And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” 1 Samuel 22:17 ESV

Imagine being the guard and posed with this question:  Should I disobey the king or do I fear God?  

Imagine the thought process.  Okay, so, if I disobey the king I am dead.  He is either going to kill me or he will surely make my life a living hell.  But if I dishonor God I might as well be dead. 
But I know God and my faith and trust is in Him.  This might mean I suffer, but, oh well, ultimately, I honor God.  

In the end, this guard did not obey Saul.   The text doesn’t say what happened to him but honestly that’s not the point.  This man had, to me, a life-altering decision to make and he chose to honor God.

So, that is my takeaway:  With every decision I must choose to honor God. 

Yes, we must choose to honor God in every decision we make in our lives.

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

Okay. Let’s go back.  Back to when God sent Samuel to anoint David as the next king.  

So, David is anointed.  

Then David lived a number of years waiting for God’s purpose to be fulfilled.  At one point it looked as if it would never happen.  

Samuel knew David’s destiny was to be king.  Even Saul knew David was destined to be king.  

But, yet, sometimes we have to wait.  Many times there is a wait.  David had to wait.  David had to trust God in the wait.

Maybe there is something you know you are called to do, but it just seems like it’s taking much longer to come to fruition than you ever anticipated. 

Tick tock.  Tick tock. So, what do you do?  Trust God in the wait.  Simple, but yet sometimes so hard to do.  Trust God in the wait. 

​Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

So, David is living in enemy territory now (see 1 Samuel Chapter 27).   A day comes when the Philistines are going to war against the Israelites.  And picture this: David is marching right along with the Philistines (the enemy) to fight his own people.   

​I suspect David doesn’t know who the Philistines are going to fight.  

At one point the princes of the Philistines decide that David cannot come with them.  

When David is told that he cannot come he is upset.  He wants an explanation.  (See 1 Samuel Chapter 29)

I have to laugh at this.   I thought about all the times I have questioned why?  Why can’t I go? What have I done?

Imagine if David went to war against his own people, the people he was anointed to reign over as king.  I am thinking, when the time came for him to reign they might be reluctant to loyally serve him.  🤔

You know what I find so amazing, though.  God used the Philistine lords (the enemy) to protect David, and God also used the Philistines, in this same battle, to disarm Saul.  

David never realized what was about to unfold.  David did not see the bigger picture.  See, shortly thereafter, David started his reign as king.

Sometimes, things don’t go the way we think they should.  In those times we need to trust that God knows what He is doing.   I know.  I know.  So much easier to say than to do ☺️ 

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

As I pondered on the not so heroic chapters written on David’s life, and in the life of others throughout the Word of God, this is what I penned:

It is when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, exposed, and share our not so heroic stories, we encourage others and give them the strength to press on. 

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.  The servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David, the king of the land?  Did they not sing one to another of him in their dances:  Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?  David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish king of Gath.  And he changed behavior before them. And pretended to be insane in their [Philistine] hands, and scribbled on the gate doors, and drooled on his beard.  Then said Achish to his servants, You see the man is mad.  Why then have you brought him to me?  Have I need of madmen,  that you bring this fellow to play the madman in my presence?  Shall this fellow come into my house? 1 Samuel 21:10-15 AMPC

Picture this.  David.   Worshipper.  Psalm Writer.  Slayer of the giant.  Warrior.  Anointed to be king.  Now, pretending to be insane. 

Then a little later David decides to go live in enemy territory to get away from his enemy (Saul). 

But David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.  There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 27:1a AMPC

Here we have examples of a man’s life filled with interesting moments, to say the least. Yet, nestled inside these stories is a word of encouragement.   We can be encouraged.

Encouraged because David’s past did not determine his future.   Encouraged because nothing David did stopped God from allowing David to become king.  None of it stopped God’s purpose for David’s life from being fulfilled.   

Father,
Thank You for these words of encouragement.  Thank You that we are not discounted based on our past.  Thank You that our past does not determine our future.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

​Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!
​

In 1 Samuel 24, Saul goes into a cave not knowing David and his men are in the same cave.  While Saul is sleeping, David cuts off the skirt of Saul’s robe and afterward David is remorseful because of what he has done.

He said to his men, the LORD forbid that I should do this to my master, the LORD’s anointed…when he is the anointed of the LORD.  (excerpt from 1 Samuel 24:6)

Wow! Bet David’s men had to think about that.  I imagine they are thinking this guy has hunted you down like a dog and here is your chance to get rid of him and you what? 

​Saul then leaves the cave without even realizing what has happened. David goes out of the cave and calls Saul.  David addresses Saul as my lord the king and David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed.

Basically, in my words, David says, “Man, if I wanted to kill you, you would’ve been dead! But God chose you.  You are a king by Divine right.  I honor God.”

Now, get this.  David had yet another opportunity to hurt or kill Saul.  The second time David takes some of Saul’s things and then presents them back to Saul.  Kind of like saying, “Gotcha again!”

David had opportunity to kill Saul twice and both times he didn’t because David saw things from the perspective of much greater than himself.  David did not allow any negative seed to even germinate in his heart.  Possibly a seed of bitterness or a seed of revenge.  It didn’t matter what was going on.  It didn’t matter what Saul did, how Saul was was acting or reacting, David honored God.  David’s character, even towards someone who wanted him dead, was to honor God. 

In closing, I leave you with these words of inspiration.  Let your life honor God even if you have to do it alone.

​Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

There came a time when Saul’s jealousy got the best of him.  In fact, at one point, he demoted David.  See 1 Samuel 18:12-16

Guess what?  That did not matter to David. 

So, I thought about how I would act in this situation.  I’m doing a great job and making my boss look A-MAY-ZING. 🤣 And then I am demoted because the people are speaking about my accolades more than the leaders.   I remain under the leader but pushed much further down the food chain.  Do I quit?  Do I begin to look for another position?  Do I have an attitude? Do I not perform like I used to?   I mean what is the point!  

Or do I trust in God and do what I am purposed to do, at that time, and allow God to work it out?

Tough pill to swallow.  No doubt.   But that’s it.  Trust in God as we allow God to work.   

David trusted in God and allowed God to work it all out and in the end David became king. What looked like a demotion was just part of God’s plan.  

David knew God controlled his destiny.   Man has no control over our destiny.  Even when they think they do. 

So, no matter what, trust in God and watch Him work 😉

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

So, I was thinking what are the requirements needed to be a shepherd?  What makes a great warrior?  What about a king?

​What I noticed is the requirements or skills needed for being either a shepherd, warrior, or king, for that matter, do not include being a worshipper.  

Stay with me now. 

So, I couldn’t help but think although being a worshipper may not have been a qualification for many of David’s assignments, it did demonstrate his heart for God.  

So, maybe, as we are doing this thing called life, on this side of Heaven, we should keep a heart for the job and a heart for God.    I guess those should be reversed, huh?

As we serve in our positions, whatever they may be, let’s keep a heart for God and a heart for the job.    

Worship while you work 😉

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!
​

Let’s look at David when he challenged Goliath.   David ran to the battle line (see 1 Samuel 17:48).  

​Clearly, David had no fear.  None whatsoever. In fact, David ran quickly.  Death was not on his mind.   David’s focus was not on death.  Get this.  It wasn’t even about his stones and slingshot.    It wasn’t about the size or the strength of his adversary either.  The enemy.  Goliath. 

Notice his conversation.  Notice his focus.

And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  1 Samuel 17:37a ESV

So, what was David’s strategy? David fueled his faith in the LORD. David remembered what the LORD had done for him in the past.   This gave David complete confidence in what He could do.   David’s faith was in the LORD.  Nothing or no one else.  

So, something trying to intimidate you? Challenging you? Are you facing a battle?  Reflect on God’s greatness.  Put your confidence in God’s ability.   Be like David.  Fuel your faith!

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!

At one point, David is having a conversation with the king.  King Saul.  David is trying to convince the king to let him go fight the giant.   They go back and forth and finally the king tells David to go ahead. (see 1 Samuel 17:32-37) 

The king then arraigns David in armor.   Maybe the king thinks, “Well, at least with the armor on it might soften the blows.  Silly kid!”  🤷🏽‍♀️

But David takes the armor off.   He is going to battle with a sling shot and some stones.  Let me see.  Five stones in a sack to be exact.  

And he defeats the giant with just one stone, the first attempt, which lands smack dab in the forehead of the giant.  Bet that giant didn’t see that coming.  

So, what do you make of that?  

David chose not to wear Saul’s armor.  The armor, which I might add, was not made for him.  David was not accustomed to it.   In the past, David did not fight the lions, tigers and bears, oh my, with this armor.  

In other words, David didn’t try to go in someone else’s stuff to do battle.  He used what had worked successfully in the past for him.  

So, what am I trying to say?  Do you 😉

Each of us has skills, talents and abilities.  Some God has been crafting in us throughout the years.  And He wants us to use them.  Whether in battle or just in every day life.  He continually prepares us for whatever comes up in our lives equipping us with what we need.

So, do you!!!  God has given you all that you need.  You are equipped.  Take off whatever is holding you back and do you!!!

​Just like David did - Do you! 

Be Strengthened and Encouraged in HIM!