Month: November 2024

¹⁹ The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, ‘IS NOT DAVID HIDING AMONG US IN THE STRONGHOLDS AT HORESH … ? ²⁰ Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING HIM INTO YOUR HANDS.’ 1 Samuel 23

Immediately after Jonathan, son of Saul, had come to David and encouraged him and made another covenant with David, the Ziphites came to Saul to betray David. In fact in 1 Samuel 23 and 26:1 they came to Saul twice at Gibeah, so they were fully intent on helping the king destroy David and his followers. The question is why did they do this? Where they seeking personal reward or promotion from the King? Where they just loyal to the ruling monarch and saw David as a usurper? (Nabal, husband of Abigail, insulted David to his young men, when he said, ‘many servants are breaking away from their masters in these days’. 1 Samuel 25:10) There was also the prophetic word given by Samuel when he anointed David, as  just a youth at Bethlehem, to be the next king of Israel. The Ziphites came from Judah and were most likely aware of the prophecy over David’s life. Yet, they still went to Saul, a king who’d lost God’s favour and indeed His love (2 Samuel 7:15), seeking to betray David.

Johnny Enlow on a recent Episode of Elijahstreams was speaking about weighing prophetic words (and also Bible teaching). He said that we should always discern how a word sat with our hearts i.e. do we feel positive and at peace about what’s been spoken. If the word and the speaker don’t sit well with us then we shouldn’t accept what they say! I agree fully with this test for discerning the truth of words and the spirit behind them. Johnny went on to make a further statement which I can only paraphrase here. He said that, ‘people with good hearts are drawn towards the good, but people with impure hearts are equally drawn along the wrong paths’. Could the Ziphites have been such a people? Whether they knew it or not they were opposing God’s choice of man to be Israel’s next leader. How many are doing the very same thing today, sincere but sincerely wrong and opposing God’s sovereign choice?

The chapter concludes with king Saul coming to hunt down David and his men in the desert, both separated by a rock or mountain. (Jesus is referred to as the Rock in scripture). Just when Saul was close to capturing David, he received an urgent call that the Philistines were attacking and he had to break off and withdraw, so David escaped him again.

²⁶ Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.’ ²⁸ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth. (Rock of parting) ²⁹ And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi. 1 Samuel 23

As we’ve seen in previous blogs, GOD IS WELL ABLE TO KEEP AND PROTECT THOSE WHO TRUST HIM. Saul and his men were drawn to fight another battle, while David lived to fight another day.

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

 

However, there was another instance where Nathan had to speak into David’s life, which wasn’t so pleasant. He brought a word of judgment from the Lord regarding David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the death of her husband, Uriah. 2 Samuel 12 Nathan was close to David, but he spoke the truth to him. Friends who know us well may be in the best position to share things we urgently need to hear, whether we appreciate them at the time or not. We need to discern if there’s truth in what people speak into our lives and ask the Lord for Grace to change if that’s needed.

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

Wishing all our friends in America a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.

¹⁴ David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. DAY AFTER DAY SAUL SEARCHED FOR HIM, BUT GOD DID NOT GIVE DAVID INTO HIS HANDS. 1 Samuel 23

We’ve already seen that Saul pursued David relentlessly, intent upon taking his life. David had been anointed as the future king and Saul was enraged that David would one day take his place, so he tried to kill him; BUT GOD! The first part of this verse tells us that David and his followers had to live in deserted places, away from people. David had one main focus in his life, SURVIVAL. He had to stay where the enemy couldn’t trap him and where there was room to escape. It’s interesting that the Desert Fathers chose to withdraw to the wilderness to protect their walk with God and avoid the corruption of the towns and cities. We also read that Lot was tormented by the unrighteousness in Sodom and Gomorrah, until God rescued him and his family. 2 Peter 2:7 Sometimes it may be prudent for us as believers to step aside from the masses in order to be with God. Sabbath is meant to be a regular blessing for God’s children, that’s why the enemy is so intent on destroying it.

¹² THE PRUDENT SEE DANGER AND TAKE REFUGE (A good way of describing David’s path and at times the best way for us as well),
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27

Saul had an army and was by far the more powerful compared with David and his small group of followers, but Saul could never quite get to David. God protected him at every step along the way and HE CAN PROTECT YOU AND I, NO MATTER THE OPPOSITION ARRAYED AGAINST US.

Many times in God’s Word we are reminded of the Father’s faithful care and protection for His children.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise 
    they will not reach them.
⁷ YOU ARE MY HIDING-PLACE;
    YOU WILL PROTECT ME FROM TROUBLE                                                                     AND SURROUND ME WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE. Psalm 37

Another beautiful description of God’s presence and protection in a time of trouble.

⁹ THE LORD IS A REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED,
    A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE.
¹⁰ THOSE WHO KNOW YOUR NAME TRUST IN YOU,
    FOR YOU, LORD, HAVE NEVER FORSAKEN THOSE WHO SEEK YOU. Psalm 9

The last line of verse 10 is something for everyone to lay hold of today, God never has and never will forsake His people.

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

 

² The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18, David 

David used different words to describe how completely he depended on God and many of them are from a military perspective. We said yesterday that David had to be strong when facing enemies, both from within and without. Yet God sent Jonathan to encourage him, when Jonathan’s own father was foremost in trying to take David’s life.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27, David 

David never gave up, no matter how powerful the opposition. I love his quote in verse 13, that he was going to appreciate God’s grace and mercy IN THIS LIFE. Now, while we are living in the midst of the enemy is the only time when we can see God’s faithfulness to us. There won’t be any enemies in heaven, nor will there be any presence of sin. Once again David encourages us to, ‘Take Heart’ and trust in the Lord.

⁴ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. ⁵ “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” Haggai 2

GOD DEFENDS US IN OUR WEAKNESS, THAT IS THE TIME WHEN WE MOST QUALIFY FOR HIS HELP.

Only a remnant had returned to the Land and the Temple hadn’t been completed yet, they’d become discouraged by the size of the task, but God urged them to continue and finish the work. He reminded them that He’d made a Covenant with them when He brought them out of Egypt. We know that God has also delivered Believers from Egypt, a type of this world, but we too must press on to see the Kingdom established, in our lives and on the earth. God is determined to take back all that the enemy has stolen, just like we saw yesterday when David and his men rescued all their wives and children from the Amalekites. 1 Samuel 30

I listened recently to a message by the late prophet, Kim Clement, where he used a good metaphor to explain the difference between Entering and Inheriting. ENTERING IS NOT THE SAME AS INHERITING. Kim said that we can enter a hotel or a house and stay there for a time, but that doesn’t mean we own it. We may enter the Kingdom through Christ’s sacrifice (and only through it), but there is an Inheritance awaiting us, depending on how we’ve lived our lives here. We need to press on to receive all that God has for us both now and later in eternity. God helping us, we will.

May the Lord bless (Strengthen) and keep you. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁶ And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and HELPED HIM TO FIND STRENGTH IN GOD. 1 Samuel 23

How unusual was this? Saul was hunting David and his men in the desert to take his life, but God sent Saul’s own son, Jonathan, to encourage David and strengthen him. God may send the most unlikely people at crucial times to help hold up our hands when we are flagging in our walk. It’s significant that God didn’t call Saul and his troops off, but rather encouraged David to face up to a difficult situation and keep going. God may be calling some of you today to, ‘RISE UP ABOVE YOUR SITUATION AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD’. IT’S VERY IMPORTANT WHENEVER YOU FACE OPPOSITION TO KEEP GOING. You may slow down for a time, but get up and move on, don’t allow the enemy to paralyse you. (I received a timely message from a friend this weekend following an earlier disappointment. I believe that was the Lord’s kindness. He doesn’t want to leave us downcast, but He helps us to rise up and move on).

¹⁶ for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. Proverbs 24

Falls do happen, but though the righteous may be deflated, God helps us rise again and again. RESILIENCE IN TIME OF DIFFICULTY IS A TRAIT OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

The following verses regarding our attitude towards others when they fall are also note worthy.

¹⁷ Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
    when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
¹⁸ or the Lord will see and disapprove
    and turn his wrath away from them. Proverbs 24

Christians must not gloat over other’s misfortunes, that may be a trait of the wicked, but it’s not the way in God’s Kingdom.

David had to face these situations more than once, he was to be a leader for the nation and both Israel and God needed to be sure David would stand in the heat of battle.

⁵ David’s two wives had been captured – Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. BUT DAVID FOUND STRENGTH IN THE LORD HIS GOD. 1 Samuel 30

David sought the Lord and went forward again to take back what the enemy had stolen, including their wives and children. God opened the way for David and his men to overcome their enemies. We are living in a time when the people will have to stand up and take back authority to restore righteous rule  and with God’s help those victories can be achieved.

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

 

⁵ Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, PUT HIMSELF FORWARD AND SAID, ‘I WILL BE KING.’ 1 Kings 1

(It’s interesting that the two Books of Kings open with an attempt to usurp King David’s throne – men’s lust for power is never far away!)

This is a verse from the Haftarah portion, the Prophets, which will be read in all synagogues on this Shabbat. King David was now an old man and his son Adoijah, ‘Put himself forward’, to usurp his elderly father’s position as King. He gathered powerful people around him and even scarified burnt offerings to legitimise his claim to the throne, but it didn’t work!

⁷ Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. ⁸ But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah. 1 Kings 1

There was now a division in the leadership of God’s people, who would ascend to rule the land? Nathan, David’s prophet, spoke with Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, whose given name Jedidiah means, ‘beloved of God’. Nathan told her what she and he must do to preserve her own life and the life of her son. They must go before King David, tell him what was happening and press him to install Solomon as his future successor.

^{25 ‘}Today he (Adonijah) has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. At this very moment they are eating and drinking with him and saying, “Long live King Adonijah!” ²⁶ But me your servant, (Nathan) and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite.’ (The false investiture by Adonijah, held without legitimate authority.)

David, the ruling monarch, was the only one who had the authority to choose the next leader of the nation. He acted at once upon hearing what was going on. He told those around him to take Solomon on the King’s mule, anoint him as King, announced by sounding the trumpet and seat him on David’s throne. The news soon spread to those gathered around Adonijah and they fled, no longer wanting to be seen as any part of the usurper’s party.

The man who was, ‘beloved of God’ was rightfully declared King and the people rejoiced. It’s interesting that this should be the portion of the Prophets being read in synagogues for this Shabbat, perhaps God is speaking again through His Word today.

³⁹ Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and ALL THE PEOPLE SHOUTED, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 1 Kings 1

Haftarah Blessing in English

Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Rock of all creation, Righteous One of all generations, the faithful God whose word is deed, whose every command is just and true. For holiness and rest, for honour and glory: we thank and bless You.

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

 

⁷ Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, ‘God has delivered him into my hands, for DAVID HAS IMPRISONED HIMSELF BY ENTERING A TOWN WITH GATES AND BARS.’ 1 Samuel 23

BEWARE FALSE REFUGES!

King Saul believed David had trapped himself when he heard he’d gone to Keilah. How many times do we as believers ENTRAP OURSELVES by trusting in things other than the Lord? I also believe that the enemy tricks many into taking dogmatic positions on issues, often of minor importance, which block our progress in the ways of the Kingdom. When we become stubborn and wilful we may endanger ourselves and those around us.

The first thing was that though David and his men, now grown to six hundred in number, had won a victory at Keilah, he was not swept away by euphoria. He continued to be on his guard and that probably saved all of them.

¹⁰ David said, ‘Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹ Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.’

And the Lord said, ‘He will.’ 1 Samuel 23

David had rescued the people of the town, but he realised that they were no match for the army of King Saul. God had ordered David and his men to go and rescue the town from the Philistines, an external enemy, but He had never told David to fight against King Saul, an internal battle. We must never assume that because we’ve won one victory that we’ll also be successful in future ones. Don’t be in a hurry to fight battles that God hasn’t called you to engage in!

¹² Again David asked, ‘Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?’

And the Lord said, ‘They will.’ 1 Samuel 23

God told David, because he’d sought His direction, that the town of Keilah and it’s people would become a trap for him. He had no option, but to be thankful for the victory God had given and move on. Keilah may have seemed a very attractive alternative to David and his men, who were used to living in caves or roaming in the wilderness, but in the end it would have been a trap. We must be careful to trust the Lord for His leading and not seek to settle down in places which may be dangerous for us. (Lot settled in ‘the well watered plain of the Jordan’ but God eventually came down and judged the people who lived there.)

¹⁰ Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Genesis 13

David and his men didn’t settle in Keilah, he sought the Lord and moved on. He also saved the town from destruction by Saul and his forces.

¹³ So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. 1 Samuel 23

We must be careful to keep our eyes on the Lord and be willing to move on whenever He instructs us. STAY FLEXIBLE BEFORE THE LORD. Things which look good after one victory may become dangerous for us in the future. Lord, help us to keep in step with your Spirit and not be drawn to any False Refuges, no matter how attractive they seem.

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

¹⁰ Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap, (Poetic Justice, happens more than we realise)
    BUT THE BLAMELESS WILL RECEIVE A GOOD INHERITANCE. Proverbs 28

¹¹ WISDOM, LIKE AN INHERITANCE, IS A GOOD THING
    and benefits those who see the sun. Ecclesiastes 7

A GOOD INHERITANCE IS GOD’S IDEA FOR HIS CHILDREN. Since we’re all going to leave this scene of time to go into eternity, we must leave something from our lives here for others, especially our families. Many people today talk about their LEGACY, what will be left when they’re no longer present here. They strive to leave something for which people will remember them, so that their memory will not be forgotten. Mankind’s best attempts to live on after death, with statues, memorials and such things.

God gave Israel the land of Canaan, that was to be a lasting inheritance, property for the succeeding generations of their people.

⁸ “So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, THAT YOU MAY POSSESS THIS GOOD LAND AND PASS IT ON AS AN INHERITANCE TO YOUR DESCENDANTS FOREVER.” 1 Chronicles 28

It’s one thing to POSSESS something, but it’s better still to PASS IT ON! It was never God’s will that the land of Canaan be taken out of Israel’s control. David told the people that if they remained faithful to God, then they would be able to pass something on, A GOOD INHERITANCE TO THEIR OFFSPRING. There is a saying that, ‘we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us’. It’s quite sobering to think the people nearest and dearest to us will be affected by the way we live our lives today and not just in terms of property and wealth we leave.

More importantly is the spiritual blessing we pass on to others around us. I was listening recently to Johnny Enlow and Steve Shultz. Johnny was born in Peru, but is now ministering through much of South America. He said that the Lord had spoken to him several times and told him that he was able to do something, ‘because his father had sown for the Lord in that place’. THERE WAS AN UNSEEN INHERITANCE IN THE SPIRIT because someone from a previous generation had been faithful to God.

I’ve spoken before about a spiritual father from Sweden, Kjell Sjoberg, who was a missionary with his wife Lena in Pakistan for some twelve years. A famous missionary from America, known as Praying Hyde had ministered there before Kjell and Lena. Kjell read a copy of Praying Hyde’s journals and discovered that the areas where their work was prospering most was where Hyde’s prayers had gone up. Hyde’s prayers opened something in the realm of the spirit which resulted in blessing for those following him.

No one may see or know anything of UNSEEN SPIRITUAL INHERITANCES, but they can be just as real and more powerful than the handing on of physical property or wealth. However, both are a blessing to those who receive them. When we are faithful to God during our lives here, then we open the door for greater blessings for those who follow us and through multiple generations.

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

 

¹⁵ “Do not touch my anointed ones;
    do my prophets no harm.” Psalm 105, of David 

There has been a lot of comment recently regarding several prophecies issued about the newly elected president Donald Trump, which I don’t want to judge in this post. Unfortunately there still seems to be a tendency in the Body of Christ to ‘jump on the bandwagon’ and criticise brothers or sisters who may have got something wrong. I absolutely believe that all prophecy should be weighed and judged, especially very public prophecy about the leader of a nation, right at the beginning of their term of office (a very strategic time). However, I believe that we also need to be careful of our own attitudes and actions regarding those who for whom Christ died. The late Dallas Willard said, ‘I don’t tend to criticise the Church because I know it’s boss’, that’s wisdom. The scripture tells us to evaluate prophecy, but we must keep our own hearts pure towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. The verse above inspired by the Spirit through David warns not to touch God’s anointed and especially His prophets. David twice REFUSED TO HARM SAUL, who was clearly in the wrong, even when he was completely vulnerable. There’s sufficient attack on Prophets and Prophecy today without the wider Church adding to it.

I was reading in Ezekiel 35 this morning, which is a very strong prophetic judgement against Edom, the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob. The chapter clearly states some of the reasons for God’s coming judgement on Edom.

⁵ ‘“Because you harboured an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword AT THE TIME OF OF THEIR CALAMITY, the time their punishment reached its climax, Ezekiel 35

Edom attacked God’s people when they were being disciplined by the Lord himself, but God rebuked them for so doing. It seems they’d HARBOURED that ill will for some time.

¹⁰ ‘“Because YOU HAVE SAID, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession of them,’ even though I THE LORD WAS THERE

, ¹¹ therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them

BOTH EDOM’S ATTITUDE AND WORDS INCURRED GOD’S SERIOUS DISPLEASURE!

You said, ‘They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.’ ¹³ YOU BOASTED AGAINST ME AND SPOKE AGAINST ME without restraint, and I HEARD IT. Ezekiel 35

God may take things personally when we malign those who are His, especially when we speak, ‘without restraint’. BE WISE WHEN YOU CRITICISE!

In conclusion, I believe that Donald Trump is God’s man for the United States of America at this time. I believe he’s more given over to God than ever before and I trust that the people of America and the wider world will be blessed by his Presidency. God Bless America and all the peoples of this world.

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

 

4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.’ 2 Kings 4

The above chapter from 2 Kings 4 is part of the readings for Jewish people this coming Shabbat. The chapter describes two separate instances when God moved through the prophet Elisha to help mothers in desperation for their children.

On the first occasion the mother of the two boys was in dire poverty and her sons were about to be taken from her by a debtor. Elisha asked her what she had to hand, sometimes our smallest seed is what God will use to help deliver us. The widow only had a little oil, but the prophet told her to go and borrow as many ‘jars’ as she could get her hands on. He told her to borrow many, that was a step of Faith, believing for a large supply.

³ Elisha said, ‘Go round and ask all your neighbours for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. ⁴ Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.’ 2 Kings 4

God’s provision was to be done in secret, only the widow and her sons would see it. No one else could speak negatively over her situation and stop the miraculous flow of the oil. There are times when God speaks to us and we shouldn’t share, even with other believers. The words of others may hinder our provision if they’re not in faith with us. Once the flow of the precious oil began they couldn’t stop, they had to keep filling the jars, no distractions allowed.

⁶ When all the jars were full, she said to her son, ‘Bring me another one.’

But he replied, ‘There is not a jar left.’ Then the oil stopped flowing.

⁷ She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.’ 2 Kings 4

God didn’t just send some oil, every jar that the woman had collected was filled. The flow never stopped until every jar was filled. Elisha told her to sell the oil (I’d love to have seen some of that oil! Remember the wine Jesus produced at the marriage feast, it was the BEST WINE.) Then when her debt was paid there was still enough oil left over for her and her sons to live on. We serve a generous God, but we must trust Him, even in difficult situations.

The second part of this chapter is about the Shunemite woman who provided for Elisha on his travels. She received a miracle child but he died. Once again God rescued the boy and returned him to his mother. Beautiful accounts of God’s blessings, being read this Shabbat by Jewish people all across the earth. May God bless His word to His people on this sacred day of rest.

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