QT 26 Dec 13, Don't wait to do good, seek it out

2 Sam 9:1, 6-8 (ESV) And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" . . . 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, I am your servant." 7 And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always." 8 And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?"

NOTE: What stands out in this passage is that David sought out good to do. He did not sit back and simply respond to life by doing good, as he ought, but took an active interest in doing what was right. Mephibosheth is lame because his nurse either dropped him or he fell because of the haste in such a way as to damage his feet. The response of Mephibosheth suggests he is much older at this point in the story. David's recognition of him suggests he was older than a baby when he fell, since David would hardly remember Jonathan's baby. So, it is not completely impossible to suggest that this story occurs much earlier in David's reign than is suggested by the placement in 2 Samuel. Additionally, Jewish literature placed thematic position more important than chronology. But whenever it occurred, it shows David actively looking to do good.

I fail at this. I wait for events to occur and then seek to do the right thing--which is certainly a good thing. But a better example is to actively look and search for things that I can do that would bring good to others. I think the keys are asking the right questions and having an observant attitude.

QT 23 Dec 13, Live in Rightness

2 Sam 8:14b-15 (ESV) … And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

15 So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.

NOTE: This verse summarizes a long discussion of battles and victories in chapter 8. Israel was the powerhouse of the region during the 80 year reign of David and Solomon. In part it was in fulfillment of God's promises, but it was also because David did what was right and just. Ultimately, our greatest need politically is for justice. The word for justice is mishpat which is from a root word for verdict, and is abstractly, justice or a participant's right or privilege. The word for equity is tsedaqah is rightness or righteousness (in a case or cause). It is also part of Melchizedek's name, translated king of righteousness. The first occurrence (not including its use in Melchizedk) in scripture is Gen 15:6 where God, on account of Abrams' faith, credits him with tsedaqah, righteousness. This is the 14th of 157 uses in the OT, most of which occur in the Psalms, Proverbs and major prophets. So what does it mean for me? God will give me opportunities again in life to lead people and even when I'm not leading people, I need to exercise rightness in my actions. I need to treat people equally and fairly. I need to avoid favoritism or even disliking someone because he/she is dislikeable. I want to be different and live differently.

QT 20 Dec 13, Secret is to be a person after God's own heart

2 Sam 7:18-29 (ESV) Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22  Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23  And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24  And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God. 25 And now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, and do as you have spoken. 26 And your name will be magnified forever, saying, 'The Lord of hosts is God over Israel,' and the house of your servant David will be established before you. 27 For you, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house.' Therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 Now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, O Lord God, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever."

NOTE: David is overjoyed (verse 29); He feels unworthy (verse 18); He feels both insignificant (verse 18) and significant (verse 19); He is almost speechless (verse 20), and yet full of speech (verse 27b); He is floored (verse 21); He is honest as he shares his feelings to God. And what has David done to reach this pinnacle? Nothing. Well, he does love God and he does care for people. He does try to the right thing. He tries to show justice. He doesn't take things into his own hand that are not his, but waits upon God. But the most important thing, according to the scriptures is that he was a man after God's heart. He wanted to know God, love God, and please God with his life.

In order to a person after God's heart, we need to do two things. One, we need to fight our sin nature and its natural selfishness. To do that we need to transform our thinking. We need our bodies washed. We need to be so saturated in God's word that it weeps through our pores. Secondly and somewhat related to the first, we need to put a priority on our relationship with God. It must come first. It must be important. It must take precedence. It is not an afterthought but the first-thought. If we live this way, then God is truly the desire of our heart. And it will change the way we treat and interact with others. We will truly represent Jesus to others when the word of God and the Holy Spirit have transformed our old self.

QT 19 Dec 13, Lives exalt God, not buildings

2 Sam 7:8-16 (ESV) Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9  And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11  from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14  I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15  but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.  Your throne shall be established forever.'"

NOTE: This is properly called the Davidic covenant. It follows David's desire to build a house for God's name (7:13). It is a lofty promise to a man who made his share of errors. David was not perfect, but his heart was to do the right thing. He fails in a multitude of ways, but he succeeds in many more. The Davidic covenant is by grace but it is initiated on the basis of works, works of the heart. David desires something to do for God, to exalt him, to show him praise. David lives in a house of cedar (luxury) and God's name dwells in a tent (7:2). Actually, God's dwelling is the universe, and nothing can capture the grandeur of God's tent. It is unfathomable in size and awesome in beauty--even more so as telescopes show us more and more of the heavens. God doesn't need David to exalt him, but God is pleased that David wants to exalt him. David's whole tenor of life, humility and honesty, have honored God, and now God honors David. Because really, David can do nothing to honor God with a building, but in the eyes of people, there is nothing greater than a life lived to please God--that is what honors God.

That is what I desire-to live in a manner that exalts God. I have a new opportunity in a new job to do that very thing. I look forward to the new year and how my life can exalt my savior.

QT 17 Dec 13, Leadership is an honor and a responsibility, not a right

2 Sam 6:12-13 (ESV) So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.

…

2 Sam 6:20-22 (ESV) And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" 21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will make merry before the Lord. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."

NOTE: David had learned his lesson. The ark is now carried (vs. 13) as required by the Law. The rejoicing and sacrificing was not required but neither was it disallowed. It was an exciting time for David. It was a fulfillment of many dreams. Jerusalem was the new capital; there was peace and prosperity in the kingdom; God's promises of his kingship were fulfilled; and now the tabernacle resided in the capital city--making it also a worship center for the whole kingdom. In the midst of all the joy, Michal's words must have stung. Her reaction is both bitter and jealous. Her words suggest class distinction. She placed herself above the common people. David placed himself with the common people. And he was even more convinced that was the place where he should be as the king. His position never placed himself over others--he remembered his roots and he also knew, that God gave him the position, not because he was better, but because he was chosen. And having been lifted up by God, he could be brought down by God at any time. Jesus said it even more clearly, that we are called to be servant-leaders, which is unlike the model of the world. Lord, help me to never think of myself as higher or more important than others.

QT 16 Dec 13, Wise counsel can prevent disasters

2 Sam 6:1-9 (ESV) David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,  4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

5 And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was angry because the Lord had burst forth against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the Lord come to me?"

NOTE: God's response seems harsh but there is much to learn from this passage. First, Uzzah, as a Levite (very probable from the context), should have known better. Num 4:15 makes it clear that only the Priests could touch the holy things and anyone else would die. There were specific rules for moving the Ark, it had to be carried, not put on a wagon with ox pulling it, as the Philistines had done. Why the Israelites chose the Philistine method versus God's word is lost on me. Their fear of God and reverence for his holiness was lacking. The death of Uzzah, warned by scripture, clearly changes everything, especially David's attitude toward God. Even the idea of bringing up the ark seems to come out of nowhere. There is no indication that God wanted it moved. David probably had good reasons for bringing it up to Jerusalem, but there is no indication that he sought God's leading. He does place importance to the event by bringing up 30,000 men for an event that only took a few dozen, possibly a hundred Levites (to include Priests) at most, but it was not researched, and he does not appear to have sought counsel. The result is another one of David's internal failures. He does well in battle, but decisions and choices within the kingdom do not always go well. One possibility is that in battle, David relied upon others, his commanders and the soldiers--David knew that he could not win wars by himself. But as king, he seems to make decisions by himself, without the input of godly counsel. He lacks wisdom in ruling, but exercises it well in battle. Maybe that is why Solomon asked for wisdom in ruling--for all of his father's strength, and his great heart, he did not use counsel well. Solomon's son Rehoboam would use another approach--he would look for counsel from multiple sources but then pick the one he wanted to hear, not the one that was actually the wisest choice. As a result, Rehoboam would split the kingdom into two. The application is to seek wise counsel and not to try to make decisions by ourselves.

QT 13 Dec 13, Public victories can be ruined by the private defeats

2 Sam 5:17-21 (ESV) When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand." 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The Lord has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.  21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

NOTE: The phrase "carried away" could also be translated burn (in the idea: to lift or take). 1 Chron 14 .11 describes the same event but uses a more common word, to set on fire. Deut 7:25 commands Israel to burn a capture idol. And so, in contrast to Saul's foray against where he brings the ark, in imitation of the nations around him, David attacks and destroys the gods of those who bring their gods to attack Israel. He has a major victory here, at Baal-perasim, "the Lord breaking through." And he follows it up with a campaign that strikes down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer. And so begins a period of time where Israel is successful in battle against every enemy. There are no defeats, only victories. But defeats do come. The defeats would come internally as David allows himself to get caught in sexual sin. Eventually, it would affect his children and in turn, the nation itself. It is a great start and David is, for the most part, a great example. But his sin probably begins with his multiple wives, and continues with his unchecked lust. The strength of David is that, when he was rebuked, he accepted the rebuke. He did not put himself above God's law. He accepted and took responsibility for his sin. Maybe that is why he had so much difficulty when some of his sons rose up against him, because he blamed himself for their rebellion. Suffering rebellion was a form of penance against himself.

We need to take action against our sins, especially our secret sins. Yes, we are forgiven, but we serve a holy God and we must not be complacent with our nagging struggles. Our sins do affect others around us. The reminder is to repent, and to burn, and to return to our God.

QT 12 Dec 13, Great leadership is Just

2 Sam 4:7-12 (ESV) When they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and put him to death and beheaded him. They took his head and went by the way of the Arabah all night, 8 and brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron. And they said to the king, "Here is the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. The Lord has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring." 9 But David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, "As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity, 10  when one told me, 'Behold, Saul is dead,' and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his news. 11 How much more, when wicked men have killed a righteous man in his own house on his bed, shall I not now require his blood at your hand and destroy you from the earth?" 12 And David commanded his young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hanged them beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner at Hebron.

NOTE: Again and again, men do a poor job of reading David. They apply a human standard as the likely measure of David's reaction and the result is that they misjudge him. David had a relationship with God and while it did not prevent him from some stupid decisions, it did affect his life in a positive sense. David was more interested in doing the right thing and treating people in the right way, than getting revenge or consolidating his power. He realized that God was his avenger, and God was the power behind the throne. He saw through the deception in men, and for the most part dealt with evil men as they deserved (with the possible exception of Joab, although we don't know the whole story). He had done the same thing once before with regards to the news of Saul's death. Men could have reported a death in battle and there would be no consequence, but murder was wrong. David displays one of the fine aspects of a great leader, justice. He deals with people in a way that is right. When justice reigns, there is peace. When injustice exists, there is insecurity and evil. David sets the tone from the beginning, even when he might be the beneficiary of injustice, he stamps it out. As a result, most people will think twice about killing an enemy of David without sufficient cause. So, David's power might suffer, but he believed God gave him his power, not men. So too, I must remain a man of justice even if I might gain by the unjust action. Dishonest gain is wrong. God, help me to have open eyes so that I am not fooled by folly.

QT 11 Dec 13, Do not turn a blind eye to morality to speed things up

2 Sam 3:23-28 (ESV) When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, "Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace." 24 Then Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? 25 You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing."

26 When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. 27 And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner.

NOTE: The bible accurately records the events as they happen, but most of the time, at least in the histories, does not offer much commentary. In this case, Joab argues that Abner's truce was merely a pretense for intelligence (vs 25), although earlier passages give cause (losing the war, dispute with Ish-bosheth, and his conversations with the elders of Israel who wanted David to be king). Some commentary is offered for the death of Abner--that Joab did it to avenge the blood of Asahel, his brother. This is murder and while David recognizes it as wrong, he does not actively discipline Joab. He (Joab) was probably the de-facto Army commander at the time, and so, maybe David did not feel his position as king was secure enough to dismiss such a powerful leader. But that would mean that David also failed. He did not trust God enough to risk losing the kingdom in order to bring justice. In the next passage, David goes to a great deal of mourning and publicly praising Abner to mollify any concern that he was complicit in Abner's death. While it was probably murder, Abner's actions in rebelling against the Lord's anointed were also wrong. And while he held considerable power as a king maker, that did not justify deliberations with him. Abner stood opposed to David's rule and now he was actively undermining Ish-bosheth's rule. He was a weasel trying to play on the winning side. David and Joab were both wrong in both of their responses. The right actions would have been justice, a trial for Abner, and no secret negotiations. Let God bring about the results in his time and place. This is not a hard rule though. In this case waiting was good because the opposite of waiting meant cavorting with an enemy who had opposed God's will. Maybe if Abner had repented in a true manner, it might have been better. But none of that is discussed in the text. Another approach would have been started discussions directly with Ish-bosheth. If we have to turn a blind eye to morality to speed something along, then waiting is the better approach. If it is not a moral issue, then waiting is a personal choice between the person and God.

QT 10 Dec 13, Where do we fight against God's will?

2 Sam 3:6-12 (ESV) While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?" 8 Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. 9  God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the Lord has sworn to him, 10 to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." 11 And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you."

NOTE: Abner was the one who put Ish-bosheth (henceforth, Ish) on the throne, and without Abner, Ish would be nothing. Of course, Abner gained too. With Ish, a legitimate heir to the throne, Abner retained his power and position. Without Ish, Abner may not have done as well in an Army with most of the leaders coming from Judah and David's band of men. But Ish's real problem is that he was not the legitimate rule and Abner was wrong to perpetuate a lie. He knew David was the true ruler as evidenced by verse 9. Ish's rule is almost like a puppet. When he rebukes his commander, his commander rails back at him. His fear is justifiable since the whole structure is but a house of cards. When Abner leaves, everything will fall apart. And apparently a failing war and a rebuke from a puppet-king causes Abner's loyalty to falter. Abner begins a behind-the-scenes effort to give the kingdom to David. Abner will die because of Joab's treachery, but Abner's action are hardly self-less. The correct course of action should have been to accept David's rule immediately, rather than to have spent seven years fighting against David.

So what are the things that I fight against? What are the areas that I refuse to give up? Where am I being foolish?

QT 9 Dec 13, Disunity among brothers is strange

2 Sam 2:19-23 (ESV) And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Is it you, Asahel?" And he answered, "It is I." 21 Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil." But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?" 23 But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

NOTE: This story is similar to stories from the civil war, where many of the generals on both sides knew each other from school (West Point), or from previous assignments together as young officers. It is one thing to fight against an enemy you do not know, but quite different to fight against your fellow brothers. Still, the tribes will separate again in about 80 years thanks to Rehoboam's  folly (1 Kings 12). So, the concept of tribes did not create a natural unity among the people. In fact, differences in natural connections seem to naturally create disunity. People must rise above their sinful selves to see a higher good. As a church, we are the body of Christ. We have a natural unity. We have the Holy Spirit who can help us see beyond our sinful selves. And yet, we still see disunity in the church. Why? I think it must be our immaturity in Christ which ultimately causes disunity. A mature believer would only raise a ruckus if the issue was of such an important nature as to impinge the gospel message or sound doctrine. I suppose, there would be disagreement over what is sound doctrine, but I think most churches do a good job of defining the "things we believe" in their charters. And if an issue arises which is not part of the charter, the mature believer should not cause disunity with the issue. He can approach leadership; he can lay out a case to the leaders; he can ignore the issue; and / or he can find another local body if the issue is not satisfactorily  answered. The last thing he needs to do is to cause brother against brother fighting. It is not natural and it is not right.

QT 5 Dec 13, Make God a part of every major step

2 Sam 2:1-4a (ESV) After this David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." David said, "To which shall I go up?" And he said, "To Hebron." 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

NOTE: David knows that now is the time for the fulfillment of the promise. He is probably confident of Judah's acceptance of him as king but not as sure about the rest of Israel. As it is, it will be seven years before the rest of Israel will accept him as king. But it is exciting, to be back in the homeland; to not be running; to see his greatest desire of late (to go home) fulfilled. And it comes on the heels of a horrible event, the theft of the families and the destruction of their homes. Now, all of that pain over the last week must seem distant. Now, they are really going home. But still, David waits and asks God first. What a good example--prayer before every new step, even when it would seem so obvious. The principle alone is worthy of imitation. Before every step, to stop and give those steps to God in prayer. How much time does it take to make God a part of every major move of your life? A minute or two--it hardly compares to what God did for us.

QT 3 Dec 13, Honor ceremonies for the sake of others

1 Sam 31:1, 4, 6, 8, 11-12 (ESV) Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. . . . 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. . . . 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. . . . 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. . . . 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.

NOTE: The Philistines defeat Israel; the people flee the cities near the border; many are killed; Saul, Jonathan, and Saul's two other sons are killed as well. Finally, their bodies are publicly displayed (Saul headless) nailed to a wall in Beth-shan. Saul's first public act was to rescue the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead. Now, they show great honor and courage by recovering the bodies. This city was on the other side of the Jordan, and yet they are the ones who choose to risk their lives for the honor of Saul's name. Later David would also publicly honor them for their selfless act. It seems like such a small thing. After all, Saul and his sons were dead. What difference does an empty shell of a body make? But it was a sign of respect for Saul and for the office. One might disagree with the leader on numerous accounts, but the office is still honored.

So how do we apply this? As a believer in eternal life, it is easy to be jaded toward funerals or ceremonies, and yet these events have special meaning to those who attend. They are a time of great emotional distress, maybe even release. They are to be honored. A dead body might be a shell, but it still represents a person who lived, and a person who was loved by someone in life, and if not by anyone, then loved still by God (… for God so loved the world that he gave his only son …). Ceremonies are important to others and for that reason should be treated with dignity and respect.

QT 2 Dec 13, We need to be generous to those around us

1 Sam 30:26-31 (ESV) When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, "Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord." 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

NOTE: There are a lot of ways to interpret this, but good hermeneutics would remind us of a few things. One, this is a historically accurate account of what happened, that is, what one individual did. There is no moral commentary on the verse, nor is there any teaching that this is a good biblical principle. It is what it is. Secondly, which reiterates part of the first point, there is no commentary to suggest that what David did was wrong. In fact there are two different ways to view David's motives. In one case, he deceitfully was trying to gain influence in Judah through financial gifts. In another case, David was a generous man who shared the spoil with many who had helped him over the years. At this point, it is not clear that he has received word of what happened in the battle between the Philistines and the Israelites, or even if the battle had yet engaged. His week-long foray does not imply any sort of knowledge. Also, at other times, the two armies would sit facing each other for days on end--with the best example being the 40 days with Goliath. Another case is when Jonathan individually started a rout. Still, I'm sure the gifts were useful and helped to make the people of Judah even more fond of David, but were not an example of David seizing a moment to life himself up.

Jesus himself tells us to use our wealth to make friends in the world. Jesus' purpose is for the spread of the gospel. Generosity is a Christian trait. It is seen in the world but it ought to be most evident in believers. As I start a new job, I must remember to take advantages of opportunities to be generous as part of my witness to others.

QT 28 Nov 13, Our strength can become our weakness when we are disconnected from God

1 Sam 30: ~ 18-25 (ESV) David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, . . . David brought back all. . . .

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, "Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart." 23 But David said, "You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike." 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

NOTE: David made good decisions in regards to people. And by doing so, he prevented roots of bitterness from springing up. It is more likely for the 200 to be bitter for not sharing in the reward than for the 400 to be bitter because there gain was a little less. Not only did the group get their stuff back, but they captured the loot from other Amakelite forays during the time of the raids on David's home. David treated people with respect and with mercy. He was gentle, compassionate, forgiving, and humble. He did not make harsh commands that sound good and reasonable but really just tear others down. He shows a depth of maturity that is unusual for his age. He already is a servant leader. I have to believe that God has made him into the man that he is. His time with God has transformed him as a person. His experience of pain, sorrow, battles, exaltations, and joy have made him a stronger man. His emotions and passion, which will be his weakness, are also his greatest strength. The key is keeping the line of relationship with God so that his strength does not become his weakness. Ultimately, he will fail in this respect at time. But he repents and continues forward, broken, but still walking with God.

QT 27 Nov 13, Seek God

1 Sam 30: ~6-19 (ESV) And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7  And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8  And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?" He answered him, "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue." 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, . . .

11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. . . . He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14  We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire." 15 And David said to him, "Will you take me down to this band?" And he said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band."

. . . And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18  David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all.

NOTE: After David pours out his soul to God, and under the threat of mutiny, he seeks God's will. Maybe it was a time of repentance for his deception. Maybe it was just learning to deal with tremendous disappointment and pain. Whatever, a lot of things will change quickly in David's life. Finding his family will be most important, but immediately afterwards he will be pronounced King of Judah because of the death of Saul and his sons on the battlefield. At this point, David's attention is to his own family, and the families of his soldiers. He is greatly distressed, but he does not give up on God. He goes to God with his distress; he is refreshed by God; he seeks direction from God.

The lesson is clear to us as well. Go to God with your pain. Seek him and find strength in him. Then seek Him for the next steps. Sometimes the next steps are few and not very far out into the future. The next step may only take you into the next day, but keep seeking God. He will provide what is best (His best, not yours). He promises that to all of his children.

QT 26 Nov 13, God forgives our mistakes and sin

1 Sam 29:6-11 (ESV) Then Achish called David and said to him, "As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines." 8 And David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?" 9 And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.' 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light." 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

NOTE: David has not been honest with Achish, nor has he been as blameless as an angel of God. True, he has done no harm to the Philistines, but he has not attacked the Jews as he boasted, but rather other enemies of God besides the Philistines. It is not exactly clear what David was planning to do at this point. And the lords of the Philistines were correct in questioning his motives. Would he really attack his own people? Or would he turn on the Philistines in the midst of the battle? The scriptures do not tell us what David was planning. The story that follows suggest that the men were not too pleased either with the decisions of David, once they return to their home in Ziklag.

1 Sam 30:1-6 (ESV) Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

NOTE: The city is burned to the ground and all of their families are captured. The men are overcome with grief and consider taking out their frustration against David. The Amalekites, the enemies of Israel, the nation whom Saul did not destroy as God commanded him, are the perpetrators. I wonder if the anger against David was because of this secret life of lies. I wonder if they too wondered what he was going to do in the battle against Israel. Whatever, ultimately David finds strength in the Lord.

Ps 103:2-5, 8-10 (ESV) Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

5 who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

…

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

9  He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

NOTE: Often in his life, David recognized his sin and confessed it. And he realized that God was incredibly merciful. Maybe, he saw that this time he was very wrong. And that it probably was his fault. His first response is to find rest in God alone. Then he sets out to right what was done.

We need to have the same attitude as David. We will make a lot of dumb and sinful decisions in our life. We need to admit our sin and ask God for his forgiveness, finding strength in his great love for us.

I don't know what the future holds today, but I am so thankful that I am loved by God. He forgets my sins. He heals me. He redeems my life from the pit. He is merciful to me. Thank you LORD.

QT 25 Nov 13, Seek God's approval, not men's

1 Sam 28:3-7, 11-19 (ESV) Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, "Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her." And his servants said to him, "Behold, there is a medium at En-dor."

. . .

11 Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" He said, "Bring up Samuel for me." 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul." 13 The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." 14 He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

15 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" Saul answered, "I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do." 16 And Samuel said, "Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18  Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines."

NOTE: Most have understood this passage as unique in the results. That is, the woman is genuinely surprised to see Samuel, possible expecting the more common form of a demon. Also, Samuel apparently tells her that Saul is the client, which surprises her even more. This is not the typical séance, and God has allowed Samuel's spirit to rise from Sheol to speak to Samuel. For Samuel's part in all of this, there is a tremendous amount of hypocrisy. He rids the land of mediums and then goes and seeks one. He swears by the Lord (verse 10) not to harm her, even though her actions were in violation of the law. Samuel tells Saul that God does not answer because Saul had not listened. The two actions go hand in hand. Even more interestingly is that Saul learns of the defeat of Israel's army and still takes the army into battle the next day. Did he think he achieve a result in opposition to God's revelation? Maybe he secretly wished for death since his life was such a mess of contradictions. God said to Cain, "sin is crouching at the door, it desires to have you, but you master it." Sin has been eating away at Saul since he never dealt with the sin in his life. He never really repented.  And he never really sought God. He sought approval from men, but not from God, and God deserted him. Approval from God is necessary for real life, and is a protection from insanity.

QT 22 Nov 13, The known will of God are the commands of God

1 Sam 27:1, 7-12 (ESV) Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand."

. . .

7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, "Where have you made a raid today?" David would say, "Against the Negeb of Judah," or, "Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites," or, "Against the Negeb of the Kenites." 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, "Lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

NOTE: Scripture tells us truthfully and accurately what happened. That does not mean the decisions were correct, but they are correctly recorded. David was a man after God's own heart, but that does not mean all of his decisions were godly. His decision to live among the Philistines may have no moral dimensions, it was just that, a decision to get away from Saul. And we cannot determine whether his lying to a Philistine ruler was right or wrong since there is no commentary from God. We do know from scripture, that lying is wrong, but I'm not so sure it is always black and white. Sometimes we might lie in love for the individual, for example, sparing someone news that would not help a situation. Maybe David's lies were to save the lives of those who followed him. But did he really have to lie? Probably not. And, David's actions against Israel's enemies, the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, are also of an ambiguous nature. They were enemies that God had told Joshua to completely destroy, so his killing all of the inhabitants could be justified based on the original command. Still, the whole passage shows a lot of "scheming" on David's part, and one wonders if David had taken things into his hands rather than continuing to wait upon God in the wilderness. He did not know at the time, but he was only 18 months away from returning to Israel as King of Judah. It is hard to wait sometimes. And it is hard to find the balance between trust and action. When does prudent action become "scheming?" I suppose the moral answer is the best measure. The known will of God are the commands of God. If we have to violate those commands to achieve our objectives, then we are scheming. Lord, help me to see when I am overstepping your boundaries. I don't want to sin to achieve things. Open my eyes to my sin.

QT 21 Nov 13, We can change the people around us

1 Sam 26:13-14, 21-25 (ESV) Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

…

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake." 22 And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23  The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation." 25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

NOTE: This appears to be the last time that Saul sought out David to kill him--27:4 seems to confirm the fact, although for a different reason. David always brings out the best in Saul, and the reason is that David always does the right thing. The result is that Saul repents of his sin after seeing David's mercy. For a king to admit to being foolish is a major event. And not only does David bring out the best in Saul, but the misfits who follow him around are also changed. Some of them will become David's mighty men (2 Sam 23). David reminds me of Paul's words, that we are to be the aroma of Christ to the people around us. To some, it is a warning of spiritual death, to others it is the promise of spiritual life. Everything we do should be a blessing to others and not a curse. God will curse the wicked, that is not our job. Our job is to bring as many as possible into the kingdom. That means we are to live as Christ's aroma, a fragrance of blessing in a wicked world. We do the right thing, even when we are mistreated. We need to spend and be spent with our lives for the lives of others. We need to pray for the lost--our neighbors and co-workers. We need to sacrificially serve others. We need to consider others more important than ourselves. We need to live like Christ to those around us. As the poem goes: "you are writing a chapter each day, by the things that you do, and the words that you say; men read what you right, distorted and true, what is the gospel according to you? (anonymous)"

QT 20 Nov 13, Don't miss out on the joy for fear of the disappointment

1 Sam 26:6-12 (ESV) Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 And David said, "As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11  The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

NOTE: David puts into words his philosophy of God's sovereignty. Because Saul was anointed by God as king, David felt that he had no right to lift his hand against him. Technically, Saul was a fellow Israelite and fellow believer in the same God. David had no authority or command to go after Saul. He did have a promise that he would be king, but that no time frame was specified. David knew he would die by one of three methods: 1) God would strike him, 2) his day to die would come (old age), or 3) he would die in battle. But for David to kill him, it would be murder. He had no right to take Saul's life. If it came to battle, maybe David could strike Saul to save himself, but that day never came. David waited upon God. He did not take things into his own hands, even when others around him were encouraging him to do so.

Tomorrow I face a major decision point in my life. It is a job opportunity that I hope will happen. But it might not. How will I face disappointment if I don't get what I so desire? Joy is a part of life but so is disappointment. We can try to protect ourselves from disappointment by dismissing the joy, but then we live life trying to keep everything on an even keel. Life has its ups and downs, and my reactions really don't change much. I am hopeful and joyful over the prospects tomorrow. I can't influence the decision and I don't want to. I want to be like David and wait upon God's timing. I may be disappointed again, but life will continue. And I know that God has my best interests at heart. I need to be committed to things that he has given me to do. And right now, that is my current job.

QT 19 Nov 13, Don't be foolish, be thankful

1 Sam 25:32-38 (ESV) And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! 34 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." 35 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."

36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

NOTE: David loses his cool because of a foolish man named Nabal. Technically, the man violated a cultural norm by refusing to host David. Still, it does not justify David's potential violence. Nabal's wife, Abigail shows great wisdom, and stops David from committing a stupid sin in a moment of passionate anger. David's weakness will always be his passion. He can allow his emotions to cloud his better judgment and so fall prey to harmful actions. For Nabal, he is a fool, like many other fools. He is rich and obviously has some skills to gain such wealth, but he lacks good judgment and is too absorbed in himself to appreciate what God has given. Rather than protecting his things, he should have been using them for others. And he should have been thankful. We should never take for granted the goodness of God. Like Jesus' parable about the rich man building more places to store his riches, this fool dies quickly. And what did he gain for all of his riches? Nothing. Lord help me to appreciate every good thing that you give to me.

QT 18 Nov 13, David wasn't perfect but he was a great example of what man can be

1 Sam 24:1-5, 8-10, 16-17, 20-22 (ESV) When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ….

8 Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. 9 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.' …

16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. … 20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21  Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." 22 And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

NOTE: There are three major points. One, David does not take things (his future) into his own hands, even though he has opportunity to do so. David is willing to wait upon God for his future. Secondly, David's righteousness has a calming influence on Saul causing him to weep and repent of his evil intent. It won't last long, but it is one of those rare moments in Saul's latter days where he shows a semblance of wisdom and respect for truth. Because David lived his life doing what was right, he had that effect upon others. Third, both David and Saul know that David will someday be King. David pledges to protect Saul's family, which is always a difficult thing to do where royal lines are involved. There will always be people who think they have a right to the throne based on birth. David leaves open the possibility of a back-stabbing, which will later happen, but he does it because he made a pledge and it is the right thing to do. David is good example of a man in touch with his emotions and his masculinity. He is confident in who he is. He is committed to being a man of God. He cares for others above himself. He truly is a great example of leadership, humility, respect, and rightness of action.

QT 13 Nov 13, Pray -- work -- give thanks

1 Sam 23:25-28 (ESV) … And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. 26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land." 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape.

NOTE: David is doing his very best to escape Saul's pursuit. He is putting prayer (if the Psalms are any indication of how David viewed difficulties) and effort into the situation. He is not sitting by idly waiting for God to change the circumstances. But at the point where David can do no more, then God intervenes. Or maybe God intervened earlier such that the Philistine raid would occur at that moment. Either way it does not matter. God saved David and his men. The final point that is also clearly illustrated throughout the Psalms of David is that David would give thanks to God. He prayed for deliverance, he worked, and he expressed thankfulness. This pattern is repeated often in David's life. Sometimes repentance is thrown in at that beginning or his real feelings and struggles. These are all good examples for us / me to follow.

QT 12 Nov 13, Balance between God's sovereignty and free will (and human effort)

1 Sam 23:8-14 (ESV) And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." 10 Then said David, "O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant." And the Lord said, "He will come down." 12 Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the Lord said, "They will surrender you." 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

NOTE: God does not make it easy on David. Of course, a discussion naturally arises concerning God's sovereignty (control) and man's free will. God does not stop the men of Keilah from surrendering David. God does not stop Saul from coming. God does not even protect David's men from either. But, it says that God does not give David and his men into the hand of Saul as they wander in the wilderness. Sometimes it gets very close, but God never fails David. But David has to move; David has to hide; David has to use his wits. This is an interesting mixture of man's responsibilities and God's responsibilities. Do David's wits and skill save him? No, it says that God did not give David into Saul's hand. Does David do nothing, resting on God's protection? No, David left Keilah and hid in the wilderness. It is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life. We believe in God's sovereignty, but we act as if it depended upon us, and we pray knowing that without God, all our efforts would be fruitless. Our efforts are good, when they are done in the will of God. In this situation, God did not give his Will to David. He did not tell him where he could go, he only told him where he could not stay, Keilah. So sometimes, our knowledge of God's will is limited only to what we know we can't do. Beyond that, we can act in our own wisdom, depending upon God for the results.

In my job searching, what is it that God does not want me to do? Don't be obsessed. Don't be immoral. Wait, don't try to force things. And I think also, don't be sneaky about it, don't try to end run the process. Beyond that, I'm free to work toward the end I desire. But of course, if God closes the door -- all the doors -- then I need to be willing to accept his result.

QT 11 Nov 13, Obsession and immoral choices are a clear sign something is wrong

1 Sam 22:9-23 (ESV) Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10  and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." 13 And Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?" 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little." 16 And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house." 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn and strike the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.

20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23  Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping."

NOTE: Saul has passed into full obsession. He cannot even see straight. While David may have known what he was doing, Ahimelech did not. He was nervous but he believed David. He was completely innocent and his explanation is very good. It should at least have given Saul pause, it certainly seems to have given Saul's guards pause as they refuse to lift the sword against the priests. But Doeg, a foreigner, the chief herdsman, and an opportunist uses the opportunity to exalt himself in position with the king. He does what no one else would do. He does what is wrong in order to gain position and influence with the king. Two errors are highlighted. One is an obsession with something that completely obscures wise thinking, and two, a willingness to break moral guidelines in order to achieve an objective. Doeg and Saul are made for each other.

Lord, protect me from obsession and improper choices in my pursuit of goals. May I always live my life in a manner that will honor you by my actions.

QT 7 Nov 13, We don't have to be what we are

1 Sam 22:1-5 (ESV) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2  And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me." 4 And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

NOTE: After a brief foray in Philistia as a madman, David ends up in the wilderness. David is visited by his family and he finds a place for them to stay while he awaits God's direction. Again, it will be ten years before Saul dies. David also attracts a number of malcontents. This must have been a very difficult group, especially for a melancholy like David. I'm sure God taught him a lot during these days. One of the lessons was what a malcontent looks like when viewed from the outside. There is no evidence that David was a bitter or discontented person, but his psalms do reveal the emotional struggles of his heart. In fact, his psalms may have been the healthiest thing that he did during those years. He expressed his struggles to God in writing and they became a sort of "ebenezer" (a reminder of God's working) to him during those days. They probably also helped to build the servant-leader characteristics that started as a shepherd. David cared for the down-trodden and lost. God gave him that ministry during those days. His skills as a warrior, as a man of God, and as a musician / worship leader probably helped to transform these malcontents into men who would later be called the mighty men.

We are not what we have to be. We can change. People are not what they will always be. They can change. We can be a catalyst in that change. There is nothing wrong with emotions, in fact, emotions are created by God. But anything abused or misused can be a hindrance to change and growth. Learning to emote and yet not to be controlled by emotions is a mature skill. It is important for people to see in our lives the importance of emotions and the importance of wisdom (knowledge from the scriptures applied to daily life). That is my calling too, like David -- to change people by living the example of an emotional man governed by the wisdom of scripture.

QT 6 Nov 13, Wait upon God, wait …

1 Sam 21:1-9 (ESV) Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no one with you?" 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here." 4 And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread— if the young men have kept themselves from women." 5 And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?" 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's herdsmen.

8 Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." 9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me."

Note: It is sad that David feels he must lie in order to protect himself and his men. On the other hand, he may have felt he was protecting the priests by lying. If he told the truth, they would have been killed for helping him (they would be killed anyway by a raging Saul). David has a band of men who are committed to him. He needs food and weapons. It is ironic that Goliath's large sword becomes his weapon of choice -- gone are the days of the sling. Also, David had no idea how long he would be exiled. It could have been many years (as it was 10 years), or it could have been short. I'm sure his recent meeting with Samuel included a reminder that he would someday be king. David does not attempt to hasten the day through his actions -- he waits on God. Lord, the message to me is similar, I need to wait on you and not try to take things in my own hand. Do what is prudent, but no more.

QT 5 Nov 13, Envy is a dangerous sin that leads us downward

1 Sam 20:1-3, 32-33 (ESV) Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" 2 And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so." 3 But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death."

. . .

32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" 33  But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death

NOTE: Saul's jealousy of David has so clouded his thinking that he throws a spear at his own son. Envy is a dangerous trap. When we allow it entry into our lives, it seeks to consume us, even to the point of destroying other relationships around us. Satan wants us to be discontent. He wants us to desire what others have. He wants us to be unhappy about our circumstances. On the other hand, God wants us to learn contentment, not to lust after the things of others, and to rejoice in our circumstances. God wants us to be thankful and thankfulness is the best defense against envy and discontentment. Rejoice in all things is a protection against the attack of the enemy. Saul has fallen into the trap. And what follows are the common results of envy and jealousy, and that is: anger, bitterness, rage, self-focused, and narcissism. The cure is to bring our eyes back to God and off of the things we feel we must have to be happy. The cure is to give thanks to God for our circumstances. The cure is to live for God first and trust him to provide what is needed for life.

QT 4 Nov 13, Be obedient, leave the results to God

1 Sam 19:11a, 18-24 (ESV) Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning.

. . .

18 Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24  And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

NOTE: Saul had prophesied once before, when he was first anointed to be king. The saying is actually a harsh statement, because by this time, Saul shows no likeness to a prophet. The story is also an example of God's protection of David and Samuel. Literally, Saul could not get to Naioth to take any action against them. Not all of God's protections are quite so dramatic. Many times, they are very "natural" or "human," but that does not mean that God is not protecting David. David will learn a lot over these wilderness years, even more than he learned as a shepherd. Previously he learned how to serve. Now he will learn how to depend on God for his daily nourishment and care. He will live in caves and holes in the ground. He will sneak around mountains in the desert. He will even hide among the enemy, the Philistines. But despite the circumstances, God is always there working to fulfill his destiny for David. David's job is to be obedient. The results are God's job.

28 Oct 13, We choose to walk with God, no one else chooses for us

1 Sam 17:55-58 (ESV) As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" And Abner said, "As your soul lives, O king, I do not know." 56 And the king said, "Inquire whose son the boy is." 57 And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" And David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

NOTE: It could be that Saul only knew David as a musician, recommended by a servant. So, the question of parentage in a land where tribe mattered much would not be unusual. Saul saw the young man's courage and assumed, as many do today, that the courage was a result of his up-bringing or status in society. Saul always viewed things from the human perspective. It's not clear how far Saul dug into David's background or if he knew, at least at this stage, that David was only a shepherd. It is natural to view a person's background as an indication of his worth or ability. Although, I think it is becoming less and less an effective measure today. And, history has always shown counter-examples. What makes a person different is the person inside. Additionally, David's faith made him different as well. God was a priority in his life. He found contentment in his relationship and he enjoyed God. David was very different from everyone around him, and parentage would have little to do with his sold-out life to God. And yet we expect godly parents to produce godly adults. It happens and it doesn't happen, but it is not because of parentage. It is a choice that individuals make as free-will beings. When it comes to spirituality, we choose our course of life, not our parents.