King James Daily Bible Study: What God Will Do
Date: Friday April 08, 2011
Chapters: I Samuel 22-24
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-april-8
Details of Today's Reading: David hides in a cave, men follow him, Saul destroys the priests of Nob, David rescues the city of Keilah, Jonathan encourages David, an invasion of the Philistines, David mercy upon Saul's life, and Saul acknowledges his mistakes.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
As Christians we will face all kinds of trials simply because of our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazingly, 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 doing what are taught only to find out that you have been deceived. 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 personally know Christ. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:11,12.

David, was to be the next king of Israel and this put so much jealousy and hatred in Saul, the current king, 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 thought they had nothing going for themselves sought David, often when we are suffering we find ourselves being drawn to others who are as well. It is actually a comfort to us when we focus on others heartaches instead of our own for a while, they often put ours in perspective. 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. How? David never took his eyes off God the entire time he was in distress. 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 know what God will do for him. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:27,28.

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 David did before he made a move was ask God what he should do.

“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 make the right decision for us. We can not go wrong when we humble ourselves before God and allow Him to make the decisions for us. “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.” - Psalm 25:8-10.

When our heart's desire is to please the Lord, we are often tested to seek revenge on those who have wronged us. Now, David had the chance to kill Saul, upon trying to corner David, Saul got cornered himself. He was hiding in a cave to sneak up on David when David found him, it was the opportune time for David to seek revenge and kill him instead.

“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 become one of them. After David went back to the palace Saul asked him why he let him go when he had the chance to kill him. David's reply, “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.” - I Samuel 24:12-15.

At times, it seems as though everyone is against us, but we can not forget that God is always for 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 as long as we come to Him. 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 then to let ourselves stoop to their level. God is still in control and although He allows the devil to place evil upon our lives, it is important that we do not render evil for evil, God will take care of it for us. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” - Romans 12:19,20.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David's refusal to take the kingdom by force or before the appointed time set by God (24:10-13). Jesus refused to allow Israel to make Him a king by force, “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” - John 6:15.

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

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