Tag: Saul

Categories
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.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Have Confidence!

Those Who Have Confidence!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who have confidence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David’s brothers were fighting in Saul’s army. David was tasked by Jesse, his father, with taking his brothers grain and ten loaves. He was also to take ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. He was also to check on his brothers and to bring back some token from them.

David showed up as the battle lines were being drawn, and he hears Goliath challenging a man of Israel to fight him.

1 Samuel 17:26 (ESV)

“And David said to the men who stood by him, ‘What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?’”

Saul sends for David, and in 1 Samuel 17:31-37 (ESV) we learn of their interaction.

“When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.’ But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’ And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’”

So David is about to go out to face the giant with Saul’s blessing. David is confident.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Facing Challenges!

Facing Challenges!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who are facing challenges from those who think they are greater than you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In 1 Samuel 7:5-7 we learn about Goliath’s armor, javelin, and his spear’s head. He is equipped for battle, and in 1 Samuel 7:8-11 (ESV), Goliath, the Philistine, issues a challenge.

“He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.’ And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Notice the reaction of Saul’s army. Dismayed and afraid, no one goes out to fight the giant.

1 Samuel 17:16 (ESV) tells us, this kept happening. “For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.”

Still there was not one to stand up to Goliath.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Blessed with Special Gifts!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those are blessed with special gifts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

David was anointed by Samuel and destined to be the next king.

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (ESV) we learn how the Lord orchestrated it so David’s special gifts opened the door to allow him to meet and serve King Saul.

“Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him. And Saul’s servants said to him, ’Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.’ So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me.’ One of the young men answered, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.’ Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.’ And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul. And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, ‘Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.’ And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.”

The hand of God was on David.

David’s ability to play the lyre opened the door, so David’s God-given gift of music could calm King Saul.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Those Who Are Chosen!

Those Who Are Chosen!

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those the Lord has chosen. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Saul did not do what God said, and thus, he sinned against God.

1 Samuel 16:1-2 (ESV) takes us to Bethlehem where Samuel is searching of new leadership.

“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ And Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’”

Although Samuel was God’s prophet, Samuel was still fearful of Saul. God addressed Samuel’s concern by telling him to take a heifer with him and giving him the words to say.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Categories
Wisdom Prayer

Ransomed from Death?

Ransomed from Death?

Dear Lord, I pray for wisdom for those who stand condemned but are ransomed from death. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Will Jonathan die as a result of having violated his father, Saul’s, oath made in 1 Samuel 14:24 (ESV) “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies”?

1 Samuel 14:43-46 (ESV) tell us the answer.

“Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ And Jonathan told him, ‘I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.’ And Saul said, ‘God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.’ Then the people said to Saul, ‘Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.’ So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.”

Saul did not have to kill his son for violating his oath because he was ransomed.

Likewise, God has his son, Jesus Christ, die on the cross to pay the ransom for our sins. Through faith in Christ, we are set us free and given eternal life.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.