"Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, 'Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?' And Abishai said, 'I will go down with you.'" -1 Samuel 26.6
Saul has pursued David and set up camp for the night. Saul is in the center of the camp with his men surrounding him, and David plans to visit during the night. He asks who will come along with him on this mission, and Abishai volunteers. This is not necessarily the safest mission. They are walking into the middle of the enemy camp. One wrong move and thousands of men are awake and on top of them. If they are captured it is certain death, and yet Abishai volunteers to go. He knows the risks involved, but he is standing by David.
We need friends like this. We need friends who are willing to stand by us, even in the most dangerous of times. We need brothers who have our backs, that are willing to bleed with us, and if necessary, die by our side.
Men, do you have friends like this? Are you a friend like this? This is not the type of relationship that you have with many people. I have about three friends that this applies to. But I know they have my back at all times, and they know I have theirs. They are willing to go with me into dangerous areas. To have that sort of friend you have to be that sort of friend.
Let us be men who are willing to go. Let us be men who are brave and dependable.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Undeserved Mercy
"Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, 'Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?' So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming. David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him... So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. Then Abishai said to David, 'Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.' But David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?' David also said, 'As the Lord lives, surely the Lord will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.'" -1 Samuel 26.1-5, 7-10
Yet again Saul is out to kill David. For the second time he has pursued him into the wilderness in an attempt to remove this threat. And for the second time David spares Saul's life as he holds it in his hands. After the first pursuit, when David spares him, Saul gives the impression that he is done chasing David. However, news arrives of David's location, and Saul cannot resist. He takes a force that out numbers David's five to one, and sets up camp. David with a single companion sneak into the camp, find Saul, and again spares his life.
Reading this makes me think of the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." This is the second time Saul has chased David in the wilderness seeking his life, but it is far from the second time Saul has tried to kill him. There is no reason to believe that Saul is ever going to stop seeking David's life, after all, the last time this situation occurred Saul admitted his guilt and yet here they are again. And yet again, David shows mercy. It is not David's place or right to strike down God's anointed king, and he refuses to do so.
Does Saul deserve Mercy, probably not. Again, he's tried to kill David on multiple occasions, and there is no reason to believe he won't try again in the future. But David does not allow himself to give in to the temptation. He knows that Saul is God's anointed king and will not raise his hand against him.
Men, if this was you, what would you do? Take out the killing aspect, and what do you do when someone screws you over? Again, I think of the "Fool me one, fool me twice" saying, and part of me is inclined say you don't get a second chance. I don't believe you have to put yourself in the position to be taken advantage of, or abused, over and over, but do you offer forgiveness for the past offenses? That is where we need to show mercy. Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was ok. It does not say it didn't matter or hurt. It does not give the person permission to do it again. All it says is I do not hold this against you, and I will not allow myself to be imprisoned by it. Mercy gives what is not deserved, and allows God to handle it.
Let us be men of mercy.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Yet again Saul is out to kill David. For the second time he has pursued him into the wilderness in an attempt to remove this threat. And for the second time David spares Saul's life as he holds it in his hands. After the first pursuit, when David spares him, Saul gives the impression that he is done chasing David. However, news arrives of David's location, and Saul cannot resist. He takes a force that out numbers David's five to one, and sets up camp. David with a single companion sneak into the camp, find Saul, and again spares his life.
Reading this makes me think of the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." This is the second time Saul has chased David in the wilderness seeking his life, but it is far from the second time Saul has tried to kill him. There is no reason to believe that Saul is ever going to stop seeking David's life, after all, the last time this situation occurred Saul admitted his guilt and yet here they are again. And yet again, David shows mercy. It is not David's place or right to strike down God's anointed king, and he refuses to do so.
Does Saul deserve Mercy, probably not. Again, he's tried to kill David on multiple occasions, and there is no reason to believe he won't try again in the future. But David does not allow himself to give in to the temptation. He knows that Saul is God's anointed king and will not raise his hand against him.
Men, if this was you, what would you do? Take out the killing aspect, and what do you do when someone screws you over? Again, I think of the "Fool me one, fool me twice" saying, and part of me is inclined say you don't get a second chance. I don't believe you have to put yourself in the position to be taken advantage of, or abused, over and over, but do you offer forgiveness for the past offenses? That is where we need to show mercy. Forgiveness does not mean that what happened was ok. It does not say it didn't matter or hurt. It does not give the person permission to do it again. All it says is I do not hold this against you, and I will not allow myself to be imprisoned by it. Mercy gives what is not deserved, and allows God to handle it.
Let us be men of mercy.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Monday, May 4, 2015
Beginning of the Downfall
"When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, 'David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.' She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, 'Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.' Then Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife. David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives." -1 Samuel 25.40-43
God brought justice on Nabal, taking his life. When David hears of this he sends a marriage proposal to Nabal's widow Abigail. He was already married to Saul's daughter, but verse 44 informs us that Saul had given her to another man. David takes a new wife, but we see that she is not the only one. In addition to Abigail he has also married Ahinoam of Jezreel.
Throughout the Old Testament we have seen several men with multiple wives, but even though it was cultural and political, it violates God's design, and it begins to set up David's downfall. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman until death. David is compromising that here, and it will lead to the future compromises he makes.
Men, daily we have the opportunity to compromise. We are presented with situations where we can do something for an advantage or simply because we want to. How often do those things lead us away from God's original design? Each time we compromise it makes the next time that much easier. What compromise will be your final downfall?
Let us be men who refuse to compromise. Let us be men who never let the downfall begin.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
God brought justice on Nabal, taking his life. When David hears of this he sends a marriage proposal to Nabal's widow Abigail. He was already married to Saul's daughter, but verse 44 informs us that Saul had given her to another man. David takes a new wife, but we see that she is not the only one. In addition to Abigail he has also married Ahinoam of Jezreel.
Throughout the Old Testament we have seen several men with multiple wives, but even though it was cultural and political, it violates God's design, and it begins to set up David's downfall. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman until death. David is compromising that here, and it will lead to the future compromises he makes.
Men, daily we have the opportunity to compromise. We are presented with situations where we can do something for an advantage or simply because we want to. How often do those things lead us away from God's original design? Each time we compromise it makes the next time that much easier. What compromise will be your final downfall?
Let us be men who refuse to compromise. Let us be men who never let the downfall begin.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Sunday, May 3, 2015
The Voice of Reason
"Then David said to Abigail, 'Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand. Nevertheless, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from harming you, unless you had come quickly to meet me, surely there would not have been left to Nabal until the morning light as much as one male.' So David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, 'Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to you and granted your request.'" -1 Samuel 25.32-35
There was a rich man named Nabal whose shepherds had received protection from David's men. David sends a request to Nabal, seeking supplies, and tells him of how he has taken care of his works. Nabal refuses David's request and insults him, and so David and 400 of his men arm themselves and march out to destroy Nabal. Fortunately, for both parties, Abigail, Nabal's wife, is informed of what has happened, and rides out with supplies to make peace with David. She presents the offering to him, and persuades David not to pursue his course of violence. David listens to the voice of reason and bloodshed is avoided.
Men, there are things that make us fighting mad. Some of those things are worth getting upset about, and some of them are worth fighting over, but some of those things are not. Probably a majority of those things. When you're mad about the wrong things, who is the voice of reason? God has placed women in the world for a variety of reasons, and one of them is to serve in this capacity. There are times my wife tells me things I don't want to hear. She serves at that voice of reason causing me to stop and reassess things.
Let us be men who listen to the voice of reason.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
There was a rich man named Nabal whose shepherds had received protection from David's men. David sends a request to Nabal, seeking supplies, and tells him of how he has taken care of his works. Nabal refuses David's request and insults him, and so David and 400 of his men arm themselves and march out to destroy Nabal. Fortunately, for both parties, Abigail, Nabal's wife, is informed of what has happened, and rides out with supplies to make peace with David. She presents the offering to him, and persuades David not to pursue his course of violence. David listens to the voice of reason and bloodshed is avoided.
Men, there are things that make us fighting mad. Some of those things are worth getting upset about, and some of them are worth fighting over, but some of those things are not. Probably a majority of those things. When you're mad about the wrong things, who is the voice of reason? God has placed women in the world for a variety of reasons, and one of them is to serve in this capacity. There are times my wife tells me things I don't want to hear. She serves at that voice of reason causing me to stop and reassess things.
Let us be men who listen to the voice of reason.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Saturday, May 2, 2015
God's Way
"Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, 'Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.' Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. The men of David said to him, 'Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, "Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you."' Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, 'Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.' David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way. Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, "Behold, David seeks to harm you"? Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, "I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed." Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.'" -1 Samuel 24.1-12
Saul has been pursuing David, seeking to kill him, because he is a threat to Saul's reign. David has been on the run, fleeing and hiding out, evading Saul, but for the first time, David has the upper hand. David and his men are hiding in a cave at Engedi, and Saul enters the same cave. David's men tell him that God has delivered Saul into his hands. From a human stand point David's troubles are over, but David seeks to do things God's way, and refuses to harm the king. Instead he cuts off the edge of Saul's robe, and after Saul leaves the cave David pursues him, showing him that he has spared his life.
All David had to do was stab Saul in the back, literally, and his days of hiding out in the wilderness would have been over. He could have killed the king, and assumed his God appointed role as king, but David knew that was not God's way, and refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His actions showed Saul, for the moment, that he had no intention of stealing the throne. By doing things God's way, David was not a usurper, but the rightful king.
Men, how do you do things? Do you focus on doing things God's way, enduring the hardships, waiting on His timing? Or do you see an advantage and take it without considering what may follow? When the world tells you to do what is easy, do you hear God telling you to do what is right? There is a proper way to do things, and then there is the easy way. Doing things the easy way may be faster, but it will bring about future consequences that could have been avoided by doing things God's way.
David could have taken Saul's life, but then more people would have been after David for killing the king. Saul's family would have reason to pursue David, and now he is fighting a different battle. David would have had to answer to the nation for his actions, and would have faced God's judgment for killing His anointed leader. However, because David didn't take the easy way, his reign began legitimately and guiltless.
Let us be men who refuse to take the easy way. Let us be men who endure the hardships and pursue God's way.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Pictures from Engedi.
Saul has been pursuing David, seeking to kill him, because he is a threat to Saul's reign. David has been on the run, fleeing and hiding out, evading Saul, but for the first time, David has the upper hand. David and his men are hiding in a cave at Engedi, and Saul enters the same cave. David's men tell him that God has delivered Saul into his hands. From a human stand point David's troubles are over, but David seeks to do things God's way, and refuses to harm the king. Instead he cuts off the edge of Saul's robe, and after Saul leaves the cave David pursues him, showing him that he has spared his life.
All David had to do was stab Saul in the back, literally, and his days of hiding out in the wilderness would have been over. He could have killed the king, and assumed his God appointed role as king, but David knew that was not God's way, and refused to kill the Lord's anointed. His actions showed Saul, for the moment, that he had no intention of stealing the throne. By doing things God's way, David was not a usurper, but the rightful king.
Men, how do you do things? Do you focus on doing things God's way, enduring the hardships, waiting on His timing? Or do you see an advantage and take it without considering what may follow? When the world tells you to do what is easy, do you hear God telling you to do what is right? There is a proper way to do things, and then there is the easy way. Doing things the easy way may be faster, but it will bring about future consequences that could have been avoided by doing things God's way.
David could have taken Saul's life, but then more people would have been after David for killing the king. Saul's family would have reason to pursue David, and now he is fighting a different battle. David would have had to answer to the nation for his actions, and would have faced God's judgment for killing His anointed leader. However, because David didn't take the easy way, his reign began legitimately and guiltless.
Let us be men who refuse to take the easy way. Let us be men who endure the hardships and pursue God's way.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Pictures from Engedi.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Acting Like a King
"Then they told David, saying, 'Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.' So David inquired of the Lord, saying, 'Shall I go and attack these Philistines?' And the Lord said to David, 'Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.' But David’s men said to him, 'Behold, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?' Then David inquired of the Lord once more. And the Lord answered him and said, 'Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.' So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines; and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter. Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah." -1 Samuel 23.1-5
David hears that some of his people are in trouble, and he is moved to action. He seeks God's leading, and once he is given the go ahead from God, he and his men move in and attack the Philistines, saving the people of Keilah. David is not the reigning king, but he is the anointed king. While the current king is obsessed with eliminating his rival, David is focused on saving his people. David may not wear the crown, but he is acting like a king.
David knows that Saul is after him, and yet he also knows that his people are under attack. He seeks God, and knowing that God will watch over him and protect him, and then moves in to save his people. Saul should have done this. Saul should have assembled the army and ridden out into battle against the Philistines who are plundering in his country. Saul has lost focus on his role as king. He is obsessed with keeping power that he is failing to use it as he should. He is not acting like a king.
Men, each of us are called to be kings. A key responsibility of a king is to protect those he leads, making them safe so that their lives can be better. We have the responsibility to protect our families. We have the responsibility to take care of our employees. We have the responsibility to guard those in our churches. That is the responsibility that comes with a kingdom.
While David did not wear the crown, he was the anointed king. Rather than hiding out, seeking to protect his own life, David does what a king should do and moves to defend his people.
Let us be men who act like kings. Let us use our strength not to preserve our own lives and to protect our rule, but rather let us spend our strength in the service of those we lead. Let us act like kings.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
David hears that some of his people are in trouble, and he is moved to action. He seeks God's leading, and once he is given the go ahead from God, he and his men move in and attack the Philistines, saving the people of Keilah. David is not the reigning king, but he is the anointed king. While the current king is obsessed with eliminating his rival, David is focused on saving his people. David may not wear the crown, but he is acting like a king.
David knows that Saul is after him, and yet he also knows that his people are under attack. He seeks God, and knowing that God will watch over him and protect him, and then moves in to save his people. Saul should have done this. Saul should have assembled the army and ridden out into battle against the Philistines who are plundering in his country. Saul has lost focus on his role as king. He is obsessed with keeping power that he is failing to use it as he should. He is not acting like a king.
Men, each of us are called to be kings. A key responsibility of a king is to protect those he leads, making them safe so that their lives can be better. We have the responsibility to protect our families. We have the responsibility to take care of our employees. We have the responsibility to guard those in our churches. That is the responsibility that comes with a kingdom.
While David did not wear the crown, he was the anointed king. Rather than hiding out, seeking to protect his own life, David does what a king should do and moves to defend his people.
Let us be men who act like kings. Let us use our strength not to preserve our own lives and to protect our rule, but rather let us spend our strength in the service of those we lead. Let us act like kings.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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