The Bad and the Good

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

THE BAD AND THE GOOD 

1 Sam 25:14-22

14 One of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail: "David sent messengers from the desert to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us all the time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him." 18 Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless — all my watching over this fellow's property in the desert so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"

NIV

How is it possible to have two hundred loaves of bread unless this is a type of unleavened bread? Did Abigail have all that stuff just on hand to be able to hurry and load it all on a donkey? Nevertheless, this is a woman of substance, a woman with a heart that must have pleased the Lord. Before she meets with David, he is still bent on seeking the destruction of Nabal and all his household. Even Nabal’s own shepherds knew he was an evil man whom no one could talk to or persuade to change his mind.  We wonder if Abigail is trying to stop David from what he was about to do for the sake of her husband, or if she was motivated by the LORD. We will get to the exchange between Abigail and David, but first, we should consider that she was providing the request that was made by the ten men that David sent to Nabal, and how he rejected them. When she found out how her husband mistreated the men sent by David, she went into action, loading enough provisions to feed David and all his men. Perhaps it was enough to make an offering, a plea to change the course of David and save her family. What is our lesson from this portion of the narrative? Maybe it is about the provisions as an offering to change the heart of David. We know we can not give enough of an offering to God to change his mind or heart. He already loves us beyond what any human could measure; after all, his love is as far as the heavens are above the earth, or unmeasurable. Yet we are told to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Interestingly, David’s statement about Nabal paying him back evil for good reminds us of Joseph telling his brothers that the evil they perpetrated toward him, God meant it for good. This brings us to the barrier between evil and good. For the most part, as we had considered before, Nabal represents the wickedness of mankind or the evil in this world. We can see evil everywhere we look, hatred against each other, divisions among the people, and even violence in the streets of our cities. So much wickedness all around us, and yet God has built a hedge around us, keeping us separated from evil by His goodness. Abigail was the one doing good and represents this concept of reconciliation that we considered before. There should be a difference between the wicked and the righteous. Although we would be known as the righteous, it is only because we are in Jesus and He is in us. However, for the sake of the comparison, we should be different.  That difference should not be based on our deeds, over the deeds of the wicked, because even the unbelievers can do great humanitarian deeds, sometimes better than the church does. No, the difference is a heart issue. Nabal had an evil heart, so much so that no one could talk to him. Abigail had a heart bent toward good, wanting to prevent injustice. At this point, David’s heart was bent on revenge, but we will see that goodness always prevails. We should always be about examining our heart, or asking the Lord to examine our heart, to see if there are any anxious thoughts, or wicked thoughts, or self-oriented thoughts. We desire to have a heart for God, but, like David, do we allow that “self” that hurts feelings, drives us toward the dark side, seeking retaliation in some form because our feelings are hurt? Let us endeavor to repay any bad with good. 

Emotions

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

EMOTIONS

1 Samuel 25:4-13

4 While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 7 "'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my young men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.'" 9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited. 10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?" 12 David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put on their swords, and David put on his. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

NIV

What an ugly man, this Nabel was, to respond to strangers coming in the name of David and bringing a blessing of long life and good health. Although Nabel is an example of self-centeredness, obstinacy, and downright meanness or wickedness, our story today is about the blessing of David upon Nabel and his household. Of course, having that blessing thrown back in his face, David felt that his blessing had not only been rejected, but his name had been thrown into the mud and stamped on. David is God’s anointed, and this Nabel could not care about anything or anyone except his own life. Is it any wonder that David strapped on his sword with the intent to destroy all that Nabel had, as well as his life? Was that right for David to be vengeful toward Nabel? Was it David’s emotions that took over? Is it right to seek revenge when our feelings are hurt? Revenge is only reserved for the Lord, and yet He does not treat us as we deserve. He does not seek revenge against those who revere him, but blesses them with his grace, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. But we are human, and when we are offended, even in the slightest way, we get upset, and anger takes hold of us, and we want to strike back, much as David wanted to strike back at Nabel. But shouldn’t we who fear the Lord be different? Do we still struggle with that old nature?  Doesn’t being a new creation mean we should not serve that old self or allow it to control our emotions, words, or responses? Couldn’t David have simply gone himself and approached Nabel in peace, rather than wanting to kill him? But then David was also human, with all the emotions, responding as a man, without the influence of the LORD. Still, his initial intent was to bless Nabel, but he was rejected, and that started him on the wrong path. Let us not allow others to control our emotions and lead us down the wrong path. Let us remember who we are, and who we are responsible to. We will see how this turns out for the best, because the Lord takes charge of the situation. Let us live with the Lord in charge of our lives, rather than our 'self' or our emotions being in charge. 

Two Types

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

TWO TYPES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

1 Sam 25:1-3

25:1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.

Then David moved down into the Desert of Maon.   2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.

NIV

Like all men, Samuel’s time had come to an end, and all of Israel mourned. Samuel was a man of God, and we believe the LORD did not leave him in the grave, but took him home to be with him. Although his body may have remained behind until the day of the resurrection of the dead and the taking up of those who are alive. This event, we call the rapture; however, it is spoken of as being taken up, or caught up in the air to meet our Lord. We believe all godly people who breathe their last will be mourned, but also that there should be rejoicing. Perhaps not by the whole of a people, like Samuel was, but it is the destiny of all of us to pass through the shadow of the valley of death, but we will fear no evil, for the Lord is with us and His rod and His staff comfort us. We are not told the age of Samuel, but he lived a Godly life, and it would seem right to believe he lived to a ripe old age.  In the narrative that follows David and his men, along with a surly man named Nabal and his lovely wife Abigail, we will see the outcome of God's justice. This is our introduction to these characters, David encounters, and how the LORD intervenes to accomplish his will or plan for the life of David. We will get there soon enough, but for now, let us understand the Lord is Sovereign and has a plan for each one of us. He may work directly with us, speaking into our spirit, or heart, and even in our ears. He can work directly with us through his word, or he might work in us through the words of another person through the gift of the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, or the gift of prophecy. What we know is that the Lord has had his plan for us before we were born, as he knew us before the foundation of the earth. If that is not true, then he is not God, but it is true because He is God. Looking at these two people, a surly man and an intelligent and beautiful woman, and we already know David, so it is the character of these two that we take our lesson from. Interestingly, the Hebrew word qasheh, translated as surly means hard, difficult, stubborn, stiff of neck, intense, vehement, obstinate, and even cruel. We cannot believe any believer would fit into that description; for Nabal represents the world, however, Abigail offers us a look into a godly life, intelligent and beautiful, a look into what a child of God looks like.  

Reconciled

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

RECONCILED

1 Sam 24:8-22

8 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. 9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? 10 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 lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.' 11 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. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 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. 13 As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. 14 "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom 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." 16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. 17 "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 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. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." 22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

NIV

 Those words, “You are more righteous than I”, are from Saul to David, but also prophetic about us and the LORD. He is our righteousness. How can any man be righteous unless it comes from the LORD? However, David was surely a man after God’s own heart. He could have killed Saul, and he would have been justified because Saul was bent on doing evil by trying to kill David. It would appear they were enemies, except David did not want to kill Saul. In fact, he addressed Saul as master, as the LORD’s anointed, and as the king of Israel. There was reconciliation that happened that day, as it ended with an acknowledgement by Saul that David was meant to be the king, and when he sat on the throne, that he would be gracious to Saul and his descendants. David gave his oath to Saul. What a lesson for us to take to heart. We should always be the ones to do the work of reconciliation. If there is any division between us or ill feelings toward us by someone, and we become aware of it, we should be the ones to make every effort to be about peace and harmony. If we become aware that we are having some ill feelings, such as jealousy, envy, or angry, like Saul had been feeling toward David, we should first ask the Lord for his forgiveness, which of course, he will not only forgive, but removes our sin, then we need to ask the person we have had those unrighteous feelings toward for forgiveness. No matter which side of the fence we stand, it is our responsibility to seek reconciliation. However, we should never think that we are more righteous than another, even if it appears, we could be, as we see David was more righteous than Saul. It is right that the Lord would judge us, as he will judge us all. It is not so much judging between two people who may be at odds with each other, but he will judge each of us according to our deeds. That is not to mean our “Good works”,  but the bent of our heart. The Lord will judge each according to what we have done. If we are persistent in doing good by seeking glory, honor, and immortality, we will receive eternal life. However, we do not seek glory, honor, and immortality for ourselves, but those words define Jesus. He is the only one worthy of glory, honor, and immortality. The opposite of that are those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth, who is Jesus, and follow evil. It comes down to the only good we can do is follow Jesus, although doing good things for others is following Jesus, but the only thing that will be judged for is who we seek, and his name is Jesus. Just as Saul and David were reconciled, through Jesus we have been reconciled with God, even though it seems difficult to understand, God reconciled Himself to us. 

A Right Heart

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

A RIGHT HEART

1 Sam 24:1-7

24:1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 3 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. 4 The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said 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. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." 7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

NIV

There is more to the story of David and Saul, but we can learn a valuable lesson from the heart of David. Although Saul was filled with anger against David and sought to kill him, he took time to relieve himself. That sounds like he needed to empty his bladder, but a more direct meaning of the Hebrew is to cover his feet, which would mean to take a nap, fall asleep. This is why David was able to snip a corner of Saul’s robe, as Saul was sound asleep. However, David was conscience-stricken for doing such a thing. Interestingly, although David had been anointed by Samuel as the king of Israel under the direction of the Lord, for He had rejected Saul as king, David still considered Saul his master, the LORD’s anointed. This is a humbled-hearted man, one who knows the LORD, and who the LORD knows that David is a man after His own heart. At least this far in the whole struggle of Saul, we can see him represent wickedness, or evil, and David represents a man after the heart of God, just and righteous. It was and now stands as what we would call the ancient battle between good and evil. Of course, we believe we are the ones who represent good, as we believe God and have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, while those in the world who have not yet or may never believe in Jesus represent the evil in the world. It is easy to judge that difference, but are we being self-righteous? “See how good we are”, “We go to church every Sunday”, “ We know Jesus”. However, we wonder, because our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the forces of evil in this world and in the heavenly realm. The fact is, we do battle with evil, and if we are to be honest, we battle against our own evil thoughts that can sneak in. Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my thoughts, see if there is any wicked way, or anxious thoughts in me, and lead me in ways everlasting. David wanted God to make sure that the Lord would show him if he had any anxious thoughts, or a more wooded translation, any pain, sorrow, or idol thoughts. Anxious would fit in this idolatry or pain and sorrow, as all of that kind of thinking surrounds self-centeredness. Could we have anxious thoughts? Could we battle with some aspect of evil thinking? Do we judge others or criticize their actions? Do we think more highly of ourselves than we should? It appears David did not, although he had the anointing of God on him. Is gossip a form of evil thoughts? Let us ask the LORD to search our hearts, to try us, and see if we have any wicked thoughts. Let us desire to have a heart after God, a right heart. 

The Plan

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

THE PLAN

1 Sam 23:19-29

19 The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? 20 Now, O king, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for handing him over to the king." 21 Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me. 22 Go and make further preparation. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. 23 Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah." 24 So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon, in the Arabah south of Jeshimon. 25 Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David. 26 Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, "Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land." 28 Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.   29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

NIV

The best laid plans of man are no match for the plan of God. We are not even sure we can use the word match as “Who is man, that you are mindful of him,” and to consider that any of our plans could possibly have any chance against the plan of God is a more accurate view of what we see in this narrative. Saul has received the most definite information about David’s hiding place, and the Ziphites believe they have the perfect plan to hand David over to Saul. But just as Saul is closing in on David and his men, God intervenes with his plan as he had decided David is to be king over all Israel. It was not David’s plan, nor was it Saul’s plan, and it was not the plan of the Ziphites. We can make all sorts of plans that we may think are so good, and that will be a benefit for ourselves or maybe even for someone else. But do our plans line up with the will of God? We believe it is best to always put our plans on hold until we stand, sit, kneel, lie prostrate, or however our method of being before the Lord, God Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth, is, and seek his counsel, so that his plan becomes our plan. We have the Holy Spirit within us so that we can hear his voice, his thoughts, and sense his plan per the Father and the Son. Because Jesus calls us friends, He has given us the major plan for our lives. Yet, as we live in this material or physical world, and require a certain amount of content for our daily, or even our years of life, as to our direction in which we should head. We make so many choices throughout our days, such as where we live, what kind of car we buy, or what we do for a living, what kind of career or job we pursue, and where we attend church, as well as a host of other choices. But what does the Lord want us to do? Where does He want us to live, and to do for a living? Where does he want us to fellowship in worship with others? Even the plans of the church are at stake. Do the leaders make their plans, or do they seek the plan of God? This may seem a radical way to live, but we need to be mindful that our ways are not His ways, so we need to line up our ways according to His, for we know if we are trying to live by our plans, God will intervene to accomplish his plan. 

Strength in God

 DEVOTION

1^ST SAMUEL

STRENGTH IN GOD

1 Samuel 23:14-18

14 David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

NIV

We are amid Saul hunting for David with the intent of capturing all his men, and ultimately killing David. Perhaps Saul thinks that if he killed the man who had been anointed as the king of all Israel, then he could remain on the throne and continue to live like a king. If that was the intent of Saul, then he was driven by self-centeredness, which is motivated by wickedness or just plain evil. We know from what the scripture tells us that Saul’s heart had gone to the dark side, harboring murder in his heart. However, there was also Jonathan, the son of Saul, who loved David and was loyal to him, having made a covenant with him. Now we see Jonathan finding David and helping him find strength in God. Jonathan affirmed the fact that David was or would be the king over all Israel and that David would sit on the throne. Jonathan also told David that he would be second in command. But the story is about Jonathan showing up to help David find strength in Elohiym, the supreme God, but also the magistrate, or judge. This was a different word used for God than the normal LORD, or Yahweh. However, our lesson is about strengthening others in the Lord. Because we can only see the outside or personality of other believers, we cannot know their hearts; only the Lord knows each heart. We can endeavor to strengthen their walk with Jesus. Jonathan may have known that David was a little down, and questioning the LORD as to why Saul was trying to kill him, or that David was growing weak in his faith, because they were covenant brothers, and they laid open their hearts to each other. We may not have that advantage with other believers, being transparent with each other so that we know the concerns or heart pains, if we can use that expression, of other believers. However, no matter how strong or weak another’s heart might be, we can still make an effort to help them find strength in God. What is also interesting is that Jonathan helped David find strength in God, which meant Jonathan had strength in God, for without his strength in God, he could not have helped David find strength in God. Then, we need to know our strength in God before we help others find that same strength.