“D, D, D”
Blessings Folk!!
This week in our local Bible studies we studied one of my favorite portions of the Word.
We are studying 1 Samuel (will begin 2 Samuel the second week of January...locals come join us).
We are now learning ‘bout Saul, David, Jonathan, etc.
David was anointed King when he was around the age of 12...we don’t know the exact age...but, he was young.
He did not “ascend to the throne” until he was 30.
Hummmm...do I see a parallel with Jesus? Remember that David is a “type” of Jesus. We see things in the life of David that point toward Messiah...anyway…
The Lord was “training” David in this 18 year period, and thereafter.
Saul had placed David over his guard.
David was Saul’s son-in-law.
David was faithful to Saul.
The people loved David.
Yet, Saul grew in hatred toward David and sought to kill him (a picture of how the “religious” react to those whose hearts are directed toward God...but, I digress)
David finally had to flee Saul. Many chapters in 1 Samuel cover this time of Saul’s pursuit of David. Our passage today is a vignette from the period.
Read this carefully.
Note the setting.
Note what happens.
Note who is involved.
1 Sam 22:1-2
1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
KJV
Just a quick step-by-step…
David escaped and was in a cave. He was trying to hide. Somewhat humorous. He was trying to hide, yet 400 men found him. Tough to hide with your entourage growing. Some commentators say that David was “raising an army.” This is not true. The men found David. They would soon grow to a force of 600 men.
David’s brothers and all his father’s house heard where he was and came to him.
Not to comfort him.
Not to visit.
I suspect it was to save their own necks.
If Saul was after David, we can be assured that his family was not safe.
A few verses later we see that David provides for the protection of his parents...with the Moabites!
His brothers apparently stayed with him.
Now look at the details of the men that came to David.
They gathered themselves unto David.
Why?
They were distressed.
They were in debt.
They were discontented.
Look familiar?
Sounds like most of us.
These folk were experiencing exactly that of which the Lord had warned.
The Lord had told them, through Samuel, that “if you want a king, then here is what he will do…”
All of it was coming true.
They were distressed.
The King was taking much from the people.
They were in debt.
They realized that something was very wrong.
They knew that the path that Israel was on was leading to destruction.
They were discontented.
In light of this, they turned to David.
They fled with him.
They fought with him.
They knew that the Spirit of the Lord was with him.
Again, David is a “picture” of the Lord.
This does not mean that David was perfect...whoa...far from it…
We see that he lies.
We see that he seeks his own way.
We’ll see more later…
Yet, his heart was after God.
That is where many of us are today.
We are distressed.
We are in debt.
We are discontented.
We are distressed with what we are seeing…
We are reaping the fruit of the world’s approach to debt…
We are discontented with that which passes for “church”, “religion”.
Deliverance is found in the Lord and in Him alone.
We must turn to Him.
Seek no other way.
One last observation.
David became captain over them.
David had already been anointed as King.
He did not declare himself leader.
He knew his time was coming.
He also knew not to seek it by his own hand.
Here is the principle for us…
True leadership is raised up by God, not by man.
People will acknowledge true leadership from the Lord.
Sadly, this is not the case in most portions of the Body of Christ today.
For the most part we “call”, “hire”, “assign” leadership.
We lead by position or status rather than by the Spirit.
Continue to allow the Lord to reveal His Truth to you...
Blessings!
The new Victory Park CD, “Without New Words”, is now available for purchase through CDBaby. This is where you can buy the actual, physical CD.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/victorypark
Will be available on ITunes soon...Amazon also….digital download and CD.
Of course, if you live locally, you can find the CD at Moxie’s, Yates Bookstore and Johnny’s BBQ.
You can also download it at…
http://www.digstation.com/VictoryPark
Spread the word! We appreciate all the help.
If you already have the CD, take a moment to write a review at the CDBaby site...that would be most helpful…especially if you like it. 
Makes a wonderful present...ho, ho, ho.