What Will He Do

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

WHAT WILL YOU DO

1 Sameul 22:1-5

22:1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 3 From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, "Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?" 4 So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. 5 But the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah." So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

NIV

We cannot be certain why there were so many who were distressed, in debt, or discontent, or why they were in such situations. It is possible that all these men described in this verse were set against the tyranny of Saul, seeing that the LORD had left him and that he was nothing more than a mean ruler, seeking the death of David and anyone who crossed him. Although David was on the run from Saul, when his brothers and the whole household, his father and mother, all the servants came to him, he was concerned for their well-being. We can be sure that if Saul had found any of David’s family, he would have had them killed or held them hostage until David surrendered himself to the hand of Saul. However, David had already surrendered to the hand of God, and because of that, he honored his father and mother, as the LORD had commanded through the law he gave to Moses. David wanted them to be in the protected stronghold of the king of Moab. That is one truth we can always trust that we should honor our father and mother. Sometimes it is difficult when they break faith with God and live in the darkness, as we grow up under an abusive parent. Nevertheless, we should honor them, however that looks. The second truth that stands out to us is that David wanted to learn what God would do for him. David had already been anointed, and he had the power of God upon him, yet he still wanted to know what God would do for him. Although we know what God has done for us by sending Jesus to take all our sins upon himself on that cross, and die in our place, was buried and then was raised from the dead, as the firstborn of many who would be raised from the dead. He has already prepared a place for us, and we know that Jesus is coming back to get us. We know God has done all that and so much more. He has provided for us and led us to places we should be. We ask that question, as David did. “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, that you have taken me this far?” Yet, we should and are continuing to seek the face of our Lord, wanting to learn what God will do for us now. How will he lead us now? What will he accomplish for us, in us, and through us? Sure, we cannot ask for him to predict our future, yet we ask, What will you, O Sovereign Lord, do for us next?” “What will you do in our lives?”