I Samuel 23: 17
Jonathan said:
"...You will be king over Israel and I will be next to you, and Saul my father knows that also."
24: 20
Jonathan also said:
"And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand."
20: 31
Saul had said:
"For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the Earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established."
Now both Jonathan and Saul are admitting openly that the kingdom belongs to David.
Then Samuel died (25:1).
Jonathan didn't realize that he will also die with his father Saul. God knew that if he lived, there would be a rebellion against David to continue Saul's dynasty. So He spared David this grief by causing him grief over losing his best friend.
I wonder what grief God spared me, when He took my dear husband of 30 years?
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Heavy Responsibility
I Samuel 22:22
Then David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household."
David took full responsibility for what Saul had done to the priests. He had lied to Ahimelek the priest, telling him that he was on a secret mission for Saul, instead of running from him. He saw Doeg there, too.
So he knew that he was the cause of the massacre.
But I don't think there could've been anything he could do to protect them, except to take Doeg out of the picture at the time. But that wouldn't be something David would do.
All he could do now was to protect Abiathar.
I hope I never have to face that heavy a responsibility. David was man enough to admit his failure here, and take responsibility for it; and he also took on this priest, another mouth to feed.
O my Father, You brought so much trouble and heartache into David's life, to grow him into the great king he would be. I pray that You would also grow me to fill whatever role You have determined for me. May I continually seek only Your face and Your will for me, regardless of the circumstances You allow into my life, that I might be a faithful servant to You and a bold witness of all You have done. That I may enjoy the benefits and You will receive the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have brought about the death of every person in your father's household."
David took full responsibility for what Saul had done to the priests. He had lied to Ahimelek the priest, telling him that he was on a secret mission for Saul, instead of running from him. He saw Doeg there, too.
So he knew that he was the cause of the massacre.
But I don't think there could've been anything he could do to protect them, except to take Doeg out of the picture at the time. But that wouldn't be something David would do.
All he could do now was to protect Abiathar.
I hope I never have to face that heavy a responsibility. David was man enough to admit his failure here, and take responsibility for it; and he also took on this priest, another mouth to feed.
O my Father, You brought so much trouble and heartache into David's life, to grow him into the great king he would be. I pray that You would also grow me to fill whatever role You have determined for me. May I continually seek only Your face and Your will for me, regardless of the circumstances You allow into my life, that I might be a faithful servant to You and a bold witness of all You have done. That I may enjoy the benefits and You will receive the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, February 19, 2018
Pride's Cost
I Samuel 20: 31
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the Earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, bring him to me, for he must surely die.
This is what King Saul told his son Jonathan. Saul knew that God had chosen David to be king in Israel, instead of Saul. But Saul was a proud man, and his pride wanted his own son to be king after him. He wanted to thwart God's plan and have his own dynasty to prevail.
But God cannot be thwarted by any mere man. If Saul had humbled himself before the Lord, his dynasty would have prevailed, he would have been the founder of the unbroken line that would bring our Savior and Redeemer. But his pride kept tripping him up, so he lost out on that distinction. Now he is remembered as a mentally ill failure instead.
O my Father, May I always take note of the details of my life, paying attention to wherever I may assert my own pride, instead of humbling myself before You. May my self-respect and my intrinsic worth to You, Lord, never become selfish pride. Keep me always aware that only in You have I great value, not in my sin-soaked flesh.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the Earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, bring him to me, for he must surely die.
This is what King Saul told his son Jonathan. Saul knew that God had chosen David to be king in Israel, instead of Saul. But Saul was a proud man, and his pride wanted his own son to be king after him. He wanted to thwart God's plan and have his own dynasty to prevail.
But God cannot be thwarted by any mere man. If Saul had humbled himself before the Lord, his dynasty would have prevailed, he would have been the founder of the unbroken line that would bring our Savior and Redeemer. But his pride kept tripping him up, so he lost out on that distinction. Now he is remembered as a mentally ill failure instead.
O my Father, May I always take note of the details of my life, paying attention to wherever I may assert my own pride, instead of humbling myself before You. May my self-respect and my intrinsic worth to You, Lord, never become selfish pride. Keep me always aware that only in You have I great value, not in my sin-soaked flesh.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, February 18, 2018
A Little Gossip
I Samuel 18: 8-9
Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands but to me they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?
And Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
David had just killed Goliath, and the women came out dancing and singing, and Saul didn't like their song. It was just a song, and David wasn't even an experienced warrior yet, but Saul let that song "get" to him, and viewed David as a threat from then on.
O Father, may I never let a little gossip stain my view of anyone! David didn't earn or deserve that song, and whatever I may hear may not be true, either. May my ears be closed to whatever tales would distort the Truth about anyone I may or will know. May I always seek the truth of the reality of those who surround me in this World, and see them through Your eyes of Grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands but to me they have ascribed [only] thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?
And Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
David had just killed Goliath, and the women came out dancing and singing, and Saul didn't like their song. It was just a song, and David wasn't even an experienced warrior yet, but Saul let that song "get" to him, and viewed David as a threat from then on.
O Father, may I never let a little gossip stain my view of anyone! David didn't earn or deserve that song, and whatever I may hear may not be true, either. May my ears be closed to whatever tales would distort the Truth about anyone I may or will know. May I always seek the truth of the reality of those who surround me in this World, and see them through Your eyes of Grace.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, February 17, 2018
If Only
I Samuel 13: 13-14
...For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom will not endure.
15: 22, 24
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice."
Saul feared the people more than he feared the Lord. He didn't listen to that "new heart" God had given him, and listened to the people instead. Now God will rip the kingdom away from Saul and give it to another (15:27-28).
God's Plan will succeed. But He has given us free will. Even if we take ourselves out of the realm of obedience to Him when He's chosen us to do something significant, like He did Saul, He will still accomplish what He has planned. But what a loss we would sustain. Saul lost not only the present kingdom, but also the future, forever Kingdom, and to produce the Messiah. Saul may never have known just how much he lost, but God chose another to receive all these blessings.
Instead, Saul just keeps sinking lower, away from God.
This is a strong warning! God would've had Saul sit on His Throne, and father the Dynasty that would produce Jesus and reign forever. If only!
If God wants me to do something significant for His Kingdom, I want to be sure to seek Him and not my own devices, to be the one to do His Will to further His plan; and to receive His reward at the (Bema Seat) Judgment Seat of Christ.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
...For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom will not endure.
15: 22, 24
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice."
Saul feared the people more than he feared the Lord. He didn't listen to that "new heart" God had given him, and listened to the people instead. Now God will rip the kingdom away from Saul and give it to another (15:27-28).
God's Plan will succeed. But He has given us free will. Even if we take ourselves out of the realm of obedience to Him when He's chosen us to do something significant, like He did Saul, He will still accomplish what He has planned. But what a loss we would sustain. Saul lost not only the present kingdom, but also the future, forever Kingdom, and to produce the Messiah. Saul may never have known just how much he lost, but God chose another to receive all these blessings.
Instead, Saul just keeps sinking lower, away from God.
This is a strong warning! God would've had Saul sit on His Throne, and father the Dynasty that would produce Jesus and reign forever. If only!
If God wants me to do something significant for His Kingdom, I want to be sure to seek Him and not my own devices, to be the one to do His Will to further His plan; and to receive His reward at the (Bema Seat) Judgment Seat of Christ.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, February 16, 2018
A Good Beginning . . .
I Samuel 10: 6, 9
Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.
Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.
Saul had such a good beginning. It looks like, at this point, that had Saul continued to listen to this "changed heart" God gave him instead of (what is coming) giving in to popularity with the people instead of staying strong in the Lord, he could've been (see 13:13) the one the Lord gave His Throne to sit upon and rule. But he didn't. David was chosen instead.
God is never at a loss--His Plan will succeed, even if I get sidetracked. But I don't want to be turned off the path, I want to do and succeed at whatever it is God wants for me. Even though it won't be as prestigious as being in the line of the Savior and ruling from His Throne.
Come to think of it, I will rule from His Throne! But not in this time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man.
Then it happened when he turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all those signs came about on that day.
Saul had such a good beginning. It looks like, at this point, that had Saul continued to listen to this "changed heart" God gave him instead of (what is coming) giving in to popularity with the people instead of staying strong in the Lord, he could've been (see 13:13) the one the Lord gave His Throne to sit upon and rule. But he didn't. David was chosen instead.
God is never at a loss--His Plan will succeed, even if I get sidetracked. But I don't want to be turned off the path, I want to do and succeed at whatever it is God wants for me. Even though it won't be as prestigious as being in the line of the Savior and ruling from His Throne.
Come to think of it, I will rule from His Throne! But not in this time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Is He Your King?
I Samuel 8: 5
...Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the Nations.
8: 7
...They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.
8: 19-20
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the Nations..."
The Lord God wanted them to recognize Him as their King Who ruled over their hearts and lives of His people Israel. He wanted them to obey all His laws and receive all His blessings to show the World what a good, generous, fair and just, and powerful a God He is and draw the other Nations to worship Him also.
But they wanted to be like the World.
O my Father, may I not want to be like the World, but may I be different from the World, to draw those in the World to know You as the God You are.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
...Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the Nations.
8: 7
...They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them.
8: 19-20
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the Nations..."
The Lord God wanted them to recognize Him as their King Who ruled over their hearts and lives of His people Israel. He wanted them to obey all His laws and receive all His blessings to show the World what a good, generous, fair and just, and powerful a God He is and draw the other Nations to worship Him also.
But they wanted to be like the World.
O my Father, may I not want to be like the World, but may I be different from the World, to draw those in the World to know You as the God You are.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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