by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 30-31
The divergent paths of David and Saul are totally exposed in these chapters.
David and his experiences at Ziklag are legendary in encouraging people who have been through trials. When he returns with his men to the camp at Ziklag, he discovers that all of the families and goods have been taken, and the camp has been burned to the ground. So his men want to stone him. Things couldn’t get much worse than that!
But David sets an example for us all. He weeps, and then he “encourages himself in the Lord.”(v.6). Finally he inquires of the Lord what to do. When the Lord says “pursue,” he does, recovering all that was taken.
There are times when all of us have encountered battles which seem too much for us. That’s when we need to “encourage ourselves in the Lord.” We need to set aside time to praise, pray, read the Word, and remind ourselves of God’s goodness and His greatness. The devil is no match for our God. When we are trusting Him, He will have an answer.
The opposite end is in store for Saul and his sons. As the Philistines overtake the Israelites, the sons are killed, and Saul is mortally wounded. He pleads for his armor-bearer to end the pain, and he does.
Saul displays such a sad path for a man. He was small in his own eyes when he was chosen as king, but the appointment went to his head, and he fell out of favor with God. The end of his life is years of jealousy, frustration, anger, and bitterness as he chases David continually.
All of this makes me want to stay humble and trust in my Father. His end is the better one for me, and I will continue to pursue that end. There may be a few years in a cave, but that’s okay. The end is worth it.
Luke 13:22-35
Jesus says something very interesting in verses 31-33. He is approached by some Pharisees who say that Herod wants to kill Him, and He calls Herod a fox. (Jesus has a reason for that word in particular).Then he says, basically, tell the fox that I will continue to grow and I will reach my goal.
This passage is special to me. There was an incident in my life when I thought God was telling me something – and it turned out not to be so. Young in the Lord, I felt very discouraged that I hadn’t heard him properly, so I ran to Him for answers. He gave me several clues in His Word. One of them was in Song of Solomon 2:15, “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining our vineyards while our vineyards are in blossom.” Then he showed my how Jesus used that verse here.
At that time, He began to show me that the “foxes” are false prophecies – as born out in Ezekiel 13:3-4. The false prophets are seeing things out of their own spirits and are like “foxes among the ruins.”
When you are growing and blossoming in your walk, false words – from yourself or others – can ruin your vineyard, or spoil your growth. They can stop God’s plan if you listen to them.
So back to what Jesus says here. He knows that He will be put to death, but not by Herod, and not now. He will be put to death by the high priest as God’s perfect Lamb, and at the appointed time – Passover. So He proclaims, “This word is a fox, a false prophecy. It will not stop my blossoming and fulfilling God’s plan. I will continue to cast our devils and heal the sick and I will reach my goal. This vine will not be spoiled by a false word or plan from the enemy.”
I’m sure that Herod doesn’t need to hear that detail, but the devil does. That word denounces the devil’s plan to take Jesus’ life before the time and in the improper way.
As we proceed with our walk, it’s important not to just listen to every word that pops into our minds – or from others. We must measure everything by God’s Word. only then can we be sure that we are hearing properly.
God has a plan for you and me – a perfect plan. As we stick close to Him and listen carefully, He will direct our paths.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 27-29
David’s journey continues with discernment and intrigue, and God’s hand is upon him so that he is protected. This man has to have tremendous courage to go into the land of the Philistines and seek protection from his king. It has become obvious that Saul will not relent in his commitment to kill David.
This reminds me of stories I have heard from missionaries in foreign lands. Sometimes deception is necessary for their protection when they are among adversarial governments. This is what David encounters here.
In the meantime, Saul’s condition goes from bad to worse. When people turn from God, they are worse off than those who have never known Him. He is tormented to the point where he turns to a witch for his answers. He no longer hears from God.
There is always room for repentance, but I have known people over the years who begin a walk with God and then stop. They become like sitting ducks for the devil and his imps. There is a mark on their heads, with no ability to combat the onslaught. Very sad, indeed.
I say, Lord, I want to be on fire and stay on fire! I want every day of my life to be lived with You and for You!
I know you say that, too.
Luke 13:1-22
When Jesus came to the earth, God planted His Son, the seed – the holy seed – into the earth so that His Kingdom could spring forth. That’s why the kingdom is like a mustard seed…It’s also like leaven. As Christians grow in numbers and authority, the kingdom grows and spreads – as leaven does in three pecks of meal.
These illustrations help us to understand the power of the Kingdom, and God’s plan for its increase. He didn’t send a Kingdom with force, as many of the Jews had expected. He sent a Kingdom – hidden in the hearts of men. As they go into the world, they take this hidden Kingdom with them and quietly spread it to those around them, affecting all of His creation.
That’s the plan. Now we have to get in on it. We have to decide that we will be part of the expansion of His Kingdom.
All around us there are those who have never heard the truth about this Kingdom. They may have heard bits and pieces – and often distorted accounts of it. If we will think of ourselves as the leaven which needs to spread, or the seed bag which needs to plant more seed, we will be part of what our Father desires for our lives.
Freely we have received. Freely we must give. That’s the plan – the Divine plan, bringing the love of God to all those around us.
Oh, I so want to fulfill my part of it!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 25-26
We see the natural side of David as he wants to avenge himself for Nabal’s refusal to help him. This rich man, whose herdsmen had been well treated when they were around the places David was hiding, turns a deaf ear to David’s request for help.
Nabal’s wife Abigail, discerning and beautiful, saves her husband’s life and saves David from bloodshed, as she honors the request for provision. A wise woman, indeed. Her reward: she becomes David’s wife as soon as her husband suffers sudden death.
Then we move on to one more encounter with Saul. After David had saved Saul’s life the first time, the king had promised to stop his pursuit. Yet wicked men don’t honor their word. The demons continue to drive King Saul
As Saul and 3000 men once again seek to kill him, David’s honor once again rises to the fore. He says to Abishai, “Do not destroy him (Saul), for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt?”(26:9)
Let me add patience to David’s character traits. He knows that he has been anointed king, and he knows that Saul has lost the anointing. He also knows that Saul is driven by demons, seeking to kill him. Yet as long as Saul is alive, he is king. Until his death, David will wait patiently to come out of hiding and receive his God-given position.
Today we see people pushing and shoving, trying to establish their own positions. It seems that we could take a cue from David and let God establish our times and seasons of promotion.
There is such a rest which comes to those who truly wait for God’s timing in their lives. I’ve done it both ways. At times I’ve run out ahead of God and at other times I have waited on Him.
Waiting on God’s timing is so much better. When we do things His way, we know that He is with us, and He will never forsake us in our endeavors.
Luke 12:32-59
Stay ready! That’s a special Word from the Lord to all of us.
When the church gets into a slumber, the Lord’s work never gets done. People are going through the motions and may seem busy going to meetings, but their hearts aren’t on fire for His purposes. As the church gets into a slumber, people get very worldly – only consumed with their own ideas and desires.
When we are awake, we continue to spend time with our Savior, allowing Him to speak to us. His Words will encourage us, strengthen us, sometimes convict us to move forward in His plan.
When we are awake, we are consumed with the reality of our Father and His plans. No time for worry or fear. No time for doubt. Only faith and conviction to pursue His desires.
Lord, my prayer today is that everyone reading this word will have a fresh revelation of You – Your goodness and Your faithfulness. Touch all of our hearts so that we will be sold out to You in every respect.
And let us be about Your business.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 22-24
What character we see in David! He is having to spend every day running and hiding from the madman Saul, who is obsessed with jealousy. Yet we don’t see fear on this man of God, but faith.
Just as David had the faith to kill Goliath, he continues to have faith that God will deliver him from Saul. As he darts here and there, changing hiding places, he inquires of God. Okay, God, now what? Then he follows through with obedience. Amazing!
Another amazing moment is when David is hiding in a cave where Saul comes. With his guard down, Saul is easy prey for the younger man. So David secretly cuts off the hem of Saul’s garment to prove that he could have taken the king’s life.
“And it came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.”(v.5). Wow! After being chased by the king continuously, David still has honor for Saul’s office. He recognizes the king as “God’s anointed,” and as such, should not “stretch out his hand against him.”(v.6)
Through it all, we see honor, humility, and faith. It must have been hard, but we don’t see whining.
David’s character, which comes from years of worshipping God while out on the hillside tending sheep, shines during this test.
There’s one thing about a trial: it will show your character.
I say, Lord, I want you to develop that character in me. The faith, the honor, the humility, the unflinching trust that your hand is on my life – no matter what!
Luke 12:1-31
Jesus is promoting quiet trust in God as He speaks to the crowds. That trust which comes from keeping our eyes fixed on our Father above and not on the earthly realm.
We live in this world, and need to mind the affairs of our lives, but if we are consumed by earthly pleasures and pursuits, we get into serious trouble.
The rich man, who just built bigger barns for his abundance but wasn’t rich toward God, is a man to be pitied. The key here is that he thought of this world – and only this world. All of his desires and energies were toward riches of this world – a big mistake.
We see this so often today. There are many who spend all of their time and energy seeking material wealth. Houses, travel, luxurious living, and building of their empires are the things which receive their constant devotion. What a pity.
Even a long life is a tiny dot compared to eternity – and we will all live for eternity. To seek only the things of this world is a hindrance in the long run. The attitude that leads to death.
The other side of the same coin is that, if we are those who want to walk with God, we must trust Him for provision. As we continue in our devotion to Him and His Word, we will “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added unto us.” (V.31)
I’m casting away any worry about my provision. I know that my God will supply my needs – and that He will direct my paths into paths of provision. I praise Him for that!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 19-21
The Lord’s path may not always be easy, but it is sure. If the Lord has made a promise, He will keep it, but, as I said, the path may not be easy.
David surely discovers this after he has been anointed King of Israel. Saul’s jealousy and the demonic influence in his life cause great discomfort to David. Saul is determined to kill the newly anointed king.
Yet you can see God’s hand faithfully giving David favor and discernment, so that his escape is sure.
Favor comes to him through Micah, his wife, and Jonathan, his friend. Each of these defy their father, Saul, in order to save David’s life. They each risk the king’s wrath as they help David escape.
Discernment is what David needs as he runs throughout the land, trying to find safety. Saul’s henchmen are scattered all around so that David has to fabricate his mission – and even his sanity, in order to move freely.
God’s hand is sure, however, and the schemes work out for David’s good. He might not be comfortable, but he is safe.
In our lives, we might see the same thing occur. Our paths might not be comfortable, but God’s plan for us will be sure if we continue to listen to Him and obey. Our God is faithful, and He will bring us to the security of His Word.
Again, our job is to trust and obey.
Luke 11:29-54
In every generation, there have been those who try to turn their worship of God into an outward display of goodness – a show for all to see. Unfortunately, that evil still exists in our generation. It’s part of the fallen nature of mankind.
Pride is the problem. People wanting to be seen as great in the eyes of others will surely fall into this trap. Humility is the key to our walk with God, and that’s so hard for many to understand.
The Pharisees and lawyers who encountered Jesus, flaunted their holy garb and and their positions of authority, yet they were not sincere in what they were doing. They pretended to be pious, for everyone to see, but in reality, they were phonies.
This can be a problem today also. There are many who go to church, dressed in fine clothes, looking great on the outside, whose hearts are not truly to God. They are filled with self-righteousness, gossip, slander, and all sorts of sin. Yet they try to appear holy to those around them.
One of the attributes which stands out with people who are truly holy is their simple faith in their Father. These authentic ones will be like the Queen of Sheba and the people of Ninevah. They will earnestly trust God’s goodness and His Word. They will also see the fruit of that faith as they continue.
I want to be one of the authentic ones. I want the Lord to reveal any areas of my life which are not honest and holy, and I want Him to cleanse me of these things.
The true believers are rising up in this day, and I want to be one!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I Samuel 17-18
How do you obtain a heart that pleases God? And how do you get the faith to fight giants?
These attributes don’t come over night. They come with a history of worshipping God and getting to know Him.
David’s father and brothers discounted David because he was the youngest, and because all he did was keep the sheep…they thought.
Actually, as David sat out on the hillside watching the sheep, he was looking up around him at the beautiful nature, and he was worshipping his Creator. As you read the Psalms of David, you see a man who was very mindful of God’s hand in everything. And you see a man who was continually praising God.
As he approaches the battle with Goliath, you also see a man who had a history of trusting God. This faith didn’t come over night. There had been a time when a bear had tried to attack the sheep, and God delivered the bear into David’s hands. Then there had been a time when a lion had tried to attack the sheep, and God had delivered the lion into his hands.
So here is Goliath taunting the armies of Israel. Day after day, the grown men would fear and tremble as they were being taunted, but David saw it differently. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine to come against the armies of the living God?”(17:26) He doesn’t see the battle as man’s battle, but God’s.
Later he tells Saul that just as the Lord had delivered the lion and the bear into his hands, so will He deliver this Philistine. And he will do it with his own armor, which he has tested. He doesn’t need swords and spears, he will do it with a slingshot.
Such faith. We want it, but it only comes one way. It doesn’t pop out of nowhere; it comes from a life lived with our Father. A history of having won battles by His hand, and of knowing that God is on our side, and it is He who is our deliverer.
Are you going through a battle right now? Let this be part of your history with God.
Trust Him and be obedient, knowing that, as with David, the battle is His when you do it His way.
Luke 11:1-28
Are you praying for someone to come to know the Lord, and it seems that they never will? Well, don’t stop praying.
You are like the person who comes to acquire some bread for another. You have to be determined that you will not give up.
The verses which say, ” ask, seek, and knock,” have a different nuance in the Greek. The Word actually says, “keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.” Persistence is the key.
Why isn’t asking one time enough? Well, when we are praying for others to come to God, we are dealing not only with God but with them – and their wills. Our Father won’t violate their wills, but He will wait for the opportune moment to deal with them.
In the meantime, Satan is trying to deal with them also, so we have a battle in the heavenlies going on over your loved ones. God always wins, if we do things His way. So don’t give up.
If you feel the unction to pray, do it. If you feel the unction to speak to them, do that also. Follow His lead, but above all, don’t stop!
“Everyone who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, it shall be opened to him.” (v. 10) What a promise.
I don’t know about you, but I am holding that one close!
