April 26, 2014 - Saturday

Start Time: 10:09 A.M.

End Time: 10:40 A.M.

Title: David Spares Saul’s Life

Scripture: 1 Samuel 24:1 – 22

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

→ After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.  The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said^[b] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.  Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

NOTES:

Ø God’s heart is always for His anointed one!  No matter how bad or evil the anointed one becomes, a part of God’s heart remains with him/her.  David, who is a man after God’s own heart, had the opportunity to kill King Saul, his enemy.  But despite of taking justice into his own hand (and he has a valid reason to do so), David chose not to and decided to cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.  Still this action struck his conscience because he felt that it was not his place to touch God’s anointed.  Let us have the same heart as David.  Despite of the oppression of our enemies, when given a chance to take justice on our hands, let us choose to do the right thing and never touch the anointed of God.  This is God’s heart for all of us.

→ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.  He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?  This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? ¹⁵ May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

NOTES:

Ø God vindicates us from everyone including our enemies!  God does not only avenge us but He justifies us when we do His will in our lives.  He directs our every step and He supports each God-driven action we take.  To our enemies we are cleared of all actions and God will make sure that everyone will find out the truth behind every accusation of our enemies. 

Ø God never offers rebellion as a solution to our situation!  God takes care of us even in times when we are deep in trouble.  But He never presents rebellion or disobedience as a way out to our situation.  Know that the enemy can sometimes present sin as a solution to our circumstances but God never allows that.  So know God to know the right path to take when face a difficult circumstance.

→When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.  “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.  You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today.  I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

NOTES:

Ø God will always be glorified in the lives of His people!  Even our enemies will know that God is on our side because God will reveal it to them through the decisions we make with God’s guidance.  The words of Saul clearly glorified the Lord in David’s life and Saul even confirmed the plans of the Lord to make David King.  God can use even our enemies to confirm God’s purpose and plans for us. 

Ø God will use our enemies to proclaim blessings and rewards to us because of our obedience to Him! God is not limited and He can use whomever He chooses even our enemies.  And our enemies will proclaim good things for us because of God’s love for us.  Praise Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, mighty King and Glorious Father.  Thank You for Your love that always embraces and lifts me up.  Thank You because Your heart is upon Your anointed one and Your heart is upon us at all times.  Thank You because You clear out my name and support me always.  You vindicate me from any accusations of my enemies.  Help me to remember always Lord that Your solution never leads me to sin.  Remind me to choose the right decisions by making sure that I do not make compromises but I always stand in truth.  Lord, help me to realize that everything I do should give glory to Your name for it is Your will.  Thank You Jesus for You are not limited to do Your plans for me and You can even use my enemies to confirm Your will in my life.  Thank You for Your love, grace and favor always.  I love You Jesus!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!