1 Samuel 23- 03.10.22
SCRIPTURE:
1 Samuel 23:17-18a ESV
“Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this. And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord.”
OBSERVATION:
David had just saved the people of Keilah when he discovered that Saul was hot on his trail. God warned David that the very people he had just saved would betray him. So David fled, taking up refuge in the desolate mountainous region of Ziph. In this lonely and rocky wilderness, where food and shelter are difficult to come by, David receives a most unexpected encouragement in his deepest hour of need.
UNDERSTANDING:
The Family of God is a REAL Thing!
From the moment Jonathan and David met—they were bonded as Brothers (18:3). And what a blessing and encouragement this was—time and time again for David. David is running for his life, weary, and beaten down. Everyone was turning against him, even the people who he had just saved from being literally wiped out by the Philistines.
Now here, hidden in some remote rocky wilderness, God provides a way for Jonathan to connect with David— Because every Good and Perfect Gift come from above. Jonathan’s words to David are so powerful, “Do Not Fear”— “You Shall Be King” —“I Will Be [Standing] Next to You”. These words from his trusted ‘brother’ must have literally poured strength and refreshment into David.
A few weeks ago when Larry and I were at the dental office for one of his check-ups we had the sweetest assistant. I had been praying for an opportunity to speak God’s word into someone and I saw doors opening with this precious lady. The dentist kept leaving to make adjustments to Larry’s denture and each time we had wonderful conversations with this sweet assistant about various subjects. I kept looking for an open door. As it turned out the Dentist asked us to wait for 30-minutes for a process he wanted to complete on Larry’s denture. So, we decided to go across the street to Starbuck’s and get a gift card for our assistant and the office manager as a Thank You. I keep note cards in the car and I wrote a quick note and a scripture on each card. When we gave the card to the assistant I told her she had been such a blessing we wanted to give her a little “Thank You” gift. Well, as it turned out—she was a believer who goes to High Rise! I thought my mission was to Witness that day, but turns out it was to encourage another believer in Christ. The gift card opened up our conversation as she shared about the pathway her children had been on, where they are now, and all that God had been doing in her life.
LIFE APPLICATION:
Share the Love—People Need what we Have.
I am SO very Thankful for my Many Sisters and Brothers in Christ at Desert Streams Church! And, I am also Thankful for my Church “sons” and “Daughters”. Family is a Blessing. And The Family of God is a Very Real Thing!
People NEED what we Have!
Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37, 39 TPT)
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)
Heavenly Father,
I pray as people see us Loving You and Loving each other AND Loving Neighbors as we Love ourselves, they will Hunger after what we have—Jesus!
Tina Kudelka