Shepherd of My Soul...

And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”--1 Kings 3:7-9


So often, Father, I feel overwhelmed by my responsibilities and circumstances. Beaten and battered....tired, scared and definitely the wrong person for the job you have given me.  So much that I face in this world just seems too much for me to handle.  A line from on of my favorite children's book comes to mind.  


“And this mess is so big  And so deep and so tall,   We cannot pick it up.  There is no way at all!” --Dr. Seuss - The Cat in the Hat



My kids know this quote well.  I have said it often when I am thinking they are feeling this way.  It is my way of telling them that I understand...life is hard.  Getting through it sometimes seems impossible.  And then I point them to their God and remind them of who He is.  My prayer for me and for them is below...


Father,


You change the times and the seasons.  You remove kings and establish them.  You give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding.  You, Lord, reveal the deep and secret things.  You know what is in the darkness....light dwells in You.  You, God, rule in the kingdom of men.  All any of us have is from You.  Your inspiration, Father, gives me understanding.  


I am like a little child before You.  I do not know how to come in or go out.  Like Solomon, I seek You....I seek Your wisdom.  I seek Your understanding.  I commit to You, both my way and my cause.  You, O God, do great things...unsearchable and marvelous things without number.  Open my ears, Father, to hear your direction.  Open my heart always to desire Your presence.  You make me whole...Without You I go astray and am like a sheep without a shepherd.  I need You to lead me and go in and out before me.  You are the Shepherd of my soul. You provide me with all I need and give me abundant life.  You, O Lord, can pick up any mess...no matter how big or tall...You bring beauty from ashes.   


  

Christophobia: Malchus Flattened

Christophobia: Malchus Flattened: "I AM!" The voice was loud in a way that went beyond sound, into the realm of primal physical force. It blew us backward and knocked us al...

The Fruit of Persistence...by Rebecca

“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.” And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”’ Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”’ ~ Luke 18:1-8, NKJV


Not so long ago I read the parable of the unjust judge and was completely at a loss to understand how it could be encouraging. I should have just read Luke, where Jesus explains the parable Himself. Jesus is always the best commentator on His own words! Though the judge was unjust, did not fear God, and did not regard man, he was still capable of avenging the widow for his own sake - lest she annoy him with her persistence. So then, as Jesus points out, HOW MUCH MORE will the Lord, who is just, righteous, and loving, avenge us, His beloved children, when we are persistent? He will avenge us SPEEDILY! Oh, yes, He does bear long with us. He tarries His coming. That is not negligence; that is love. He is waiting for the fullness of those who will be saved to come in, and in the meantime, He is working in the hearts of His children and preparing them for glory. This in-between time, the age of grace, is for the best. However - once the time has come, and this age is over, He will waste NO TIME in fulfilling His word and answering His children's prayers. He will avenge His saints speedily. (Psalm 2, especially Psalm 2:10-12) Nevertheless, when He comes, will He really find faith on the earth? The whole parable of the unjust judge has to do with faith that endures and does not give up, not even when it doesn't see the answer it wants right away. But when the Lord does come at last, with the armies of the saints, ready to restore righteousness and justice on the earth, will He still find faith among those who are left? (This will be after the Church has been snatched up.) There will be the 144,000 witnesses, but who else? Precious few, Scripture seems to indicate. Many, many believers will have been killed for their faith. The earth will be all but devoid of it. There will be no one understands, who seeks God. And tragically, we can already see that day approaching.

But it is not here yet. God's Spirit is still active. There is still time for faith and faithfulness! What I can do today, while the Lord tarries, is persistently pour out my heart before Him in prayer. He hears. He cares. He answers. Persistence bears fruit beyond that of the answer to the persistent plea. Its blessings are manifold! As I cast my cares upon the Lord - talking to Him, looking to Him, drawing closer to Him - I am blessed, because He cares for me and relieves my distress. (1 Peter 5:7) As Paul wrote: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV)

May each one of us be found faithful in the day of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice Not When Thine Enemy Falleth...

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:--Proverbs 24:17

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep....Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.--Romans 12:14-17, 19-21

David truly understood these verses...he lived them.

"Do the sorrows of your adversaries make you happy?" Do you rejoice when an ill wind blows their way? Sadly in my flesh, I am very guilty of this...but then I remember my God. I remember His great love and mercy towards me. I remember that He loved me and died for me when I was yet His enemy..when I was dead in trespasses and sins. If this is you also, take heart and look to David's example.

Saul's treatment of David was demonic and yet David praised him and treated him with respect and kindness. David did not do evil to those who did evil to him. He overcame evil with good and left vengeance and retribution to His God. The psalmist believed God's promise that he would be the King of Israel some day and obeyed even when all told him otherwise ....even when darkness and despair surrounded him. David understood that he could not control the people or his circumstances, but he could control his responses to them. David placed His trust in God and went from strength to strength. I so want to walk as David walked, by faith and not by sight...obeying and waiting on His Lord.

The most encouraging part of David's story, however, is that he did not do this perfectly...and that in itself provides me (us) with yet another great example. When David failed and fell, he sought His God...He sought His mercy, forgiveness and grace.  In His weakness, David allowed the Lord to be strong and God in His infinite mercy and grace used him to fulfill HIs purposes and to reveal Himself to not only the people around David but to us as well. 

“If It Had Not Been the Lord Who Was On Our Side."

"If it had not been the Lord who was on our "my" side,"--Psalm 124:1


I read the verses posted below last night before bed and began to think about Israel and how much they have faced over the course of their history...There have been many attempts to annilihate them as a people. All have failed. Israel has maintained its national identity despite being scattered throughout the world for almost 1900 years. No other nation of people have done this. Their very existence today is a testimony to our God...to His sovereignty, to His providential care and to the inerrancy and truthfulness of His Word.

Then I began to think of all the Lord has done in my own life. How He reached down and saved me when I cried out in helpless desperation and brought such beauty from the ashes that was my life. How He has been my strength, my song and my comfort as I face the many physical and emotional setbacks that plague us all in this fallen world. How would I get through them without my God by my side. Where would I be without Him.

I echo then David's words..."If it had not been the Lord who was on our "my" side,"

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say—
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
When men rose up against us,
Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their wrath was kindled against us;
Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
The stream would have gone over our soul;
Then the swollen waters
Would have gone over our soul.”

Treasuring up Iniquity...

If you Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?--Psalm 130:3

What a blessing and a comfort this verse is for each of us! Our God does not mark iniquity!!!! As I read this verse I wanted to know what the word marked really meant. It is from the Hebrew word shamar and its biblical usage is the following:

1) to keep, have charge of
2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
a) watch, watchman (participle)
3) to watch for, wait for
4) to watch, observe
5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
8) to keep, preserve, protect
9) to keep, reserve

Now we, as humans, sometimes treasure up and remember one another's iniquities but God does not! Sometimes when we go through night seasons and heavy trials we may think or feel that it is God's judgment on us. Condemnation hits us hard when we are weak. But the truth is that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

David rightly says, O Lord, if you should mark iniquity who could stand? If God dealt with us according to our sins we would all be toast. Psalm 103 tells me that my God does not deal with me, His child, according to my sins, nor punish me according to my iniquities.

No, here is the truth...Jesus already paid the penalty for my sin. "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Jesus was "marked" for our iniquity. What a beautiful verse of comfort!

From Whence Comes My Help?

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. .The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.  The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.  The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.  The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.--Psalm 121



I lift my eyes unto You that dwellest in the heavens.  You are my refuge and my strength...my very present help in time of trouble.  You are the One who holds my right hand and says, "Fear not; I will help thee."  The Lord is with me as a mighty terrible One, therefore, my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed...and their disgrace will not be forgotten.

I can boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me. You, my God, will bear me up in Your hands.  I walk in the way safely and my foot does not stumble.  You are my confidence....I am kept by Your power!

You also, are my Watchman.  You, My God, never sleep .  You are always there when I need You.  Your hand of protection is on me always.  My eyes look up to You who is the shade at my right hand, my light and the One who goes before me always.  You guide me with Your eye.  You keep me night and day and satisfy all my needs.  You are the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  You do not faint nor grow weary.  Your understanding is unsearchable.  You give power to me when I am ready to faint and when I have no might You increase my strength.  When I wait upon You, my strength is renewed and I can run and not grow weary...I can walk and not faint.  


Oh Father, You are my tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge at night.  You are my covert from the storm and from the rain.  I am your beloved....Your hand is aways upon me and because I have set You before me always, I shall not be moved.  I will never hunger nor thirst, for You, who has mercy, leads me...even by springs of water, you guide me. You my God will not forget me...I am inscribed on the palms of Your hands and am continually before You.  Therefore, my heart is glad and my flesh rests in hope.  You never leave me nor forsake me O God of my salvation! 

Your Gentleness Has Made Me Great...

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all those that trust in Him--Psalm 18:29-30

Blessed be the Lord, my strength.  You are my goodness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and Him in whom I trust;  Father, it is by Your grace that I am who I am.  Help me Lord to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distress for Your, Son's sake....for when I am weak, then I am strong.  Your grace is sufficient for me...Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.  Help me, Father, to glory in my infirmities that Your power may rest upon me.  My heart trusts in You and I am helped.  You are my heart's rejoicing and I will praise You with my song.  My sufficiency is from You!

As for You, God, Your word is perfect.  Your word changes hearts and converts souls.  It is living and powerful, making the simple wise.  It enlightens our eyes and directs us into Your paths which are mercy and truth to those who love You and obey your commandments.

You are a buckler to me...a strong tower.  You keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me under the shadow of Your wings.  You, my God, enlarge the path under me so my feet do not slip. You, O Lord, are my sun and my shield.  You give grace and glory and do not withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.  It is You who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.  Truly there is none like You. You make my feet like those of a deer and set me on my high places.  Your gentleness has made me great.

David at His Lowest...

David had backslidden and found himself in a place where he thought he would never be.  He was among the ungodly Philistines and preparing for war against God's people. By God's grace he was rejected by the Philistines.  He goes back to his city and finds that it has been burned with fire and wives, sons and daughters taken captive.  David was distressed and the people thought of stoning him because their souls were so very grieved at their loss.  David has reached his lowest point but what an example he is for us!  What do we read that David does?  He turns to God for strength...

"But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

AND GOD IN HIS MERCY AND GRACE GIVES DAVID THE GUIDANCE HE NEEDED!  God in his mercy allowed David to hit rock bottom.  He knew what it would take for David to turn back to Him...God does the same for us.  He removes those things we are trusting in instead of Him until we have no other place to turn. Praying that God does not have to lead me this way...My desire is that I would not be like a horse or a mule who have no understanding and need a bit and bridle to make them draw near.  Praying that I  would surrender to His instruction and allow Him to teach me in the way that I should go...Father...draw me near and guide me with your eye.

My Darkness Light....

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. --Psalm 18: 28

Father,

Thank you for your word!  Thank you that You have magnified it above your name!  What a comfort it is to me always.  What a blessing to know that when I sit in darkness You will be a light to me.  In the multitude of my anxieties within this verse in particular has brought me so much peace.    Unto those who open their heart to You and believe there arises light in the darkness of this world. You give light to those who sit in the shadow of death and guide their feet in the way of peace.  You are gracious, full of compassion and righteous.  You make even the night light about us!  This is not so for those who reject Your word.  Who look to themselves and the things of the world rather than their Maker.  The light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire will not shine.  The light shall be dark where he dwells and his candle put out with him.  Even the light they enjoy, Father, is dark without You.

We all have the sentence of death in us.  But You, in Your goodness,  provide a way out.  The wages of sin is death...and all of us sin and fall short of Your glory....but the gift of eternal life that You have given us in Your Son, Jesus, brings us an everlasting hope and life with you forever.

When I walk in darkness, Father, You are my lamp. It is by Your light that I walk.  You brought me, a woman blinded by her own sin and selfishness, in a way that I knew not.  You made my path which was darkness light and my crooked places straight.  You, Father, do this for me always and never leave me nor forsake me.  You are my great and awesome God.

Revelation 21:22:5 Our Heavenly Country...

Revelation 21

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things,and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”


Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to meand talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.


Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.


But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.


Revelation 22:1-5

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

• <<
• <
• =
  =
• >
• >>
  
  

His Hand is Upon Me...

I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.  I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.  I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.--Psalm 142


Lord,

I cry out to you with my voice.  I make my supplication to You.  Hear me, Father.  I am seeking You, my God, in my trouble.  Listen to my complaint...hear my heart.  My circumstances overwhelm me and grief has filled my heart.  You are my refuge.  So often I forget You during the day and go in my own will and strength.  Forgive me!  Only please, hear my heart that wants to do Your will always.  Hear my heart, Father, that always wants Your presence.  Father, help me by your Spirit to understand what to pray for.  Help me by your Spirit to give up my will and desire Yours.

My heart is so often overwhelmed....but you know my path.  You know my sitting down and my rising up.  You understand my thoughts afar off and are acquainted with all my ways. There is not a word on my tongue that You do not know.  You hedge me behind and before and have laid your hand upon me.  Guide me always.

Father, knowing that you know the way I take...that You go before me...fills me with such comfort.  You not only hedge me behind and before, but You lay your hand upon me.  You keep me safe.  You, the eternal God, are my refuge and underneath are Your everlasting arms.  There is no where I can go from Your presence.  Direct my path and guide my steps...smooth my way  and keep me from the snares of the enemy.

My flesh and my heart fails, Father, but You are the strength of my heart and my my portion here and forever.  My hope is in You.  Attend to my cry for I am in need.  Encompass me about with those who love Your name.  My boast is in You, my God, for You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.  I sought You and You heard me....You will deal bountifully with me.

Christophobia: Sin and Stupidity; Faith and Sacrifice

Christophobia: Sin and Stupidity; Faith and Sacrifice: And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the...

Let God Judge...David Spares Saul

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En–gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.  And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.--1 Samuel 24:1-7

Saul, back from fighting the Philistines, places his focus on David once again.  Sigh.  Poor David.  I am sure his wish was that Saul would just forget about him...but that was not to be the case. Saul was a relentless enemy.  This is so much like life.  When we finish with one battle there is always another one right on its heels.  What a blessing when we understand as the song says "that we have nothing to bring but empty hands."  The battle is the Lord's.  Stand back...hold your peace...allow the Lord to fight for you. This is what David did...what a lesson to be learned in this chapter of 1 Samuel!

The chapter begins with Saul entering the cave where David and his men were hiding.  Saul goes in to the cave alone (or so he thought) to attend to his needs or as the King James says to "cover his feet."  (Saul had to go to the bathroom) I have to stop here because I love this part of the story...God arranged the timing and the place of Saul's "personal" need at exactly the cave where David and his men were hiding.  God arranged Saul's "goings" to meet with His own plan.  You gotta love that!  This was not a coincidence but a test from the Lord to show David all that was in his heart.  David passed the test.  He refused to touch Saul, the Lord's anointed King of Israel.

What wisdom on David's part...what strength of character.  What a tender conscience we see.  David had been given a very clear opportunity here to kill Saul, who was seeking his life, but refused to to take the fleshly way out of his trial.  Instead, he continued to trust that His God would deliver him out of the hand of Saul.   Listen to the humble words he used to restrain his men:

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul.  But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way

Here is the next portion of Chapter 24:


David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.  Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.  The LORD therefore be judge, and judgebetween me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.  And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

Again, such beautiful words of humility from David.  I love this part in particular...

"The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee."

David strengthened himself in His God that day and showed himself to be a man ( a king) after God's own heart...a man ( a king) submitted to the will of His  God   David was willing to wait and allow God's purposes to be worked out.  God had told him  “You will inherit the throne of Israel.”  David believed God.  Saul was in the way of that promise, but David understood that it would be disobedient to kill Saul.   God had placed Saul in authority, therefore, it was His job to remove him, not David's.   David wanted to be King of Israel but not at the expense of making it so by his own disobedience.  David believed and understood what he himself penned in Psalm 69:


But as for me, my prayer is to You,
O Lord, in the acceptable time;
O God, in the multitude of Your mercy,
Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.


David knew both how to wait upon His Lord and wait for His Lord.  We also see that David gave his anger and bitterness to the Lord...he did not store it up.  David had mercy upon his enemy.  David brought his heart and soul to the Lord and allowed His God to right his heart daily.


As for Saul...he had a momentary interlude of sanity.  The word tells us that he lifted up his voice and wept telling David that he was more righteous and that he, Saul,  had rewarded David's good with evil.   He also said that he knew well that David would be king of Israel and that the kingdom would be established in his hand.  Unfortunately, Saul's interlude of sanity did not last long. Emotions and feelings change from moment to moment.  Saul's tears meant nothing...his sorrow was not godly and his heart remained unchanged.  Repentance looks like something...when our heart changes our actions will follow our heart.  Our word and our deed will match.  We will do an about face and go in the opposite direction of our sin.  Saul, as we will see, after this brief interlude continues to follow his own destructive path.  

The Fear of Man Brings a Snare...

David begins his days as a fugitive here in Chapter 21 well....he goes first to the house of the Lord.  Things went downhill, however, from there.  Ahimelech, the priest,  was afraid when he met David and asked him why he was alone. David's next move was a lie....which makes it clear that David was not trusting His God to protect him.   The fear of man had brought a snare.  To be fair David probably had two motives for lying here....to protect himself and to protect Ahimelech from getting caught up in the feud between him and Saul.  David's lie is understandable from the human perspective.  Saul was insane.


Despite David's lack of faith...God as always is faithful.  We see His hand here in the sanctuary through Ahimelech...trying to get David's attention.  Ahimelech gives him the showbread to sustain him...putting David's need before the ordinances of God.  Ahimelech also gives him the sword that he used to cut off Goliath's head...but remember that is not the weapon that killed Goliath.  The weapon of faith was David's slingshot...that is what brought the giant down.  David's faith at that time had been strong and his trust wholeheartedly in His God...his fear at this moment has weakened him greatly and was very much affecting his judgment.  David went to the sanctuary of God for comfort...but not with a right heart.  If his heart had been right before the Lord, he would have been convicted of his sin and confessed his lie to Ahimelech.  Instead, he left God's sanctuary with Ahimelech's kindness and good gifts in hand, the lie still on his heart and went of all places to his enemies the Philistines.  


So here we find David going into the Philistine territory...in fact, to Goliath's home town of Gath  to find rest from his enemies.  When you look into all the symbolism, the irony here is very great.  David, the man after God's own heart, the anointed King of Israel,  sustained by the holy bread from the Lord, and carrying the sword of Goliath  looks for sanctuary among his enemies.   Things just get worse from here...the fear of man was once again bringing a snare. 


Verses 11 and 12 read this way:



And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.


David went to Gath hoping for anonymity.  THAT was not going to happen.  In fact, Psalm 56 tells us that the Philistines not only recognized him but captured him as well.  Notice also that the pagans recognized David's as the king of Israel.  The song "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands was the victory song sung after David had killed Goliath.  David was carrying Goliath's sword.  Pretty sure David had much reason to be afraid here.  David needed to remember his God...his protector, sustainer and deliverer, but his fear had overwhelmed him and very much clouded his judgment...like fear will do to each one of us in our own lives if given its way.  Things get worse...


David was afraid...just how afraid is evident in his action.  Once again the fear of man brings a snare. David feigns madness before the King of Gath.  Scripture tells us that the noble, anointed King of Israel, scratched on the doors of the gate and let saliva fall down on his beard.  Fear had turned David into a fool.  God protected him...even though he behaved foolishly but I am pretty sure that God had a better plan in all of this had David placed his trust in Him.  Hindsight, however is 20 to 20.  One of the reasons I love the bible so much is its utter transparency.  David's sins are not hidden from us...neither are his accomplishments...they are all there for our learning and our comfort.  Fear has made each one of us act foolishly at one time or another.  How comforting it is to know that even David, God's anointed King, acted badly...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.


Psalm 56 is penned with this time in mind and helps us understand David's mindset.  The title speaks to David's capture and the events that prompted the writing of the psalm.

Psalm 56

New King James Version (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
Fighting all day he oppresses me.
My enemies would hound me all day,
For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

All day they twist my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather together,
They hide, they mark my steps,
When they lie in wait for my life.
Shall they escape by iniquity?
In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
When I cry out to You,
Then my enemies will turn back;
This I know, because God is for me.
In God (I will praise His word),
In the Lord (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
I will render praises to You,
For You have delivered my soul from death.
Have You not kept my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God
In the light of the living?

I LOVE THIS....AS DAVID POURS OUT HIS HEART BEFORE THE LORD HIS VISION CLEARS AND HE BEGINS TO SEE ALL IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE.  WHY?  BECAUSE HE IS NO LONGER LOOKING TO HIMSELF...HE IS LOOKING TO HIS GOD!!!


The downward spiral has stopped!  David's feet are now once again on God, his Rock.  Psalm 34 was also written with this time in mind. It is David's declaration of joy having escaped Gath with his life!  The key verse being this one:


"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."  Do not rely on your own resources...you will only wind up looking foolish.  Look to Him...the full reading of Proverbs 29:25 is this:


The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.


Here is Psalm 34...also in its entirety...I will close with it.  

Psalm 34

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

But A Step Between Me and Death...1 Samuel 20:3

And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.--1st Samuel 20:3

During this very difficult time in David's life, he lived very conscious of his own mortality.  Saul and his armies were hunting him like an animal.   David stood in jeopardy with each passing hour...day and night his life hung in the balance.  What was the result?  David drew near to His God and learned to depend on Him.  He began to understand with heart knowledge that his life was truly in His Father's hands.  He began to understand, also, I am sure, that his sufficiency was not of himself but from HIs God.   David lifted up His soul to Him who was able to save him not only from earthly death but from spiritual death as well.  He put His trust in the One who was and is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!

This is true for every one of us alive today.   All of us have the sentence of death in our bodies. When God's hand of protection is removed, our life here on earth is over. None of us knows how long we may have left. There is much "wisdom" in acknowledging this and living our life accordingly. If you are not a believer, there is much wisdom in searching out the things of God and finding out for yourself whether or not they are true.  The wisest man on earth, King Solomon,  David's son, said this:


Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.


Solomon also penned many of the Proverbs...



Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding....He preserveth the way of his saints." 

Each one of us are in the hands of the Lord...His hand of protection keeps us. Do as David did in life...draw near to your God...learn from Him...depend on His counsel and His strength. Live your life with your eyes on the eternal rather than the temporal.  Our permanent dwelling place is with our God in heaven...our days here on earth are numbered...our days in heaven are eternal.  Colossians 3 speaks beautifully to how we are to live as believers here on earth...I will close with it.


If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.--Colossians 3:1-17

Perspective - 1 Samuel 19 and Psalm 59

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.--1st Samuel 19:11


In First Samuel 19 we find Saul trying to kill David yet again.  These years were obviously very difficult ones for David, but it is very helpful for us (me) to remember that some of David's most beautiful psalms were penned during this time.  As we read them and hear the depths of David's heart, we too, cry out with David and turn out hearts upside down before our God.

 Psalm 59 was written during this time in David's life.  As you read it, you can hear his desperation and his desire on his enemies.  He begins very distressed...but as I have always found in my own life when I bring my troubles to my God, my attitude begins to change as I lift my eyes to His throne.  My problems so often overwhelm my heart but they never overwhelm my God. These low points in our lives give us the greatest opportunity for faith.  All we need do is go to Him and pour out our heart.  He does the rest.

As I pray through all my troubles and focus on Him my perspective changes....just as David's did.  At the end of my prayer I am seeing God more clearly and my problems have dimmed in the light of His glory and grace.  I begin to praise Him even though nothing has changed in my circumstances.  Something has changed in my heart.  I have beheld Him and have been transformed just a little bit more into His likeness.  I then can praise Him as David did at the end of Psalm 59:


But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.  Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.--Psalm 59:16-17

Once Fast Friends...Now Enemies

1 Samuel 18 is the turning point for David and Saul's relationship...once fast friends, here in 18 we read they became enemies continually.  God had surrounded Saul, the Bible tells us, with valiant men whose hearts He had touched.  God had also brought David into Saul's life.  David was a man after God's own heart.  David loved Saul....and the word tells us that Saul had loved David greatly.  What happened to cause the change of heart on Saul's part?  We read this in Chapter 18:


And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.† And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.--1 Samuel 18:5-9


David was getting lots of attention...Saul did not like it.  From this point on there were continuous attempts by Saul on David's life.  Further down in Chapter 18 we read:


And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. --1 Samuel 18:12-16


and by the end of the chapter we read this:


And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.--1 Samuel 18:28-30


David who at one time was a beloved, faithful and loyal servant to Saul had now become his enemy continually. WHY...because Saul knew that the Lord was with David.   How sad!  Saul's turning away from David says much about where Saul's own relationship was with his Lord.   David's godly obedience must have pierced him to the heart causing Saul to see what could have been in his own life if he had obeyed God.  His sin and failure must have loomed large when David was in view.

The same is true for us when we turn away from the godly people God has placed in our own lives and instead begin to surround ourselves with the world.  Sure, we will have lots of reasons for doing what we do, but whatever the reason,  the overruling reason is that their godliness confronts us with the sin in our life that we do not want to see.  Our downhill slide has begun.  Turning away from our godly friends, however, was not the first step in this slide.  The first steps were those taken in the opposite direction of our Father in Heaven.

This passage should serve as a warning to each of us.  Examine your heart...keep it with all diligence.  If you have drifted off course, draw near once again to your God, confess your sin and do an about face. Ask Him to show you what you are running from...what are you loving more than him?

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.--Hebrews 2:1


For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”--Isaiah 30:15

But They Have Rejected Me...

And the Lord said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.-- 1 Samuel 8:7


Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.--1 Samuel 8:19-20

These are some sad words we find in 1 Samuel 8...so much like ours today.  It was God's desire to rule over his people.  The children of Israel rejected His rule and forfeited the blessings of both His rule and His kingdom.  When we reject God's rule, we are doomed to be ruled by men.  God had told the people what it would be like to have a king...describing a huge government bureaucracy that someone (the King's subjects) would have to pay for.  Taxation would increase and they would see less and less of the fruits of their labors.

After hearing all these warnings the people "nevertheless" wanted a king anyway.  They were willing to put themselves into bondage in order not to have God rule over them.  God let them have their way...this was and is never a good thing.

God still desires to reign in the hearts and lives of His children.  So many of us reject his offer and choose instead wells without water...things that are vain and do not profit.  We choose to NOT be set free from the penalty and power of sin and unbelievably live under the horrible bondage of all sorts of other masters, enduring pretty horrific consequences rather than be ruled by God.  Pride is not rational and sin makes us stupid.  The wages of sin is death,  but the gift of God is eternal life in His Son.  Take His free gift.  Allow Him to rule and reign in your heart.  He wants to bring you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.  He has so much more for you and desires to do in your life exceedingly abundantly above all that  you could ask or think.  Ask Him right now to lift you up out of the miry clay...to deliver you from  bondage that you are in and set your feet upon the rock that is Christ.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.--Hebrews 2:14-15

Deliver Me From Fear...

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.--1John 4:18


Father,

How often does my mind go down wrong paths?  Paths of unbelief that lead to fear, grief and torment.  Paths where I worry about "evil tidings" lurking down the road...paths that lead me to be anxious and apprehensive rather than peaceful and serene.  Sometimes Father I am so afraid of what might lie ahead for me and for my loved ones...so afraid of pain and grief overtaking me and  being unable to bear up under it.

Deliver me speedily, Father, from this kind of fear.  I never want to doubt Your promises to me or Your faithfulness.  I don't ever want to insinuate that You could forget one of Your children or withdraw Your hand of mercy.  As a believer I have been set free from this kind of fear.  You are my God and You are with me....I place my trust in You...in You I am confident.  I know that whatever may occur in my life, You, Father, will overrule it for good for me, your child.  Your word promises me this.  I do not have to be afraid of "evil tidings".  My heart is steadfast...fixed and trusting in Your mercy.  I am surrendered to Your will...Your desires for me, Father, are my desires.  I have learned that Your paths and Your ways are perfect.  I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but I have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby I can cry out, Abba Father! You, my God, have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

You are my God of love who dwells in me and perfects Your love in my heart as I, abide in Your word and surrender to Your will.  Your will for me comes from Your heart of love...I will not fear.  I am confident that You who have begun a good work in me will continue it until it is finished when Your Son Jesus returns.

Do as seems good to You in my life Father...I trust You.  I leave it all in Your hands of love. Make me perfect me in Your love...

I Will Bless You My God...

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.
For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.--Psalm 66:8-12

I will bless You, my God, and make my voice of praise be heard!  You preserve my soul here in life and do not allow my feet to be moved.  It is You, O Lord, who have tried me and tested me.  It is You who brought me into the net and laid affliction upon me.  But through it all, Father, You have been my help...You have been with me.  You who keep me do not slumber. You  lead me on right paths and make me to lie down in green pastures.   You order my steps and delight in my way. You deliver me out of it all because I have put my trust in You.  

I will sing of Your wonderful name because You, O Lord, have dealt bountifully with me.  You have used my affliction to draw me nigh unto You.  You have used it to mold me and make me more like you.  Someday I will awake in Your likeness!

You have proved my heart;  You have visited me in the night and tried me.  I have purposed in my heart to obey Your word...You alone do I worship.  You uphold all my goings and delivered me from wrong paths....my footsteps have not slipped.  Hear my cry now, O God of my strength!  Incline Your ear to me and show me Your marvelous lovingkindness.  Save me by Your right hand from those that rise up against me.  Keep me as the apple of Your eye and hide me under the shadow of Your wing.

Help me to see the trials of my faith as precious...more precious than gold that perishes.  My desire, Father, is that my faith might be found unto Your praise and Your glory at the appearing of Your Son, Jesus.

Praise to my God, who has regarded my lowly estate and brought me into His kingdom of light and made me His own.

Fear Not...

Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.--Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not, for I am with thee...

Father,

You hold my right hand as a Dad does a child saying, don't be scared...I am right here with you. You, Father, are my strength and my salvation.  You have created me, redeemed me and called me by name....I am Yours.  When I pass through the waters, You will be with me.... I am precious in Your sight.  You are the One who comforts me....You are my shield and my exceedingly great reward.  You go before me and make perfect all that concerns me.  You fight my battles.  You will not fail me nor forsake me.   Therefore, I take your hand and rest...I lay down in peace.  You my God keep Your promises...You my God have a plan and it is perfect.