Month: October 2024

³ YOU WILL KEEP IN PERFECT PEACE
    THOSE WHOSE MINDS ARE STEADFAST,
    BECAUSE THEY TRUST IN YOU. 
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26

NB – PEACE BEGINS ON THE INSIDE AND FLOWS OUTWARD!

Saul plotted and schemed against David to take his life by the hand of the Philistines, Israel’s sworn enemy. He appeared to want to bless David by allowing him to take his daughter as his wife, but all the time he was trying to have him murdered by Israel’s enemies. Saul offered David his older daughter Merab to be his wife if he would, ‘fight the battles of the Lord’. Saul used a religious ploy to entice David and often the enemy will use something that seems righteous to try to draw us into a trap. However, David refused the offer.

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. ²¹ “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.” 1 Samuel 18

Saul still saw David as the main threat to his kingdom and he persisted in his scheme to have the Philistines kill him. He used his servants to persuade David to go and kill more Philistines as the bridal price for his daughter, Michal. We need discernment to know who is speaking to us, are they speaking of themselves or in this case, is someone or something else targeting us.

David did agree to Saul’s terms to have Michal as his wife, he killed two hundred Philistines, double the number Saul had asked for. Saul gave Michal to David for his wife, but he became even more unsettled by David’s presence.

²⁸ When Saul realised that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days. 1 Samuel 18

The Lord was with David and He protected him in every situation and though Saul plotted and schemed he couldn’t touch David’s life. (The devil had asked to test Job severely and God allowed this for a season, but forbade him to take Job’s life and he had to comply)

What about your own life, have people been constantly fighting with you? Is the enemy using disagreements with others to harass and keep you off balance. Constant friction can be an indication of the enemy targeting us, but we can and should declare peace in our lives. An older believer I knew once prayed that the lion’s mouth (the devil) would be shut. It’s not God’s intention that we be under continual attack, so take a stand and declare, ‘The Peace of God to Rule and Reign in your life today, no more fighting in Jesus Name’. Amen

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

But Jonathan WAS VERY FOND OF David ² and warned him, 1 Samuel 19:2

Sometimes the Lord rescued David supernaturally, but at other times he did it through people’s warnings, even the most unlikely people. Jonathan was Saul’s son and heir but he went to David and told him of his father’s plan to murder him. He even went further and interceded with his father, the king, on David’s behalf.

⁴ Jonathan SPOKE WELL OF DAVID to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?” 1 Samuel 19

God may give us favour with people in certain situations, so that they can warn us and even intervene on our behalf. We should be aware of people who come to us, warning us for our own good. Don’t dismiss them lightly, God may have brought them across our paths for this very purpose.

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and DAVID WAS WITH SAUL AS BEFORE. 

Saul saw reason and brought David back into his inner circle to help Israel, which proved to be a good decision. God was with David and gave him victory against the Philistine army.

⁸ Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that THEY FLED BEFORE HIM. 1 Samuel 19

David had an anointing from God to protect Israel and destroy their enemies. The Philistine army didn’t want to fight against him in battle, because he destroyed them. Despite these victories, Saul’s jealousy against David couldn’t be quelled and he tried again to kill him.

⁹ But an evil (injurious) spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, ¹⁰ Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

There was a wicked spirit operating through Saul to try and murder David. The external Philistine enemy couldn’t do it, so the devil tried to use the king. There may come a time in our lives when we’ve done everything we can to work with those around us or above us but we’re still being opposed and oppressed. That’s what began to happen with David, and eventually he had to move away from Saul, it was just impossible for him to remain around the king. There’s always a high personal cost to such decisions, but we may have no choice but to step away from those attacking us. If there’s a spear hurling Saul (could be verbal attacks and lies about our character) we may have no alternative.

May the Lord give us wisdom to know His will for our lives in difficult times. Amen

May the Lord bless and keep us today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹² Saul was AFRAID OF David, because THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID but had departed from Saul. 1 Samuel 18

There are two key words that come up again and again in 1 Samuel 18, (Afraid and Successful/Wise) regarding the two central characters and they flow from the above verse, namely the blessings of God’s Favour on a life.

Saul became AFRAID of David because he recognised God was with him and knew David was a threat to him and his kingdom. Many people want to hold on to power at all costs, they see it as their right to dictate to those around them. They must be centre stage and give the orders, but the people LOVED David. Saul ruled by his position and by imposition but the people’s hearts were with David. I see many parallels with present day leaders.

¹⁴ In everything he did he had GREAT SUCCESS, BECAUSE THE LORD WAS WITH HIM ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ BUT ALL ISRAEL AND JUDAH LOVED DAVID, because he led them in their campaigns. 1 Samuel 18

The chapter ends on a positive note for David and increasing bitterness of heart for Saul, who set himself to oppose the inevitable, the rise of God’s ruler to lead the nation. Still more parallels at the present time, but may the cry of the people prevail once more.

²⁸ When Saul realised that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid of him, and HE REMAINED HIS ENEMY FOR THE REST OF HIS DAYS. (Hatred and jealousy became major drivers for Saul’s life)

Despite opposition from within and battles without, David continued to rise up before the people of Israel, he became their champion.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁹ So from that time on King Saul kept a JEALOUS WATCH ON DAVID. (Beloved of God) 1 Samuel 18 The Living Bible (TLB)

After David’s great victory over Goliath and Israel’s rout of the Philistine army, there was a celebration for the homecoming of the victorious troops. The women came out to welcome and praise their men,

Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and were singing and dancing for joy with tambourines and cymbals.

⁷ However, this was their song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”

⁸ Of course SAUL WAS VERY ANGRY. “What’s this?” he said to himself. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” 1 Samuel 18, TLB

David had opened the way for Israel’s victory, but King Saul was jealous and from that time on he opposed David, God’s anointed and tried to have him killed. David’s first victory was against an external enemy and God gave him swift success, but his next opponent was the leader of his own people and David refused to harm him. Unfortunately to this day there are some within the Church body, (and also outside in the world), including leaders who are operating with destruction in their hearts. Eventually God Himself dealt with Saul, but David had to guard himself physically and spiritually from overreacting to Saul’s aggression, even to the point of hiding amongst the Philistines. Many people today have also been driven out of the Church community by those seeking to maintain their position and influence.

God may test us at times to see what we will do in difficult situations, even when we’re wronged without reason, but we must be careful not to allow our hearts to become bitter towards others, not always an easy choice. David would eventually become the most famous King of Israel, but it wasn’t by his own hand or by men, he trusted God to keep him and those he loved in the hardest times. Our greatest battles may come from those closest to us, who can wound us most deeply, but OUR REAL FIGHT IS TO KEEP OUR OWN HEARTS IN THE FACE OF EXTREME PROVOCATION.

May the Lord bless you and help you this day in every battle you face. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

³² David said to Saul, ‘LET NO ONE LOSE HEART on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.’ 1 Samuel 17

David was aware of the effect that Goliath’s daily taunts were having on the army of Israel and he was willing to take his stand against him. The Bible speaks in Proverbs about guarding our heart, but we don’t often think of this in terms of fear or discouragement. We’ve said before that David moved the confrontation into the spiritual realm by declaring what the God of his people would do on their behalf.

⁶ like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. YOU ARE HER DAUGHTERS IF YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND DO NOT GIVE WAY TO FEAR. 1 Peter 3

Peter was speaking to wives and husbands and he made this interesting reference to Abraham’s wife, Sarai (means princess). It’s often quoted that Abraham is the father of the Faith because he believed God, but Peter also speaks in terms of Sarah’s daughters. Their qualities are obedience and ‘NOT LOSING HEART’.

“SARAH’S DAUGHTERS DON’T PANIC!”, a quote by Nancy Campbell on web site ‘above rubies’ where she writes at more length about Sarah’s daughters.

We can understand David telling Saul and Israel Not to Lose Heart when facing an enemy army on the battlefield, but the same directive is given to New Covenant Believers and they are much needed at the present time.

⁹ LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. (Don’t give up, your harvest is coming!) ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6

² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART. Hebrews 12

We are told to remember the example of the Lord Himself who endured such severe trials to rescue humanity and open the way to the Father.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4

Finally, Paul acknowledges that though our bodies are ageing, our spirits are being renewed every day and we’re destined for eternal glory, after the passing trials of this life.

DO NOT LOSE HEART, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹ Not to us, O Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115

Psalm 115 opens with the acknowledgment that it is the Lord alone who deserves (and desires) our praise, because of His Love and Faithfulness. We serve a great and good God, but the psalmist goes on to describe IN DETAIL the futility of worshipping the gods (idols) of the nations. We should reflect upon this, because it’s the same alternative that the enemy and this world system still offer humanity today.

² Why do the nations say,
    ‘Where is their God?’
³ Our God is in heaven;
    he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ THOSE WHO MAKE THEM WILL BE LIKE THEM,
    AND SO WILL ALL WHO TRUST IN THEM. Psalm 115

The late Dr Dallas Willard in an address to students at Wheaton College made a very telling quote, ‘IT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING THAT SHOWS WHO YOU ARE’. (Available on YouTube, Dallas Willard, Life in the Spirit) He had quoted Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you’. He continued, ‘WHAT IS YOUR LIFE REALLY ABOUT? WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING?’ He also added a further statement, ‘The greatest threat to the Kingdom of God in my life, is my Kingdom’. We can invest our lives building something for ourselves and ignoring God and His Kingdom, many or even most people do it. What a shame to miss out on serving such a generous God now and in eternity.

⁹ All you Israelites, trust in the Lord –
    he is their help and shield.
¹⁰ House of Aaron, trust in the Lord –
    he is their help and shield.
¹¹ YOU WHO FEAR HIM, TRUST IN THE LORD – 
    HE IS THEIR HELP AND SHIELD. Psalm 115

The psalm continues with a further promise of God’s blessing for all who Fear Him and Trust in Him.

¹² The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
    he will bless his people Israel,
    he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³ HE WILL BLESS THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD –
    SMALL AND GREAT ALIKE. Psalm 115

Church attendance or other religious service doesn’t define us, remember ‘IT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING THAT SHOWS WHO YOU ARE’.

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

⁴⁵ David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, BUT I COME AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL WHOM YOU HAVE DEFIED. ⁴⁶ THIS DAY THE LORD WILL DELIVER YOU INTO MY HANDS, … ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS.’ 1 Samuel 17

For forty days, morning and evening, Goliath had totally dominated the narrative with Israel through fear (F.E.A.R. – False Evidence Appearing Real). When David came on the scene he changed the narrative and brought the Name of the God of Israel into the situation. When David began to speak about his God there was a SHIFT in the whole situation. The world understands how to use it’s speech and weapons to terrify and instil fear, but once the God of Israel and the Church is mentioned their power to terrorise is defeated.

Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins at sunset on Wednesday night and the shofar will be blown to mark the beginning of the year. When the trumpets are sounded there will be a SHIFT in the spiritual atmosphere of this world. The trumpet blasts are sounded on earth but they call upon and release the armies of heaven to assist in the battle here. (The British government is currently seeking to push through draconian legislation, a misnamed Public Health Bill, on the people of N.Ireland in line with WHO Dictats. It includes powers to detain people who refuse to comply and seeks to enforce vaccines on an unsuspecting population and many other grave breaches of civil and personal liberties. PLEASE PRAY THAT IT NEVER BECOMES LAW!)

I have been reading an encounter by Ana Werner this morning when she was taken in the Spirit above a fierce battle on the Earth and the powers of darkness were opposing the people of God. Then she saw a SHIFT happening and God’s people went on the offensive and the enemy began to fall back in defeat.

“Then I saw the banners they carried. The words “PRAISE” and “THANKSGIVING” were etched on beautiful banners held up with their mighty arms. As I saw those swaying back and forth, a new sound was released in the mighty battle. Beautiful sounds of Heaven were released, with multitudes of voices singing; and at that, the enemy began to retreat and screech.”

“I watched as the mighty warriors marched on carrying the banners, swaying them back and forth. They were gaining ground. The demonic assaults lessened and were easier to overthrow.”

“The more they marched on using the Banners of Praise and Thanksgiving, the thicker God’s presence poured out and the more the enemy had to back off.” Quoted from, ‘Seeing behind the veil, P 202 by Ana Werner’

⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal/fleshly BUT MIGHTY IN GOD FOR PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS, 2 Corinthians 10

The Church is in a huge battle today but David’s God and our God will prevail. Amen

May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.