INTERESTING FACTS : "THE BIBLE IS THE TRUEST UTTERANCE THAT EVER CAME BY ALPHABETIC LETTERS FROM THE SOUL OF MAN, THROUGH WHICH, AS THROUGH A WINDOW DIVINELY OPENED, ALL MEN CAN LOOK INTO THE STILLNESS OF ETERNITY, AND DISCERN IN GLIMPSES THEIR FAR-DISTANT, LONG-FORGOTTEN HOME." - THOMAS CARLYLE

 

DAILY READING : 1 SAMUEL 25 - 27

 

TEXT : 1Sa 26:21  Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. 1Sa 27:1  And 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 speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 1Sa 27:2  And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

 

THEME : PRESERVATION

 

Samuel is dead, and this is, no doubt, an occasion of great sadness for Israel. A Nazarite from birth, he served God and His people without sin [unlike Samson who likewise was a Nazarite] for over one hundred years. Chronologists put his death at the age of 115 - 130 years. Whenever good, godly, or great leaders die, it is a cause for concern since there is no guarantee the next leader will be equally godly. Yet, since David s about to ascend to the throne, Israel will experience a golden age of prosperity and prestige until they descend downhill after the reign of Solomon. Of course, it was during Solomon's reign that horrific idolatry entered the land.

 

With a slight respite from Saul's pursuit of him, David encounters Nabal whom the Bible describes as an obstinate, austere, and pitiless man ["churlish"]. If not for his wife Abigail, Nabal and all of his servants would have died at the hand of David for the way he treated them. However, Abigail's wisdom and prudence save them from David's sword. It is interesting to observe how this woman married a man so far below herself. The Bible does not describe why - perhaps the marriage was arranged. Still, it is odd that godly men and women often find themselves in an unequal yoke with their spouse. Certainly, this was the case for Abigail, who after Nabal's death, becomes one of David's wives.

 

It is not long before Saul is in pursuit of David again after he learns of his presence in the wilderness of Ziph. Insanely jealous of David, Saul spares no effort in his attempt to murder the innocent man. Still, David is a man of God. This is why God continues to thwart the efforts of Saul. Therefore, David once again has opportunity to kill Saul with Saul's own spear but he refrains. Again, as before, David will not touch the king God anointed.

 

However, he also reiterates that God will take vengeance on Saul one way or another. David exhorts Saul to give up his pursuit of him, as he also taunts Abner for not being alert enough to protect the king during the night. Saul, at least in words, acknowledges his sin when he says - "...I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." Yet, His word in not his bond by any means. He cannot be trusted as David acknowledges - "...I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand." Therefore, David joins Israel's enemies - the Philistines, at Gath, the home of the giant Goliath whom he slew.

 

In his alliance with Achish king of Gath, David allies himself with Israel's greatest foes. Again, how strange life can be at times. The boy who withstood the fearsome Goliath in the valley of Elah, is now in partnership with the king of his city. David will deceive Achish to a degree leading him to believe he [David] abhors Israel that obviously he does not. He is to be their next king. Still, the alliance between David and Achish is indeed perplexing. Yet, it shows us the lengths we will go to at times when we are wrongly persecuted and accused. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," seems to apply here. It was better for David to ally himself with an "uncircumcised" Gentile king than suffer a premature death at the hand of a mad Israeli king . David's joining with the Philistines also teaches us that not all power is force. What I mean is wisdom is an attribute of God's Spirit. Not all victories or safety is found in raw strength on a battlefield.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : GOD WILL KEEP US SAFE UNTIL WE SEE HIM FACE TO FACE!

 

"Soli Deo Gloria," or "Glory to God Alone," was the cry of the reformers, and certainly has application to David and us as well. God continues to preserve David through power on the field of battle and through wisdom. Again, not all of God's ways are the same. In one instance, He may use the sword. In another instance He may give a word where to hide. Even Jesus sometimes escaped His enemies by hiding. [Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. {Joh 8:59}] We need to gain an understanding of God and His ways by reading the Bible and meditating on it, for they a diverse and complex.

 

We also need to see the power of God to protect and preserve. God has all power. This is why we refer to Him as "Omnipotent." Like David, he will preserve you to His heavenly kingdom. Whether through power or simple wisdom, God will never fail to keep us until we see Him face to face. He gives this encouragement to us in the Bible. God is not only wiling to keep us safe, but He is able also. Then again, God is not only able to keep us safe, He is willing. It is a great boon to our souls to know this truth.

 

The Apostle Paul who saw may battles in his life of faith in Christ, said -  "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."[ 2Ti 4:18] On the fact that God will preserve, keep, and protect us as He brings us to His kingdom, John Gill comments.

 

"the ultimate glory and happiness of the saints in heaven; so called, both because of its nature and place, and to distinguish it from the church, which is Christ's kingdom in this world, though it is not of it; and from his personal reign with his saints on earth, for the space of a thousand years; whereas this will be for ever: and unto this the apostle believed he should be preserved, as all the saints will be, notwithstanding the persecutions of the world, the temptations of Satan, and their own corruptions; for they are secured in an everlasting covenant, and in the hands of Christ; and have not only angels to encamp about them, and salvation, as walls and bulwarks to them, but God himself is a wall of fire around them, and they are kept by his power unto salvation: and besides, this heavenly kingdom is prepared for them, and given to them; they are chosen to be heirs and possessors of it; they are called unto it, and Christ is gone to receive it in their name, to prepare it for them, and will come again and introduce them into it."

 

David was protected and preserved from many evils of which, Saul was only one. We shall likewise be preserved. We will be kept by the same God whom David served, knew, and wrote about. He will keep us until we see Him, and no one can withstand His power!