Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 8-12; 1 Chronicles 18-19

Does it seem to you that most television sitcoms have the same plotline? The main character makes a mistake and tells a lie to cover up the truth; then they have to tell another lie and then another lie to cover up the first lie. Everything becomes a mess, the truth comes out, and they realize it would have been better to just tell the truth right away. In today’s passage, David is that main character.

David took a break from the battlefield and went up on his roof to walk around. From there he saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, taking a bath. At that moment, David made a choice. God told him to look away but the enemy told him to look closer. God was telling David you can’t have that and the enemy was telling David you need that, you deserve that – after all, you’re the king! This lie is one of Satan’s favorites and he continues to use it against us today.

AGAINST YOU, AND YOU ALONE, HAVE I SINNED!

This was the moment when David made a huge mistake – not an accident but a choice. He gave in to temptation and to his own fleshly desires instead of listening to the Spirit. David’s behavior was self-serving instead of God-serving. David did not fall into sin, he boldly stepped into it. When Bathsheba became pregnant with David’s child, David made another choice. Instead of confessing his sins, he tried to cover up his indiscretions through manipulation, lies and murder.

As you read through this story in 2 Samuel 11, take notice that Uriah the Hittite is not even an Israelite, and yet he is so dedicated that he refuses to go home and be with his wife as long as the Ark of the Covenant and the army are out on the battlefield. David, on the other hand, is less concerned about his soldiers and the safety of the Ark and more concerned about himself. The king of Israel had always gone into battle with his army, but David remained safe in the palace while his men risked their lives.

I HAVE DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT!

It would have been wise for David to remember all God had done for him. It would have helped David to remember God was with him wherever he went. Even when he was sinning in secret, God knew all.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” David was furious…Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!” – 2 Samuel 12:1-7a

REMOVE THE STAIN OF MY GUILT!

David confessed his sin and suffered greatly due to the consequences of his first sin, as well the many sins he committed in an attempt to cover up the first. God forgave David but there were consequences, and David’s baby lived only seven days. This is where the plot might end but David’s story continues. God forgave David; He still had a plan for David’s life.

DO NOT BANISH ME FROM YOUR PRESENCE, AND DON’T TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace…Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. – Romans 8:5-6,12-14

The enemy has plans for us today, plans to trip us up and lead us into temptation. God has another plan – a plan that involves keeping our eyes on Him and saying “no” to temptation. When the enemy says to look closer, may we hear God’s voice telling us to look away. When the enemy tells us we need something, may we accept God’s answer of “No”. Today may we give in to the urgings of the Spirit instead of the urgings of the sinful nature. Let’s pray as Jesus taught us to:

Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one. – Matthew 6:9-13

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 132

“I will not go home; I will not let myself rest.
I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber
until I find a place to build a house for the Lord,
a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” – Psalm 132:3-5

DAVID DESIRED TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR THE LORD

Now David built several buildings in the city of David, including a palace to live in. Then he said, “I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant is out there under a tent!” Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.” – 2 Samuel 7:2-3

David’s desire was to build a house for the Lord but that was not God’s plan for David. God loved the heart with which David served Him and He told David of His plans to build a house for David — a dynasty of kings.

GOD DESIRED TO BUILD A HOUSE FOR DAVID

“I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth!…

“Furthermore, I declare that the Lord will BUILD A HOUSE FOR YOU – a dynasty of kings! For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will BUILD A HOUSE – a temple – FOR ME. And I will secure his throne forever. I will be his father and he will be my son. I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you. I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever.” – 1 Chronicles 17:7-14

David recognized the magnitude of God’s blessing and was humbled at His words. He did not think too much of himself, but saw that God’s favor was a gift from God — something any man would be unworthy of. The gift was out of the righteousness of God, not David’s own righteousness.

His response could have been — This is exactly what I deserve; look at all I have done for God. Instead his focus was on all God had done for him as he recognized God’s unmerited favor. He could have reacted in disappointment that God’s plan would not grant the desire of David’s heart to build a temple, but instead he reacted in gratitude for what God would choose to bless him with.

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you…YOU made a great name for yourself when you redeemed your people from Egypt. YOU performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. YOU made Israel your very own people forever, and YOU, O Lord, became their God.

“And now, O Lord God, I am your servant;…You are God, O sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to your servant. And now, may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you have spoken, and when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign Lord, it is an eternal blessing!” – 2 Samuel 7:22-29

LORD, BLESS OUR HOUSE.

Lord, we humbly recognize your unmerited favor in our lives. You are so good, O Lord, and we do not deserve all the blessings you pour into our lives. We are your servants, O God. Help us to accept your answer and give you all the praise even when we do not receive the desires of our heart. We are praying for you to use us as YOU desire. Your words are truth and we believe that all You have promised is true. How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you! Amen.

When I look at the night sky and see your fingers –
the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority –
the flocks and herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky,
the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! – Psalm 8:3-9

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13–16; Psalm 150

WHEN YOUR ENEMY SAYS YOU CAN’T

David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” – 2 Samuel 5:6

King David did exactly what his enemies said he could never do. Jerusalem became his home and is still referred to as the City of David today. When what we face seems impossible and those around us are reminding us of what we can never accomplish, we must remember that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with us. When God asks us to do something, He will be there with us. He does not ask us to step into our day alone; He does not want us to try to do this on our own strength.

And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was with him. – 1 Chronicles 11:9; 2 Samuel 5:10

WHEN THINGS DON’T GO YOUR WAY

David made two attempts to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. The first attempt was going well at first. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments. But when the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark of God, he fell down dead because the Lord’s anger was aroused. The celebration ceased and David GAVE UP on doing what God had called him to do. Things were not going his way, and he let grief and discouragement sidetrack him from the mission (2 Samuel 6:1-11).

David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?” – 1 Chronicles 13:12

When God does not move as we want Him to or as expect Him to, how do we react? Do we let fear keep us from trusting God with what comes next? Do we let tragedy paralyze us? Have you ever let grief and discouragement sidetrack you from what God is asking you to do?

WHEN YOU STOP TO PRAISE GOD SIX STEPS IN

Three months later, David tried again to bring the Ark of God to Jerusalem. This time was different for David. His men took six steps with the Ark of God and David stopped the procession to sacrifice a bull and a fattened calf. Just six steps into the journey, David stopped to make a sacrifice of praise.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might… – 1 Samuel 6:14a

So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres…King David skipping about and laughing with joy… – 1 Chronicles 15:28-29

WHEN YOUR PRAISE IS FOR THE LORD’S SAKE AND NOT FOR OTHERS

David let out all the stops for this celebration! The Levites formed a choir of singers and musicians (1 Chron. 15:16) and David danced before the Lord in praise and thanksgiving. His wife Michal was ashamed of his behavior but David responded with confidence.

“I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes…” – 2 Samuel 6:21-22

Oh the joy of worshiping before the Lord for His eyes only! God welcomes our exuberant expressions of joy and He delights in our uninhibited worship when it is for Him only. Oh the glory we bring to God when we dance and sing as David did when the Ark of God entered into the special tent David had prepared for it. The moment we worry about what others may think of our expressions of worship is the moment our praise becomes muted and our worship watered down.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.” – 1 Chronicles 16:8–9

When our enemy says we can’t, praise the Lord!
When things don’t go our way, He is worthy of our praise!
Before we get even six steps into what He has called us to do, let’s praise Him for the outcome!
Let’s praise Him with uninhibited worship! Let’s dance as David did for an audience of One!

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!…
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:1-2,6

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 1-12

Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along HIS PATH. – Psalm 37:34a

Have you considered how blessed we are that God is active in our lives. He did so much more than just give us the written word. God has a plan for our life — a path for us to walk. He is faithful to give us wisdom to know what is right and discernment to know what is wrong.

GOD LED DAVID DOWN THE PATH HE HAD PLANNED

I will instruct you and teach you in THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO;
I will counsel you and watch over you. – Psalm 32:8

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for the living. – Psalm 19:7-8

When Samuel anointed David king, there was no clear explanation of what was ahead. David must have wondered how to proceed when King Saul, whom David genuinely loved and served, continued to threaten David’s life over and over again. When Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage and then later gave her to another man, David must have felt disgraced. There were so many details David probably wanted to know, yet God faithfully revealed what David needed to know.

GOD GAVE DAVID WHAT HE NEEDED TO KNOW AND DAVID TRUSTED GOD WITH THE UNKNOWNS.

In spite of all the question marks, David dedicated his life to the Lord. Despite the uncertainty of God’s timing, David trusted in God’s plan. Even though he had been betrayed, pursued, and rejected by God’s people, David wrote these beautiful words:

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Show me the RIGHT PATH, O Lord;
point out the ROAD FOR ME TO FOLLOW.
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the PROPER PATH to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them HIS WAY.
THE LORD LEADS with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his commands. – Psalm 25:1-10

We thank you, Lord, for being with us through difficult seasons of our life. We can face what lies ahead with confidence that we are never alone. Thank you for going before us and leading us down the right path, giving us the peace to trust you through the unknowns. This morning we feel the reality of your unfailing love and faithfulness, and we praise you! You are a good and faithful father, and we love you. Amen.

Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along THE RIGHT PATH… – Psalm 26:11a

Lead me in the RIGHT PATH, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me.
Make YOUR WAY plain for me to follow. – Psalm 5:8

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 1–5

How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles,
stronger than lions. – 2 Samuel 1:23

David wept when he heard that Saul and his sons were killed in a battle against the Philistines. Although Saul had been cruel to him, David still had a love and respect for the man whom God had chosen first to be king. David also had a special friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and he grieved deeply for this loss.

At this time, the 12 tribes of Israel were divided into two nations. The nation of Judah anointed David as their king, but the nation of Israel anointed Saul’s son, Ishbosheth. After Ishbosheth’s death, the leaders of Israel approach David asking him to be their king also. 20 years had passed since Samuel had anointed David as king and David had patiently waited for this moment.

GOD WAS WITH DAVID.

David led God’s people in battle against the Jebusites, capturing Jerusalem which is now known as the City of David. David became more and more powerful because God was with him (2 Samuel 5:6-10). Next, the Philistines came in an effort to capture David. Now David knew his victories were not because he was a great man but because he served a great God, so he went to the Lord for direction:

So David asked the Lord, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
Then the Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.”
So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there.
“The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!”
So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “The Lord who bursts through”). – 2 Samuel 5:19-20

While Israel’s first reaction was to celebrate what David had accomplished, David’s first reaction was to celebrate what God had done! He recognized his human abilities vs. the powerful and mighty strength of the God who called him. David knew that the battle belonged to the Lord and not to him.

GOD WENT BEFORE DAVID.

But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. And again David asked the Lord what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be a signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. – 2 Samuel 5:22-25

Do you hear it? Do you hear the sound of the Lord moving ahead of you? A few days ago we talked about our tendency to sometimes move ahead of God, but isn’t it great to know He is always moving ahead of us? Whatever is ahead of you, inquire of the Lord — ask God for wisdom and direction. Then listen closely to the sound of our great God going before you, prepared to fight your battles. That is the kind of God David served and that is the same God we serve — Praise His name!

GOD IS GOING BEFORE YOU.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
Even at night my heart instructs me.
I HAVE SET THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE ME.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. – Psalm 16:7-8

As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
He rescues me unharmed
from the battle waged against me,
even though many oppose me.
God, who is enthroned from of old,
who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
because they have no fear of God. – Psalm 55:16-19

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25-30, Psalms 142

Saul continued to chase David in an attempt to kill him for years. Time after time David was given the opportunity to retaliate and end Saul’s life but he refused. David saw value in Saul’s life by looking at him through the eyes of God instead of through his own victim-eyes.

David also had the opportunity to carry out vengeance against another wicked man – Nabal from Maon. Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. She wisely went to David with generous gifts of food for him and his men. She recognized that God was with David and asked for David to trust God instead of retaliating against her husband.

“…The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life. Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch!…” – 1 Samuel 25:28b-29

David praised God and thanked Him for Abigail’s good sense. He sent Abigail home in peace and promised not to kill Nabal. The next morning, Nabal had a stroke, and 10 days later the Lord struck him and he died. David recognized that the Lord was again taking care of him; that he could trust God to fight his battles for him. David found strength in the Lord, His God.

SOMETIMES THE LORD SENDS US INTO BATTLE WITH OUR ENEMIES, AND SOMETIMES HE CALLS US TO DO NOTHING AND LET HIM FIGHT THE BATTLE WITHOUT US.

David married the beautiful and sensible Abigail. He also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives. David moved on from that area with his men and continued to hide from King Saul. Because of Saul’s jealousy, David was forced to live among the Philistines – who also rejected him. He tried to join their army, but they sent David and his men back home because they were foreigners and the rulers did not trust them.

When David and his men returned to their home, it had been destroyed and their families captured. His men wept and became bitter, but David “found strength in the Lord his God” (30:6). God was faithful to give David and his men victory over those who had raided their homes, and they were reunited with their family members, receiving back all of their possessions and more (30:19).

So what can I find in my morning coffee today? What truths can be found in this portion of David’s story? First of all, God calls us to value life as He values life. There may be times when we suffer due to the choices of others. There may be times when we would be justified in our retaliation or anger, but it will not bring peace. God is God and if we truly trust Him, we will leave justice in His hands and look to Him for our reward and for our rescue.

MY SOUL WILL NOT FIND REST IN HATRED OR SELF-PITY; IT WILL FIND REST IN GOD ALONE.

Let’s make these words of David our prayer to God today:

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn…
I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” – Psalm 142:3a,5

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side!

I praise God for what he has promised;
yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:8-13

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18 – 24; 1 Chronicles 12:1-22; Psalm 54

Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” – 1 Samuel 18:5-7

After David killed Goliath, Saul no longer saw David as a humble servant but as a threat to his own popularity and throne. David spent the next few years running from Saul’s anger and attempts to kill him, a time when he possibly wrote many of the Psalms that now help us when we face hard times. Saul daily hunted for David, but God heard David’s prayers and kept Saul from finding him.

DAVID FOUND PROTECTION IN THE LORD HIS GOD.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. – Psalm 57:1-3

Come with great power, O God, and rescue me!
Defend me with your might.
Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. – Psalm 54:1-2

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. – Psalm 34:17-18

For years Saul continued to chase David in an attempt to kill him. Time after time David was given the opportunity to retaliate and end Saul’s life but he refused. David saw value in Saul’s life by looking at him through the eyes of God instead of through his own victim-eyes. He showed no signs of hatred or vengeance towards Saul but instead pleaded with the king time after time to see his heart — to see that he loved the king and would be loyal to him.

“Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king – he is the Lord’s anointed one.’” – 1 Samuel 24:10b

DAVID FOUND HIS VALUE IN THE LORD HIS GOD.

David’s men encouraged him to kill Saul, but David was looking to God for his reward, not for the praise of men. “The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles” (1 Samuel 26:23-24).

It takes courage to trust in God when others are trying to harm us. It takes strength to hold back angry words. It takes character to walk away when we have the opportunity to wound the one who has been hurting us. It takes integrity to value the life of someone who does not value life itself.

Lord, we thank you for your hand of protection over us. We pray for the courage, strength, character and integrity to handle difficult situations and toxic relationships in our lives. We pray for the truth to be evident and for you to be glorified in everything that we say and do today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 16-17; Psalm 59

The search for a new king began. It was time to stop mourning the failures of Saul and move on. The Lord sent Samuel to a man named Jesse, telling him that God had selected one of his eight sons to be the next king. Taking one look at the oldest son, Samuel immediately thought Eliab would be the Lord’s anointed.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

One by one, Jesse’s sons stood before Samuel and, one by one, Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen” (16:8). Jesse finally sent for his youngest son who was out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.

He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. – 1 Samuel 16:12-13

DEFINED BY AGE, APPEARANCE OR OUR PAST

David had just been anointed king, yet everyone around him continued to define him by his age, appearance, and past. Instead of stepping into power, David became the harp player for the previous king. Saul was told that David was a brave warrior and that the Lord was with him, but Saul only saw a servant who could meet his needs.

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. – 1 Samuel 16:21

Saul was not the only one who did not see David as a brave warrior and a man of war. When David arrived at the battle against the Philistines to deliver supplies, Eliab asked him, “What are you doing around here anyway? What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?” (1 Samuel 17:28)

As David was talking with his brothers, the Philistine warrior Goliath came out and began taunting the Israelite soldiers, just as he did every day. “Why are you all coming out to fight? I am the Philistine champion, but you are ONLY the servants of Saul…” (1 Samuel 17:8b).

Hearing that the reward for killing Goliath was one of the king’s daughters for a wife and the exemption of the winner’s family from paying taxes, David volunteered to fight Goliath. Saul’s reaction was, “Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth” (1 Samuel 17:28,33).

At that moment, David could have announced to all of them that he was the new king of Israel —that he was God’s anointed one. But, instead of informing them of who he was, he pointed out to them who God is!

DEFINING OURSELVES BY WHAT GOD IS CAPABLE OF

“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats. When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD WHO RESCUED ME from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” – 1 Samuel 17:34-37a

When Goliath sneered at the small shepherd boy, David confidently informed him of his own future: “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

It will help me to remember that no matter what I face today or tomorrow, THIS IS THE LORD’S BATTLE — NOT MINE. Titles are not important, but a humble servant heart is – a heart willing to do whatever God asks me to do today. And it is important that my head remains focused on who God is and not on who I am or on who others say I am. GOD DEFINES ME — no one else. Because when it comes right down to it…

IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO I AM, BUT ABOUT WHO HE IS.

You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.
In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.
He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies…
But as for me, I will sing about your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.
For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.
O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. – Psalm 59:9-10,16-17

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 15; Psalm 50

“Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” – 1 Samuel 15:22

God made it clear in His word that He wants more than just token sacrifices from us. He wants us more than just a minimum requirement or going through the motions. He wants a relationship with us in which we are wholeheartedly committed to following Him. That is what He wanted from the Israelites and that is what He wants from us today.

In order to fully understand the reign of King Saul, let’s look back at the second chapter of Judges for some context. When the tribes of Israel went to conquer the land and defeat the Canaanites, they did not fully obey the Lord’s command. They chose to let some of the people live, even though God’s command was to completely destroy them. Because of their disobedience, God declared He would no longer drive out the people living there, but He would allow them to stay and be thorns in the sides of the Israelites — a constant temptation with their false gods (Judges 2:2-3). Their presence would test whether His people loved Him enough to obey His commands.

Then in 1 Samuel chapter 8, God’s people demanded He give them a king, just as the foreign nations around them had kings. They had disobeyed God’s commands over and over again, and now they were rejecting Him as their king because of the influence of the culture surrounding them. So God gave them a king, just as they demanded, but He warned them what their new lifestyle was going to look like.

“This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” – 1 Samuel 8:11-18

And just as God proclaimed, the Israelites fought constantly against their enemies throughout the reign of King Saul (14:52). And just as they had done before, the Israelites disobeyed God’s orders to completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation. With an army of 210,000 men, Saul led the Israelites in battle against the Amalekites, but he spared the life of their king and kept the best of the animals. In fact, they kept everything that appealed to them and destroyed only what seemed worthless (15:9).

Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. – 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Saul had been appointed by God, and God had blessed his reign as king. But Saul chose to do what he saw as beneficial to himself rather than keeping His eyes on God. Saul went from timidly hiding in the baggage to seeing himself as the hero, and he even went as far as to set up a monument in his own honor. He even had the nerve to lie to Samuel, telling him that he had obeyed the Lord’s command. When Samuel pointed out to him the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle, Saul replied:

“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” – 1 Samuel 15:20-21

Yes, I did this bad thing, but I also did these good things. Yes, I have sinned against God, but look at all the ways in which I have obeyed God. I may not have done things exactly like God told me to do, but my intentions were good and I believe something good can come out of my disobedience. If you look at my actions, you will see more good than bad. Does this sound familiar? Do we offer the same excuses for our disobedience today?

“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.” – 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Father God, show us the areas of our lives where we are not in full submission to your holy commands. May your Spirit move in us with a desire to give you 100%, never holding back or offering excuses for our disobedience. May you be glorified in all that we say or do; may sincerity and truth be evidenced in our lives.

“You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” – Psalm 51:16-17

I have no complaint about your sacrifices
or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
But I do not need the bulls from your barns
or the goats from your pens.
For all the animals of the forest are mine,
and I own the cattle on a thousand hills…
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Then call on me when you are in trouble,
and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees
and pretending to obey my covenant?” – Psalm 50:8-10,14-16

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 13-14; Psalm 140

Have you ever had a difficult decision to make? Perhaps you listed out the pros and cons of your decision, or wondered what someone you respect would do in the same situation. I think we have all been there. The tough question is whether or not we spent time asking God for direction and wisdom. In the next two chapters of 1 Samuel, we see three individuals inquiring of the Lord, but the timing was different in each scenario.

CHOOSING OUR OWN BATTLES

First, King Saul selected 3,000 special troops from the army of Israel for himself and 1,000 for Jonathan. Then he sent the rest of the men home. They defeated a garrison of Philistines, starting a fight they felt unprepared to finish.

The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3000 chariots, 6000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore!…The men of Israel saw what a TIGHT SPOT they were in; and because they were HARD PRESSED by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were TREMBLING WITH FEAR. – 1 Samuel 13:5-7

When in a tight spot, when hard pressed by the enemy, God’s people chose fear instead of faith; they chose panic instead of peace. They ran for safety, looking for places to hide. After seven days of waiting for Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice to God, Saul panicked and offered the burnt offering himself – breaking the Lord’s command. His men were fleeing the battle and their fear was contagious, causing Saul to get impatient and move ahead of God.

MOVING AHEAD OF GOD

“The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!” – 1 Samuel 13:12

Have you ever found yourself part way into a decision or situation, or simply into your day, and then realize you haven’t even asked God what He wants you to do or asked for His help? I can relate to Saul in this situation. There have been times when it has dawned on me that I am impatiently charging ahead without inquiring of the Lord. In this situation, Saul found himself reacting out of panic and making a bad choice because he had not taken the time to involve God sooner. Been there, done that.

CHARGING AHEAD WITH OUR OWN PLAN

“PERHAPS the Lord will be us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” – 1 Samuel 14:6

Jonathan did not take the time to consult with either Saul or Samuel, let alone the Lord. Instead, he came up with his own plan and charged ahead! Jonathan’s attitude was one of – I’m going to do what I want to do and hopefully the Lord will bless it. Ouch! I’m afraid I have been guilty of this one too.

Fortunately, God chose to use the immature actions of the king’s son to confuse the Philistines and help the small Israelite army (600 men) defeat the large Philistine army. God caused panic to break out in the Philistine camp, sending an earthquake to strike fear in the heart of the enemy. The vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction (14:16) – just like our enemies fade away when God fights our battles for us.

ASKING GOD FIRST

Lastly, let’s look at a statement made by the priest Ahijah (Eli’s great-grandson) in response to Saul’s declaration that they forge ahead: “Let’s ask God first” (14:36). Now this is more like it. Thankfully I can relate to this statement as well and this is where I want to start my day as I drink my morning coffee, going to God in prayer.

Saul and Jonathan were both doing a good thing. After all, they were putting their life at risk by leading the Israelite army in efforts to protect all of the people. They were prepared to fight to defend the freedom of their families. But in the words of Samuel in 15:22, “Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

What I plan to do with my day may be a GOOD thing or even a sacrificial thing but, if I have not consulted with God to see what He wants me to do today, then I may miss out on what is better — the opportunity to do a GOD thing!

Precious Father, before I get any farther into my day, I submit to your plan — to your sovereignty. Guide me down the path you want me to walk today. Use me in whatever way you desire. I want to do more than just make sacrifices for what seems like a good purpose, I want every action to be in obedience and submission to your leadership. God, nothing can hinder you. You can win a battle whether you have many warriors or only a few! Choose my battles for me and lead me into your will. Thank you for living in me and working through me today. Amen.

I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!
O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me,
you protected me on the day of battle. – Psalm 140:6-7