April 23, 2014 - Wednesday

Start Time: 6:12 A.M.

End Time: 6:37 A.M.

Title: David at Nob and Gath

Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:1 – 15

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ 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^[b] I set out. The men’s bodies 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 chief shepherd. David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission 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.”

NOTES:

Ø God send us to a place of provision when we are on the run from our enemies!  He provides not only for our physical bodies but also for whatever we need to keep ourselves safe and protected.  David was directed by God to go to Nob, specifically to Ahimelek, the priest.  God will lead us to His people in times of needs for His provision is abundant through His people.  When David came to the priest, he asked for bread to eat and a weapon, the priest had both in his place at this time. 

Ø God will remind us of our victory with Him when we are afraid or feeling in doubt in facing our current Goliath!  God believes in us because He is with us and when we lose faith in ourselves, He will find a way to bring it back!  Hallelujah!  In all the priests, David could have gone to, he went to Ahimelek who happens to keep the sword of Goliath, the first giant that David killed.  At times, when we are faced with a big problem, all we need is a reminder of the greatest success we had with God to renew and encourage us to fight the current battle we face.  If we are able to defeat our first Goliath, the 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th will be under our feet as well when God is with us!  So don’t forget the victory that we receive with God during the times we are so afraid or in doubt if we are able to win a battle in our lives.  Praise God for He knows just what we need to pump our hearts up to fight and win the fight with us!  Glory to the Lord!

→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?”

NOTES:

Ø God allows us to make our own choices and even when we are unsure and afraid, God trusts our decisions but when we are stuck in a trap or even if we just think we are, God does not hold our bad decisions on us.  Instead, He calm us down when we are out of control and lead us to a place where we can be restored back to Him.  David went to King Achish to find refuge but when he heard the words of the king’s servant (which is really not something to cause fear), he became afraid and decided to back out from his plan of finding refuge in King Achish’s place.  So he acted like a madman to get away from his decision.  God allowed it to happen and in the next chapter we see, that God led him to Adullam and Mizpah where he found his brothers and father, he was led back to his family.  Still, God did not condemn or brought back his uncertainties in his decisions.  This is who our God is!  He gives solution and answers, even when we made wrong decisions, He does not condemn, He just forgives and bring us to safety.  Thank You Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and kindness every day!  Thank You for Your word that brings comfort to us and allow us to know You better.  Thank You because when we are in need, You send us to a place of abundant provision.  You lead us to the right path where we not only are provided but restored.  Many times, when we are in doubt or in fear to face our problems in life, thank You for reminding me that all I need is to remember the victories You have given me already!  Especially the first Goliath I slay in my life with You!  That should recharge me and remind that the battle is not mine to face alone.  Thank you Jesus because even when I make foolish decisions, You do not condemn, instead You lead me to the answers to my problems that I may be restored back to health; one of which is in the presence of my family.  Thank You Lord.  Continue to open my eyes Lord so I may see You always in Your words and that I may experience and anticipate Your love, favor and grace every day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!