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King James Daily Bible Study: Job Training
Date: Wednesday April 06, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 17-18
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-6
Details of Today's Reading: Defiance of Israel by Goliath and David’s victory over him, the covenant of Jonathan and David, Saul’s jealousy toward David and his attempts on David’s life, Saul's attempt to have David killed in battle, and Saul’s daughter is given to David for a wife.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
It is said that true Christians are some of the best workers on the planet. Why? Because true Christians are honest, loyal, faithful, and believe in the Word of God. How can believing in the Word of God make someone a better worker? Because when you believe in God's Word, you follow God's Word and learn that even the most tedious job in the world can be one of joy through the Lord. Everything that we do, including our jobs, needs to be done in the will of God, even if we are working for worldly people. Being obedient to God, especially through the most difficult circumstances, always keeps us right with God and the reward is much greater than anything we will ever receive here on earth. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

David, was the youngest of eight sons, he was the smallest of them all and of all jobs, he was a sheep herder. God chose David to be the king that would reign over Israel because of Saul's disobedience. Now, the amazing thing about God is that He does not always do everything immediately, although Samuel anointed David to be king, he did not reign right away. God was actually preparing David to become a great king and in order to do that he had to be trained. God may have some strange ways of training people, but what seems strange to us is a blessing to God. To train David properly, God placed him in Saul's life, first as a musician, then as the man who would stand up to Goliath.

“Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul. And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.... And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.” - I Samuel 17:12-14,32-36.

David was not afraid to take on the Philistine because he had faith in God, He knew that if God pulled him out of the paws of a lion and a bear He could certainly defeat a giant. As Christians, we may be daily facing the giants of the world, but as long as we have faith in the living God He will help us defeat the biggest of giants. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” - I john 5:3,4.

Ever notice how the slackers get jealous and hateful toward those whom are hard working and favored by their employer. David was the talk of the town because He defeated Goliath, as soon as Saul heard that the people were cheering him he became very jealous, to the point of wanting him dead.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.” - I Samuel 18:10-12.

The evil spirit from God is not actually God Himself, bringing evil upon them, God can not commit evil Himself.

The evil spirit is Satan, it means that God allowed Satan to cast evil upon him. The devil was once an angel of God, but he was not satisfied with that and wanted control so, God cast him out of heaven and that is why it says the evil spirit from God. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” - Isaiah 14:12-15.

Saul's jealousy caused him to fear David, the more David trusted in God, the more fearful Saul became of him. Why? Because Saul knew that the root to all the good in David was God. “And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.” - I Samuel 18:28-30.

Saul knew he was not being the king much longer and that God called David to take him place and he feared that. If he was doing the job right God would have not replaced him. You know, because we are loyal and faithful and have God on our side it will cause some strife between those who are not, especially in the work place, even leaders have been known to fear their jobs. I remember trying to get a part-time job as a cashier once just to make some extra money, the manager bluntly said I can not hire you because you are not going to take my job. The truth is, a person that is not doing the job they are supposed to be doing always fears losing it. God is in control of all things, no one on the earth is irreplaceable and if we are not doing our jobs, we will be replaced, regardless of what job we do. “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” - Deuteronomy 1:17.

This was only the beginning to the troubles that David would face before he even became king. Despite all the jealousy and the deceitfulness from people, God uses all of them for our own good, He not only tests our faith in Him, He also strengthens it as well as blesses us through them. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” - II Corinthians 4:15-18.

Every thing we go through is for our own good and God's glory. Think about it. Every day things come to pass and we rarely acknowledge that it is God, but something that comes to light by the power of God we know is from God and we praise Him for it. Every time we face adversity we are strengthened and become a better Christian and learn of the greater eternal rewards that we will receive beyond the surface. Praise God! If you are facing trials, remember, Jesus is with you and God is renewing you and strengthening your faith in Him. Just keep doing what you are doing, knowing, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13. Praise God!

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Jonathan, who stripped himself of his royal robes and made the soul covenant with David, (18:3-4). Knowing the will of God, Jesus stripped Himself of His royal robe to be a servant for us. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” - Hebrews 2:9.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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