Tag: David

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Wisdom Prayer

Helping Those in Distress!

Helping Those in Distress!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who help those in distress. In Jesus’ name amen.

The story of David continues in 1 Samuel 21 with David fleeing Saul.

He went to Nob. Ahimelech, the priest, lived there and agreed to help David because David told him he was on a secret mission for Saul. Watching the conversation was Doeg the Edomite who was taking care of sheep.

David is given bread that was reserved for God. Then he goes from place to place including a cave at Adullam.

Others hear about David’s situation and come to join him; 1 Samuel 22:2 it says there were four hundred.

Saul is searching for David and makes his way to Nob.

1 Samuel 22:18-23 (ESV)

“Then the king said to Doeg, ‘You turn and strike the priests.’ And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword;

both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword. “But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. And David said to Abiathar, ‘I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.’”

David’s offer of help must have been most encouraging to Abiathar.

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Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Intend Harm!

Those Who Intend Harm!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom and safety for those who are around others who intend them harm. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In 1 Samuel 19, Saul once again tries to kill David. At another point, David fled in the night to avoid being killed.

In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan’s and David’s special bond is confirmed. Jonathan, King Saul’s son, tries to intervene with his father to stop him from killing David but to no avail. Jonathan devises a plan to determine if Saul is really angry, and wants to kill David.

This test is based on David missing a few meals with Saul and Jonathan. Because David is not present, finally, Saul gets mad, and Jonathan becomes convinced of his father’s intent to kill David.

Jonathan knows David has been hiding during this time. David is in his hiding place. As a signal to David, Jonathan shoots arrows a far distance. This lets David know it is not safe for him, and it is King Saul’s intent is to kill him.

When Jonathan is alone, David comes out of hiding.

In 1 Samuel 20:41-42 (ESV) Jonathan and David are together.

“And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’’ And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.”

Jonathan had saved David’s life.

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Wisdom Prayer

Issues with the In-laws!

Issues with the In-laws!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have issues with their in-laws. In Jesus’ name.

King Saul was going to have David marry his daughter Merab, but before that happened she was given to someone else.

In 1 Samuel 18:20-23 (ESV) we learn Saul had another daughter, but Saul had ulterior motives.

“Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, ‘You shall now be my son-in-law.’ And Saul commanded his servants, ‘Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’ And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, ‘Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?’”

King Saul made it known that although David did not have the money to pay a bride-price, in exchange Saul would have David bring the evidence of the death of one hundred Philistines. David brought evidence of the death of two hundred Philistines, so it says in 1 Samuel 18:27 (ESV) “Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.”

1 Samuel 18:28-30 (ESV) we learn David’s being Saul’s son-in-law did little to change Saul’s attitude toward David.

“But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.”

The Lord is with David. Saul promises David one of his daughters. That daughter is given to another. Saul’s other daughter loves and marries David. David’s reputation as a soldier grows. Saul becomes David’s enemy.

Most people do not face these kinds of issues with their in-laws. Do pray for marriages where relationships with in-laws are strained.

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Wisdom Prayer

Toxic Relationships!

Toxic Relationships!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who find themselves in toxic relationships. In Jesus’ name, amen.

An incident mentioned in 1 Samuel 18:6-16 (ESV) explains how and why David and Saul came to be at odds. David had killed Goliath. That is when the story unfolds.

“As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.’

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?’ And Saul eyed David from that day on.

The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David evaded him twice.

Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.”

David and Saul’s relationship deteriorated. It became dangerous for David.

Toxic relationships can happen within families, on the job, and even between long-time friends. Discovering the source of the conflict and trying to right the relationship can be difficult. Yet, Don Moen’s song, “God will Make a Way,” reminds us that God can make a way when there seems to be no way.

God does not always choose to heal broken relationships. Yet, in many cases he does provide a way.

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Wisdom Prayer

A Close Bond!

A Close Bond!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have close bonds with their friends. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s success at defeating Goliath led him to meeting with Saul and his son, Jonathan.

1 Samuel 18:1-5 (ESV) tells about Jonathan’s and David’s relationship.

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”

David’s and Jonathan’s friendship will be important to each of them later on in Scripture.

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Wisdom Prayer

In the Name of the Lord of Hosts!

In the Name of the Lord of Hosts!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who come in the name of the Lord of hosts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Saul attempted to give David his armor. David eventually took off the armor, and he went out to confront Goliath.

On the battlefield, the two exchanged words.

1 Samuel 17:44-54 (ESV) describes the confrontation and what happened next.

“The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.’ Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.’

“When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.”

That day, David’s words came true. “‘For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.’”

Whose victory was it? It was the Lord’s victory!

After David cuts off Goliath head, Abner took David to see King Saul.

David was asked whose son he was, and David told King Saul he was Jesse’s son.

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