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Today is Thursday April 08, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Samuel, chapters 22-24. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-8

Title: Bible Study: Inquire of The Lord
As Christians we will face all kinds of trials simply because of our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. There are even religions who claim to be Christians, yet they have now idea who Christ truly is. The truth is that these people are being deceived and really have no idea that they are being deceived. How sad is it to go through life and think that you are on the right path only to find out that you have been deceived. We can all praise God that while we are still here on earth we can see the truth, that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, who came to earth as God in the flesh and died for every sin we ever committed, then He arose from death to give us a new life as we accept Him as our Savior. We can choose to follow the truth or a lie, but if we say we are Christians we need to follow the truth and the only way to know the truth is to Inquire of the Lord.

David, was to be the next king of Israel and this put so much jealousy and hatred in Saul that he wanted him dead. Now, David is hiding in a cave, but this time he is not alone. “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. ” - I Samuel 22:1-3. Four hundred men that had nothing going for them sought David, often when we are suffering we find ourselves being drawn to others who are as well. It is actually comfort as we learn to for a time to focus on others instead of our own. David and these men had the best thing going for them, they had God they may not have known what their future held, but they knew they were in the will of God. We too may not know our future, but what we can know is that God holds our future in His hands and He will never leave nor forsake any one who seeks to do His will.

At times, it seems as though everyone is against us, but we can not forget that God is always with us and it is during the trials we face that He shows Himself as the one who can truly protect and lead us to safety. Every where David went, Saul followed, there was always someone willing to sell him out for their own personal gain, even though they knew it was wrong. Saul even stooped so low as to start killing priests and their families for helping David escape, but the first thing he did before he made a move was inquire of the Lord. “Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.” - I Samuel 23:2-5. David knew that God was with them and would help them defeat the Philistines, but he also knew that if he wanted God's help he had to ask Him for it. God will not do anything unless we seek His guidance first. By seeking His guidance we are letting Him know that we are trusting in Him to help us make the right decisions.

When our heart's desire is to please the Lord, we are often tested to seek revenge on those who have wronged us. As Saul was hiding in a cave to sneak up on David it was the opportune time for David to seek revenge and kill him instead. However, as he was about to draw his sword upon him God stopped him. “Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.” - I Samuel 24:2-7. His soldiers were convinced that God had delivered Saul into David's hands to be executed and David would be justified in killing him. However, David would not violate the Word of God that Saul had been set apart for service as the earthly representative of God on the throne of Israel. God had appointed Saul as king and until He removed him from the throne, David had no right to take this mans life even though he tried to take his.

Truthfully, revenge does nothing for us, but make us like them. No matter what people have done to us we have no right to take the law into our own hands. It is better to walk away and then to let ourselves stoop to their level. God is still in control and although He allows the devil to place evil in our lives, it is important that we do not render evil for evil. After David went back to the palace Saul asked him why he let him go when he had the chance to kill him. David replied, “The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.” - I Samuel 24:12-18. God decides who lives and who dies, He is the one that avenges us, not man. Of course, we want to see justice on someone who has wronged us, but it is not up to us to get revenge, God gets the revenge on His people. In all that we do, we need to inquire of the Lord, seeking Him in the decisions we make can be the difference between temporary suffering or a lifetime of needless suffering. When we call on Him He will make things right. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.” - Psalm 37:4-9.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and end of the week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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