April 28, 2014 - Monday

Start Time: 6:03 A.M.

End Time: 6:31 A.M.

Title: David among the Philistines

Scripture: 1 Samuel 27: 1 – 12

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

→But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”So David and the six hundred men with him left and went over to Achish son of Maok king of Gath. David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal. When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer searched for him. Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be assigned to me in one of the country towns, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?” So on that day Achish gave him Ziklag, and it has belonged to the kings of Judah ever since. David lived in Philistine territory a year and four months.

NOTES:

Ø With God, even when we are running away from our enemies, God expands our territories and gives us victories!  David went to Achish, son of Maok King of Gath, who is already a Philistine, to ask for favor.  As Israel’s mortal enemy, the Philistines should be the last people David expects to find favor from.  Yet the story tells us that David did find favor in the eyes of Achish and not only that, Achish even gave him the land of Ziklag so it became part of Judah’s land because of this.  Talking about expanding territories and accomplishing victories even when we are on the run.  God did this to David and He can do it with us too.  When we are down and in a situation where everything seems to be falling apart in our lives, just continue with God for He will continue to expand our territories and give us victories even when everything seems to be going on a different direction than how we planned it to be.  God can rise above every failure and trouble and He can bring us up with Him!  Hallelujah!

→Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these peoples had lived in the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)  Whenever David attacked an area, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but took sheep and cattle, donkeys and camels, and clothes. Then he returned to Achish.  When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?” David would say, “Against the Negev of Judah” or “Against the Negev of Jerahmeel” or “Against the Negev of the Kenites.” He did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to Gath, for he thought, “They might inform on us and say, ‘This is what David did.’” And such was his practice as long as he lived in Philistine territory.  Achish trusted David and said to himself, “He has become so obnoxious to his people, the Israelites, that he will be my servant for life.”

NOTES:

Ø God allows us to take from our enemies right under their noses without them knowing it!  God allowed David to live in enemies lines but even in that situation, David continued to fight the battle of the Lord.  So even when we are trapped and had to stay within enemy’s line, God can still use us to continue His battle against them.  Praise Jesus!  So let us allow God to use us for He can do so much through us, beyond expectations and every glory comes back to Him!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Precious God and Amazing Father!  You are beyond my comprehension.  Your love is vast and huge and it does not fade away.  Thank You because even when things fall apart in our lives, this will not stop You to do Your promise!  Your promise to expand our territories and give us victories!  Lord You are awesome and great!  I am so blessed that I am Your daughter and Your Spirit is upon me.  Thank You Lord because You do not leave me when all things fail.  Thank You because our enemies are blinded to the truth.  Thank You because You cover their eyes to see Your amazing plan for my life.  I surrender Lord fully!  Use me and I know that many times I have so many questions but Lord even with all the questions, continue to use me Lord.  Continue to utilize me as a tool for Your greater plan!  Thank You because by doing so, I get to see Your love, grace and favor every day.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!