March 9, 2024

We know from the Psalms David wrote that he tended to self-reflect and would often find himself somewhat depressed over his situation. You can’t blame him for his melancholy ways when a madman pursued him, but he had God’s protection just as we have. However, even though he had God with him, he allowed his internal thoughts to get the best of him. Forgetting all that God had done to preserve his life, he fled to Gath in the land of the Philistines. Achish, the king of Gath, allowed David, his family, and his men to dwell there. Because it was a royal city, David asked Achish to give him a city in the country, so he gave him Ziklag, a city on the border once taken from Israel. Once Saul found out that David had fled the country, he stopped pursuing him. David and his men invaded several countries, leaving no inhabitants so that they couldn’t tell on him. He took all their livestock and clothing. Achish asked him about his invasions, so David told him they had conquered some cities in Judah. He lied because he didn’t want any trouble with Achish. He lived there for a year and four months.

God was with David, yet he fled his homeland out of fear, anxiety, and depression. Be careful not to let your imagination carry you away from the blessings God has waiting for you. It’s essential to listen carefully to the still, small voice and follow God’s lead. David never sought to hear what God had to say about his situation, either from a prophet or the ephod. Not listening may have been a setback for David because he didn’t wait on God. The lesson is to wait patiently, for your day will surely come.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. 1 Samuel 27:7

March 8, 2024

David spared Saul's life again. The Ziphites stirred Saul to go after David. Saul took three thousand men with him on this venture, and they camped near where the Ziphites had seen David. David was in the wilderness but sent spies to affirm that Saul was with them. When it was night, and everyone was sleeping, David and Abishai went into camp and found Saul sleeping; the Lord had placed the entire army in a deep sleep. Abishai wanted to kill Saul and told David he could do it in one blow, but David refused because God anointed and appointed Saul. However, Saul had stuck his spear in the ground right next to him, and they took it along with his water container. They left and perched on a nearby hill, then called out to them and chastised Abner, telling him he should lose his life for not staying awake and protecting his king. David admonished them for separating him from his inheritance of the Lord. Saul was grateful that David had spared his life and encouraged him to go back with him. Even though Saul seemed to be over his hatred for David, he didn't go home with him; he still didn't trust him. 

David could walk into the enemy's camp without harm because the Lord was with him. However, you must remember all the Psalms David wrote; he worshipped and praised the Lord, crying out to Him for help. You dare not walk into your enemy's camp without first seeking God. Therefore, stay dressed in your spiritual armor as David did when he came before God with his worship. 

For a breakdown of the Spiritual armor, read Ephesians 6:10-18.

And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 1 Samuel 26:24

March 7, 2024

Samuel died, David mourned him, gathered his men, and went to the wilderness of Paran. It was sheep shearing season, and people always had a feast during that time. David was low on provisions, so he sent ten men to Carmel to ask Nabal, a very wealthy man, for help because they had always guarded and protected his flock while they were in the fields. Nabal was nasty to them and refused to help, so David gathered four hundred of his men and prepared to go to war against him. However, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, who had heard about David’s plans, hurried and gathered a lot of food to give them to prevent their destruction. Abigail planned to tell Nabal but waited until morning because he was drunk. His heart failed him out of fear, and he died a few days later. David sent his men to get her so she could be his wife. Abigail was brave and became the heroine of this story. God blessed her for her service by giving her to David, who was anointed to become king. 

That’s our story! We live in a world full of evil, like Nabal, so God rewards us for loving others in our midst and staying committed to him by giving us to Jesus to become his bride. Also, notice that God favored David over Nabal in a good versus evil situation. We can be confident that God will surely bless and preserve us over any evil that comes against us. 

For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.” 1 Samuel 25:34-35

March 6, 2024

Saul returned from fighting the Philistines and gathered Israel’s finest fighting men to go after David. He heard they were in the wilderness of Engedi, so they went there to find him. Along the way, they stopped so Saul could relieve himself inside a cave, but David and his men were further back in the cave. It was the perfect opportunity for David to take him out, but he wouldn’t do it because God had chosen Saul. Instead, he cut off a piece from the bottom of his robe. Then, he felt guilty about doing that, so he ran after Saul, bowed down to him, asked his forgiveness, and showed him that he had spared his life. Saul seemed grateful and asked that when David became king, he not cut off his seed after him. Saul admitted that David was more righteous than he. Saul went home, but David and his men stayed in the stronghold. Do you think this is why Jesus told us to love our enemies? Look at the outcome of love. It’s also another reason for us to have face-to-face conversations, eliminating hearsay as part of our communication. David was remorseful, and Saul was grateful he still had his life. It’s not over, but for now, David can relax. 

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 1 Samuel 24:19-20

March 5, 2024

Keilah was being overtaken by the Philistines, who were stealing their grain from the threshing floor. David was on the run to get away from Saul but took the time to avenge his fellow citizens, even though it was Saul's responsibility to protect Israel from invaders. David enquired of God before moving forward into this battle. God told him he would be successful. He avenged the citizens by winning and bringing back the Philistine cattle to pay them back for the loss of grain. Abiathar, the priest, came to David and brought the ephod with him. Unfortunately, Saul finds out that David is in Keilah, which has gates and a bar, and he hopes to trap David there, thinking that God has delivered David into his hands. With the ephod, David asked God if the city would give him up, and God said they would. So David and his men left to hide in the wilderness. A mountain stood between David and Saul, which is very symbolic of God's protection of David. Saul's pursuit of him ended when he got word that the Philistines had invaded the land, so he left there to defend his country. "When princes begin to persecute God's people and ministers, let them expect no other than vexation on all sides." Matthew Henry. 

I can't help but compare this to what is happening now in the United States, with one nasty president pursuing a more favorable president by any means necessary to try and prohibit him from taking his rightful place in power. God will win in our situation, just as in David's circumstance. No matter what the outcome, God's plans will be done. Relax, but keep praying and following the voice of God so you are not caught off guard. Prepare yourself because the enemy is angry and may try anything to delay God's plan, but we know it won't work. God is the mountain that stands between us and our enemy. Sleep in your armor!

But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. 1 Samuel 23:27-28

March 4, 2024

Doeg had seen David at the Tabernacle when he stopped to visit the priest to get bread and Goliath’s sword when he was running from Saul. He then went to Saul and told him where David was and that the priest had helped him. He failed to tell him that the priest had only helped David because he said he was on business for King Saul. So, Saul had the priest and his people brought to him, and Doeg killed all of them. Saul might have been more favorable to the priest if Doeg had been truthful and told the whole story.

After David had left the priest, he ran to a cave in Adullam and hid there. His family and four hundred others also went there to be under David’s protection. David took his parents to the king of Moab to see if he would protect them from Saul, and he agreed. One person with the priest who was killed escaped to tell David what had happened. David assured him that he would be safe with him. 

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard. 1 Samuel 22:23

Though David’s lie was only self-preservation, look at what happened when Doeg misconstrued the truth and left out information: good people died, including the LORD’s priest. This seeming minor sin caused tragedy. A story like this exemplifies why we should always be truthful. 

March 3, 2024

David visited the Tabernacle before his exile. He had left his home in haste to escape Saul and had taken no provisions or weapons. While there, he asked the priest for food, but all he had was the shewbread. However, it was unlawful for him to eat it because David wasn’t a priest. Anyway, he gave it to him and his men with the caveat that they couldn’t have been with a woman for at least three days, and David assured him they hadn’t. The priest had no weapons to give David other than the sword of Goliath that David had taken, so he took it. He then fled to Gath, but the servants of Achish, the king, recognized him, and he became afraid and acted like a madman so he wouldn’t harm him. Desperate times call for desperate measures, much like when Jesus and his disciples were walking through a cornfield and were hungry for a snack and picked corn to eat, but it was the Sabbath. Jesus had to school the Pharisees on the truth that it was okay for them to do good on the Sabbath and, therefore, it was okay for the priest to feed David when he was hungry. 

Don’t be so caught up in legalism that you forget to be good to other humans. Better yet, take on the mind of Christ, rid yourself of any legalistic ways, and be kind to others, loving them as Christ loves the Church. 

So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. 1 Samuel 21:6