April 30, 2014 – Wednesday

Start Time: 6:52 A.M.

End Time: 7:13 A.M.

Title: Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

Scripture: 1 Samuel 29:1 – 11

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

→ The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish.  The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”

NOTES:

Ø When God turns our enemies to friends, He will not put us in a compromising situation where we have to choose between them or our families!  God is a great God!  When David was pursued by His own, God led him to his enemies and brought David favor in their eyes (Achish).  This happened so Saul will stop pursuing David.  God gave David a way out, an impossible one but God made it possible for His chosen one.  And when the time comes when David had to choose between his family, who tries to kill him, and his enemy-turned-friend, Achish, God did not allow David to make that difficult choice but instead He saved him and made the rest of the Philistines decide for David.  Note that the Philistines are mad at the Israelites, having known that David is in the care of Achish, they could have demanded to kill David and his men too as they are in battle with the Israelites.  Yet once again, God gave favor to David, and the Philistines decided to tell Achish to send David back to Ziklag and spare him the chance to choose between his family and his new found friend, Achish!  Praise the Lord!  God will not put us in a compromising position and when we are in one, He will find a way to deliver us or spare us from this harsh choice.  What a great God we serve!

→So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the Lord lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. ⁷ Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.”  So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

NOTES:

Ø God will not allow our testimonies to be tarnished even in the eyes of our enemies!  Hallelujah!  David here is an Israelite and he found favor in the eyes of his enemy, Achish.  So he made a promise to him to serve him and fight his battles.  When the time came for David to be in a compromising situation where he had to choose between his family or his friend, Achish who helped him get away from his family.  God made a way so his good testimony of the Lord in his life will not be tarnished in the eyes of his family and friend.  God protects our lives for His Name’s Sake and Glory.  So we ought to protect our lives for His Name’s sake and Glory too.  Praise Jesus!     

Prayer:

Lord Jesus how amazing You are!  How great and marvelous You are!  Truly, no one can be compared to You.  Lord, I am amazed and moved by Your love for me that in Your word today, You showed me how magnificent and awesome Your love is.  That You can turn my enemy into a friend when needed and if that happens, You will not allow me to be in a position where I will have to choose between my family and friend and end up tarnishing my testimony of You.  Lord thank You because You help me get away and You find a way to ensure that I remain pure and that Your presence in me will remain pure in the eyes of my family, friend and even my enemies.  Thank You for preserving my life for Your Name’s sake and glory!  Hallelujah!  Truly, no one else is like You.  Help me Lord to always keep Your guidance in consideration in all decisions I make and help me Lord to see You ways and not pursue my own.  Help me to always trust You fully at all times.  Because Your love, grace, and favor is always upon me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!