Journey through the life of Saul & David - 20. The Covenant Relationship

David met Jonathan, the king Saul's son. There was an intimate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

David and Jonathan had a covenant relationship. They made a treaty or a covenant, that they would care for each other as their own self.

To Ponder:

The covenant relationship is a God-ordained relationship. This relationship lasts forever because the Holy Spirit binds them.

A covenant friend is a person to whom you can be yourself, who would cry for us and pray for us and never leave us even when we undergo pain and tough times in our life.

Generally, such relationships exist between the husband and the wife. They make a covenant with each other in the presence of God.

Let us seal our relationships with the blood of Christ. On our own, we would break, but with the Holy Spirit we can make it through, no matter how rough and turbulent the situations be.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 19. Do not Grumble

As Saul watched David go out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the commander of his army to find out whose son was that who fought?

As soon as David returned from killing Goliath, Abner brought him to Saul with the Philistine’s head still in his hand. To Tell him about his father, And David replied, “His name is Jesse, and we live in Bethlehem.” (1 Samuel 17:51-58 NLT)

To Ponder:

Proverbs 22:29 says, Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than work for ordinary people.

David was only a shepherd boy. He did not crib about doing his duty, rather he did it sincerely and dedicatedly, so he was promoted to the higher level of serving the King's army.

Don't grumble or crib about the work you are doing today. Do it sincerely and God will lift you up to greater heights that you never imagined!!!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 18. God will fight for us

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. (1 Samuel 17:51)

Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them. The bodies of the dead and wounded Philistines were strewn all along the road.

Then the Israelite army returned and plundered the deserted Philistine camp.

David took the Philistine’s head to Jerusalem, but he stored the man’s armor in his own tent.

To Ponder:

Deuteronomy 28:7 says, “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways."

So don't loose heart today. God himself will fight for us!!!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 17. Name of the Lord - A Strong tower

David offered to Saul that he will fight the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17: 32) Saul replied, "there’s no way, you can fight and win!"

But David persisted that he takes care of his father’s sheep and goats. When lion or bear came he will go after it and rescue the lamb from its mouth likewise he can do to the pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

Saul finally agreed “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”

Then Saul gave David his own armor but David was not comfortable with it So David took them off.

He picked up five 5 smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, along with the shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight. (1 Samuel 17:40)

Goliath roared at David asking if he was a dog that he come with a stick and he cursed David by the names of his gods.

David replied, "You come with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—Today the LORD will conquer you"( 1 Samuel 17:45)

He hurled the stone with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath and used it to kill him and cut off his head.

To Ponder:

Psalms 20:7 says,  Some people boast of their chariots and horses, but like David we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Jesus said ask anything in my name I will give it. The name of the Lord is such a strong tower.

Today let us win our worldly battles by the Name of The Lord!!!

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 16. Quite and gentle spirit

When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

“Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?"

He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

To Ponder:

We see here the usual sibling rivalry between David's elder brother and David. Though he mocked him, David answered politely.

Pro 25:15 says, Patience persuades a prince and soft speech breaks a bone.

Do we answer graciously and politely to our brothers and sisters?

Let us be patient with one another and may our words be gracious and kind.

Journey through the life of Saul & David - 15. Focus on God

The Philistines now mustered their army for battle, Saul also countered by gathering his troops. So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. (1 Samuel 17:3) 

Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out to face the forces of Israel.

He was over nine feet tall! He wore a bronze helmet, his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds, he wore a bronze leg armor, he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.

For forty days, every morning and evening, Goliath stood and shouted calling someone to fight with him.(1 Samuel 17:16)

Jesse’s three oldest sons—Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimea were in Saul’s army.

Jesse asked David, to take a basket of roasted grain and ten loaves of bread to his brothers. And ten cuts of cheese to their captain.

David left the sheep with another shepherd and went early next morning with the gifts.

The Israelite army was in a fright on seeing the giant. David was curious to know the reward for killing the giant?

The men replied that the king has offered his daughters to be his wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!

The giant was too big and Strong to look at but David's eyes were only on the reward.

To Ponder:

Today, what do we focus on? The problems that appear as giants before us or the reward that is waiting in heaven for us?

Let's be like David to fix our eyes on the reward and not the problems.

Journey through the Life of Saul & David - 14. God's Anointing

One of Saul's servants said to Saul, David, Jesse’s sons was a talented harp player, a brave warrior, a man of war, and had good judgment also a fine-looking young man, and the LORD is with him. (1 Samuel 16:18)

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to send his son David, the shepherd.

Jesse immediately sent David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine.

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. (1 Samuel 16:12-21 NLT)

When David was anointed by Samuel the power of God came mightily upon him from that day on.

Above all the skills he had, God was with him.

To Ponder:

When we are filled with the Holy Spirit people will see God in our life.

May we show Christ to the world by our life,  and be filled with anointing always!!

Journey through the Life of Saul & David - 13. Fear and Depression is not from God

Since David was not present at the sacrifice Jesse his dad sent for him.

David was a man dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the LORD said, “This is the one; anoint him.” (1 Samuel 16 :12)

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David.

And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on.

Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.

So to get rid of that Saul wanted someone who can play music well to calm him down.

To Ponder:

We see here depression and fear are tormenting spirits coming from the evil one.

Ephesians 4:30 says, do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way we live. Remember, He has identified us as His own, guaranteeing that we will be saved on the day of redemption.

So let us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit always, giving room for Him to control our lives, so that we will not be overcome by fear and depression and anxiety.

Journey through the Life of Saul & David - 12. Inner beauty matters

The LORD said to Samuel, that he had mourned enough for Saul. Anyways Saul was rejected and he has to anoint another person as king. (1 Samuel 16:1)

So he was asked to fill his flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse who lived there. Since God had selected one of his sons as king.

Samuel was hesitating to do that since if Saul heard about it, he would kill him.

So The Lord asked Samuel to take a heifer with him and tell others that he went to make a sacrifice to the LORD.

The Lord asked him to invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice, so that He can show which son to anoint as king. Samuel did as the LORD instructed. When he came to Bethlehem, the elders of the town were scared to meet Samuel.

They asked What went wrong and if Samuel came in peace. Samuel replied that he came to sacrifice to the LORD. Then Samuel performed the purification rite for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice, too.

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought that Surely the LORD must have anointed him.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.

The LORD doesn’t see things the way we see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. (1 Samuel 16:1-7 NLT)

To Ponder:

Yes! So don't waste your precious time and money in outward adornment. Rather spend your time at the feet of God where the inner man will be changed.

Journey through the Life of Saul & David - 11.Obedience - Our gift to God

Saul requested Samuel to forgive him and join with him to worship the LORD. (1 Samuel 15:25)

But Samuel refused! And when Samuel turned to go, Saul tried to hold him back and tore the hem of his robe.

Samuel told him that, similarly, the LORD also tore the kingdom of Israel from Saul that day and gave it to someone else, one who is better than him.

He said, God will not lie, or change his mind, he is not human to change his mind! (1 Samuel 15:28)

Saul pleaded again to at least honor him before the elders and before Israel by joining him to worship the LORD .

So Samuel finally agreed and went back with him, and Saul worshiped The Lord.

Samuel put Agag to death before the Lord at Gilgal. (1 Samuel 15:33)

Samuel went back home and Saul too returned to his house. Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.

To Ponder:

Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering. Rebelling is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. (1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT)

How are we today ? Do we obey the word of God ? Are we submissive to our God given spiritual guide or leader?

Do we rebel? Are we stubborn?

Let's set our life right today with the help of God!

Journey through the Life of Saul & David - 10. Be God pleasers, not Man pleasers

The LORD decided to settle accounts with the Amalekites for opposing the Israelites when they came from Egypt.

So, He sent Saul on a mission to go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they were consumed.

Saul mobilized his army and sent warning to the Kenites to move away from the Amalekites , since they showed kindness to the Israelites when they came from Egypt. and  the Kenites cleared the place.

Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites and captured Agag, the Amalekite king, and spared his life and kept the best of the cattle and everything, in fact, they destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

God felt sorry for making Saul king, since refused to obey his command. (1 Samuel 15:10)

Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this and he cried out to the LORD all night.

He said to Saul that, though Saul dint have confidence and was small in his own eyes, before the Lord made him head of the tribes of Israel and anointed him as king over Israel, yet Saul did not carefully listen and obey. (1 Samuel 15:17)

But Saul defended that he obeyed the Lord and brought king Agag and destroyed the Amalekites. But the people only took from the spoil to sacrifice to the Lord .

But Samuel said, because he rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected Saul as king.

Then Saul realised that he had sinned and transgressed the commandment of the Lord and Samuel's words, because he feared the people and obeyed their voice rather than God's.

To Ponder:

Many times we also become people pleasers rather than God pleasers.

We forget what God did for us in the past. When things go well in life we take God for granted and people become valuable in our eyes. We respect their words and start compromising on God's words.

Let Saul's life be a warning to not be easy going or careless about God's words!!!