“Jesus and Consecrated Bread”
“Jesus and Consecrated Bread”
Blessings folk!
Read the account once account…David and his men and the Bread of Presence…
1Sa 21:4-6
The priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
David answered the priest and said to him,
“Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey;
how much more then today will their vessels be holy?”
So the priest gave him consecrated bread;
for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
Too often, when people read the Old Testament, even true believers, we think “what is the point?”…”how does this apply to me today?”, etc.
Every account is important.
Every Word is of significance.
Jesus quoted from this passage!
He knew that the Word of the Old Testament provides wisdom, instruction, hope, etc. etc.
Jesus was being confronted by the Pharisees.
They were accusing Him and his disciples of breaking the Law…specifically the Sabbath.
Luk 6:1-5
Now it happened that He was passing through some grain fields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain.
But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”
And Jesus answering them said,
“Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”
And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus threw done the gauntlet before the Pharisees.
He had not “broke” the Sabbath.
He did break their tradition and their interpretation.
Jesus declared that the Son of Man (Him!) is Lord of the Sabbath.
The other gospels tell us of this account…
Mar 2:27-28
Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.
“So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Mat 12:-8
But He said to them,
“Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions,
how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone?
“Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?
“But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
“But if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
“For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
In the Matthew account Jesus asked it they had not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priest in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent.
What?
This is referring to a couple of things.
The priests would sacrifice on the Sabbath…that required “work” according to their interpretation.
Then, often on the Sabbath, the priests had to perform circumcisions…required eight days after birth.
Jesus was showing that compassion, mercy, grace trumps Law.
Jesus was revealing that “something greater” than the temple was there - Him!
We would do well to remember this…
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“‘Good Friday’"
“‘Good Friday’"
Blessings folk!
Ok.
Time for the seasonal, yearly sidebar.
Why?
Because the Word says we are to accurately handle the Word of Truth.
2Ti 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Today is “Good Friday”.
Here is the truth.
Jesus did not die on “Good Friday”.
Does it matter?
It is nothing to separate fellowship over, but, we are to accurately handle the Truth.
Answer this.
How can the Passover Lamb, Jesus, partake of the Passover meal at the same time He died?
Here is the simple Truth of the Word.
The Passover Lamb was to be killed on Nisan 14 (a date) “between the evenings” - at 3 p.m.
This would be Wednesday of that week on our current calendar.
Exo 12:6
'And it hath become a charge to you, until the fourteenth day of this month, and the whole assembly of the company of Israel have slaughtered it between the evenings;
Remember, the Hebrew day begins at sunset.
The meal that Jesus ate with His disciples was at the beginning of Nisan 14…sundown.
It was not the Passover meal proper.
It was simply a meal.
All that happened during the meal and up to Jesus’ death took place on Nisan 14…the Passover, the Day of Preparation.
Jesus died at 3 pm, the Passover Lamb slain for the world.
They hurried to get Him off the cross because the next day was “the Sabbath”.
But, this was not the weekly Sabbath.
It was the Sabbath of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened bread which began on Nisan 15.
That first day was a holy convocation - a sabbath.
(This is where the “good friday” error usually occurs.)
Lev 23:6-7
‘Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
‘On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.
So…the chronology…
Jesus is entombed at the beginning of Nisan 15…our Thursday.
Evening/morning - day 1. Thursday.
Evening/morning - day 2. Friday.
Evening/morning - day 3. Saturday.
Thereby is fulfilled the Word of the Lord Himself when He said…
Mat 12:39-40
But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet;
for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Jesus said three days/three nights.
Not portions thereof.
Complete days.
Complete nights.
At some point after the third day…at sundown which begins Sunday…the Lord was resurrected.
This actually fulfills perfectly another feast which is rarely mention…the Feast of Firstfruits.
Now, I know folk get nervous over such.
I had a respected Bible teacher excoriate me over this a few years ago.
Rather than address the Scripture, he started quoting “church tradition”.
Why are we so fear-filled and defensive over the truths of the Word.
Here is the bottom line.
If we can not be trusted with the truths of the non-essentials, why will the world listen to us about the essentials?
Know the Truth.
Live the Truth.
Speak the Truth.
The Truth will set us free!
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“Holy Bread”
“Holy Bread”
Blessings folk!
David asked the priest for food…for bread.
The priest replied that the only bread available was the “bread of the Presence that was removed before the Lord…”
1Sa 21:4-6
The priest answered David and said, “There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
David answered the priest and said to him,
“Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey;
how much more then today will their vessels be holy?”
So the priest gave him consecrated bread;
for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
This is reference to the bread that was brought into the Holy Place every week.
Lev 24:5-9
“Then you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it;
two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each cake.
“You shall set them in two rows, six to a row, on the pure gold table before the LORD.
“You shall put pure frankincense on each row that it may be a memorial portion for the bread, even an offering by fire to the LORD.
“Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before the LORD continually;
it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.
“It shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place;
for it is most holy to him from the LORD’S offerings by fire, his portion forever.”
This bread was place on a golden table in the Holy Place every sabbath.
It remained a week, then was replaced.
The Bread is a picture of something…Messiah would be the Bread of Life!
(It is my understanding that some say that Jewish traditions says the bread was warm when replaced a week later!…don’t know?)
This bread was holy.
It was to be eaten by the Aaronic priests.
It was to be eaten in a holy place.
This was the only bread available to David and his men.
The priest determined that David and his men were not impure…they had not been with women.
They were holy.
(THAT is another discussion for another time!)
The men partook of the holy, consecrated bread.
An interesting account that will develop as we continue through the word.
For today, have you partaken of the Bread of Life?
Jhn 6:35
Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
Jhn 6:48
“I am the bread of life.f
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“Trembling Before David”
“Trembling Before David”
Blessings folk!
David had left Jonathan.
He is fleeing from Saul.
Read what happens next…
1Sa 21:1-6
Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest;
and Ahimelech came trembling to meet David and said to him,
“Why are you alone and no one with you?”
David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commissioned me with a matter and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the matter on which I am sending you and with which I have commissioned you; and I have directed the young men to a certain place.’
“Now therefore, what do you have on hand?
Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”
The priest answered David and said,
“There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread;
if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
David answered the priest and said to him,
“Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey;
how much more then today will their vessels be holy?”
So the priest gave him consecrated bread;
for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest.
David and his men were hungry.
You saw the priest’s reaction.
He was trembling.
Something was wrong.
David should not have been “alone” (he had young men with him) without some form of royal entourage or military group.
The priest knew something was not right.
David gave an explanation.
He was on a “super-secret-mission” for the king.
David lied.
Yep.
A bold-face-desperate-in-your-face lie.
David wanted food.
The priest chose to press the matter no further.
The future would reveal this to all be costly.
For today, know this.
A lie will never solve a problem.
A lie will complicate.
The bread?
We will look at that tomorrow.
Know the truth.
Speak the truth.
Trust the Lord with the difficult truths when tempted to lie and/or obfuscate.
He will give the words needed at that moment…
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“The Lord Will Be Between Me and You”
“The Lord Will Be Between Me and You”
Blessings folk!
Jonathan reported to David as planned…
1Sa 20:35-42
Now it came about in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little lad was with him.
He said to his lad, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.”
As the lad was running, he shot an arrow past him.
When the lad reached the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot,
Jonathan called after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”
And Jonathan called after the lad, “Hurry, be quick, do not stay!”
And Jonathan’s lad picked up the arrow and came to his master.
But the lad was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.
Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad and said to him, “Go, bring them to the city.”
When the lad was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together, but David wept the more.
Jonathan said to David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD will be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’” Then he rose and departed, while Jonathan went into the city.
All pretense was set aside.
Saul was trying to kill David.
David knew.
Jonathan now knew.
Jonathan reported as planned.
He then sent the young lad back to the city with the weapons.
It was time to quit being coy.
David arose and fell before Jonathan three times.
A sign of humility.
A sign of thanks.
A sign of honor before the king-in-waiting that set aside his place for the will of God in David.
The encounter is very emotional.
They kissed one another.
They wept together.
David wept more.
Jonathan then tells David to go.
But, before he leaves…
Jonathan reiterates the covenant they had made between one another.
The Lord would be between them.
The Lord would be between their descendants…forever.
They did not know if they would see one another again.
They did know that the Lord was with them.
They did know that their future was in the hand of the Lord.
A good place to be…even in sorrow…
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“Saul’s Anger Burned…”
“Saul’s Anger Burned…”
Blessings folk!
Now, the plan of Jonathan and David is executed.
1Sa 20:24-34
So David hid in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
The king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall;
then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought,
“It is an accident, he is not clean, surely he is not clean.”
It came about the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David’s place was empty;
so Saul said to Jonathan his son,
“Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
Jonathan then answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem,
for he said, ‘Please let me go, since our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. And now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”
Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him,
“You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!
Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame
and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
“For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Therefore now, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die.”
But Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him,
“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down;
so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.
Then Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him.
Jonathan now understood.
David had been correct.
Saul wanted David dead.
Saul was so mad that he “burned against Jonathan”.
He blasphemed his wife.
He knew that Jonathan had chosen David.
Saul considered this to be to Jonathan’s “shame”.
Saul knew the truth.
As long as David was alive, Jonathan’s kingdom would not be established.
Saul also knew that Jonathan did not care, that he had chosen David.
Jonathan had chosen the servant of God…the already-anointed King God…rather than the kingdom of man…his father’s kingdom.
When Jonathan tried to reason with Saul as to why David deserved death Saul tried to spear Jonathan.
Sorta funny…the Word says “so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.”
Well, ya rec’k’n?
If Saul was willing to kill Jonathan…
Then there was no doubt he would kill David.
Jonathan as enraged.
He left the table.
But, did you notice?
Jonathan was grieved over David because Saul dishonored David.
Interesting.
He was not grieved over his father.
The Spirit of the Lord had left Saul.
The Spirit of the Lord was with David.
Thus the fruit thereof…
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“Arrows”
“Arrows”
Blessings folk!
Jonathan and David finalized their plan.
David would stay away a few days.
Jonathan would observe the reaction of his dad, Saul.
Jonathan would report back David.
Read how he would “report”…
1Sa 20:18-23
Then Jonathan said to him,
“Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.
“When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.
“I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.
“And behold, I will send the lad, saying,
‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the lad, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come; for there is safety for you and no harm, as the LORD lives.
“But if I say to the youth,
‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the LORD has sent you away.
“As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken,
behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.”
They had to be careful.
Saul’s “eyes” were everywhere, perhaps even the “young lads”.
So, the arrows.
If the arrows fell short…near…then it is safe to draw near.
It would be safe to return to the house of the King.
If the arrows went far…beyond…then the Lord has sent David away.
David would be listening for Jonathan’s report.
Then Jonathan reminded David of the covenant between them.
A covenant between them forever.
They did not know exactly what was happening…
David was certain.
Jonathan was not…but was beginning to think that David was correct.
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“Do Not Cut Off Your Lovingkindness”
“Do Not Cut Off Your Lovingkindness”
Blessings folk!
Jonathan finalizes the plan as to how to communicate to David.
It is obvious that there was extreme tension in the family.
Many were the eyes of the king about.
Jonathan and David had to surreptitiously plan and communicate.
1Sa 20:12-17
Then Jonathan said to David,
“The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness!
When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you?
“If it please my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also,
if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety.
And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father.
“If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die?
“You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever,
not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying,
“May the LORD require it at the hands of David’s enemies.”
Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him,
because he loved him as he loved his own life.
Jonathan promised to find out what was happening.
He promised that if good, he would tell.
If bad, he would tell.
If bad, he declared that the same be done to him, if he did not tell David so that he could flee.
Then Jonathan states this…”May the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.”
Jonathan knew the Lord had been with his Father.
He now knew that the Lord would be with David.
Jonathan then stated…requested…that David not cut off his family…should Jonathan survive.
He desired the lovingkindness of David upon his house forever.
Note how this is done in covenant language.
Not contract.
Covenant.
He called upon the Lord God of Israel as Witness.
Jonathan initiated the covenant…before and in the moment.
His motivation was his love for David.
Jonathan was planning for the moment.
He was also laying the groundwork for the future based upon the faithfulness of the Lord.
We will see later that this proves to maintain his lineage.
May we do likewise.
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“Brought Into A Covenant of the Lord”
“Brought Into A Covenant of the Lord”
Blessings folk!
David had just confided with Jonathan.
David feared for his life.
He knew that Saul was after him.
Jonathan was yet to be convinced that evil was planned by his father.
So, they developed a plan.
1Sa 20:4-11
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.
“If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’
“If he says, ‘It is good,’ your servant will be safe;
but if he is very angry, know that he has decided on evil.
“Therefore deal kindly with your servant,
for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you.
But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself;
for why then should you bring me to your father?”
Jonathan said, “Far be it from you!
For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you,
then would I not tell you about it?”
Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.”
So both of them went out to the field.
You read the plan.
The detail is interesting.
We learn that Jonathan had “brought your servant (David) into a covenant of the Lord with you.”
This is interesting.
David considered himself to be a servant of Jonathan and of the crown.
David knew that he had been anointed king.
David knew what Jonathan had done earlier.
This is what we saw when Jonathan place his wardrobe and weapons upon David.
Jonathan was transferring his right to be king upon David.
Jonathan initiated a covenant relationship.
Because of this, David told Jonathan that if evil was found in him (David) and if the king determined to bring evil upon David, then Jonathan should just kill David.
Thereby restoring Jonathan’s position.
Thereby executing what the king desired.
Jonathan exclaimed “far be it from you!”
If evil was discovered, he would tell David.
Here we see two righteous servants of the Lord seeking to do right in the midst of evil.
May we do likewise….to be continued…
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Check the “patreon” link below for more information. Blessings!)
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“Father in Me”
“Father in Me”
Blessings folk!
Ok, so I was wrong.
One more side-bar from David.
Thirty years ago today my dad stepped into glory.
Many locally knew him.
Many know him now.
When we know someone, we know them…whether past or present.
He was/is a Godly man beyond reproach full of the Power and Presence of the Lord.
He was/is a faithful son.
He was/is father of four sons.
He was/is the faithful husband of one wife.
Though he has been among the great cloud of witness for three decades, his life carries on.
Through his family.
Through his friends.
Through everyone that encountered him.
Therefore, we do not say he “was” but rather he “is”.
Though we have been separated for a period of time, the time is drawing near when we will be reunited.
Forever.
In the Presence of the Most High God.
This past Sunday I received one of the more encouraging words of my life.
A co-worker/friend of my father told me that “you sound just like him, you talk like him, you teach like him”, etc.
Why is that?
Because we have the same Father.
May we do as my dad did.
May we run the race.
May we press on.
Heb 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
May we reflect Father God in the same way that we reflect our earthly fathers.
Do people see Father in us?
Love this Paul Overstreet song…
Seein’ My Father in Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVeml28Eo3w
“Max Speaks”
“Max Speaks”
Blessings folk!
The first full day of spring.
New life.
A beginning again.
The Lord wants to grant such to us.
One more “side-bar” before we return to David.
The Word tells us…
Mat 21:16
and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?”
And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF'?”
Jesus is quoting the first part of Psalm 8…
Psa 8:1-2
For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.
O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
Jesus is telling us to give heed to what comes out of the mouth of the young.
They hear things…
They know things…
They do things…
…that we have long ago quenched.
As mentioned yesterday, consider Max.
This past Sunday as we gathered for corporate worship, the band was playing music just prior to the “starting time” (should we really “start/stop” worship?).
We were not playing any particular song, just playing.
Just improvising.
Just flowing.
Just worshipping.
I began to sing a couple of phrases.
Just vocal petitions to the Most High to “come”.
Yes, He is there already.
Yes, He never leaves us.
I was simply asking that He would be present in might and power.
I was simply stating that we were ready to receive, etc.
So, from time to time over a 3-4 minute period I would sing “Come, Lord”.
Suddenly I heard laughter.
Loud laughter from the gathering.
Loud, sustained, “sorta-inappropriate-for-the-moment” laughter.
I turned my head to see what was occurring.
At that moment I saw Max.
A two-year old boy with Downs Syndrome.
A little bundle of energy and joy.
His mom was scooping him up.
He was “rushing the stage” where we were playing/singing/worshipping.
Everyone laughed.
I chuckled at what the Lord was doing.
Max heard.
Max responded.
He heard “come”.
He did.
Oh that we would respond with joyful abandon when the Lord says “Come”.
Oh that we would respond as Max, completely uninhibited when the Lord says “Go”.
The Lord is speaking through the children.
The Lord is speaking through His Word.
The Lord is speaking through the Spirit.
The Lord is speaking through His Body.
The Lord is speaking through creation.
Are we listening?
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“Comfort In the Midst of Hail”
“Comfort In the Midst of Hail”
Blessings folk!
A little sidebar for today.
Locally, we had some serious storms blow through last evening.
Hail the size I had never seen before…softball/grapefruit and larger.
Really messed up our youngest daughter’s car…and several hundred others as well as businesses, etc.
Makes one consider…
If 2-3 lb hailstones can cause such damage.
What of…?
Rev 16:21
And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail,
because its plague was extremely severe.
Then this.
Such events can be frightening, especially for children (and adults?).
Our local grandson, seven, was scared.
Had his helmet on (actually one of my motorcycle helmets).
The initial wave had passed, so we came out of basement into living room.
He was still scared.
He grabbed one of his Bible-story books and brought it to me saying, “read this to me. It makes me feel better”.
Hummm…
“Read this to me. It makes me feel better.”
The Word is comfort in all things.
Psa 119:49-50
Zayin.
Remember the word to Your servant,
In which You have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Your word has revived me.
The Lord and His Word is our comfort, our strength.
May we have the faith of the child.
Wait until I tell you about Max…tomorrow…
Meanwhile, do listen to The Word Podcast, a daily walk through the Word…link below
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Blessings!
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“But A Step Between Me and Death”
“But A Step Between Me and Death”
Blessings folk!
Saul pursued David.
The Spirit of the Lord fell upon Saul.
Saul prophesied.
He prophesied before Samuel.
All day.
All night.
Totally naked.
What happens next?
David flees.
He runs to Jonathan.
David wanted to know what was happening.
He wanted to know why.
Read carefully.
Much here…
1Sa 20:1-2
Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”
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. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!”
David wanted to know…
- What have I done?
- What is my iniquity?
- What is my sin before Saul?
- Why is Saul seeking my life?
Jonathan did not believe.
He sought to comfort David by telling him that he would not die.
He told David that his father, Saul, did nothing without telling him.
Yet, Jonathan did not know.
Saul had sought to spear David.
Saul had sent messengers to bring David back, presumably to harm.
David was concerned.
Jonathan was clueless.
David then said…
1Sa 20:3
Yet David vowed again, saying,
“Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said,
‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’
But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives,
there is hardly a step between me and death.”
David was correct.
Jonathan began to see it was possible.
David was in trouble.
Death was near.
They developed a plan…as we will see…
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“Stripped: All Night, All Day”
“Stripped: All Night, All Day”
Blessings folk!
Saul had enough.
Three sets of messengers had been sent to fetch (capture?!) David.
Every group broke out in prophetic utterance when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them.
And David was still free.
Read…
1Sa 19:22-24
Then he himself went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu;
and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?”
And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”
He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also,
so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
He also stripped off his clothes,
and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Saul decided to go himself.
As he approached Naioth of Ramahj the Spirit of God came upon him.
Saul broke forth in prophecy!
He stripped off his clothes.
He prophesied before Samuel.
He laid naked all that day and night.
Many comment on “naked” stating that it refers to outer clothing.
But…
The same Word is used of…
- Adam and Eve…
Gen 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Definitely no clothes
- Isaiah…
Isa 20:2
at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying,
“Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.”
And he did so, going naked and barefoot.
Without clothing again.
So, I think Saul was without clothing.
The ultimate exposure before the Lord and man.
A humbling before creation.
A saying among the people arose, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
What was the Lord doing?
Did this “impact” Saul?
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“They Also Prophesied”
“They Also Prophesied”
Blessings folk!
David is fleeing from Saul.
Saul is pursing…at least sending his people.
Watch where David goes.
Give close attention to what happens…
1Sa 19:18-21
Now David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah,
and told him all that Saul had done to him.
And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.
It was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”
Then Saul sent messengers to take David,
but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying,
with Samuel standing and presiding over them,
the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.
When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied.
So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.
David sought the counsel and comfort of Samuel.
Samuel had anointed David as king.
Samuel knew the Lord was with/upon David.
Ramah was Samuel’s hometown.
It was now his “administrative center”.
It was at Ramah that Israel demanded a king.
Ramah is some five miles north of Jerusalem.
Ramah means “height”.
“Naioth” means “habitations”.
It was the dwelling place of prophets.
You saw what happened.
Saul sent messengers to take David.
But something happened.
The messengers saw the company of prophets prophesying.
Samuel was standing and presiding over them.
Exactly what is this?
“Prophesy” in this case means to “speak by inspiration, to predict”.
We see more in the balance of the sentence.
The Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied.
How can this be?
Because the Lord can do what He desires.
He can speak through Balaam’s ass.
Num 22:28
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam,
What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
He can speak through messengers from Saul that had evil intent.
Three separate groups of messengers were sent by Saul.
Saul was informed on the outcome of each group.
They were all overcome by the Spirit of the Lord and prophesied.
The Lord will send His Spirit to do as He desires.
Resist not.
…to be continued…
“Household Idol”
“Household Idol”
Blessings folk!
Saul sent messengers to keep an eye on David’s house.
David had fled after Saul tried to spear him again.
David was now laying low.
Saul wanted him captured.
Saul wanted him dead.
1Sa 19:11-17
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him,
in order to put him to death in the morning.
But Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying,
“If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”
So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped.
Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed,
and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.
When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying,
“Bring him up to me on his bed, that I may put him to death.”
When the messengers entered, behold,
the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head.
So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go,
so that he has escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go!
Why should I put you to death?’”
Saul’s daughter…David’s wife…Michal told David what was happening.
She urged him to flee.
He did.
She placed “the household idol” in the bed to feign a sick David.
“The household idol”?
What was that?
It is believed that “this word refers to a kind of idols or objects of worship whose ownership was possibly tied to inheritance rights” - Zodhiates.
It must have been fairly large.
The ruse gave David time to distance himself from the king.
When Saul discovered what had occurred he was angry.
He considered Michal’s act to be deceptive, to be in league with David, to be against him, her father, King Saul.
Michal’s response.
She “threw David under the bus”.
She said that he threatened her if she did not let him go.
Certainly she said what she thought was needed to survive.
Lies.
Deception.
Intrique.
Fear.
Loathing.
Etc. etc.
All the norm in the life of one that the Lord has left…
“Saul Spear-chucking Again…”
“Saul Spear-chucking Again…”
Blessings folk!
Saul, David and Jonathan are together again.
Now…
1Sa 19:7-19a
Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words.
And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.
When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him.
Now there was an evil spirit from the LORD on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.
Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear,
but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence,
so that he stuck the spear into the wall.
And David fled and escaped that night.
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him,
in order to put him to death in the morning…
Saul had tried to “spear” David before…twice.
1Sa 18:11
Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.”
But David escaped from his presence twice.
Saul had tried to have David killed before…but he stopped and said he would not do it again.
1Sa 19:6
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed,
“As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”
And now he tries again.
Why?
Well, he dreaded David.
He feared David.
He was jealous of David’s military victories…he had another one in this account.
But, the big reason…
The Lord had left Saul.
It is likely that Saul really wanted to not do harm.
He would state so in the flesh.
He would seek to do so in the flesh.
But, when an evil spirit came upon him, he chose the way of evil.
Saul threw the spear, so hard that it stuck into the wall.
David fled and escaped that night.
Saul sent messengers to spy/find David so as to have him killed.
We might think that we can control the flesh, but when evil comes upon us in the flesh, we will do evil things.
The Lord had left Saul.
This is the fruit thereof.
The Lord was with David.
Evil will always seek to extinguish the move/presence of the Lord.
“Why Then Will You Sin…?”
“Why Then Will You Sin…?”
Blessings folk!
Saul commanded Jonathan and his servants to kill David.
Jonathan’s response?
1Sa 19:1-7
Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death.
But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.
So Jonathan told David saying, “Saul my father is seeking to put you to death.
Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.
“I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are,
and I will speak with my father about you; if I find out anything, then I will tell you.”
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him,
“Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you,
and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.
“For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced.
Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?”
Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed,
“As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”
Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words.
And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.
Wait!
I thought we were to honor the king.
I thought we were to obey all laws, rules, regulations, etc.
This is what many believe.
This is what many are taught.
Such is not true.
In the Old Covenant.
In the New Covenant.
Jonathan did not immediately do what Saul said because Jonathan knew it was wrong.
He told David.
He warned David to be careful…to be on guard…to hide himself until an attempt was made to dissuade Saul.
Jonathan did exactly that.
Jonathan spoke well of David before Saul…to see the response.
He implored his father to not do this sin.
Then he recounted what David had done for king and country.
David:
Had not sinned against them.
Beneficial deeds.
Offered his life before Goliath.
Was the vessel of the Lord’s deliverance of Israel (this reminder rubbed on Saul&hellip
Saul listened.
Saul vowed.
He would not but David to death…”as the Lord lives”.
He meant it.
For the moment…
David was restored to Saul.
David was in the king’s presence as before.
All is well…yet…
The Lord was not with Saul.
The Lord was with David.
More conflict was to come…
“Put David to Death”
“Put David to Death”
Blessings folk!
Saul dreaded David.
Saul feared David.
So much so, that Saul was willing to use his own daughter, Michal, to entrap and destroy David.
David continued to behave wisely.
More so than all the servants of Saul.
His name was growing in esteem.
1Sa 18:30
Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle,
and it happened as often as they went out,
that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul.
So his name was highly esteemed.
This made matters worse.
So much so, Saul now decided to “jump the shark”…
1Sa 19:1
Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death.
But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.
Remember, Saul’s servants loved and admired David.
Jonathan loved David with all is heart.
Jonathan and literally abdicated his throne in deference to David.
He greatly delighted in David.
Saul did not know this…yet…?
Now Saul told…ordered…commanded…Jonathan and all his servants (Saul’s servants? Jonathan’s servants?) to kill David.
No beating around the bush here.
All pretense is gone.
The time of subtlety and nuance had past.
Saul wanted David dead.
We see how “tone deaf” Saul was.
He did not know his servants love and respect for David?
He did not know is son’s love for David?
I think he did.
I think he was throwing the gauntlet down.
They were being put in a position of revealing “whose side they were on.”
This is what man without the spirit of the Lord does.
This is what religionists do.
Be not like them.
Be as the Lord.
“Foreskins”
“Foreskins”
Blessings folk!
Saul had sent his servants to David to encourage him to marry Saul’s daughter.
David was resistant because he was poor and of low esteem.
The servants returned to Saul…
1Sa 18:24
The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.
Saul brought forth a plan.
A plan that would enable David to “earn” status…and resources…
A plan that Saul hoped would result in his goal - the fall of David.
1Sa 18:25
Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David,
‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines,
to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’”
Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Saul simply wanted a dowry of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
They Philistines would not give these up without a fight.
Saul presented it as taking vengeance on the king’s enemies.
We know there was more to it.
So, what did David do?
1Sa 18:26-27
When his servants told David these words,
it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had expired
David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.
It pleased David to become son-in-law.
He had a means now.
David immediately went with his men and retrieved 200 foreskins.
Yes, double the amount requested.
Saul gave David MIchal as wife.
All is well, no?
Look at how Saul reacted…
1Sa 18:28-29
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal,
Saul’s daughter, loved him,
then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.
Saul saw the Lord was with David.
Saul knew the Lord was with David.
Saul saw/knew his daughter loved David.
Saul then became even more afraid…remember he was already fear-filled.
The result.
Saul was David’s enemy continually.
Thus is the way of the ruler without the Lord.
Thus is the way of the religionist without the Lord and His Spirit.
Be not as Saul.
“A Trivial Matter…”
“A Trivial Matter…”
Blessings folk!
Saul is plotting.
He had to.
The Lord had left him.
The Lord was with David.
The story continues…
1Sa 18:20-23
Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David.
When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.
Saul thought,
“I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him,
and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.”
Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.”
Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’”
So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David.
But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law,
since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?”
Saul saw a second chance to entrap David.
Sadly, Saul knew that Michal would be a trap to David.
What a lovely girl…
But, wait there is more.
Saul knew that the hand of the Philistines would be against David.
This is what Saul wanted.
Saul instructed his servants to speak well of the situation.
To tell David the king delights in you…though he really dreaded David…
To tell David that all the king’s servants loved him…which apparently they did…
To urge David to become the king’s son-in-law.
Still, David resisted.
He considered the servants to be trivial in their assessment.
He knew the “son-in-law” was not a trivial matter.
He knew he was poor.
He knew he was lightly esteemed…no position, no status.
He knew he could not “afford” it.
We, like David, look too much at the natural.
Will the Lord provide a way?
“Let the Hand of the Philistines”
“Let the Hand of the Philistines”
Blessings folk!
Saul!
Raving by evil spirits.
Hurling spears.
Full of fear.
Full of dread of David.
The horror of life separated from the Lord!
What was Saul to do with David?
The people loved David.
Saul’s servants loved David.
Read…
1Sa 18:17-19
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab;
I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD’S battles.”
For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him,
but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
But David said to Saul,
“Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel,
that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
So it came about at the time when Merab,
Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David,
that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
Bribes.
Coercion.
Manipulation.
Contriving
Saul did not care.
He would use his daughter.
He wanted rid of David.
He would give his daughter.
Saul was to give this daughter to whomever defeated Goliath.
He had yet to do so.
He would then send David to fight the Philistines with the hope that the Philistines would do David in.
But, Saul had not counted on the humility of David.
David was hesitant to be the king’s son-in-law.
“Who was he? Who was his family?” He stated.
Was David sincere in his demurring and self-deprecation?
Perhaps.
Was he being shrewd?
More likely.
The game continued.
When it was time to give Merab to David, she was given to another.
Merab, meaning “increase”, will appear again later…sadly…
Saul’s sins would continue to bear fruit upon his family…and Israel.
Power play.
Control.
Mind-games.
Nothing is new.
“Leadership” does likewise today, often “in the name of the Lord”.
“Prospering: For the Lord Was With Him”
“Prospering: For the Lord Was With Him”
Blessings folk!
Saul now viewed David with suspicion.
Saul had a problem.
David prospered in battle and leadership.
David was loved by the people and Saul’s servants.
David was the musician that calmed Saul when the evil spirits came.
Watch what happens.
Things intensify!
1Sa 18:10-16
Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul,
and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand,
as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.
Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.”
But David escaped from his presence twice.
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him.
When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.
But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.
The next day…precise account.
An evil spirit from God…note how God is over all…comes mightily upon Saul.
Apparently especially bad.
Saul raved.
David played…as usual.
Saul decided to end David by pinning him to a wall with a spear.
David escaped, twice.
Intense.
Serious.
David knew that he was anointed King.
David knew that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.
Saul knew that the Spirit had left him.
Note what Saul did..
- Raved
- Hurled
- Feared
- Removed (David from his presence&hellip
- Dreaded (When he saw David prospering greatly)
Know this.
We have some spirit.
If not the Holy Spirit, then something unholy.
The Lord was with David.
The Lord had left Saul
Saul dismissed David.
He dismissed to the people.
David went out and came in before the people.
This is mentioned twice.
David was with the people.
David was “of” the people.
Such is good leadership.
Anything else is fraudulent…far too much of this is in the professing body of Christ today.
One more thing.
Musicians in the Kingdom are Warriors.
There are things that occur within the unseen realm in which worship is a major proponent of battle.
Rest in the Lord.
Trust in the Lord.
Fear not man.
Be with the people of the Lord.
“Thousands Slain. Suspicion Revealed”
“Thousands Slain. Suspicion Revealed”
Blessings folk!
David prospered In all that Saul sent him to do.
David was placed over the military.
It was a pleasing sight to all the people.
It was a pleasing sight to the servants of Saul.
What could go wrong?
1Sa 18:5-9
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered;
and Saul set him over the men of war.
And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine,
that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul,
with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.
The women sang as they played, and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”
Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said,
“They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands.
Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
Little explanation is needed.
Saul was enraged with jealousy.
He was displeased.
The people liked David better than him.
The people knew that David was bold before Goliath.
The people knew that Saul as not.
The women’s cute little ditty spoke truth.
Saul had slain thousands.
David ten thousands.
The people did not know…
Saul did not know…
David had already been anointed king.
The Spirit of the Lord had left Saul.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon David.
We see the same type of thing today.
The Religionists are angry.
They are resentful.
They are suspicious of those filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
The Religionists, in the way of Saul, are filled with fear.
The Spirit-filled, in the way of David, rest in the Lord and do His biding.
“David Prospered”
“David Prospered”
Blessings folk!
David killed the giant Goliath.
The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.
David now resided in the house of King Saul.
Jonathan had stripped himself of the position of “king-in-waiting”.
Watch how things progressed.
1Sa 18:5
So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered;
and Saul set him over the men of war.
And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
Saul began to “send David out”.
Apparently in military endeavors.
Wherever Saul sent David, David prospered.
Saul then set David over the men of war.
He was the military leader.
The people were pleased
The servants of Saul were pleased.
All is well…for awhile.
David was “raised up” by the hand of the Lord.
It was the Lord and His timing.
We should wait for such.
We should live knowing that it is the Lord Who raises up and brings down.
Allow Him to exalt.
Allow Him to debase.
“Stripped and Trusting”
“Stripped and Trusting”
Blessings folk!
Let us spend another moment on what Jonathan did.
He made covenant with David.
This is far more than a contractional agreement.
This is life-altering.
1Sa 18:3-4
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David,
with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
Remember, Jonathan was King-in-waiting.
He was the Prince.
Yet, when he stripped himself, he did so as an act of humility and an act acknowledging that David would be the King.
David had already been anointed as King.
(Did Jonathan know? Likely not yet.)
The robe was a sign of the Kingdom of Israel.
He transferred reign to David.
There is something else here also.
Jonathan was acknowledging what Samuel had stated.
Saul’s kingdom would not have a continued dynasty.
1Sa 13:13-14
Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, for now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
“But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”
Jonathan knew that David was the man.
Jonathan knew that he was not.
Profound.
Jonathan set aside all status and protection due the king and his lineage.
No armor,
No sword.
No bow.
No belt.
All he gave to David.
He now rested in David.
He now trusted David.
What does this have to do with us…Believers?
We do the same when we come to the Lord.
We bring all we “think we have” and lay before Him.
We acknowledge that He is King. He is Lord.
Through the Lord, we strip ourselves of ourselves.
Thereby, we are empowered to die to self and abide in Him!
“Jonathan Stripped Himself”
“Jonathan Stripped Himself”
Blessings folk!
Saul took David into his house.
It is asked, “had David not been there already?”
Apparently, David “came and went” as needed to play music for the king when an evil spirit come upon Saul.
Saul likely never saw David, thus the reason that he did not know him nor his family.
(The musician would have been placed out of sight)
Now, watch what happens next…
1Sa 18:3-4
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David,
with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
Though often just read through…
Though often glanced over…
This is extremely significant.
Jonathan (who was some 30 years older than David) was transferring his kingship to David.
The accruements of the king-in-waiting were significant.
The Robe.
The Armor.
The Sword.
The Bow.
The Belt.
All were given to David by Jonathan.
Jonathan stripped himself…
Of his position.
Of his power.
Of his protection
Of the glory of man.
He literally placed his life in David’s hands.
Had Jonathan heard that David had been anointed king?
We are not told.
Probably not.
Did he know that David would be king and he would not?
Yes.
Did this “bother” Jonathan?
No.
Jonathan “made a covenant” with David.
Jonathan initiated.
Jonathan loved David as himself.
All this points to the fact that Jonathan knew what was occurring.
Apparently the Lord revealed.
I suspect that it occurred by the Lord being the one who brought their spirits together.
What does this say to us?
Are we open to such a move of the Spirit in our lives?
Do we rejoice when others are exalted by the Lord?
Do we walk in humility with one another?
Do we trust one another?
Do we love one another?
We must love one another.
The Lord has repeatedly commanded it.
Not a love of duty in the flesh.
A love of Oneness in the Spirit.
Jonathan and David had such a love for one another.
"Knit"
“Knit…”
Blessings folk!
Abner brought David to Saul.
David appeared with Goliaths head.
A bold declaration of victory, of boldness, of the move of the Lord.
Now, watch what happens…
1Sa 18:1-2
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul,
that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.
Well that is unexpected.
“The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David”.
What does that mean?
This is interesting.
We know that Jonathan was a man of courage, a man of faith.
Remember his actions?
He saw a “kindred spirit” in David.
Both trust God.
Both moved boldly in God.
Both were men of war and valor.
It is even more interesting when we consider the chronology of the Word.
Jonathan was some thirty years older than David.
We see the beginning of something else.
The beginning of Jonathan abdicating his throne.
Jonathan would be the next king.
He was Saul’s son.
But, Saul took David into his house, apparently at Jonathan’s behest.
It is not surprising that this passage is perverted by some.
It is used by homosexuals to justify their sin.
They say Jonathan and David had a sexual relationship.
They did not.
The Hebrew word for “love” - ‘aheb - is never used of homosexual love.
The Hebrew word used for homosexual relations is “yada” - means “to know”.
(Also used by Seinfeld characters “yada, yada, yada”.)
So, Jonathan and David had a kindred spirit that knit them together.
We will see this develop…
Be not surprised at the unexpected relationships the Lord might bring in our lives.
“Head In Hand”
“Head In Hand”
Blessings folk!
David was victorious over Goliath.
Because of this, Israel arose and was victorious over the Philistines.
David kept a couple of things…
- Goliath’s weapons
- Goliath’s head
Gruesome and gory, yet apparently with purpose.
1Sa 17:54-58
Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem,
but he put his weapons in his tent.
Now when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine,
he said to Abner the commander of the army,
“Abner, whose son is this young man?”
And Abner said, “By your life, O king, I do not know.”
The king said, “You inquire whose son the youth is.”
So when David returned from killing the Philistine,
Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand.
Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?”
And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
Saul nor Abner knew who David was.
They knew not his family.
They soon would.
After the victory, Abner brought David before King Saul…with the Philistine’s head in his hand!
Some way to approach the king!
Evidence of victory.
Also, subtle evidence that Saul had not been the one to lead in victory.
Saul had cowered in the fear of man.
David had rushed to the enemy in the power of the name of the Lord.
But wait!
Yes, Saul was “king”.
Yet, David had already been anointed king.
David knew who the Lord was/is.
David knew who he was in the Lord.
David knew his time was coming.
Watch this thread-of-a-thought throughout the balance of the account of David’s life.
He awaited the timing of God.
He sought to live in the power of the Lord…
Though not perfectly…
“One Man”
“One Man”
Blessings folk!
Saul had drawn a line.
Saul established a defensive perimeter and stance.
Saul, Israel and the Philistines were at a stalemate.
The Philistines were winning the “psychological” war.
Israel was frozen in daily fear at the sound and sight of the giant.
David had just declared that the Lord would give the victory to him.
Here we go!
1Sa 17:48-54
Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David,
that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it,
and struck the Philistine on his forehead.
And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone,
and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.
Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.
When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron.
And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron.
The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps.
Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem,
but he put his weapons in his tent.
One man…
- In the name of the Lord
- By the power of the Lord
- In obedience to the Lord
- By faith in the Lord
One man ran toward the giant…not away, not parallel.
Toward the battle line!
One man defeated the giant.
One man with the equipment, supplies, etc. that the Lord had granted.
One man trained and tempered by the experiences of life.
One man who believed God rather than the situation or the voice of man.
It happened as the Lord had declared through David.
The giant was brought down without sword.
What did the enemy do?
Flee!
What did Israel do?
Arose.
Shouted!
Pursued the Philistines.
Killed the enemy.
Plundered the enemy.
All because one man believed the Lord.
All because one man was faithful.
Be that man!
“I Will…In the Name of the Lord”
“I Will…In the Name of the Lord”
Blessings folk!
Give close heed.
Yesterday we saw the first portion of David’s declaration to Goliath.
Now, read the rest.
1Sa 17:45-47
Then David said to the Philistine,
“You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin,
but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts,
the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.
“This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands,
and I will strike you down and remove your head from you.
And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear;
for the battle is the LORD’S and He will give you into our hands.”
A declaration of faith!
A declaration of fact.
The fact?
He was coming in the name of the Lord of hosts.
David speaks what is about to occur.
This day…!
- The Lord will deliver you into my hands
- I will strike you down
- I will remove your head from you
- I will give the dead bodies of your army of the Philistines…
- To the birds of the sky
- To the wild beasts of the earth
The purpose?
- The earth will know that there is a God in Israel
- All this assembly will know…
- The Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear
- The battle is the Lord’s
- He will give the enemy into our hands
It is not by the might of man.
It is not by the power of man.
It is by the Spirit of the Lord.
Giants are dispatched in the name of the Lord.
The Lord uses those who believe.
Most of what we do as believers are works of the flesh.
Let us change.
Let us do it the Lord’s way.
In the name of the Lord.
By the power of the Lord.
Zec 4:6
Then he said to me,
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying,
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.
Allow the Spirit.
Quench not the Spirit.