saul asked David to be part of his service, he obviously didn't know that David had secretly been anointed king. Saul taking David under his wing, provided the perfect opportunity for the young shepherd boy to gain firsthand information about kingcraft and how to 

lead a nation. God uses everything in our lives for a purpose----- every talent, every ability, every handicap, every asset, every advantage, every disadvantage, every relationship and every chance encounter-----they are all gifts from God, to be used in service to Him, and to each other. Nothing is wasted… but sometimes our plans, even the ones we think God has called us to, have to be put on hold, with no end in sight----when this happens we have to make the most of the situation we've been given, by choosing to learn and grow in the circumstances, whatever they are.

In chapter 17 we see that Jesse was an old man and that he was worried about his older sons. They were with Saul and the army, in a standoff between the Israelites and the Philistines. The battle had been going on for 40 days, without one side attacking the other. There were two reasons for the delay in the battle---the first one, was because they were camped on opposite sides of a valley, with steep walls. Whoever would rush down the valley and up the steep cliffs, would be at a disadvantage at the beginning of the battle and would probably suffer major casualties, from the outset. Each side was waiting for the other one to attack first. 

And the 2nd reason was because of Goliath, the giant man, who was over 9 feet tall, who came out and verbally taunted the Israelites every day. The common tactic in that day, to avoid the high cost of battle, was to pit the strongest warrior, for one side  against the strongest warrior, for the other one. Doing this helped both sides to avoid a lot of bloodshed, because the winner of the fight was considered the winner of the battle. Obviously, Goliath was the choice for the Philistines, and its interesting, that Saul would probably have been the logical candidate for Israel, to send out to fight Goliath, since he was considered to be a head taller, than any other Israelite man, and had a mighty warrior reputation----but Saul must have been just as scared of Goliath, as everyone else was, because he was offering quite a reward, to the man who would volunteer to fight him-----his daughter's hand in marriage, great wealth and exemption from paying taxes. 

Jesse sent David to the battlefield with food and supplies for his brothers with instructions to bring him back a report of their well-being. 

David got there just as Goliath was delivering his daily challenge. It made him  furious that anyone would dare to defy the army of the Living God. 

He overheard some soldiers talking about the reward, and asked them to clarify it for him. Then, there was an exchange with his eldest brother that reminds me of the same kind of sibling rivalry that Joseph had with his brothers, that led them to sell him into slavery. I believe that jealousy, was the root of the issue. David's brothers had been present and passed over, when he was chosen and anointed to be king-----I think him showing up in the camp, and witnessing the justifiabe, but cowardly behavior of his brothers and the rest of the Israelites, was more than Eliab could take. Everybody's nerves were at a breaking point. That's why he lashed out at David.         

6.) But---- we can't control other people's words or their behavior, we can only control our own. And we have to do what God tells us to do, no matter who ridicules us or makes us feel guilty or inadequate or silly or tries to undermine us. We have to stick to the path He's called us to and let other people stick to theirs. 

David went to Saul and told him not to worry about the Philistine---- that he would fight him. At first Saul tried to discourage David from what seemed like a ridiculous undertaking, but David persisted in his insistence, by telling Saul about the lions and bears that he had killed, while tending his father's sheep. But the most convicting thing that David did, was to remind Saul that Goliath might be a match for a mortal man, but he was no match for the Living God, who would give David the victory. Saul relented and gave David his permission. David tried on Saul's armor, but it was too big and too heavy----so he rejected it----then he picked up his shepherd's staff, put 5 smooth stones in his bag, clutched his slingshot in his hand and went out to face Goliath.    

7.) We can't, but God can.

Goliath was such a formidable opponent-----he had immobilized the entire Israelite army with his swagger and his mockery. He had made them forget that the God that they served, was bigger, than any obstacle, they could face. It took David's unreserved faith to remind them who they were. 

What a difference perspective can make----the Israelite army saw a fearsome giant, but David saw a mortal man who was daring to defy Almighty God----he didn't see him as an insurmountable obstacle or an opponent too powerful to defeat----he saw him as a target too big to miss. He looked at him from God's point of view-----which tells us that there is nothing that is too big for God to handle. Viewing impossible situations from God's point of view, helps us to put giant problems into perspective. Once we can see clearly and remember that if God is for us, who can be against us, we can fight much more effectively.

Goliath was a problem to be faced on his terms, but not with his weapons. Goliath's strengths were obvious---size, armor and arrogance----but David couldn't fight with those tools---Goliath's strengths would have been David's handicaps. David was shepherd boy----he needed the tools that he knew how to use-----he faced Goliath with the two weapons that he knew that he could count on----his trust in God and his shepherd's slingshot. David's armor was invisible---He was spiritually equipped----just like we can be when we put on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Way too many days we try to face our world on its terms, with its weapons----but we can't---we have to use God's weapons---they may not be as obvious, but they will never fail us.

8.) The battle is the Lord's.

David defied Goliath, right before he threw the fatal stone, that knocked him to the ground, with the words from 17 45-47…."I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I'll strike you down and cut off your head….all those gathered here will know that its not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord's…" 

I love being able to claim that truth---"the battle is the Lord's"----it doesn't matter how powerful the enemy is, or how mighty the opposing weapons are or how weak and defenseless we are----in the end, we will always win---because, "the battle is the Lord's."

God gave David that victory with his sling and a small stone and Goliath's own sword-----and when the Philistines realized that Goliath was dead---they ran as hard and as fast as they could---but they were no match for God's army----the Israelites chased them down, slaughtered them, and then came back and raided their camp. Their victory was complete. David's belief and trust and confidence in God and the slaying of Goliath, had encouraged the rest of the army to move out in faith. 

9.) We have no idea how our faith will affect other people. 

When the Lord calls us to a task, we need to step out in faith and see how God uses our obedience to encourage other people.

Although David had been a favorite of Saul's, because his music could sooth Saul's troubled soul----he must not have paid very much attention to him personally. But after the episode with Goliath, Saul couldn't help but notice him as an individual, and possibly that's where his irrational jealousy of David began.  

10.) We are to do everything we do as though we're doing it for the Lord.

We can clearly see from the moment we are introduced to David that everything he did he did with the Lord in mind and he gave Him the glory for it. His words and his actions, give us a clear insight into his character. What we can see on the outside, is being fueled by his conviction on the inside. Out of the overflow of his heart, come his words and his actions. Knowing that he is the author of most of the beautiful words and instruction that we find in the book of Psalms----its really wonderful to see him grow from a boy into a man and to see that his life matched the words that he spoke and that he penned. 

    

II    Jonathan and David

      1st Samuel 18:1- 19:24

"In May 1970, Gale Sayers, the Chicago Bears halfback, was given the George S. Halas award, for being the most courageous player in professional football, at the "Professional Football Writers" annual dinner in New York. The six-foot, two-hundred-pound Sayers had been Rookie of the Year in 1965, scoring 22 touchdowns, which was an NFL record. But midway into the 1968 season, Sayers suffered a ruptured cartilage and 2 torn ligaments in his right knee, and was out for the rest of the season. After rehabilitation and physical therapy, Gale Sayers returned to the Bears lineup in 1969, and won a second rushing title. Later in 1970, Sayers suffered an injury to his left knee that effectively ended his short football career. Nevertheless, he was elected to the College Football Hall of fame, the Black Athlete's Hall of Fame, and even greater still, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But what amazed the "professional football writers" who attended that dinner in May, 1970, was what Gale Sayers said, as he accepted the Halas award and took the trophy. Sayers didn't speak about himself; he spoke about his friend Brian Piccolo: he said, "You flatter me by giving me this award, but I tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Brian Piccolo is the man of courage, who should receive the George S. Halas Award, I love Brian Piccolo and I'd like you to love him also. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him too." 

Brian Piccolo was Sayers friend, and he was lying at home in bed, dying of cancer. 

Brian Piccolo was signed by the Chicago Bears as a running back, and he played only 4 seasons, in the overwhelming shadow of Gale Sayers. Sayers and Piccolo became roommates and fast friends. Their deep friendship shattered racial boundaries, and was the subject of the 1971 movie, Brian's Song (and its 2001 remake) and Sayer's 1973 autobiography. I Am Third. Piccolo died at the age of 26, a symbol of courage and a cherished friend. 

The scripture records another amazing friendship, that of David and Jonathan. First Samuel 18:1 tells us that Jonathan's heart was "knit" to the soul of David. David and Jonathan had a true friendship, which was godly in its character and in its essence, and has served as an example of true friendship down through the ages.

From a human perspective, Saul was wise in the fact, that he kept David with him and the army, instead of sending him back to his father, after Goliath was killed. By having him under his command, he could keep a close eye on him, and monitor how popular he became with the people, as his reputation as a warrior and even more importantly, as a godly man, began to grow. There wasn't any task that Saul sent David to do that he didn't accomplish successfully. Saul had no choice but to promote David to higher and higher positions in the army. But, if he had known that he was ultimately grooming his successor, he would have sent David back to Jesse, faster than he could blink his eyes. But God had other plans. 

One precious thing that manifested itself during this time that Saul could never have anticipated and never could have controlled, was the friendship and love that grew between David and Jonathan from their first meeting.

1.) Friendship is a pure gift from God.

When David and Jonathan met, they became close friends immediately. Their friendship is one of the deepest and closest that is recorded in scripture. It was based on a commitment to God, not just to each other. They didn't let anything come between them, not even career or family problems. They didn't let adversity push them apart; they let it draw them closer together, even when the friendship itself, was tested. Jonathan was the crown prince of Israel and eventually he realized that David was going to be the next king, not him, but it didn't weaken his love for David----nor his conviction that God's will was always right-----Jonathan would rather have lost his throne than, to step outside of God's will, or to lose David's friendship.

When the army retuned victoriously from defeating the Philistines, the women from all the towns came out to greet them, singing and dancing and playing tambourines and lutes. It was a wonderful time of celebration---unfortunately, it fueled Saul's jealousy of David. It offended him, that the women elevated the extent of David's exploits, above his. Saul had to have been wondering, if David was the one that Samuel was talking about, when he told him that the kingdom had been taken from him and given to another man. But instead of bowing to God's will and allowing His plan to unfold----Saul kept a "jealous eye" on David, just waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him.

Even though David had become a full-time member of the army, he was still Saul's favorite and most skilled harpist. So, the day after they came back from the Philistine campaign and the evil spirit came upon Saul, David tried to ease his distress by playing the harp for him. But jealousy and envy, and fear that David was going to take his kingdom, were controlling Saul's mind----their relationship was destroyed as Saul, in a fit of rage, threw his spear twice, at David, trying to kill him.

2.)Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin, but in reality, it is one step short of murder. It doesn't belong in any relationship, romantic, platonic or spiritual. Jealousy starts as you resent a rival; it leads you to wishing that the rival would be removed from the situation, then it manifests itself into our seeking ways to harm that person in words or actions. We have to be vigilant about letting jealousy get a foothold in our lives, because it can sneak up on us.  

The fact that God's spirit had left Saul and was clearly with David, just exacerbated Saul's fear of David. 

We can again see the character of David's heart---- and Saul's-----as we see Saul try to kill him because he was jealous of David's popularity with the people. Even during Saul's rage, David still tried to protect and comfort him. When people are ugly to us or attack us, in some way, it's natural to try and strike back or to avoid them, but a better response would be to be nice to them or befriend them, and to ask God to give us the insight and the strength to find a way to show love to them, the way that David did to Saul. 

In a sneaky attempt to get rid of David in another way, Saul put him in charge of 1000 men, thinking that surely he wouldn't survive another battle. But God gave him great success and Saul just became even more afraid of him.    

3.) Sin cannot control us if we confess it to the Lord.

I think that most of the time, we feel like our jealousy and hatred can be kept under control----and that no one will ever know. But unfortunately, those sins just keep seeping out or blowing up, contaminating everything they touch. It would all have been different for Saul, if he had gone to God and confessed his sins of jealousy and bitterness and fear and hatred. Because, only God can take sin away and cleanse us, so that there are no hidden pockets of it, hiding in our hearts. 

Saul allowed his strong feelings against David to fester, and he didn't give up trying to destroy him. Saul twisted one of the rewards, for having slain Goliath, to suit his own purposes. He was supposed to give his daughter's hand in marriage free and clear to David since he was the victor----but he added a little codicil to it-----David could marry her if he would serve Saul bravely, by going back out into battle against the Philistines. But David humbly declined, with the excuse that he wasn't worthy to marry a king's daughter. 

Some time passed and Saul found out that his younger daughter Michal was in love with David-----so he schemed a way to use her, to create a situation that would set David up, one more time, to be killed. Instead of expecting a monetary dowry from David, who was too poor to provide one, Saul made it clear that he had another form of dowry in mind. David knew that Saul wanted revenge on the Philistines-----so David felt comfortable agreeing to his plan. Saul sent David out to get the foreskins of 100 Philistines---secretly anticipating David's death----but before the allotted time had elapsed for the task----David and his men were back with double the amount of foreskins and Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David, in marriage.   

4.) We can be our own worst enemies.

Saul was his own worst enemy----no matter how hard he schemed to get rid of David, God just kept protecting him. God's plan cannot be thwarted, no matter what we do. We set ourselves up for failure all the time, because we try to take matters into our own hands. I don't know why we think we can get around God or change His mind, but we do----we would save ourselves a lot of grief and a lot of angst, if we would just get in line with God's program, and understand, that we can trust Him, to work out everything for our good and for His glory. 

How different things might have been if Saul had repented and yielded himself to God. He had lost his kingdom but he would have restored his relationship with the Lord----he would have had the privilege of mentoring his son-in-law to be the next king and the possibility of one of his grandchildren becoming king in the future----but his hatred and jealousy and fear destroyed anything good that might have been. 

Every devious plan that Saul tried, in his attempt to get rid of David, failed----so he stopped trying to be devious about it---- and became blatant about it----he  commanded his servants and Jonathan to find a way to get rid of David permanently----but sweet Jonathan refused---he warned David, and urged him to hide himself,  and then he confronted Saul and reminded him of all the good things that David had done for Saul and how God had blessed their family and the entire nation, because of him. And for that moment, Saul was chastened, and he rescinded his order for David's death----but unfortunately, his good-will didn't last very long. Now, a son shouldn't disobey his father, unless that father instructs the son, to disobey one of God's laws---but there hasn't been a single time that we have seen Saul and Jonathan together, that Saul doing soemthing to disobey God, hasn't been an issue between them.  

It wasn't long before the next time there was a battle between the Philistines and the Israelites and David, once again fought valiantly and brought honor to God and Saul and the Israelite army----- and was praised by the people for it. And Saul yielded to his jealousy and fear again, and broke his promise to jonathan. 

They had just retuned home from the battle, and the evil spirit had come upon Saul, and David was trying to soothe him, with the harp music when Saul went berserk and tried again to kill David, by throwing his spear at him, one more time. David fled to his home, but Saul sent men in pursuit, with instructions to watch his house, and kill him when he tried to leave. 

How heartbreaking this must have been for David----no matter what he did, he couldn't temper Saul's hatred of him----David had not stepped over any line-----he was honorable in everything he did, and it still wasn't enough. How many of us have felt the brunt of another person's jealousy or hatred? How many of us have been accused unjustly, or lost some benefit, because someone doesn't like us? 

What happened to David doesn't seem right----but we live in a fallen world where things aren't always right, and justice isn't always carried out. But the blessing for God's children, is that we can always go to Him, in times of trouble and He will hear our cries and He will answer them, with Himself. He loves us and He will strengthen us and He will see us through any storm or any heartache. Psalm 59, was written during this time in David's life, and you can see the purity, of his trust in the Lord, when he said---"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." (56:16-17) 

Apparently David's wife Michal, saw the guards, that were lying in wait for David, so she helped him escape out a window. And when he was good and  gone, she put an idol in the bed, to act as a dummy for David (what she was doing with and idol, we don't know---but we aren't ever told in scripture, that she was a worshiper of God) 

Michal loved David and she was right to help him escape, but when she was caught, in her deception, she sold him out saying that he had threatened to attack her----she lied to her father because she was afraid of getting in trouble herself.

With this episode, a new phase in David's life had begun---he was a man on the run ----who was being hunted down by another man, who had lost his mind. But David, with a heart for God, knew where to go for refuge and guidance----he ran to Samuel----the man of God, who had anointed him king. Running to Samuel was the same thing as running to God. 

5.) When we face trouble, we need to run to God. 

God will always handle the situation and not often in the way that we expect Him to. In this situation, he intervened supernaturally----He poured His Spirit out on the prophets, and out on three different groups of soldiers, who came to kill David, and then, He poured it out onto Saul, himself, who prophesied all day and all night---- which God used to give David a chance to get away. This is the last record in scripture, of God's Spirit ever coming upon Saul----and we can see the sadness of his lost soul, in that he prophesied all day and all night, but his heart was so hard that he never repented.

III   Sacrificial Friendship

        1st Samuel 20:1-42

A recent study, by Australian scientists, found, that having friends around in our old age, can actually help people live longer. The team looked at how a range of social, health and lifetime factors, affected the survival rates of more than 1500 people, over the age of 70. 

The individuals, with the strongest network of friends and acquaintances, were statistically, more likely to be alive, at the end of the study, than those with the fewest. And the study found, that people with a network of friends, are also more likely to encourage each other, to look after their health and to help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety at difficult times. 

The Bible recognizes that godly friends help us grow spiritually too. A godly friend "loves at all times" (Prov 17:17), and a true friend will stick "closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24). Even criticism from a Christian friend can keep us accountable (Prov 27:6). If we stumble, the godly friend is there to help us up (Eccles. 4:10). Regardless of the circumstances, believers need to be godly friends, honoring others, above themselves (Romans 12:10). The friendship of Jonathan and David, is an example of what godly friendship should be. It was based on genuine honor, integrity and faithfulness. If we could be this kind of friend to others, it would not be hard to win the world to the Lord Jesus.

While Saul was prophesying, thanks to God's intervention, David had escaped and went to find Jonathan, to see if they could get to the bottom of Saul's hatred. David's questions revealed his bewilderment, as he said, "what have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father?"

David, had just been a boy, tending his sheep, when he was thrust onto the world's stage------and in a matter of days---he was given a command position in the army; he became the best friend to the crown prince; he became the king's son-in-law; and he was fleeing for his life, because the king wanted to kill him. He was a smart boy---but he was a gentle, compassionate one too----he couldn't seem to figure out what was going on, and what he needed to do. 

I know there have been times when we've all felt like this-----when we've said to God and to other people---"What have I done? Why is this happening? Help me know what to do?" One minute, we're bouncing along, with all our ducks in a row, and the next minute, life happens and suddenly, we're jerked out of our comfort zone. Sometimes, as our commentary says, "we're reaping what we sow" and sometimes "we're on the receiving of someone else's disobedience and wickedness". When this happens, we have to look into our hearts, to make sure that we haven't done something that we didn't realize that we had, and we have to be reminded that we aren't alone.

1.) God still cares even when we can't see that He does.

David wasn't perfect, but in this situation, he was definitely on the receiving end, of Saul's jealousy and his fear. But God had a plan, and He'd already put it into motion. David came to realize, that it was because God did care, that he was experiencing his suffering. The years that David had to spend fleeing from Saul, shaped and molded him into a great leader----into a beloved king---into the man after God's own heart, who's future descendant is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and the Savior of the World, and through David and ultimately, through the Lord Jesus, God's kingdom will never end. 

God cared, He really cared-----He just knew what it would take to make David be who He wanted him to be----God used the situation with Saul, for David's good, and for His glory.

Jonathan had a hard time believing, that Saul was still intent on his mission to kill David, because of the last conversation he had had with his father, where Saul had promised that he would back off. David convinced him, though, that because Saul knew that the two young men were close, he wasn't going to disclose his true plans about David, to Jonathan. 

Jonathan was skeptical, but he loved David and he trusted him---- so, they devised a plan, to prove Saul's purposes once and for all. And David told Jonathan, that no matter what happened, he would rather Jonathan kill him, himself, than to turn him over to Saul. I believe that Jonathan knew that God's hand of blessing was on David----I think he knew that David, not him, would be the next king of Israel. And I believe he trusted God's hand and His heart and His wisdom, in this. So, Jonathan assured David of his love and his loyalty, and he requested for David, to always honor his life and the life of his family members, and to spare them, when the day came to eliminate all of his enemies. (Years later, David took great pains to keep his promise, when he brought Jonathan's son into his palace to live.)  

David agreed, and then he put his life into Jonathan's hands. We have to trust God and His promises even when the situation seems bleak.  

At the beginning of each month, the Israelites gathered to celebrate the new moon festival. And while it was mainly a time for fellowship, it was also a way to dedicate the next month to God. other nations had celebrations during the full moon and worshiped the moon itself. But the Israelites celebrated their festival at the time of the new moon, when the moon wasn't visible in the sky. This was an added precaution against false worship. They were only supposed to worship the Creator, never the created. 

The next day was the New Moon Festival and David was supposed to dine with Saul. Instead, he decided to find out if Saul was serious about letting him live. So Jonathan and David came up with a plan, which necessitated his going into hiding for 2 days---if Saul asked Jonathan where he was----the two young men felt like they would know Saul's intentions by his reaction.  

And they did-----Saul didn't ask where he was, until the second day, but when he found out that David wasn't at the festival, Saul went ballistic-----Jonathan tried to reason with him, but his anger was so deadly, that as he was raging verbally, he picked up his spear and threw it at Jonathan trying to kill him.

2.) Anger is a very dangerous emotion.

It is deep-seated fury, of an emotion, that rises up and and takes over, spewing itself over, whatever is at hand---even if the object of the anger isn't physically present. Murder and hatred and any kind of abuse, really, is an end-result of that fury. The scripture has a lot to say about anger, and none of it is good. Sin is sin is sin, and it's all level at the cross, but it seems like anger, is the cause of a lot of other sin, because it leads to so much heartache and destruction, for everybody that it touches. Some of us, probably have more issue with anger than others do, but it doesn't really matter if we get angry a little or a lot---it is never appropriate for a Christian to be angry, unless our anger is directed at sin or satan. If we're being led by the Spirit, we don't want to be responsible for the damage that it can cause. That's why David was so bewildered and why Jonathan, just couldn't believe that Saul would let his anger get the best of him------they were being led by the Spirit and anger was the last thing they wanted to participate in or be exposed to. 

When we get angry, we probably don't throw physical spears like Saul did, but our words, can be just like spears, because they have the same power to maim or kill, whatever target they hit. 

So, being easily angered, and allowing bitterness and anger to spill out of our mouths, and speaking in sharp tones, with an edge to our voices, and combative attitudes, doesn't have any place in a Christians's life-----if we find ourselves yielding to this kind of behavior---we need to ask God to change us---and to cleanse our hearts and renew a steadfast spirit within us. (Psalm 51:10)

The scripture speaks of Jonathan having a "fierce anger" in verse 24, but that anger, that Jonathan found himself experiencing, was more like, a profound grief, at how lost his father was in sin, and how precarious, David's life was, as it hung in the balance. He came to the realization, in his heart and mind, that there was nothing for him to do but help David escape. 

As prearranged--Jonathan, went out early the next morning to let David know what was happening. He had a servant boy, who didn't have a clue that he was being used as an emissary, between the two men. Saul shot an arrow near where he knew that David was hiding-----then he sent the boy to retrieve it. As the boy was running to get it, Jonathan told him, to go quickly beyond where he thought it was, and not to stop! 

Those were the words David had been waiting for. They meant that Saul would stop at nothing to see him dead. 

After the servant left, David came out to greet Jonathan and they kissed each other with affection, and then wept together, for their loss, and their uncertain future. 

Knowing that he couldn't delay David's departure---sweet Jonathan blessed David with the words, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying ' the Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'"  

3.) All our relationships should be grounded in our relationship with the Lord. That's where the center should always be, no matter what kind of relationship it is. And we should always behave the way we're supposed to, regardless of how another person behaves.  

Jonathan went back to his responsibilities as the king's son and David fled, alone, not knowing what the future held----but knowing in his heart that God was in control. And we are privileged to know, just how much David trusted God, from the Psalms that he wrote during this time of upheaval and uncertainty and fear. 

4.) We can take heart from this lesson! 

We know that Saul did disobey and God did give him over to his sad, crazy ways and he did lose his kingdom-----but through it all, David had been given an even greater promise, and we can clearly see, that David was devoted to the God of that promise, and so was Jonathan-----and they were devoted to each other, with the Lord as the foundation and the sustainer of their friendship------and in God's time, God's will did prevail---as it always will, no matter what the crazy people in this world do. 

But, if we're children of God, and that is what we are-----we've been given wonderful, wonderful promises. Our sins yesterday, have been forgiven---we've been given grace to live today---- and our tomorrows are full of hope and possibility and joy-----we need to live every day, resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father, with our ear right up against His chest, so that the loudest heartbeat we hear, is His. If we will do that, then the world and the craziness in it, cannot touch us.

I read a story about a teenage boy who lost all his hair after radiation treatments and chemotherapy. On the way home from the hospital he worried about going back to school with a bald head. When he came home, several friends surprised him with a welcome-home party.  But what surprised the young man the most was not the party but that all of his friends had shaved their heads! His friends had sacrificed their hair to make him feel loved and less embarrassed. 

This precious behavior is the kind of godly friendship we need to offer the world. We need to go out of our way to invest in others, to share what true friendship is like. 

Jesus did this for us, and we're called to follow his example. He gave his life on the cross so that we might have life: "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13