Month: September 2021

⁵ Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
    you make (maintain) my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I KEEP MY EYES ALWAYS ON THE LORD. (David’s secret!)
    WITH HIM AT MY RIGHT HAND, I SHALL NOT BE SHAKEN. Psalm 16

David recited these wonderful words to his God and I’ve been thinking about them for a while. Great words of encouragement.

We’re doing some maintenance around our home, where the boundary lines have fallen for us in this season. David says God will ‘maintain our lot’ and He does all things to perfection.

Be blessed today and this weekend and thank God for His goodness to us all.

The Unmerited/Undeserved Favour of the King.

The word of the King is all powerful! People in today’s society don’t fully appreciate how true this is. 2 Samuel 9

2 Samuel 9 reveals another side to David’s character, very different to that of the soldier who cut down multitudes of Israel’s enemies.

1 David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’

David remembers his deep friendship with Jonathan and wants to bless anyone from Saul’s house, (who tried to take his life). David as King, wanted to bless anyone related to Jonathan, so Saul’s servant Ziba was called before the King. Once again we see the important role servants played in Biblical times. Ziba, the servant, knew of Mephibosheth, WHO WAS CRIPPLED IN BOTH FEET, first thing we learn about him, even before his name.

³ The king asked, ‘Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show GOD’S KINDNESS?’

Ziba answered the king, ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.’

⁴ ‘Where is he?’ the king asked.

Ziba answered, ‘He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.’

⁵ SO KING DAVID HAD HIM BROUGHT from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

He was crippled, but David had him brought before him in Jerusalem. (His first Favour to Jonathan’s crippled son) Then followed a list of Blessings or Favours bestowed by David, the King. I see this as an EARTHLY TYPE OF THE FATHER’S LOVE TOWARDS US, HIS CHILDREN!

⁶ When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honour (that was his entire part in all that happened).

David said, ‘Mephibosheth!’ David Called Him by His Name.

⁷ ‘DON’T BE AFRAID,’ David said to him, ‘for I WILL SURELY SHOW YOU KINDNESS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR FATHER JONATHAN. I WILL RESTORE TO YOU ‘ALL’ THE LAND that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and YOU WILL ALWAYS EAT AT MY TABLE.’

God may want to bless you FOR WHO YOU ARE BEFORE HIM and not just for what you’ve done! Some find this hard to accept that God would just want to bless us, without earning it. God is the Great King and it’s His right to bless and bestow Favour on whoever He pleases.

⁹ Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, ‘I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.’ (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Mephibosheth could never have farmed the land, no problem, the King appointed a man and his large household to do it. The King arranged everything by a single command.

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.

Raised from obscurity to the centre of power in the nation at the word of the King. Allow God to roll out His plans for our life and keep thanking Him for all He gives us.

³⁸ Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMPC

The Lord has promised to bless those who bless and with the same measure that we bless. Why not sow into Father’s Love Ministry today and reap His blessing, it’s a sure promise. Donate now on our webpage;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

We are available to seek personal words of encouragement and guidance for those who would like them, contact us on our webpage above.

God bless and keep you today.

First the battles and victories, then the Freedom!

What’s the significance of all the battles David fought and the victories God gave him, for us today? 2 Samuel 8

David’s victories

8 IN THE COURSE OF TIME, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah (main city) from the control of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8:1

…and David took the BRIDLE OF BONDAGE (David removed their control over Israel) out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 8:1 Geneva Bible 1599

It took time for David to build up the army of Israel and to become strong enough to conquer the enemies of God’s people. It may also take time for God to bring His Church to the same position today, but He is doing it. His End Time army is being prepared.

I liked the phrase, ‘Bridle of Bondage’ from the old Geneva Bible Translation. Could we, the Church, be about to step to into an Age of Freedom and Power such as we’ve never known, but first there are battles to fight and victories to win. The enemies of the Church will try just as hard to defeat us as the enemies of Israel, but God David victory.

8, 14 The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

The Bible states twice in this short chapter that David had victory after victory. He put all Israel’s enemies under their feet.

David didn’t just defeat the enemy in battle, he occupied the ground they’d once stood upon and ruled. It became Israel’s territory, under the rule of God’s people.

⁶ He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

Someday, the whole earth will be restored to the rightful rule of God; He’s coming back to rule and reign. David was a human type of our coming king, Jesus.

⁷ David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

In the parallel passage of 1 Chronicles 18:8, we read that Solomon used this very bronze, ‘to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and the bronze articles’, in the Temple.

¹¹ King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: ¹² Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

The plunder from David’s and Israel’s victories was dedicated, set apart for God.

One final lesson from this account is also revealed from the slaying of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt;

¹³ And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

The account in 1 Chronicles 18:12 differs slightly

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

The victory was attributed to David the King, but the battle was fought by Abishai, Joab’s brother. The glory and honour was given to the king and Jesus is our worthy king!

God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace today. Amen

 

 

Do we have a place to go and sit before the Lord – maybe just one seat? 2 Samuel 7

¹⁸ Then King David went in and SAT BEFORE THE LORD,

I heard Kat Kerr recently talk about her ‘encounter room’, obviously she has a place to go and meet with the Lord.

It’s good to have a place and a time or times to meet with the Lord, somewhere for us to draw aside in our busy lives and sit/be still before God.

¹⁰ He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; Psalm 46

Graham Cooke has said there is no knowing God without Stillness – when we Sit, (maybe in Silence) we begin to be Still. Stillness and Silence are not known, nor practiced by many in our generation and God won’t compete with mobiles or tablets. He wants our full attention on Him.

David drew aside from his duties as king to go and Sit before the Lord. He’d received a powerful prophetic revelation through Nathan and felt drawn to respond to it. Many believers today receive prophetic words, but never take time to ponder or pray through them. Perhaps, the value of personal words have become cheapened today. David went in to sit before God and especially to express his ‘Thanks to God’ for the wonderful promises he’d been given.

‘Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁹ And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with a man, O Sovereign Lord?’ 

David acknowledges that all the blessings in his life have come from God. For some of us it might be good to write out a ‘Thank You List’ to God and remind ourselves just how much we have to be Thankful for.

Much of David’s prayer extols the greatness of God, not at all focusing on the blessing for himself and his offspring. Prayer should not be solely centred on ourselves and David began praising the goodness and greatness of God. Biblical prayers are worth reading over and learning what’s going to have God’s blessings.

²² ‘How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU, AND THERE IS NO GOD BUT YOU, as we have heard with our own ears’.

²⁴ YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL AS YOUR VERY OWN FOR EVER, and you, O Lord, have become their God.

²⁸Sovereign Lord, YOU ARE GOD! YOUR WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY, and you have promised these good things to your servant. ²⁹ NOW BE PLEASED TO BLESS THE HOUSE OF YOUR SERVANT, THAT IT MAY CONTINUE FOR EVER IN YOUR SIGHT; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed for ever.’

David exalted God, thanked Him and claimed the word for himself and all future generations. He embraced all that God had spoken to him and we should agree with those words that God has spoken into our lives.

God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you today and give you peace.Do

 

God may speak into our lives and may also bring correction to us through others, according to His Sovereign choice.

In the first half of 2 Samuel 7, we read of God speaking through Nathan the prophet to David. The Lord, Yahweh, is the one speaking to Nathan, about David and His people Israel. David brought about the situation when he expressed concern that he was in a palace while the Ark of the Lord was in a tent. David himself received many words from God, but on this occasion it came through his prophet. God may choose to speak into our lives in different ways and through different people and we must be open to that. (The New Testament tells us to test each Word).

The revelation begins, ‘Go tell My servant David’. God twice calls David His servant 2 Samuel 7:5, 8 He knows those who are His and acknowledged David’s loyalty from the outset. The Word continues by Yahweh telling David how he’d watched over him;

⁹ I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.

God knows those who are His and watches over them, perhaps by sending His angels to guard them. He cut off David’s enemies from before him, we can also ask God to deal with our enemies, make sure we leave Him to do it.

God tells David what He’s done for him in the past, but speaks of a new phase in his life;

NOW I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. ¹⁰ AND I WILL PROVIDE A PLACE for my people Israel and WILL PLANT THEM so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people (the sons/children of wickedness) shall not oppress them any more, as they did at the beginning.

Yahweh, doesn’t speak in the conditional tense, He simply says, ‘I will’. Nothing, nor no one, can hold back the will of Yahweh. When He says something He knows it’s done.

He confirms that not only will ‘He Provide a place for Israel, but that He will Plant them’. They’re not going to be there one day and gone the next, God Himself is going to Plant them in the Place He sets them.

⁵ Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    ‘ YOU’ MAKE MY LOT SECURE. Psalm 16, of David

David proclaimed that it was God who defended his portion. Again this is something we can speak out over our lives.

‘“The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will ESTABLISH A HOUSE FOR YOU: ¹² when your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I WILL RAISE UP your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM.

God promises that He will Raise Up and Establish a house for David. However, the revelation also ends with a warning of God’s correction when there’s been wrongdoing and that correction will also come by the hands of men.

When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. ¹⁵ But MY LOVE WILL NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM, … ¹⁶ Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.

God bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you today.

Don’t give way to bitterness, choose to be sweet natured instead; it’s much more appealing. 2 Samuel 6

David set out with 30,000 chosen men, to bring the Ark of God up to Jerusalem (the Bible always talks about ‘Going Up’ to Jerusalem). They were celebrating, singing and dancing, with all their might before the Lord as they brought the Ark back. But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen drawing the cart on which the Ark rested stumbled. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark and God slew him. He’d been disrespectful, too familiar and God struck him down. David was angry because God’s wrath had broken out (Peres Uzzah) and a man had died. David then refused to bring the Ark to the City of David and left it at the house of Obed-Edom. We could say that this experience was Fearful or Bitter.

¹¹ The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.

God didn’t argue or try to explain Himself (He seldom does), He simply blessed the entire household where the Ark was resting. They had a SWEET EXPERIENCE of God’s presence at that time.

¹² Now King David was told, ‘The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.’ So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

David wanted the blessing of God in capital of the nation, so he decided to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem. This time he had the Levites carry the Ark on their shoulders and repeatedly offered sacrifices along the way.

They placed the Ark inside the tent David had pitched for it and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

¹⁹ Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

The people were blessed as David celebrated the coming of the Ark into the city. They all received SWEET dates and raisins as a free gift on the day of the Ark’s arrival, that day would have been remembered with joy for a long time.

Unfortunately one other person’s response,  to the celebrations is recorded, Michal daughter of Saul and David’s Queen.

¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

²⁰ When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul CAME OUT TO MEET HIM AND SAID, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’

Michal couldn’t even wait for David to come inside, she had to go to meet him and scold him outside (She’d allowed Bitterness and Anger to rule her heart) She had despised his dancing in a linen ephod before the Lord, but Milcah remained barren until her death.

’STAY SWEET IN YOUR SOUL. Russ’. The advice of Roy Walden senior to his son, good advice for all today.

The Lord bless and keep you and make His face shine upon you today.

David recognised and honoured other’s callings and it set him apart. 2 Samuel 4

Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, was murdered in his house by two brothers, Recab and Baanah, from the tribe of Benjamin, Saul’s own tribe. Sometimes we don’t have to look far for those who bear us ill will. These brothers marched all night to bring the news to David in Hebron, but David didn’t welcome them as they expected.

⁹ David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, WHO HAS DELIVERED ME OUT OF EVERY TROUBLE, ¹⁰ when someone told me, “Saul is dead,” and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! ¹¹ How much more – when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed – should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!’

¹² So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them.

The death of Ish-Bosheth, did however open the door for the new leader and a new era. There are times when things have to finally die before we can move on with life and step into the new phase that God has for us.

The elders of Israel came to David in Hebron and anointed him King over the whole nation. The Bible says he became King when 30 years old, same age Jesus began His public ministry. He spent 7 1/2 years ruling in Hebron before he conquered Jerusalem, the City of David, but also the City of the Great King. David had to be patient and wait for the Lord’s timing, but he was willing to submit and do that.

¹⁰ And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

¹¹ Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. ¹² Then David knew that THE LORD HAD ESTABLISHED HIM AS KING OVER ISRAEL AND HAD EXALTED HIS KINGDOM FOR THE SAKE OF HIS PEOPLE ISRAEL. 2 Samuel 5

David knew that God Himself had made him king and blessed him, not his own hand.

Once he became King, David immediately faced a threat from the Philistines, they gathered to attack Israel. The leader God chooses may face immediate battles, it doesn’t mean they’re the wrong one for the position. On the contrary the enemy wants to upset the people and replace them with someone who’s no threat to him.

God is well able to confirm the one who has His approval and gave David two victories over the Philistines. The enemy was now facing God’s man, under God’s Favour, a much more formidable opponent. We need those leaders anointed of God today to receive all God has for us, His people.

³⁸ Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMPC

The Lord has promised to bless those who bless and with the same measure that we bless. Why not sow into Father’s Love Ministry today and reap His blessing, it’s a sure promise. Donate now on our webpage;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

We are available to seek personal words of encouragement and guidance for those who would like them, contact us on our webpage above.

God bless and keep you today.

Self interest and vengeful anger can greatly hinder the  purposes of God.

The transition of power from Saul’s house to David’s involved backstabbing and bloodshed – may we, the Church, avoid such pain today. 2 Samuel 3

The next stage of this conflict opens with a very telling verse;

THE WAR between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew STRONGER AND STRONGER, while the house of Saul grew WEAKER AND WEAKER. 2 Samuel 3:1

God’s hand was with David and the contrasting fortunes of the two groups clearly showed this, David continued to rise in popularity and authority. The Church today will also be blessed as we turn to the Lord and follow His plans and purposes. Similarly, those who don’t side with God’s new direction will grow weaker. We must follow God’s blessing and not hang to the old way, that is passing.

Two key figures in this scenario were Joab and Abner, the commanders of the armies of each side. Joab, David’s general, was always ready to fight and shed blood, even by his own hand.

⁶ During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.

Abner had been strengthening his own position within the house of Saul, perhaps with the intention of handing it over someday to David. At times both of these men acted in their own interests and without the authority of their kings. Even a popular figure like David, was aware of the power and influence of Joab and his brother within his kingdom.

³⁹ And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me.

David had to learn to govern powerful factions within his kingdom and rule wisely. Sometimes it’s wisdom not to confront matters head on, but to seek God for His timing and leading.

Abner eventually argued with Saul’s son and decided to hand all Israel over to David, as God’s Spirit had prophesied. He spoke to the leaders of Israel, including Saul’s own tribe of Benjamin and they agreed for him to approach David. Abner was acting more as a statesman than a general and David negotiated with him, agreeing to become leader of the whole nation. But Joab, the man given to violence and vengeance intervened and murdered Abner, blocking the transfer of the unified kingdom to David.

The whole nation of Israel and Judah, knew the prophecy that David would one day be their king, but Joab in his anger and thirst for revenge, blocked God’s destiny for David.

²⁷ Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died.

Is it possible that the devil used Joab’s murderous anger at the last minute to block God’s purpose for His people?

… for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. James 1:20

People who lash out in anger are in danger of blocking the Lord’s purposes. David showed great restraint and self control throughout much of his life and God was able to use him. May we also seek to put God’s purposes first in our lives.

God bless and keep you today.

David’s first cautious step into kingship – he asked God if he should go up to Judah and where. God told him, ‘to Hebron’. 2 Samuel 2

Look or Check before you leap is still wisdom, especially if it’s something we ourselves are drawn towards. Derek Prince said that life had taught him when someone phoned and asked if he would speak for them, to say he’d pray about it. God knows what’s right for us, if we’ll ask Him. DAVID ALWAYS SOUGHT TO KEEP THE LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH GOD OPEN!

So David and his men and all their wives and families went up to Hebron and settled there. It must have been a blessing for them after so many years on the move, being chased for their lives.

⁴ Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah.

David’s calling as God’s anointed had finally been recognised by one tribe of the people. The 600 men and their wives and families who’d travelled with David for so many years, no longer had his undivided attention. David was king over Judah and the people who’d been with him longest had to adjust to the new situation. This can be a major cause of division, if close friends are unable to accept that others have a call on ‘their’ leader’s time and attention. We must strive to keep our hearts free from anger and malice when God ordains change. This may well be about to happen in the Church today!

Judah anointed David as their king, just one tribe and Abner, the commander of Saul’s army made Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, king over Israel. 2 Samuel 2:8, 9 The majority were still tied to the ‘Old Regime’ and they fought to keep it alive. The whole nation of God’s people were surrounded by enemies and yet there was continued in-fighting over who should lead them. The majority hung onto the past, even though Saul and three of his sons had died. Sounds a lot like the Church of today, surrounded by powerful enemies, but often fighting each other because of internal differences. There may well be a Time of Transition into God’s new season, but the Church can’t be fighting one another when there are so many souls at stake. That’s totally the wrong battle for the people of God.

David’s first recorded act as King of Judah was to remember and honour the brave men of Jabesh Gilead;

When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, ⁵ he sent messengers to them to say to them, ‘The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. ⁶ May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favour because you have done this. ⁷ Now then, be strong and brave, FOR SAUL YOUR MASTER IS DEAD, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.’

David honoured the bravery of the men who had marched all night and taken the dead bodies off the walls and buried them. He encouraged them to be brave, because Saul was no more and now he was king of Judah. He honoured the past but pointed on towards the future God had ordained.

God bless and keep you today, in these times of change.

Has the Church entered a new era with many battles and great victories ahead, as Israel did after Saul perished.

The Book of 1 Samuel ends in chapter 31 with the death of Saul, his three sons and all his men. 1 Samuel 31:6 The defeat in battle caused many of God’s people in Israel to flee from their homes and the enemy to occupy their land. The first result after the defeat in battle was a loss of territory, seemed as if Israel had taken a backward step. The truth, however, was that God would never bless Saul and his supporters (similar to Eli the priest and his sons). God’s leader and a new ethos had to be raised up before victory could begin unfold for His people. The seeming backward step was God’s way of positioning His people for moving towards the greatest era of their nation’s history.

The Philistines humiliated Israel by dishonouring the bodies of Saul and his sons, exposing them on the wall of Beth Shan. But some brave men from Jabesh Gilead, heard about it and went and took the bodies down and buried them at Jabesh and fasted for seven days. The Biblical account of Saul and his sons apparently gives more honour to them in death than in life. Valiant men risked their lives to remove the dishonour to the body of King Saul and his sons. The Lord’s body was also taken down from the cross properly buried before Sabbath began.

2 Samuel begins with David learning of the death of Saul and Jonathan, his true friend. David showed genuine remorse at the death of his former enemy;

¹¹ Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them. ¹² They mourned and wept and fasted till evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the army of the Lord and for the nation of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 

David was admired by the people in Israel because he often did the right thing and publicly honoured those whom he believed were worthy of it. We also are under public scrutiny and it’s good to remember that we represent the Lord here on earth. David honoured Saul before his men and led them in mourning him, even though some of them had twice urged David to take his life.

The young Amalekite who’d brought David the news and how he’d finished slaying Saul, wasn’t so fortunate. David asked why he hadn’t been afraid to kill the Lord’s anointed and then had him put to death. David believed that anyone who lifted his hand against a man anointed by God was deserving of death. We should learn from David’s example and refuse to attack those in authority in the Church today, especially those with different views to our own.

The Word records that the young Amalekite did bring Saul’s crown and arm band to David.  The things Saul had worn as King were presented to David immediately after his death.

¹⁰ ‘So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.’

David was given the physical emblems to succeed Saul as leader of God’s people. He would soon be confirmed in that role.

God bless and keep you today.