Oh how our faith can waiver! David is an example!

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  Well, as we read about David, specially in Sunday School and Church, we learn of a man of God who defeated a giant all in faith.  We also learn he fell to lustful temptations with Bathsheba.  Let us go to 1 Samuel chapter 21 and see David in another light.

   Now David who only by doing good for King Saul, is now hated by Saul.  In chapter 21 we will see that he went to Ahimelech and spoke to the priest, actually lied to the priest to get food and a weapon.  What is going on here?  David is running in fear; faith in God and his courage failed him at this point.

   Then he leaves and goes to Achish, the king of Gath.  But, he changed his behaviour before them and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.  Why did David do this?  FEAR!!!!

   Achish said this man is mad, why have you brought him to me.  I don't need a mad man, I don't want him in my house.

  Let's back up a bit, while David was in Ahimelech there also was Doeg, the chief herdsman of Saul.  Obviously he reported back to Saul what happened and Saul sent a message.  And what was this message?

   Doeg slew the high priest Ahimelech at Nob, with all the priests to a total of 85.  This looks as if it is all Saul, but David has let his courage and faith put others in peril.  Faith is simple, however, so often we either make it hard or forget it.  Here is a man of God creating a lot of collateral damage by his actions outside of God.

    How often do we do this.  This is a good lesson for us all to take in. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and grace

Johnny

Think YOU have PROBLEMS? David really did!!!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  YOU, YES YOU ARE BLESSED!  WHY?  Because GOD LOVES YOU!!

   I have been studying King Saul and David in 1 Samuel.  Now, as you recall, David came and did many things for Saul.  He played the lyre to soothe him, killed Goliath to defeat the Philistines, then led men into battle killing 10's of thousands.  Oops, did you say 10's of thousands?  Yep!  That is when his troubles began.

    King Saul heard the women singing Saul has killed thousands - and at this he took pride.  BUT, when they continued singing that David had killed 10's of thousands Saul's pride was struck and he became jealous, envious, angry and totally upset at this.

   So, now Saul is wanting to rid himself of David, who has done nothing but be obedient and loyal to Saul.  Again, you think you have problems----the highest power in the land, the king, is after you and determined to kill you.  When I look at this my knee ache, bad ache, disagreement with the spouse, car repairs, or whatever pale in comparison to what David is going through.

   In Chapter 20 David has to meet with Saul on the monthly meeting and if he fails to attend Saul has more reason to attack him. He talks to Jonathan and devise a plan to not eat with the king at the new moon with the excuse he had to go to Bethlehem on family business.  Saul was enraged and Saul said to Jonathan: "Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou has chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?  For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.  Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me for he shall surely die."

   Jonathan asked Saul why David should die.  This is when Saul threw the javelin at Jonathan with the intent to smite him.  Jonathan left the table, not eating on the second day of the month as he grieved for David and his father had shamed him.

    Now he goes to the field with arrows to complete the plan he and David had set in motion to know if it was safe for David or danger was lurking.  Danger was lurking via Saul, David and Jonathan prayed and wept together then separated with Jonathan telling David to "go in peace; forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, the LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever."  David left and Jonathan returned to the city. 

  Wow!  What a dilemma for both men.  And I think I have troubles.  No king is out to kill me, but satan is always out to tarnish our reputation and belief.  Stand strong with the full armor of God my friend.  Love you all.

In Christ's love and grace,

 Johnny

David is in Naioth in Ramah, Saul is mad, so what next?

  Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  YOU, A CHILD OF GOD ARE BLESSED!!!!

   Well, we know that Micah lied about how David escaped to stay in good stead with her father Saul.  Saul hears that David at Naioth in Ramah so he sent messengers to take David.  Now something Saul had not counted on (remember Saul is of his own arrogant, prideful self as God is far from him), when the messengers saw the company of prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied.

   Saul sent more messengers a second and a third time and each time it was the same as the first.  Well, as you may have figured out Saul is not a happy camper. Saul went to the great well in Sechu and asked where Samuel and David were.  They were at Naioth in Ramah so there went Saul.  Oops, then the Spirit of God cam upon him and he went on, prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.  He stripped off his clothes also and prophesied before Samuel in like manner and lay down naked all that day and all that night.  People wondered - Is Saul also among the prophets.

   When the Spirit of God comes upon one, even though they are far from God, there is no resistance.  Saul was as in Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."   However, when God's spirit comes there is no resistance and we will hear God.  This is what happened to Saul.

   Next we will see David fleeing from Naioth in Ramah and visiting with Jonathan.  God's word is powerful, God is powerful, if we open up and not just hear the word, but listen and absorb the word we have no option but to grow in the LORD.  Thank you Jesus for being my Saviour!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

A tangled web:---Saul, Micah, David

Good morning everyone. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

    Is not life interesting.  When you look around and watch people, listen to people, and see where their footsteps are taking them, it is both amazing and appalling. What people will do to stay out of trouble or point fingers at someone else, yet, sacrificing others in the process. Qasem Soleimani was a general for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who has killed over 600 Americans in the last few years, BUT, some Americans think this was wrong.. This is WAR!!

   The Planned Parenthood Organization sees nothing wrong with what they do and push back hard against the Christian beliefs, yet they KILLED over 345,000 babies last year. They feel justified and claim their others benefits are greater than the abortions. These actions are not sanctioned by God, but by satan.  

  The violent and actions against God are ancient actions from the beginning of time through the present.  We, humans, will say and do what ever we need to in order to avoid confrontation, conflict, or punishment.

   In 1 Samuel 19:17, after, yes after Micah warned David about Saul wanting to kill him and letting him out the window to escape she darkens his reputation.  How so you may ask?  Saul's servants come to take David, Micah says he is ill. The message is returned to Saul who says (paraphrase) "so, bring him on his bed so that I may slay him"; but--BUT--Micah has layed an image in the bed with goat hair to resemble a person.  When they return David is not there. Hmmm, not what will happen? Saul asks Micah why have you done this.

  Micah stands up to her father and says.........oh, wait, no---Micah throws Davids reputation under the bus.  How so?  Micah says, "He said unto me, Let me go, why should I kill thee?"  What is she saying? He is saying David threatened to kill her is she did not let him go.

   Was this the truth?  NO!  Micah is saving her husband because she loves him, also, she is saving HER REPUTATION with her father plus probably afraid of her fathers wrath.  Sacrificed David's reputation to save her own with lies.  How often is this done by us, to us?  

    Well, David escapes, goes to Samuel in Ramah, shared what Saul had done to him, then he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. HOWEVER, someone told Saul where David was and................(to be continued)

   Is it okay to lie?  Sometimes it is as in Corrie Tenboom who saved the lives of Jews in WWII by lying. BUT, to lie in order to deny is wrong.  To lie to justify my actions is wrong.  How often do we tell 'little white lies' to justify or get out of something?  Satan is a beacon of light and when we see the world through his lens nothing is wrong; when we look up and see the 'TRUE LIGHT' of Christ, we will know the difference.  

   If you are in a tangled web as whom we are studying, then turn it over to God and pray for wisdom and knowledge from the most high.  It will be alright!  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Saul is overtaken with jealously and fear!

Good morning all.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good. TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!!!

  Well, have you ever had a fear of something that just seemed to capture your every waking moment?  So it is with Saul. In 1 Samuel 19 Saul tells his son Jonathan and all the servants to kill David.  Now herein lies a problem. Jonathan is delighted in David and they are like brothers. Jonathan tells David to take heed and to go to a secret place and hide.  Jonathan will go with his father, yet, if you will, be a spy for David.

   Jonathan went to Saul, recalled all David had fought the Philistines, and David had not sinned against Saul.  Saul says he will not slay David, Jonathan then brought David to Saul and he was in his presence as times past.  Then another war breaks out against the Philistines. (The Philistines seem to be as a cockroach and just won't die - lol)

   Then after the war, an evil spirit came over Saul again, David played with his hand, and Saul sought to smite David to the wall with the javelin.  David slipped away and escaped.  Saul sent messengers into David's house to watch him and slay him in the morning. Micah, his wife, warned him.  She let David down through a window and he escaped again.  Now we begin the "cat and mouse" games with Saul.

  Okay, fear can overtake all our emotions leaving us to fumble and flop on our own.  When fear enters our being (satans doubt darts) we tend to forget that God is in charge and we need to pray and turn the situation over to HIM.

   Too often we do not think it is being done in a timely manner, but GOD's time is always on time.  We just have to listen and know what God wants.  I am guilty of too often wanting to take the situation in hand because "I KNOW HOW TO FIX THE SITUATION", when in reality I do not.

   Whatever fear you have today, I would encourage you to turn it over to God and release yourself from the burden.  Trust God.  Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Saul gives Micah, his daughter, to David (strings attached)

Good morning everyone.  God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!  Just a side note.  Often we hit trials and tribulations and the weight of them bear down upon us and we struggle.  When this happens it is important to LOOK UP and remember God is in control.  No matter the outcome, God sees the bigger plan.  We may disagree, be angry, totally hate what is happening, but again, God sees the big picture.  Thank you LORD!

   Okay,  Saul is trying to set a snare for David.  Remember, he has thrown a spear at David twice, but David is still around.  So, Saul decides in verse 21:  "I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.  Wherefore Saul said to David, Thous shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain."

   Now in the one of the twain simply means they become one (1).  David said he was but a poor man and it did not seem right. (They used to pay dowry's for a hand in marriage).  Saul's servants came back with this answer and Saul then said no problem, just bring back an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.  Now, in Saul's method of analyzing this would certainly be the death of David.

   This was good news to David who then arose with his men and slew 200 Philistines and David brought their foreskins to Saul.  Micah is now David's wife.

   At this point Saul knew the LORD was with David and his daughter, Micah, loved David.  Because of David's success Saul became even more afraid and jealous of David.  Now David, who only did Saul's wishes, became a continual enemy of Saul.  Why?  Jealously, envy, and resentment are absolutely great tools of satan that he uses well.  Does it create problems even today?  You bet!

   We must constantly be on guard, alert, and stand on the wisdom and knowledge granted us from God.  Beware my friends, when you step out into the world, as a Christian, you are setting foot in a hostile environment.  Thanks for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny

Saul's envy and jealously causes him grief!

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO COMPLAIN!!!

  1 Samuel 18:8 Saul begins to wonder. Remember, the women sang Saul killed thousands, but David tens of thousands.  Saul's envy, jealously, and eventually hate crept into Saul's mind.

   In verse 8 Saul is wondering what more David can get out of the kingdom. Now---worry sets in-- or as I like to call it---- satan's doubt darts.

  Saul began keeping a close eye on David, but, then, verse 10, an evil spirit came upon Saul. David was playing the harp to soothe Saul when Saul took a spear, threw it, and tried to pin David to the wall.  David avoided this calamity twice.

  Now at this point the LORD was with David and had departed from Saul.  So, Saul sent David away with troops, various campaigns of which he was successful and David became loved by all Israel and all over Judah. Verses 10-16.  So, Saul, being afraid of David gave his older daughter in marriage to David and then sent him to battle the Philistines.  Why would Saul do this?

   Saul is thinking I do not have to take care of David, as in kill him, but the Philistines will do the work for him.  David came to Saul saying he was not worthy to marry the older daughter, Merab, so she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah. Yes, who is Adriel of Meholah? He was a nobleman of ancient Israel and his name means "God's helper" or "Mans saver".

  But another daughter was in love with David------Micah (verse 20).  And more tomorrow. Thank you for reading. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny