Becoming: Okay
David’s Story
-David is anointed as God’s chosen king.
1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." 2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" 5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The Lord has not chosen this one either." 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the Lord chosen this one." 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NIV)
-David serves Saul in his court 1 Samuel 16:14-23
-David kills Goliath and leads army to victory- 1 Samuel 17
-Saul gets jealous- 1 Samuel 18
-Saul plans to kill David, Jonathan intervenes and then Saul tries to kill him- 1 Samuel 19
-David goes into hiding, leads a band of rebels and thieves, goes to live with the enemies of Israel and confronts and spares Saul’s life twice!- 1 Samuel chapters 20-26
2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, "This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord." 7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. 8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 1 Samuel 24:2-8 (NIV)
7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. 8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." 9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives," he said, "the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." 12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep. 1 Samuel 26:8-12 (NIV)
The Point
Saul’s character leads him to act outside of God’s timing and plan.
David’s character causes him to continually re-examine what seemed right and made sense to faith that God would work in his own way.
He was content to wait on God.
He was willing to obey God.
He didn’t try to force God’s plan.
Becoming…
Give up on having to know the plan.
Jeremiah 29:11
Focus on and surround yourself with reminders of God’s faithfulness.
1 Chronicles 16:9-12
Psalm 143:5
Seek out God’s direction in each decision.
Jeremiah 10:23
Psalm 119:33-37
Talk through each anxiety with God.
Ephesians 6:18
Psalm 5:1-3
Wait on God’s prompting.
Romans 8:25
Psalm 27:11-14
Acts 1:4
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There was a time when I thought I knew what God was telling me to do, and I thought that I was headed that direction, but now I really don't know which direction that was. I just prayed yesterday reminding God (like He doesn't know) of how close I was to Him at that time and how come I don't feel that way right now. Did I take a side step in the wrong direction? I guess I just need to keep coming to Him for the answers and perhaps in another couple of years things will become clear.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless Travis and I am thankful that you have decided to come to the Bridge with your beautiful wife. I'll be praying for you guys to find the right home for now.
Hey Patty thanks for your encouragement and prayers.
ReplyDeleteWithout suggesting that I know your circumastances or where you're at with God right now, I would encourage you to simply keep looking for the next step rather than the whole direction.
I am positive that David probably spent many moments feeling the same way that you do while he was in exile. I'm sure that he second guessed himself and wondered why things weren't happening the way that he thought that they would.
6 months ago I would never have guessed that I would be at the Bridge. I thought that God had me right where I was supposed to be for a good long time. Obviously my grasp of the plan was off although I am thankful for this step.
Sometimes I believe that He wants to remind us that responding to the steps are more important than knowing the plan.
Thank you for the encouragement. How did the house hunting go yesterday?
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