10 March 2010

Mar 10 (1 Sam 29-31)


1st Samuel 29

David has escaped the persecution of Saul by befriending Israel's mortal enemies, the Philistines. By the way, the Palestinians are descendants of the Philistines, so the battle rages on today.

So now David is faced with the precarious situation of having to fight King Saul and his own brethren of Israel. Again, if we avoid one problem, we will have others spring up to replace it. David had God on his side when he was fleeing Saul, but now, he wouldn't since David would be going against God's chosen people...the very people David was destined to be king of!

I use this situation to teach my kids that they need to address their problems by praying, and letting God take care of them. Avoiding them without God's help will only lead to greater problems in the future!

(v.22) At first glance, and if we think in the flesh, we can see the point of the men who fought and didn't want the ones who wouldn't fight to share in the spoils of the battle. However, Israel and the Church looks at this differently than the world. When we send missionaries abroad to share the Gospel, God doesn't protect, provide and bless only them. All the people who gave money, all the people who helped organize, and all the people keeping the missionaries covered in prayer, all share in God's blessings.

1st Samuel 30

The same thing happens to David that happened so many times to Saul, they were obsessed with the wrong things, and they let their responsibilities be exposed. So many times Saul abandoned his protection of Israel to chase David, and now, David's obsession with facing Saul on the battlefield has left his family and army's families exposed to the enemy. Pride takes us away from God and into trouble.

1st Samuel 31

Here we have the end of Saul. A man who started with such promise and blessings, only to abandon God, and live foolishly. Saul even admitted that he wasted his chance, and died along with his sons and army.

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