THE LORD'S BLESSED REASSURANCE

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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When David was told, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors," he inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"

The Lord answered him, "Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah."

But David's men said to him, "Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"

Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, "Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand."

So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines, and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. (Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

1 Samuel 23:1-6

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In yesterday’s message from the closing verses of 1st Samuel, chapter 22, we saw tragedy reign supreme as Ahimelech and eighty-three other priests were slaughtered by Doeg the Edomite under the command from Israel’s evil king Saul. Additionally, everything in Ahimelech’s town, Nob, was destroyed as well which sadly included all the men, women, and livestock…all that is with the exception of Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons. Miraculously, he managed to escape the slaughter at Nob and join David along with his four hundred fighting men in Judah.

Once hearing the news of the mass killing from Abiathar, you’ll recall that David felt responsible after remembering how Doeg, Saul’s head shepherd, was present and listening in when he had met with Ahimelech. David figured out that  Doeg had gone to Saul and informed him of everything he witnessed thus sealing the fate of Ahimelech, his family, and all of Nob. And so to try and compensate for it all, we saw where David told Abiathar to stay with him, vowing to provide him protection.

As chapter 23 opens, we see David is immediately confronted with a matter as his constant enemies, the Philistines, were “fighting against Keilah” and “looting the threshing floors”. Feeling called to action, note here that David doesn’t rely on his own decision making but instead goes to God asking:

“Shall I go and attack these Philistines?"

To which the Lord replied:

“Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah."

And so David went to his newly formed fighting force of four hundred men to tell them what they were to do but found out quickly that they weren’t quite as trusting and faithful as he was. For the scriptures tell us that they said:

“Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"

Their pushback led to David to go back before the Lord, this time seeking reassurance that he and his men were indeed supposed to attack the Philistines at Keilah. We see where the Lord reassures David, giving him a second order to go and fight, vowing to “give the Philistines into (his) hand." And this is exactly what happened as David and his men went forth in the name of the Lord who delivered on his promise. For we read where the Philistines were soundly defeated, allowing David and his men to carry off their livestock and save the people of Keilah.

This passage shows us two important points that we need to remember as we face challenges in our own lives.

First, we need to turn to the Lord for guidance when we are in need of knowing what to do.

In seeking guidance regarding how he should approach possible conflict with the Philistines as well as deal with the resistance of his own fighting forces, David showed an immediate desire to seek the Lord’s will for what should happen and when he did, we saw where the Lord provided just what he needed…just as He will do for us when we seek His direction in our own affairs.

Second, the Lord is always there to provide reassurance when we needed.

David was first told to go and attack the Philistines…and as he took that plan to his men, he ran into some unexpected opposition but David didn’t allow this to defeat him. Instead, he just went back to the Lord for reassurance…and He delivered, guaranteeing David that He would bring him victory. And that’s precisely what happened for anytime the Lord promises something, He keeps His word…something we should never forget.

When we are fearful, God tells us, “Do not be afraid.” (Psalm 118:6)  And we shouldn’t be…because He is Emmanuel…the God who is always with us…and always there for us.

When we think a situation is impossible, God reminds us that with Him, “Nothing is impossible.” (Matthew 19:26) He always will help us navigate through our challenging circumstances until we find our way to victory…not by our strength but His.

When we are in need of peace, He promises and grants us a peace that transcends understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), providing it through Jesus, the Son who He gave as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)…a constant and consistent source of comfort when the storms of life form around us.

When we are languishing in the guilt of sin, He brings forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

While the world might demand judgment, He grants mercy and grace.

And when people feel we should be condemned, instead He loves us.

All we need do is to repent and tell God we’re sorry, asking Him to guide our steps onto the narrow path that leads to life and away from the destruction of disobedience (Matthew 7:13-14). Then, we must surrender our will for His so He can continue to use us as He sees fit to further His Kingdom here on earth, a Kingdom that grows when we commit ourselves to make disciples as Jesus called us to do.

When life brings us to a state of despair, He (our Lord) brings us hope, shining His light into the recesses of our difficulties for He is the Light of the world and whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness but instead have the light of life (John 8:12).

If life brings us trials and tribulations, all we need to do is keep our trust in our God, believing in His promises while knowing He is with us and for us so to bring us to victory just as He did David and his men.

Anchor yourself in the Word of the Lord and never cease to seek His counsel in prayer. When you do, you’ll always find His blessed reassurances.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF GOOD AND EVIL

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

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Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."

But Doeg the Edomite, who was standing with Saul's officials, said, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, at Nob. Ahimelech inquired of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub."

"Yes, my lord," he answered.

Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?"

Ahimelech answered the king, "Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard, and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair."

But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family."

Then the king ordered the guards at his side: "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me."

But the king's officials were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

The king then ordered Doeg, "You turn and strike down the priests."

So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day, he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys, and sheep.

But Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David. He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. Then David said to Abiathar: "That day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family. Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me."

1 Samuel 22:6-23

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As 1st Samuel, chapter 22 opens, we find David and his four hundred men still on the lam from Saul and heading to the forest of Hereth in Judah after receiving a prophecy from Gad. To this point, David had been able to give Saul the slip but as our passage opens today, we see where Saul had “heard that David and his men had been discovered”.

Given this information, we see Saul turn his anger toward his officials who were “standing around him” as he sat “with spear in hand…under the tamarisk tree”, saying to them:

“Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today."

Saul expected to know everything that was going on and in order for this to happen, he expected that his officials keep him informed on what they knew. Privacy was not a consideration for Saul and he even wanted to know what his son was up to. And so not getting the information he felt he should have led to Saul accusing his men of conspiring against him…a treasonous act that would command the death penalty.

It was into this scene that we see his head shepherd, Doeg the Edomite, step in and interject what he had witnessed, no doubt to try and gain some special favor with Saul. He tells the king that “the son of Jesse” had “come to Ahimelech…at Nob” where the priest “inquired of the Lord for him”, also providing David “provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

This led Saul to feel that the priests were against him as well as his officials and so we read where he “sent for the priest Ahimelech…and his father's whole family, who were the priests at Nob”. Once there, Saul asks Ahimelech the same question he asked his officials saying:

"Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?"

Well, unlike the officials who offered no response to Saul’s accusations, we see where Ahimelech didn’t hesitate to reply saying:

“Who of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king's son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father's family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair."

Here, we find Ahimelech speaking truth to Saul and any rational man would have opened his eyes to the wrong of their own ways, especially when they were being counseled by a priest of the God Most High. But unfortunately Saul wasn’t rational at this point. In fact, his thoughts and actions had been nothing short of sinful and wrong. And so the priest was hoping to bring Saul back to his senses to a place where the Lord wanted him to be…the place that would turn him toward right and righteous conduct.

And so Saul was at a critical decision point or you could also say he was standing at the intersection of good and evil. His next choice would show what path he was on.

You know, we sometimes find ourselves at this point as well in life…at the point where we have a decision to make after being presented with the pros of doing right against the cons of doing wrong. In other words, we have also stood at the same intersection that Saul found himself at.

In regard to that, Israel’s king could have stepped back from the situation after hearing what Ahimelech had to say, praying and seeking the Lord’s guidance. If he had done this, I don’t think there’s any doubt that the Lord would have convicted him of his transgressions and it would have put an end to his needless pursuit of David for Saul would have chosen to take the road that was good and godly.

But we know Saul didn’t do this. He never consulted God but relied instead on his own judgment. This led to him becoming judge and jury in regard to Ahimelech and his father’s family as he told the priest:

“You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and your father's whole family."

With this, we read where Saul gave his guards the following order:

“Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me."

This demand now placed the guards at the same intersection of good and evil that their king had been at. However, the outcome was different for the guards fully knew that it was totally wrong to attack anyone or anything that represented the Lord, despite Saul commanding them to execute Ahimelech, his fellow priests, and his father’s family.

And so the guards had a choice to make…whether to do right or wrong…good or evil...and thankfully, they chose to do what was right and good, “not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord”.

So at this point, it looked like the priests and others were spared but unfortunately evil and the devil who manifests it can be a stubborn foe. If Satan can’t get his work done though one person or persons, he just looks for those who are willing to do his will. This happens within our passage in the person of Doeg the Edomite.

For we see where Saul, rebuffed by his officials, turns his attention to Doeg, a man who Saul knew would have no emotional connection to the priests…and thus would have no problem carrying out his evil intentions.

And Doeg didn’t disappoint.

For no sooner had Saul given him the order to “turn and strike down the priests” that we see Doeg spring into action, killing “eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod”…eighty-five men who had been enlisted and ordained by God for His service.

And with his bloodthirst unsatisfied, we read where Doeg also “put to the sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys, and sheep”. When it was all said and done, the death toll was incredible…and evil had reigned supreme because Doeg chose to walk that path with Saul from the intersection they had been at…the intersection of good and evil.

Well, as the chapter closes, we see where there is one positive that emerged from the bloody assault on the priests and everything they owned. For we read where “Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, escaped and fled to join David” where he told him how “Saul had killed the priests of the Lord”. And as you would expect, David was distraught because he recalled being with Ahimelech and seeing Saul’s head shepherd, Doeg, present there. He felt that Doeg might return and tell Saul what he had seen and his intuition proved correct, leading David to feel accountable for the tragedy saying:

“I am responsible for the death of your father's whole family”.

And with that, David told Abiathar:

“Stay with me; don't be afraid; the man who is seeking your life is seeking mine also. You will be safe with me."

Abiathar’s father and family had been slain and we see that David was committed to make sure he didn’t lose anything more…including his own life. For now David and Abiathar shared something in common…Saul wanted them both dead.

In this scripture, we see various examples of people who were faced with having to make critical decisions regarding right and wrong…decisions that are required when we find ourselves at the intersection of good and evil.

So what will it be for us when we find ourselves there?

Will we do what was right like Saul’s officials, standing up for good even in the face of pressure to do otherwise? Will be always decide to stand firm in the Lord and seek to please Him with all we say and do, opting to travel the way that is right and good…the way that He will always guide us onto if we seek His help?

Or will we be like Saul and Doeg…deciding not to seek the Lord’s guidance and instead choosing the ways of sin and evil which are the ways of Satan?

Friends, there really isn’t any middle road here…no line to toe. We’re either going to make a choice to do right or wrong…good or evil.

My prayer is that we will always pick the good road when at the intersection. We always will as long as we stop to ask God for directions first.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

GOD...OUR EVER PRESENT HELP IN TIMES OF NEED

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him and asked, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?"

David answered Ahimelech the priest, "The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, 'No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.' As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find."

But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women."

David replied, "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men's things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!"

So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.

Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd.

David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent."

The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one."

David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

That day, David fled from Saul and went to Achish, king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?’"

David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish, king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands, he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"

David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.

From there, David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?"

So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah."

So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

1 Samuel 21, 22:1-5

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever found yourself desperately in need?

Maybe you experienced a life changing situation that taxed your finances.

Maybe you fell ill and that illness drastically changed your life plans and outlook.

Maybe you found yourself in danger from some circumstance.

Whatever the case, we can sometimes find ourselves in the midst of matters that leave us feeling helpless and even hopeless.

In our passage today, we see David in a situation like this. You’ll remember that he had just received final validation that his relationship with Saul had reached the point of no return, leaving him with one of two choices.

Either flee or die. Wisely, David chose to flee.

And so as 1 Samuel, chapter 21 opens, we find David on the lam…an innocent man pursued by a murderous king who would not rest until he (David) was dead.

So where could David go?

Who could he trust to help him?

Where would he find provisions…because he left with nothing but the clothes on his back?

All these questions would be answered by the Lord…who never stopped looking after David and ensuring that he was cared for all along the way.

The good news is that He does likewise for us when we enter into our own difficulties in life.

Back to our scriptures where we see David going to Nob after saying farewell to his dear friend Jonathan and it was there that he seeks out the priest Ahimelech who we see was initially afraid of David because of his reputation as a fierce warrior.

We see Ahimelech asking David why he came to him alone and without any men and David tells him a mistruth, stating that he had been sent on a special mission by the king. Because of the confidential nature of the mission, David adds his men had been given instructions to meet him “at a certain place” and then demands that the priest give him Ahimelech give him “five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find." Remember that David had no food and so was desperately in need of something to eat.

Responding to David’s request, we find Ahimelech telling David that he only had the “consecrated bread”…that is, the portion of bread that had been set aside for the Most Holy Place. The Law commanded that every Sabbath, new bread would be placed on the Table of the Presence, one loaf for each tribe of Israel. The bread that was removed from the table was reserved for the priests who were not employed in any other fashion than serving the Lord. Further, they received no inheritance per se and so it was the responsibility of the Israelites to ensure that they had adequate provisions.

We read where the twelve loaves of bread had just been swapped out and so Ahimelech agreed to give David the consecrated bread on one conditions. No one was to eat the bread if they were ceremonially unclean and this included David as well as his men. We also see how the priest placed an additional stipulation regarding David’s men, wanting to ensure that they had “kept themselves from women."

Well, after David assured Ahimelech that he and his men would comply, the scriptures tell us that the priest “gave him the consecrated bread”…also referred to as “the bread of the Presence”.

So now David had food but he also needed a weapon to defend himself and so he asked Ahimelech:

“Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I haven't brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king's business was urgent."

We see where the priest tells David that he had “the sword of Goliath the Philistine who David “killed in the Valley of Elah”. He tells David that he could find it “wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod” and so David took the weapon and went on his way, this time heading to Philistine territory and Achish, king of Gath.

At this point, all seemed well for David…but unfortunately there was a sinister presence at Nob. For the scriptures tell us that “one of Saul's servants was there that day”, a man by the name of ”Doeg the Edomite” who were told was “Saul's head shepherd”. As we will see later, Doeg seeing David with Ahimelech would soon spell trouble for those in Nob.

Back to the scriptures where we find David going to Achish and almost instantly facing a challenge. For we read where “the servants of Achish said this to him:

“Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands?’"

In fear of being discovered and put to death by Achish, David “pretended to be insane in their presence”, acting “like a madman” by “making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard”. We read where his ploy worked because Achish said to his servants:

“Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"

And with that, David escaped unscathed and went to “the cave of Adullam”.

Looking back at the events in this passage, we see that when David needed provision, the Lord provided it through the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Likewise, when he needed a way out of a potentially dangerous situation in Gath, the Lord provided him with the wisdom to act crazy in order to ensure he would escape danger.

In both incidents, the Lord showed He would and could provide David with whatever he needed, exactly when he needed it so to get out of difficult circumstances. We know that David was a man after God’s own heart…a man who had found favor and an anointing from His heavenly Father..and as a result, he found himself blessed.

Going back to the scriptures, we see where the Lord wasn’t done assisting David in his tough times. For as “his brothers and his father's household heard about” him being at the cave of Adullam, scripture tells us they “went down to him there”. We read about their state of mind for they were described as being “in distress or in debt or discontented”…in other words, they were just as much in need as David was…and so the four hundred men rallied around David as their leader.

And with this, David was no longer going it on his own, no longer vulnerable as an army of one. He now had four hundred men looking to him for leadership, the start of his own force which could reckon with whoever might come against him.

Again, God had provided for what he needed at the very time he needed it…this time in the way of support…and as in all other matters of life, He will do the same for us when we’re in need.

Well…maybe you would think that the Lord had done enough for David…but He was far from through yet. For we see Him do two more things.

First, He ensured that David’s parents were protected.

For we know that a murderous Saul surely wouldn’t hesitate to even kill David’s parents if he had the opportunity…such was his hatred for David. And so David…obedient to God’s fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), honored his father and mother by placing them in the care of “the king of Moab” at Mizpah. There they would be safe.

And finally, the Lord never stopped sending messages to David to ensure he remained safe. Before, He had used Samuel and now we find the Lord speaking to his servant through the prophet Gad who said to David:

"Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah."

And so David did as the prophet instructed…knowing the words he spoke were words from the Lord as he “went to the forest of Hereth”.

Provision. Protection. Guidance.

The Lord provided all these to David at times when he needed them most…and did so because it was his will to do so.

This is important for us to remember for as we face challenges in our own lives, we need to seek God’s will as well so to know how He wants us to proceed in the midst of those challenges. Too often, we make the mistake of being self reliant, thinking we can handle circumstances ourselves…only to find ourselves disappointed, discouraged, and defeated when things don’t work out right.

God allows this to happen just to show us that we can’t make it through life without Him for He wants us to know that He has a plan and will guide us through anything, every step of the way while helping us persevere through whatever trials we go through.

How should we lean on Him?

We find the answer in the scriptures for we serve a God who loves us and helps us in times of need…and does so according to what He wants for us. Consider these verses from 1st John:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1st John 5:14-15

As we go through life’s circumstances, God expects us to first seek His will for us, turning to Him in prayer. And once we receive what His will is, then we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He will give us what we ask for when it aligns with His will.

Friends, our Father God wants the best for us, His children, and sometimes it’s best for us to struggle and persevere through difficult times because it’s then that He is working to fortify and refine our faith. As they say, it’s easy to have faith when everything is going well but when we go through trials and tribulations, that faith is put to the test.

Through the many ebbs and flows of life, we need to always remember that no matter what, in good times and bad, our Lord is the one we can always count on. He is always there with us and always there with us, always ready to give us what we need to ensure His will is done in our lives. All we need to do is trust Him…and experience His goodness, grace, and love along the way, all which He provides in abundant supply.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMISES

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

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Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"

"Never!" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!"

But David took an oath and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."

Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."

So David said, "Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, 'David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.' If he says, 'Very well,' then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?"

"Never!" Jonathan said. "If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn't I tell you?"

David asked, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

"Come," Jonathan said, "let's go out into the field." So they went there together.

Then Jonathan said to David: "By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like that of the Lord as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family — not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth."

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the Lord call David's enemies to account." And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

Then Jonathan said to David: "Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,' then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. And about the matter you and I discussed — remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever."

So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon festival came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David's place was empty. Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, "Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean — surely he is unclean." But the next day, the second day of the month, David's place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"

Jonathan answered, "David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table."

Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!"

"Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.

Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month, he did not eat because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of David.

In the morning, Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, and he said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?" Then he shouted, "Hurry! Go quickly! Don't stop!" The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. (The boy knew nothing of all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, "Go, carry them back to town."

After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together — but David wept the most.

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'"

Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

1 Samuel 20

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As 1 Samuel, chapter 19 ended, we saw Saul and his men changed from murderers to prophets at Naioth through the miraculous, mighty power of God’s Spirit. Unfortunately, this Spirit didn’t endure in Saul for as we turn the page to chapter 20, we see where he’s back to wanting David dead, even allowing his rage to spill over to his son.

Before we get to that, we see where David leaves Naioth and goes to his beloved friend Jonathan, Saul’s son. Looking for answers, David asks Jonathan:

“What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"

Through his words, we can sense that David is tiring from having to run for his life at every turn as Saul or his men pursued him.

We read where Jonathan rebuts David’s fear over dying, confident that he would always know what his father was going to do saying:

“…my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!"

Unfortunately, Jonathan was naïve to the fact that his father really did want to kill David and so we find him (David) telling his friend that it was possible he wasn’t truly aware of his father’s intentions:

“Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."

And with this, Jonathan understands that David was indeed telling the truth, submitting himself to him saying:

“Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."

And so David comes up with a plan to test whether or not Saul still wanted to kill him. This involved him staying away from dining with Saul during the New Moon festival and hiding in the field instead. Anticipating that Saul would inquire about his whereabouts, David tells Jonathan to tell his father that he had returned to his hometown of Bethlehem to attend an annual sacrifice with his clan. Saul’s reaction to this would signal whether David would be safe to return or still be in danger.

If he stayed calm, then David would be fine but if Saul got angry, then David would be sure Saul still wanted him dead.

And so the plan was set. All that remained would be the matter of who would come to the field to inform David of the plan’s outcome. It’s at this point that we find Jonathan taking charge as to how things would proceed after David hid in the field. He made a promise to his dear friend…the friend that he was one in Spirit with and loved as much as himself (1 Samuel 18:1), saying:

"By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like that of the Lord as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family — not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth."

And with that, “Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David” and “had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself”. Then, Jonathan informed David of how he would signal the outcome of Saul’s testing at the New Moon festival.

While David was hiding in the field “by the stone Ezel”, Jonathan would bring a boy with him to the field and “shoot three arrows to the side of (the stone), as though…shooting at a target”. Jonathan would next send the boy to find the arrows and the guidance he provided the boy would be the indicator of how things went with Saul at the festival. If Jonathan told the boy, “Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here”, then David would be safe and in no danger. But if Jonathan told the boy, “Look, the arrows are beyond you”, then David would have to leave “because the Lord has sent you away”.

To seal this agreement, Jonathan makes the Lord a witness to what had been said.

Overall, a solemn promise had been made and the plan was ready to be executed.

And so “David hid in the field” and Jonathan went to the New Moon festival where he would dine with his father and others. We read where Saul did notice David missing the first night of the festival but said nothing assuming that David had done something that made him ceremonially unclean and thus kept him from the table. But after David failed to show up for the feast on the second night of the festival, Saul asked Jonathan:

“Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?"

The plan was working just as David and Jonathan had laid it out.

So Jonathan told his father:

“David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table."

Saul’s reaction to this showed one thing clearly. David was still in danger and now…so was Jonathan. For we read where “Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan” as he insulted him saying:

“You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!"

Note where Saul tries to tempt Jonathan to turn against David and bring him in by using the throne as leverage, telling Jonathan know that he would never have a chance to be king as long as David is alive.

You know, isn’t Satan just like that?

Always trying to slyly tempt us to do wrong and in the case of Jonathan, to break his covenant promise with David to gain power for himself.

But with this, we need to remember this about Jonathan. For he was nothing like his father as he attributed his successes to the Lord. This is what made his friendship with David so unique and special because they were one in the Spirit of the Lord (1 Samuel 18:1).

Given this, it comes as no surprise when we read Jonathan rebelling against his father’s angry rant saying:

“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

We see where Saul’s answer didn’t come in the way of words but a hurled spear as he showed that he was now ready to murder his own son as well as David.

And so “Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger” and refused to eat “on that second day of the month…because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of David”. He no doubt was also grieving because he was about to see his dear friend leave for obviously it was no longer safe for David to remain.

And yet, Jonathan had made a promise…a promise he would keep.

For the scriptures tell us in the morning, Jonathan went out into the field where David was hiding along with the boy and shot the three arrows near the rock where David was. And as the boy went to retrieve the arrows, Jonathan told him:

"Isn't the arrow beyond you?"

And with that, the boy went and retrieved them before returning to Jonathan who sent the boy away ordering:

“Go, carry (the weapons) back to town."

With the arrows shot beyond where David was hiding, the signal dictated what would happen next. David was in danger and had to go away but still, he was grateful for the way Jonathan looked out for him, even putting himself at risk in the process. We read where he “bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground”. They then “kissed each other and wept” with David weeping the most. Such was the depth of the friendship and love they shared with one another…a friendship and love that would never end, despite the pending separation.

Well, after they shared their love for one another, Jonathan said to David:

"Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'"

And with that, “David left, and Jonathan went back to the town”. A solemn vow had been made…and a solemn vow had been kept.

Through Jonathan’s actions, we are taught a meaningful lesson on the importance of promises. For throughout our lives, we have all experienced the matter of them and have seen where there are usually one of two outcomes.

Either the promise made was kept or the promise made was broken.

There really isn’t any middle ground.

And as we consider the matter of promises, we shouldn’t just be considering the way others may have either kept or not kept their promises to us. No, we need to turn it around and also reflect on how well we’ve done in regard to promises we’ve made to others.

I think we can see three key qualities in Jonathan that we can use to make sure we never go back on our word. They include:

1. Trustworthiness.

David placed an awful lot of trust in Jonathan. After all, he was in a field hiding by a rock and ripe for the picking if Saul knew his whereabouts. All Jonathan would have had to do is tell his father to send his men to the field and abduct David and it would have all been over.

And yet, David had no doubts about whether his friend could be trusted or not and as we see, Jonathan didn’t let him down.

So at the end of chapter 20, when David bowed before Jonathan three times, it was a symbol of respect and thanks for the trustworthiness that Jonathan displayed…a trustworthiness we all should model when we make our own promises.

2. Reliability.

When we make a promise to another, that person is counting on us to come through and sometimes this help is needed in a very challenging time.

David was certainly going through tough times for sure, always on the move because Saul wanted him dead and so he relied heavily on Jonathan to make good on his part of the promise so he could survive. And as we see, Jonathan delivered and didn’t let David down. He came through for his friend as he pledged and for that, David was eternally thankful. He went away knowing that he could count on Jonathan anytime in the future.

As we make our promises to others, we need to remember that people are counting on us to come through for them as well.

How well can we be counted on?

The answer will be born out of our ability to keep our word and make good on our promises…just like Jonathan did.

3. Love.

The scriptures tell us that Jonathan loved David as he loved himself and he showed it in the way he remained loyal to David, even in the midst of his father’s rage and his own peril. Nothing was going to keep him from staying true to his covenant promise with David because he loved him deeply.

Today, we should make our promises out of the same sense of love and caring for others and just in case we might not feel like there’s an obligation to love others as ourselves, we need to remember the words of Jesus when He gave the second greatest commandment, quoting from the Old Testament in demanding that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-39).

If Jesus commands it, and we’re going to proclaim we’re Christians, then we need to do what He asks us to do…what He showed us to do through His life…and the one way we can is to keep the promises we make.

Before I close, one more thing needs to be said about promises…one that I pray will seal the deal on teaching about keeping them.

For we serve a Lord who is always true to His promises. He never fails to keep any of them. And if we are truly trying to be more and more as He created us…in His image (Genesis 1:27)…then we should seek to keep our promises just as He did. Better yet, we should seek His guidance before we even vow to do anything to make sure it’s His will for us to do so.

If it isn’t, then don’t make the promise.

If it is, then rest assured that He will give you everything you need to see through what you have vowed…because that’s what God is best at, giving us just what we need…when we need it in order to make sure His will is carried out.

It’s a promise you can always bank on.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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