Take A Stand

Posted by Christina Scovone on Saturday, April 9, 2011

King James Bible Study: Take A Stand
For: Saturday April 09, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 25-27
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-9

Details of Today's Reading: Samuel dies, David, Nabal, and Abigail, Nabal Dies, Abigail becomes David’s wife, Saul attempt to capture David, Saul's life is spared by David a second time, David confronts Saul and is finally at peace, David's discouragement.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
As Christians we all know someone who is worldly, perhaps family, friends, colleagues, other Christians, or even a spouse. The Bible says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?..Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” - II Corinthians 6:14,17. As Christians we are separate ourselves with those who live in the world. Why? If we are to ever grow and see what God can really do for us, we must not let these people influence us, which is what happens when they remain in our lives. Now, I know when it comes to family or a spouse that is worldly it is hard to separate from them, but we must take a stand and not allow them to change our beliefs or compromise our relationship with God in order to have peace with them. When we take a stand one of two things will happen, it can either bring the person or people to God themselves or God will remove them from our lives. “Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” - II Timothy 2:10.

We can learn a lot about the importance of separation through David. By now all of Israel knew who David was and whenever he came into their town they were afraid, wondering if he was just passing through out to get them. David knew a man named Nabal, which actually means “a fool”, Nabal was a sheep wrangler, very rich and successful, actually because of David's help. Nabal needed help driving the Philistines away, which David did and the result was his success. Now, when David heard that Nabal was out shearing sheep in the wilderness and since he knew him he sought his help to feed the six hundred hungry men that were with him.

“And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:..And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.” - I Samuel 25:5,9-12.

Nabal lived up to his name, he not only rejected David's plea to give food to his men he also pretended that he did not even know David, after all he had done for him. There are a lot of Nabal's in life, they only want you around when they want something from you, most are selfish, do not want to do anything for themselves, yet expect people to do it all for them and help them prosper. Yet, seek them for help and they shun you as though they never knew you. One day they will have to stand before Jesus and when that happens I hate to be them. It is scary enough to have to face Jesus trying to live your life following Him, let alone not knowing Him.

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:..Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” - Matthew 25:31-34,41.

After Nabal rejected David's request he became very angry and wanted vengeance, he and his men were headed for the town to destroy everyone and everything in it. When Nabal's wife, Abigail, got word of the way her husband treated David, she bravely confronted him, but also brought provisions for him and his men.

“And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling...And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.” - I Samuel 25:27-29,32,33.

The gift that Abigail sent was an atonement for Nabal's behavior and her humbleness and submissiveness was able to give David a chance to think about what he was about to do. She did not excuse her husband, but depended on the grace of God to soften David's heart and reason with him before he took away innocent lives, reminding him that he is also above someone as foolish as Nabal. Nabal's wickedness caught up to him a few days later he died and eventually Abigail became David's wife. It is important that we do to react out of anger, we can destroy ours as well as others lives if we do things before we think about them. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil...Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” - Ephesians 4:26,27,29.

No sooner than David made peace with Saul here he comes again out to seek him and kill him. David had another chance to avenge himself, but he was not about to take the throne the that he was promised by force. The temptation was very strong, but if he yielded, he would sin against God, therefore, he resisted the and trusted God with the event. However, discouraged and distraught, David was beginning to lose hope that he will ever be king. Coming to the conclusion that Saul would kill him first, he fled to Philistine territory.

“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand..And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife...And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months...And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.” - I Samuel 27:1,37,12.

David gains their king's favor, not by faith, but by his ability to defeat the apposing nations. Now Achish has the idea that David would always serve him. This will become a problem when David in fact, becomes king of Israel. Unbelief is a sin that comes those who have been undergoing long trials, however, it is no advantage to us when become so depressed, that we cross over into the world for comfort, for we cannot expect God’s protection when we are out of His will. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” - Hebrews 12:11. However, when we do come to Him we can expect peace, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Abigail's efforts to make peace between David and Nabal. Jesus came to earth to make peace between God and man. “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:9,10.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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