March 16, 2024

David was anointed king of Judah after the death of Saul. However, Saul had another son, Ishbosheth, and Abner anointed him king of Israel. He reigned until his death, which lasted two years. The kingdom was divided for that short time. Civil war broke out, with most of the casualties being on the side of Israel, where Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, challenged Joab, David’s army commander, to a dual of twelve men on each side. They fought, and all twenty-four died. When it was all said and done, there were 360 men killed on Israel’s side and only nineteen for Judah. It is thought that David held them back from annihilating them because he cared about them. There was a side story about a strong runner, Asahel, who pursued Abner, who wouldn’t turn away from chasing after him after being warned many times, so Abner slewed him with the butt end of his spear. Asahel was good at running but not good at fighting. 

The lesson is to engage in challenges where God has strengthened you with certain gifts. David’s army was strong, but Abner’s men were not ready to fight a valiant warrior like David and his army. Asahel, on the other hand, though strong in running, wasn’t up to challenging a man of war like Abner. Stay in your lane and engage when God prompts you through the Holy Spirit; that’s when you know you will be successful.

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more. 2 Samuel 2:26-28

March 15, 2024

David was back home in Ziklag, and an Amalekite came to tell him that Saul and Jonathan were dead and brought David his crown and bracelet. He takes credit for killing Saul, thinking that doing so would give him kudos for killing David’s enemy, and tells him that Saul was injured and had asked him to kill him. However, David’s reaction to the news wasn’t what was expected, and the man embellished the story by adding that if he hadn’t killed him, Saul would have been dishonored for being killed by a Philistine. David was incensed and scolded him for feeling it was okay to slay one of God’s anointed, even though Saul was an enemy of his. It’s possible this man’s story was a lie, but even if it was, he was an Amalekite, and God had explicitly told Saul to eliminate them when he became king. It’s foreboding that an Amalekite takes him out for disobeying God. David did what Saul should have done and had him killed. David mourned over Saul but was heartbroken over Jonathan, his best friend. We can see that this is the end of Saul’s kingdom and the beginning of David’s reign, out with the bad and in with the good. The good Kingdom is near. As we wait for Jesus to return, we must stay committed to him and do our best to live a full life in these evil days. Stay vigilant and seek him daily.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed. 2 Samuel 1:15-16

March 14, 2024

Among all the good things about King David, he was also a poet and wrote many of the books of Psalms. He expressed his feelings heartfeltly to give us a view into his thoughts. Some psalms start very depressing, but he always found God’s helping hand to bring him into thankfulness. One thing I’m learning, especially as I read the King James Version of the Bible, is to ask questions and clarify and define words and phrases I’m unfamiliar with. The Holy Spirit prompted me to seek an answer to the words, “he restoreth my soul.” It could be said, “he forgives us of our sins.” We are humans, and we sin even though we do our best not to; it’s inevitable; even a simple, unpure thought can taint us. Jesus restores our soul when we would have lost it due to sin. Saul may have received a few drops of oil when he was anointed king, but David was generously anointed, so his cup overflowed. The Holy Spirit would come and go in Saul, but David kept him! When we receive our salvation in Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit and have kept him; that’s why you feel guilty when you sin and quickly seek forgiveness; he restores your soul. If we hadn’t been anointed with the Holy Spirit at salvation, we might not have been reminded that we need God’s forgiveness. Jesus leads us in the path of righteousness so we can lay down in the green pastures of peace. 

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou artwith me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalms 23

March 13, 2024

We are concluding 1 Samuel with the Philistines fighting against Israel. Saul’s three sons were killed right before his eyes, and an arrow hit him. Not wanting to be tormented by the Philistines, Saul asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but he was too afraid and refused, so Saul fell on his own sword and died. Rather than removing their dead bodies for a decent burial, the armor bearer also fell on his sword, killing himself. The next day, while the Philistines were stripping the bodies of the dead of their valuables, they found Saul and his sons. They took them and displayed them by hanging them up on the wall of Bethshan. They cut off Saul’s head and sent it throughout the land of the Philistines and posted his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth. Some valiant men of Israel took the bodies down and burned them. 

We can see from this story that justice was served against Saul. David refused to seek revenge against Saul for trying to kill him. However, David was God’s anointed and a man after his heart, so he worked out the details to bring him into his kingdom when the time was right. Because we are God’s children and are his beloved, we can count on him to justify us for any wrongdoing done to us by our enemy. It may take some time, but we learn to trust him during the process. Wait for it; it will surely come.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. 1 Samuel 31:6

March 12, 2024

Have you ever received God's chastisement? If so, you can sympathize with David. David and his fighting men left to help the Philistines go against Israel but were sent home by the king. When they got back to Ziklag, the Amalekites had taken everything, including all their wives and their belongings, and then burned the city. David and his men were distraught and enquired of the Lord through the ephod, and God told him he would be successful in retrieving all of their possessions and family. They went after them, but some men were so distraught and weak that they couldn't make the trip, so they stayed behind and watched over the belongings. They stopped along the way to help a man that the Amalekites had left behind, and he helped David find the army that had ravaged Ziklag. They caught them off guard because they were partying with everything they had stolen. David destroyed all of them except for a few who rode away on donkeys and camels. He recovered everything they had lost and then some. David shared the bounty with the men left behind and then sent gifts to many of the cities in Judah. This gesture would help him once he became king.  

Why didn't the Amalekites kill all of David's people? God was in on it. He didn't want David to lose but wanted to teach him not even to attempt to ever go against him again. David is about to become king, and it is noteworthy that things can get a little rough right before a breakthrough or a blessing. God puts us through trials to encourage us to appreciate his blessing. Don't get discouraged when you are suffering; maintain your faith, and God will pull you through it and bless you.

And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD; 1 Samuel 30:26

March 11, 2024

Achish, the Philistine king, was ready to go to war with Israel at Jezreel, and David was preparing to go along with them. However, the princes of Philistine didn't want him to fight with them because they were David's people, and they feared he would turn on them. Even though Achish loved and trusted David, he sent him and his men back to Philistia because of the prince's fear. We can see that God was in this and was protecting David. It wouldn't have been a good idea for him to go against God's people or for him to kill Saul in the battle to safeguard Achish. You can see by this story that God gave David an out for his temptation to sin. He couldn't have been king of Israel if he had made them his enemy, so God worked out the details of his plan to remove him from the battle against his people. 

Never underestimate what God can do when our backs are against a wall. God will give you an escape from your temptation to sin, but you must choose the narrow road, turn, and walk away. 

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle. 1 Samuel 29:9

March 10, 2024

The Philistines decided to take on Saul and Israel while David lived among them. They feared fighting against David more than Saul, so this was the perfect opportunity for them to defeat Israel. Achish sought out David to help, but David was vague in answering him. Because of the lie he told him about fighting in some cities in Judah, Achish probably thought he would fight against his own people.

Saul trembled in fear of the Philistines because God was no longer with him. His inquiries of God went unanswered; Samuel was dead, the Urim was gone, and God no longer communicated to him by prophets or in his dreams. Saul decided to consult a witch to get answers. However, he had killed all of them, but his servants knew of one in Endor who had escaped his edict. Saul went to her in disguise, but the woman feared him, especially after realizing it was Saul. However, he insisted that she conjure up Samuel. We know who she brought up wasn't Samuel because this was part of the devil's work. The fake Samuel told Saul that he would lose to the Philistines and that he and his sons would die in battle. 

When people can't get what they want from God, they sometimes sell their souls to the devil. I saw a video of Katy Perry, who grew up in the Christian faith, saying she wanted to be the next big Christian artist, but when that didn't happen as quickly as she had hoped, she said she made a deal with the devil. We have to understand that Jesus expects us to leave everything behind to follow him, so it's apparent that she didn't and never was a Christ follower; otherwise, she wouldn't have denied Jesus and sold her soul to the devil. Be careful of your casual encounters with evil; even if it's for entertainment, it's wrong and could cost you everything. Turn your heart toward Jesus and never look back. 

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 1 Samuel 28:5-6

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

March 2, 2024

Saul is obsessed with trying to slay David. Jonathan, David’s best friend, and his father Saul met together near where David was hiding so he could hear what they were saying. Jonathan wanted David to know that he was on his side in the matter but also wanted to talk his dad out of trying to slay him. That day, Saul and David met together, and Saul agreed not to slay him. However, as David played the harp for him, he tried to slay him with the spear again, but he escaped and went home to his wife. Saul ordered everyone in his court and his servants to slay him. His wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, knew of her dad’s plans and helped him escape through a window. David ran to Samuel, and they hid in the school of prophets. Saul sent several messengers to get David, but because they were amongst the prophets, each messenger ended up prophesying, singing, and speaking words placed on their hearts by God because the Spirit of God came upon them. Saul decided to go himself, but he also started prophesying, stripped down naked, and lay in the street all day and all night. 

No matter what the enemy has planned, he will fail because God is more powerful. God can make any man, good or evil, do what pleases him, and we can see that he did that with Saul and his messengers. God can take over your mind and tongue, doing whatever He pleases with you. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father! Wait for it; it will happen!

And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?  1 Samuel 19:24

March 1, 2024

David and Jonathan, Saul’s son, became best friends, and they loved one another dearly. Their heart meld together. However, Saul becomes vehemently jealous of David, especially when they return from war with the Philistines, and the women praise David more than Saul, the king. 

Saul was seething over David and threw a spear at him, but he avoided his attempts to kill him twice! Saul sent him away to become a captain of one thousand men, hoping that he would die at war. Saul reneged on his promise to give him his oldest daughter for killing Goliath, so he offered his daughter Michal because she loved David, but with a caveat that he bring him the foreskins from one hundred Philistines to win her. David and his men went to war with the Philistines, bringing Saul two hundred foreskins to fulfill his demand. Isn’t that disgusting? Saul feared David because the Spirit of God was with him, and no matter what he did, he couldn’t kill him.

This story shows how precious we are in the sight of God; we are much like David and fall under God’s protection. Take a look at the trials David had and the rigorous training he endured at the hand of Saul long before he became king, then think about your own troubles and compare them. Though your challenges may not be less troublesome to you, you are enduring them because God needs you to be strong. A time will come, sooner than later, when you will have to defend yourself and prove your commitment to God. Be strong like David, standing firm. 

Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, thatDavid behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by. 1 Samuel 18:30

February 29, 2024

Everyone knows the story of David and Goliath. A young man goes against a gnarly giant, the Philistine army’s hero, killing him with a sling and a stone, using the giant’s own sword to cut off his head, and even up the odds for the army of Israel to defeat them and take their spoil. This story is often told as an encouragement for us to forge ahead in our battles and remain fearless. My summation is no different, except that I’m highlighting a verse that should stay on our minds when facing our giants.

And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 1 Samuel 17:26

David came in with both barrels blazing on behalf of God as if he needed to defend His character against this evil force. Remember, anyone who is not for us is against us. David was fearless and full of the Holy Spirit because he knew God was with him and would give him the ability to defeat His enemy. Why are you trembling in your battles? Will God not give you the capability to defeat your enemy, which is also an enemy of God, as He did David? Make sure you are prayed up, confessing and repenting of any sin; then you can go confidently into battle and win, giving all the glory to God!

February 28, 2024

God makes it very clear that He judges us by our heart and not our outward appearance. He sent Samuel to the home of Jesse to anoint the next king, but this time, God will choose rather than leave it to the people. Jesse brought each of his sons, seven of them, before Samuel, but God didn’t choose any of them. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons, and he told him his youngest was tending the flocks. So, Samuel told them to get him, and they would not sit down until they returned. David came in, and God told Samuel that he was the one, and he anointed him with a full horn of oil. As soon as Samuel anointed him, the Holy Spirit came upon him. However, the Holy Spirit left Saul.

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:14

Because the Holy Spirit left Saul, he was greatly afflicted and wanted music to help quiet his soul. So Saul asked his servant to find someone to play for him. The servant knew David could play the harp and the Lord was with him, so Saul sent for him. Do others notice that the Lord is with you? David loved Saul and became his armor-bearer. When David played for him, his spirit quieted. That began David’s training because it placed him amid the government. Little did he know of the trials he was about to face at the hand of Saul. When God calls us to his service, He trains us; it’s not easy, but if we stay the course, the outcome will be a blessing to us and the people around us. Long-suffering will feel like punishment, but God doesn’t train wimps. Stand strong, mighty warriors of God; He’s raising up men and women of courage, and that takes perseverance. 

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. 1 Samuel 16:18

February 27, 2024

God will use whatever means necessary to administer justice. The Old Testament is full of good guys killing bad guys. However, the “good” guys aren’t that good; they have their own sins, and God will deal with them in his way. God told Saul to destroy all of the Amalekites, men, women, children, and all their animals. However, Saul disobeyed God and saved the king and all their herds for themselves. I’m not sure what he was going to do with the king, but after Samuel told Saul that God was sorry that he had ever appointed him to be king and that he was going to replace him, he told the Amalekite king he was going to make his mother childless as he had done to so many Israelite mothers and he took a sword and hacked him into pieces. Some may wonder why we need a Savior; this is a good example of why. Rather than receive the punishment we deserve in this lifetime and the next, Jesus covers our sins so we are not utterly destroyed like the Amalekites. If you take advantage of Jesus and continue to sin, it’s shameful. Repent and turn away from it! Many of your blessings are lost due to sin and disobedience. We should all try and do better. 

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:22-23

February 26, 2024

Jonathan, Saul's son, seemed to understand God better than Saul. Saul had set up camp under a pomegranate tree with his motley crew of 600 men. After fearing the Philistines with their vast army, the rest had headed to the mountains and caves. Jonathan and his armor-bearer snuck out of the camp to find a garrison of Philistines. He and his companion agreed that God could use the two of them because they trusted in His power. They were right! Jonathan met the leaders of the Philistines and spoke the words they needed to hear to signal them. The two of them killed twenty men, and then God made them turn on each other, and a multitude fell that day. Jonathan and his armor were victorious by the hand of God. The Lord had saved Israel that day. 

For some reason, Saul made the entire army not eat that day, and if they did, he would kill them. They were hungry but feared for their life and didn't eat. They happen upon some honey on the ground; no one except Jonathan ate. He had yet to hear what his father said about eating. They cast lots to find out who had eaten, and Jonathan was chosen. He admitted it, and Saul said that he should surely die, but the other soldiers rescued him from Saul's hand. This chapter was long and had many lessons, but I chose this one because of Jonathan's faith in the power of God's hand. He trusted God, and God gave him the victory. Saul continued in his destructive leadership; rather than honoring God's children, he oppressed them. You can see God's hand at work, especially saving Jonathan from Saul's hand. Trust God even when facing an army of evil beings, and watch how He handles them. God is amazing, and we must trust him. He is powerful!

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. 1 Samuel 14:45