Journey through the life of Saul & David - 38. God is in control!

The men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. They said, he is in the strongholds of Horesh and whenever Saul was ready they would hand him over.

Saul blessed them since he was happy that at last someone was concerned about him.

Saul reinsured things Since he knew that David was a very crafty person.

Meanwhile, David and his men had moved into the wilderness of Maon because he heard that Saul was searching for him.

But Saul kept after him in the wilderness too. Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain.

Just as Saul and his men came close to David and his men, an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again.

So Saul quit chasing David and returned to fight the Philistines.

Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape. (1 Samuel 23:19-28 NLT)

To Ponder:

Isaiah 43:1-2 says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 

Yes! Though we walk through tough times in life, we might feel that we are done for. But He will show us an escape route. So take courage!!!

Recap on David's Life!!

          David was a shepherd boy and Samuel anointed him. From that day, the spirit of the Lord was on David.

         The spirit of the Lord left Saul and a tormenting spirit of fear and depression came upon Saul.

        David first met Saul to play the harp for him to help him drive the spirit.

        Then he became Saul's armor-bearer.

        David then killed Goliath the Philistine giant with just a pebble because God was with him.

The reward he got was, he was exempted from paying tax and that he could marry Saul's daughter.

Saul became jealous of David when the people sang Saul killed thousand and David killed ten thousand.

So when David was playing the harp Saul hurled his spear on David.

Saul said he would give his daughter to David if he proves himself as a warrior by giving him 100 Philistines foreskins. But David gave 200 foreskins instead. He was made the commander of 1000 people.

Michel, Saul's daughter loved David and married him.

Though David is a small shepherd boy, we see here how God step by step took him into the palace and lifted him up.

Even today God has separated us and anointed us. He will lead us to step by step into His divine purpose in our life which we might have not imagined or even thought of. So don loose heart looking at the present situations.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 37. Fellowship with Godly people!

David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph.

Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him.

One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.

Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.

Jonathan reassured him not to be afraid and that his father will not find him.

And David will only be the king of Israel no doubt, and Jonathan will be of support to him and his father too is well aware of it.

So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. (1 Samuel 23:14-18 NLT)

To ponder:

If God is by our side we need not fear. No man can touch us. God loves us very much that He sends people like Jonathan in our life when we are depressed and frustrated to encourage us and put back the confidence in us. Praise God !!!

Apart from Bible reading and prayer, fellowship with godly people is very important. When we go through trials in our life there would be times when we cannot read the word or sit and pray. At such times fellowship with godly people will help us a lot to live a Godly life.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 36. Run to Him always

The Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors.

David asked the LORD, if he should attack them? the LORD told him to save them. But David’s men were little hesitant, so David asked the LORD again, and again the LORD replied, that He will help them conquer. So they went to Keilah and slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock.

When Abiathar fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him. Saul came to know that David was at Keilah so he said God handed over David to him ,for he has trapped himself in a walled town!

So Saul took his army to Keilah to capture David and his men. He knew Saul’s plan and told Abiathar, the priest to bring the ephod and ask the LORD what he should do.

Then David prayed, if the leaders of Keilah would betray him to them ? And if Saul would go over there. The LORD said that He would surely come. Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray David and his men to Saul?” And the LORD replied, “Yes!" So David and his men—about 600 of them now—left Keilah and began roaming the countryside.

Word soon reached Saul that David had escaped, so he didn’t go to Keilah after all. (1 Samuel 23:1-13 NLT)

To ponder:

Though David committed a sin and faced the consequences, he did not move away from God. Each and every time he enquired God of what he should do and then only took decisions.

The Lord also never let him down, but patiently answered each time. Our God is a patient, loving father. With arms open wide, He expects His children to run to Him always! Do you run to God for every decision you make?

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 35.The Slaughter of the Priests!!!

King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech the priest and his family.

When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, that he conspired with David against him. By giving him food and sword and consulted God for him and also encouraged him to kill Saul. Though He knew David was running away from him yet he didn’t tell him a word.

Ahimelech replied that among his servants there was no one as faithful as David. He was the captain of the bodyguards and a highly honored member of his household. It was not the first time he consulted for him and he knew nothing about the plot against him.

Saul said that Ahimelech should surely die, along with his entire family! So he ordered his bodyguards to kill the priests of the LORD.

But Saul’s men refused to kill the LORD’s priests. Then the king said to Doeg, to do it. So Doeg turned on them and killed them that day,

Eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments died.

Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.

When David heard that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD, David exclaimed that he knew it that Doeg would tell Saul when he saw him there that day.

He felt bad that he caused the death of all the priests and families. So he requested Abiathar to stay there with him.

David said that he will protect Abiathar with his own life. ( 1 Samuel 22:11-23 )

To Ponder:

Because of one man's mistake, a whole community of priests and their families were murdered.

David wouldn't have thought that his small lie would have such devastating consequences.

We too sometimes casually speak lies for FUN, but Bible says in Proverbs 26:18-19 "Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking”.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 34. God's eyes are always watching us!

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.

Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

Then David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, to allow his dad and mom to live there until he knew what God is going to do for him.

So David’s parents stayed in Moab with the king during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.

One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah."

So David went to the forest of Hereth. The news of his arrival in Judah soon reached Saul.

At that time, king Saul was sitting under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers.

Saul shouted to his officers that if David promised every one of them fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make them all generals and captains in his army? Is that why everyone conspired against him?

Since no one told him when his own son made a pact with David and no one felt sorry for him, Saul felt bad thinking of his own son—encouraging David to kill him.

Then Doeg, the Edomite, who was standing there with Saul’s men, spoke up, he said that when he was at Nob, he saw David talking to the priest Ahimelech and he gave him food and sword.

To ponder:

A right time when Saul was upset, Doeg exposes what he saw earlier.

When we commit a sin, we might think we were clever enough. But God is in control. We will be helplessly caught in the enemies hands and our true identity would be exposed, so beware!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 33. Lord watches over our lives!

David escaped from Saul and went to King Achish of Gath.

The officers of Achish were unhappy about his being there. They asked him was that David, the king of the land?

Wasn't he the one the people honored with dances and singing, "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousand".

David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. So he pretended to be mad, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.

King Achish asked his men, why they brought a madman to him, already there were enough around.

He din wish someone like that to be His guest? (1 Samuel 21:10-15 NLT)

King Achish and his officers were scared to give shelter for David. To save his life he pretended to be a madman, so they left without harming him.

To ponder:

Are we going through a desperate situation like this?

Depend on God and not on your own strength.

The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.

The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. (Psalms 121:5, 7 NLT)

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 32. Daivd lies to Ahimelek!

David went to the town of Nob to see Ahimelech the priest.

Ahimelech trembled when he saw him and asked him why he was alone?

David replied that the king had sent him on a private matter.

He asked what was there to eat? If there were five loaves of bread?

The priest said there was no regular bread but only the holy bread was there, which can be had only if the young men have not slept with any women recently.

Don’t worry, David replied. Since he never allows his men to be with women when they were on a campaign. And since they stay clean even on ordinary trips, how much more on this one!

Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence, that was placed before the LORD in the Tabernacle. It was just been replaced that day with fresh bread. Now Doeg, the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman, was there that day, having been detained before the LORD.

David asked Ahimelech, that if he had a spear or sword?

The king’s business was so urgent that he didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!

Ahimelech replied that he only had the sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom David killed in the valley of Elah. It was wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod.

For there was nothing else there. David replied “There was nothing like it!” and he asked for it (1 Samuel 21:1-9 NLT)

To ponder:

David lies to the priest saying that the king sent him. In desperate times do lies come out of your mouth?

We might think we are smart but we do not realize that God has prepared Doegs to watch us and to trap us.

So beware of speaking lies !!! God hates a lying tongue.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 31. Jesus the true friend!

The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.

He asked the boy to run so that he can find the arrows as he shot them. Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted that the arrow is still ahead and that he should hurry and need not wait. So the boy quickly gathered up the arrows and ran back to his master.

Jonathan and David only understood the signal. Then Jonathan sent the boy back and met David who was hiding near the stone pile.

David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.

At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for they have sworn loyalty to each other in the LORD’s name. The LORD was the witness of the bond between them and their children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned back .(1 Samuel 20:18-42 NLT)

To ponder:

Proverbs 17:17 says, A friend is always loyal. Proverbs 20:6 says, Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me" in Matthew 26:31. It is human that when we face times of desperation everyone will be bothered about their own life more than others.

But praise God we are blessed with the Holy Spirit, who will abide with us and will not leave us in our desperate times. Romans 8:26 says, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness". Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 30. Jonathan helps David!

Jonathan asked David to wait near the stone pile in the field where he was hiding.

He said that he will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as if he was shooting at a target.

Then he would send a boy to bring the arrows back. If he said that the arrows are on this side, then it is that all is well, and there is no trouble.

But if he said to go farther—the arrows were ahead of him, then it meant that he must leave immediately, for the LORD is sending him away.

Jonathan said that the LORD would help them keep their promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.

When the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat. He noticed that David was not present but he said to himself that David must have been ceremonially unclean.

But when David’s place was empty the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, that why David was not present.

Jonathan replied, that David asked permission to go Bethlehem to attend a family sacrifice.

Saul boiled with anger at Jonathan since he understood that Jonathan was trying to make David the king instead of him.

He said that by doing so he was only shaming himself and his mother.

So he ordered Jonathan to kill him.But Jonathan asked his father, what did David do that he should deserve such punishment.

Saul immediately hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. Then at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.

So Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that day, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David.

To Ponder:

Many times we too get angry when we are helplessly crushed in our spirit.

When our loved ones behave shamefully, we would have tried our best to make them understand and realize things, but to no avail!

But God says today, you will not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble. For we are people blessed by the LORD and our children

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 29. Love others as yourself!

David asked Jonathan, that how he would know if his father was angry still?

So Jonathan asked him to go out to the field with him ...

He promises to inform David about his dad's mindset that if he wished to kill or if he was fine with him.

He also requested David to treat him with the faithful love of the LORD as long as he lived. Not only that, even If he dies, he wished his family to be treated with the faithful love.

So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, And Jonathan reaffirms his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. (1 Samuel 20:10-17 NLT)

To Ponder:

In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said, ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second was equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Do we love our neighbor as we love our own self?

Let's analyze ourselves and set right our life.

Matthew 7:12 says, Do for others what you want them to do for you. No one likes to be hurt so why hurt other?

Just as you like to be shown love, show the love of Christ to someone today !!!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 28. Jesus the true friend!

David now fled from Samuel in Ramah and met Jonathan, and asked him why Saul, his dad was behind killing him.

Jonathan replied that he will never allow David to die. And he also had the confidence that his dad will always tell even the smallest things to him but David did not agree to this.

He challenged Jonathan that Saul very well knows about the friendship they both shared so he wouldn't hurt Jonathan by telling him about David. David exclaimed that he was a step away from death.

Jonathan assured that he would do all that he could to help David.

David said that the following day was new moon festival. David usually eats with the king on that occasion, but this time he will hide in the field for 3 days. If Saul asked where David had gone, David told Jonathan to say that he already took permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice. 

If Saul replied ‘Fine!’ Then all is well. But if he was angry and loses his temper, then it was that he had determined to kill.

David requested him to show loyalty as they have sworn to be friends before the LORD.

Jonathan replied that even if he had the slightest notion that his father was planning to kill David then he would inform David at once. (1 Samuel 20:1-9 NLT)

To Ponder:

Here we see true loyalty between friends. Proverbs 18:24 says, there are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Yes! Jesus is our only true friend who can stand for us at all times, someone on whom we can depend on and rely on in any situation. We can be confident that he will not let us down.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 27. Lord protects His people!

When Saul knew that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent troops to capture him.

But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying.

The Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy.

When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time.

Finally, Saul himself went there. But on the way to Naioth in Ramah, the Spirit of God came even upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy all the way to Naioth! He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel.

The people who were watching exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet?” (1 Samuel 19:19-24 NLT)

To ponder:

God turned the anger of Saul into a praise to Him, and preserved the lives of all the prophets. He frustrated all the evil plans of Saul, and protected the life of His servant.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 26. God will make a way!

Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were asked to kill David the next morning.

Michal, David’s wife warned him that if he doesn’t escape that night, he would die by morning.

So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped.

Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.

When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn’t get out of bed.

But Saul ordered to bring him in his bed to him so he would kill him!

When the troops went to carry David out, they found he escaped. Saul demanded Michal, that why she allowed his enemy to escape.

She replied that David threatened to kill her if she didn’t help him.

So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him.

Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. (1 Samuel 19:11-18 NLT)

To ponder:

Unexpected threats and unexpected provisions for protection were given to David. Michal helped David by giving him safe passage.

Trials and threats may come from our very own people, and circle of friends or our superiors.

But God will make a way for those who are chosen to fulfill His purpose.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 25. The Lord will take care of us!

War broke out again after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines.

He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away.

But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the LORD suddenly came upon him again.

As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night. (1 Samuel 19:8-10 NLT)

To Ponder:

Psalms 121:5, 7 says that, the LORD himself watches over us! And stands beside us as our protective shade. He keeps us from all harm and watches over our life.

Yes! The Lord will take care of us, so take courage !!!!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 24. Keep up the good work!!!

Saul urged his servants and Jonathan to assassinate David.

Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David, he told him what his father was planning.

And asked him to hide in the fields. He said he will talk to his dad about David. So the next morning Jonathan spoke to his dad all the good things about David. He said the king should not sin against his servant David because he’s never done any harm to Saul. He has always helped Saul in all possible ways he could.

He also reminded about the time when David risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the LORD brought a great victory to all Israel.

Saul was certainly happy about it. So Jonathan said there is no need to murder an innocent man like David.

Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.”

So afterward Jonathan called David and told him all that happened. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in the court as before.

To ponder:

Jeremiah 29:11, Our lord knows all the plans He has for us. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give us a future and a hope.

All the good deeds we do will not go in vain. It is recorded in the book of remembrance and at the right time, we will be rewarded.

So don't get tired of doing what is good. Keep up the good work.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 23. The Lord is with you!

Saul's daughter Michal fell in love with David, Saul was pleased with it because he can use her to trap David and kill him.

So Saul told David, that he can be his son-in-law when David heard the news through his servants he was happy and honored to be the king's son-in-law. It was great for someone poor and insignificant like him.

Saul ordered them to tell David that he wanted foreskins of a hundred Philistines as payment for the bride.

In this way, Saul planned to have David killed.

David was delighted with the thought of becoming the king's son-in-law. Before the day set for the wedding, David and his men went and killed two hundred Philistines. He took their foreskins to the king and counted them all out to him.

So Saul gave his daughter Michal in marriage to David.

Saul realized clearly that the Lord was with David. So he became even more afraid of David and he was his enemy as long as he lived.

David was more successful than any of Saul's other officers. As a result, David became very famous. (1 Samuel 18:20-23, 25-30 GNT)

To ponder:

Though Saul gave David tough targets to achieve, God was with David so he could fulfill more than what was expected of him. He who is in you is greater than He that is in the world.

Jesus said, In this world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. (Psalms 34:19 NKJV)

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NLT)

“Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11 NKJV)

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; (Isaiah 54:4 NKJV)

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 22. We are God's elect

Saul appointed David as commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

But all the people loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

Then Saul said to David, that he will give his older daughter Merab to be his wife on the condition that he would serve him as a brave and loyal soldier, and fight the Lord 's battles.”

Saul thought that in this way the Philistines would kill David, and he would not have to do it himself.

David answered, “Who am I that I should become the king's son-in-law?”

But when the time came for Merab to be given to David, she was given instead to a man named Adriel from Meholah.

To Ponder:

David was innocent and ignorant though Saul was so cunning in all that he did to David. The Lord was with David in everything he did.

If The Lord is on our side who can be against us. People around us are wicked and cunning waiting to trap us or push us down. That is why Jesus said behold I send you as sheep among the wolves..

But cheer up, No weapon formed against us shall prosper all those who rise up against us shall fall. We need not fear what the devil has planned since we are God's chosen children.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 21. Don't be jealous

David did whatever Saul asked him to do successfully. So Saul made him the commander , and everyone welcomed David.

When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all 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!”

This made Saul very angry. That they credited David with ten thousands and him with only thousands.

He became insecure that everyone might elect David as the king very soon. So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman.

David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul.

To Ponder:

Proverbs 14:30 says, jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

Saul became jealous seeing David excel.

Let us join with others in thanking God for their achievements and not give room for jealousy in our life which will only destroy us in the end.