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Tag: Hope
The Branch of King David, Destined to Reign
On Thursday night’s bible study we went through King David’s life while he was on the run from King Saul. This is found in 1 Samuel chapter 19 thru chapter 31. We selected a few verses out of this portion of King David’s history with the LORD.
1 Samuel 21 verse 10 thru chapter 22 verse 3
David flees from Saul in fear and then acts like a crazy person in front of Achish the king of Gath. Achish was the king of this Philistine city, Gath. The Philistines were enemies of Israel and yet David fled into their territory. David was so scared at this moment in his life he acted like a crazy person just to stay alive.
David was anointed by God to be king over Israel. He had defeated Goliath and led Israel to victory in different battles, but at this point of time in his life, not many people would have thought much of him. He was drooling out of his mouth and letting it run over his beard. Many people would have been ashamed to even be associated with him, but it did not change the fact of what God had called David.
Circumstances Do not change God’s call
How often have we been in a circumstance and acted poorly because of fear? I know I have. There have been moments in my life that are very debasing, but it does not change the fact that God has called me and anointed me. Just like David here, we can go through very humbling circumstances and act in ways that are unflattering but it does not change what God has said about us or his call on our lives.
After this, he heads to a cave, and a bunch of outcasts of Israel begins to flock towards him. The people who came to him were poor and in debt, bitter, and in complete distress. Not people of great influence, but the people society would deem “less than”.
From the outside looking in, David was a renegade. The people of Israel would have not known that Saul was at fault and chasing him down because of envy. They only knew that David was on the run from the king and now he was the captain of a band of outcasts that he ended up taking into enemy territory to live there.
Peoples Perception Does Not Change What God Says
Here it is good to mention that David’s life is a prophetic resemblance of Jesus Christ. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day rejected him and were constantly against him. While the scourge of society was receiving him. The poor and the broken, the oppressed, and the outcasts were the ones who flocked to Jesus. Not the people of great influence.
1 Samuel Chapter 23 verses 1 thru 12
David and his men deliver this city from enemy invaders and David enquires if the people of Keilah (the city they just saved) would deliver him into Saul’s hand. The LORD tells him they will. So he leaves the city.
How very human this story is. One minute you are their champion who saved them from destruction then circumstances change and they will deliver you over to be executed. Many scholars believe that some of the people who championed Jesus into Jerusalem shouting, “Hosanna in the highest” were the same who cried out, “Let him be crucified.”
People can turn on you even if you’ve been good to them
Personally, I believe that this was what happened. I have seen firsthand how quickly public opinion can change based on the unmet expectations they have for someone. The expectation they had for Jesus was that he was going to come as King over Israel beating the nations into submission and bringing about a physical eternal Davidic kingdom. But he came to bring a spiritual kingdom and set up its eternal rule on earth from heaven.
The opinion of how they believed the word of God was supposed to be fulfilled blinded them to its fulfillment. When they thought the kingdom was going to be a physical one and their expectations did not get met they wanted him to be killed. They also had other false “Christs” that had come to them too, so they were wary of messiahs who did not fulfill what they believed to be the scriptures. The problem was they were looking at it from a carnal (worldly) perspective and not from a spiritual.
Expectations Can be Dangerous
I know I have been guilty of this. I thought God’s word to me was going to be fulfilled a certain way and when it wasn’t fulfilled the way I expected it to I got angry, discouraged, and hurt. But the truth was he never told me how certain things were going to happen he just said they would happen. Expectations can disappoint you if you are not grounded in the character of God.
1 Samuel chapter 25
We did not read this section here we talked about it. If you would like to know more about how this section of scripture is a prophetic resemblance of Jesus Christ and his church please take a look at The Throne of David.
David did good to this wealthy man named Nabal, but Nabal did not recognize his kindness or repay it. As a matter of fact, Nabal actually accused David of deserting his master Saul (vs. 10). It is evidence of the public’s perception of David, a renegade.
Afterward, David ends up sparing Saul’s life again and is in despair. David says in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul…” (from 1Sam. 27:1). Many biblical scholars believe that David was on the run from King Saul for about ten years. Ten years of being looked at like a renegade, of people thinking the worse about him, of him living in wilderness areas and among the enemies of Israel. Ten years of having nothing to rely upon except a promise God made to him, being anointed king over Israel when he was still a child. I think he started to lose hope a little, but this one thing he did, he turned to the LORD over and over again. He found his strength in the LORD.
Placing your eyes on people will discourage you, Put your trust in God
During this time period, David wrote many of the Psalms among these is Psalm 22.
My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I call by day and you do not answer, and by night but I have no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted you; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; they trusted you and were not ashamed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by humankind and despised by people. All who see me mock me. They open wide their lips; they shake the head, saying: "He trusts Yahweh. Let him rescue him. Let him deliver him because he delights in him." Yet you took me from the belly; you made me trust while on my mother's breasts. On you I was cast from the womb. From my mother's belly you have been my God. Do not be far from me because trouble is near; because there is no helper. Many bulls have encircled me; mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me. They open their mouth against me like a lion tearing and roaring. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dry like a potsherd, and my tongue is sticking to my jaws; and you have placed me in the dust of death. Because dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has encircled me. Like the lion they are at my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; they gaze, they look at me. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Yahweh, do not remain distant. O my help, hasten to help me. Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of the dogs.
(Psalm 22:1-20)
He felt like a worm who was not worthy of salvation, but he continued to look to God for his mercy. And because he put his hope in the LORD he was not put to shame! “Indeed, none who wait for you should be put to shame…” (from Psalm 25:3).
Hold fast to the word that was preached to you
I am fully persuaded that anyone who is called by God goes through periods like these, and the purpose for these times is to produce character in us. As long as we remain believing in Jesus Christ abiding in him then God will use it to produce fruit. God’s attributes, so that when we get to the place that he has called us we will be able to keep it. When I say keep it I mean having the quality of character that will be able to rule well.
"You rejoice in this greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of [Jesus the Messiah]."
(1Peter 1:6-7).
The Power to Subvert Kingdoms
Pointing out a problem without giving a solution always leads to one or more of the following: discouragement; anger; bitterness; hopelessness; fear; anxiety; helplessness; unworthiness… the list goes on. The thing is, pointing out a person’s problem doesn’t really help them, it just leaves them wanting. With no solution, facing these problems seems daunting and turns into fear and discouragement.
These problems scoff and laugh at us. They blaspheme the armies of the living God as we sit on the sidelines shaking in fear, too afraid to say anything against the insults and blasphemous slander. Just like Goliath, they stand in the way of God’s kingdom, openly opposing its advancement.
David believed in the Solution more than the problem. He didn’t ignore the problem and act like it wasn’t there. He addressed the issue by faith. He knew there was an issue, but he knew his God was bigger than the problem. David when looking out at this giant saw an enemy of God’s people and knew “if God be for us, who can be against us” (from Rom. 8:31). He gave his fear to the Lord instead of fearing this Philistine. He glorified the living God and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
When David looked out he saw a problem, but he did not shrink from it. He glorified God and knew the God who delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear will deliver this Philistine into his hands. We look at David like he had courage in himself to do this great feat, but we so easily forget that David is a man just like me and you. His courage was not in himself, he just believed in God. It’s very easy to exalt a champion of the Lord’s, and they are champions indeed, but their victory didn’t come from themselves it came from believing in God. As we think about the great cloud of witnesses that went before us, let us be reminded that they accomplished everything through faith in the living God. So, we must be victorious through faith in the living God as well.
“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:”
Hebrews 11:33-39
The Repairer of the Breach
Today I was reading from one of my memories on Facebook. The post read:
“If we only knew the great worth we are to God then we would not treat each other like refuse.”
This provoked so much thought in me…
Last night I encountered this young man who said he has experienced the love of God but didn’t accept Jesus. As I listened to him the truth started to come out. He had been misused and burned by people who said they represent Jesus, you know “Christians.” I just loved on him didn’t judge him. His walls started to come down and he shared.
I love people. They are so treasured by God, but the thing is I have encountered these people over and over again. They could be satanists, witches, atheists, etc. and when the walls start to come down they all share a similar thing with me; that people who claim to know Jesus have treated them like trash.
If we knew the incredible value God sees in others we would not treat them like garbage. People have value. People are worth it. People are worth investing in! God invested his Son in humanity! People have value. People have destiny. People are loved and cherished by God!
“But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs and pass over judgment and the love of God: these you ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone”
Luke 11:42
We have disqualified the broken, when God is saying mend the broken and make their path straight (easy to walk on). We have laid on them a standard of righteousness that we ourselves were not able to uphold. “Loading men with heavy burdens grievous to be born, but not lifting a finger to help them” (paraphrased from Luke 11:46).
I love you guys. We need to get a hold of God’s love and value system. Everything that we are building on this earth will be burned away, but if we invest in souls it will last forever. It was his love who gave up everything to receive us to himself again. People are worth it. Invest in eternity and pour out yourself into them and watch the miracle of God break out in the broken.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rere-ward. Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke [religous burdens], the putting forth of the finger [casting judgement according to the law, accusations], and speaking vanity [speaking according to the eyes of the flesh]; And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in”
Isaiah 58:6-12
This promise is to me and my seed. This is something that I know my house will walk in. But this promise is also unto you and everyone who our God has called. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39).
God bless you guys! I love you! Our Father loves you! Jesus loves you! Now go out and love others. Pour out your soul to the broken and hurting and see the salvation of our God break out in the midst of you. Much much LOVE!
A desire for all the nations of the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. 