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.