(I Samuel 23:16) “And Saul’s son, Jonathan went to help David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.â€
David was being chased by Saul and his men and he left Keilah and traveled from place to place. He came to the Desert of Ziph and made camp at Horesh. He had been going from place to place with the enemy on his tail. He had a promise but at that time I am sure he felt tired both physically and emotionally.
Have you ever been there? You have had a promise from the Lord but trials overwhelm you and you long for rest; rest from the burdens that you carry and slap you in the face on daily basis. You just need rest and sometimes you just feel like crawling up in a corner and crying. I am sure David felt this way. Satan wants to keep attacking and keep attacking until you give up! But God! (John 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.†David was young and the Lord could not just move him into the palace. To be king over Israel he had to learn integrity, to be patient and to trust God and learn when to let God handle the situation instead of taking revenge himself. That is what he had to learn during the travel in the desert running from Saul. God was there to provide through the priest and through the enemies themselves—the Philistines! That is God! He had to pass the test of deciding whether or not to use his power to defend Israel or promote his own personal ambition as in I Samuel 23:1 and he passed this test. He had to pass the test of given the chance to kill Saul, whom had been chasing David to kill him, and using that chance to avenge himself and kill Saul. This test was given twice and he passed it both times saying, “I will not touch the Lord’s anointed.†In Chapter 25 he was given another test. It was to see if he would take revenge upon a commoner, Nabal or entrust it to God. He, upon Abigail’s advice listened to her and left it to God.
God does not expect us to go through trials without any help. He spoke through Abigail and He speaks to us through His Word, the Pastor and our brothers and sisters in Christ. God had to prepare David so pride would not overtake him as soon as he took up his position on the throne. The trials we go through before reaching the promises He has made to us are for the same purpose. Our dreams will not take us where our character will not keep us. (Romans 5:1-5) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.â€
God knows our hearts and knows what we need when we need it. Trust Him to provide it. He knew David needed to be encouraged and sent Jonathon, son of the king. He knew we need encouraged when He sent Jesus, His son. He sent Him first to die for our sins and to encourage us of the promise of eternal life with Him and then on a daily basis through the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-21) “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.â€
Jesus lives to intercede for us, (Hebrews 7:25) “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.†He will give you strength and power to carry on until you have learned what you need to learn. (Philippians 4: 11-13) “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.â€
Then when you have learned what you need to learn, character in place to keep you there, promotion will come and deliverance from your trials! Victory!
(Psalm 145: 13-21) “The Lord is faithful to all of His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.â€
David was being chased by Saul and his men and he left Keilah and traveled from place to place. He came to the Desert of Ziph and made camp at Horesh. He had been going from place to place with the enemy on his tail. He had a promise but at that time I am sure he felt tired both physically and emotionally.
Have you ever been there? You have had a promise from the Lord but trials overwhelm you and you long for rest; rest from the burdens that you carry and slap you in the face on daily basis. You just need rest and sometimes you just feel like crawling up in a corner and crying. I am sure David felt this way. Satan wants to keep attacking and keep attacking until you give up! But God! (John 10:10) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.†David was young and the Lord could not just move him into the palace. To be king over Israel he had to learn integrity, to be patient and to trust God and learn when to let God handle the situation instead of taking revenge himself. That is what he had to learn during the travel in the desert running from Saul. God was there to provide through the priest and through the enemies themselves—the Philistines! That is God! He had to pass the test of deciding whether or not to use his power to defend Israel or promote his own personal ambition as in I Samuel 23:1 and he passed this test. He had to pass the test of given the chance to kill Saul, whom had been chasing David to kill him, and using that chance to avenge himself and kill Saul. This test was given twice and he passed it both times saying, “I will not touch the Lord’s anointed.†In Chapter 25 he was given another test. It was to see if he would take revenge upon a commoner, Nabal or entrust it to God. He, upon Abigail’s advice listened to her and left it to God.
God does not expect us to go through trials without any help. He spoke through Abigail and He speaks to us through His Word, the Pastor and our brothers and sisters in Christ. God had to prepare David so pride would not overtake him as soon as he took up his position on the throne. The trials we go through before reaching the promises He has made to us are for the same purpose. Our dreams will not take us where our character will not keep us. (Romans 5:1-5) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.â€
God knows our hearts and knows what we need when we need it. Trust Him to provide it. He knew David needed to be encouraged and sent Jonathon, son of the king. He knew we need encouraged when He sent Jesus, His son. He sent Him first to die for our sins and to encourage us of the promise of eternal life with Him and then on a daily basis through the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-21) “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.â€
Jesus lives to intercede for us, (Hebrews 7:25) “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.†He will give you strength and power to carry on until you have learned what you need to learn. (Philippians 4: 11-13) “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.â€
Then when you have learned what you need to learn, character in place to keep you there, promotion will come and deliverance from your trials! Victory!
(Psalm 145: 13-21) “The Lord is faithful to all of His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever.â€
