Missing

11 "Come," Jonathan said, "let's go out into the field." So they went there together.

 12 Then Jonathan said to David: "By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth."

 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David's enemies to account." 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

"What has God been trying to teach you this week?"

If you have ever been in my small group you know that is the first question I ask every week. I ask that because I think many of us just go through life without even thinking about God's presence and His activity in our life.

Well, yesterday a good friend asked me that. My response, "God is teaching me what it means to be devoted."

Here's why…I've taught on the devotion of the Acts 2 church; the "fellowship of the mat" (Mark 2 - 4 guys carrying the paralytic to Christ) and how devoted they were to each other; how God wants us connected to a body of believers called the church and the devotion we should have for God and other believers; all in the last week. I'm also blogging about the friendship of Jonathan and David and being reminded how short I have fallen in some of my covenant relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I feel that devotion, whether it's to God and/or to His body is sorely lacking in the Christian community these days.

Who (or maybe what) are you devoted to?

The Bible says that if you don't love people, you can't love God. It's like trying to do algebra without knowing multiplication, you can't do it!

I know that in my own life I learned to love God more as I learned to love His people who loved Him.

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he
loved him as he loved himself.

Is that one of the things that made David a man after God's own heart?

Anything?

1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"

Do you have someone you can ask "what have I done" or "what about my character needs to change" and they will shoot straight with you?

 2 "Never!" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!"

Saul knew Jonathan wouldn't put up with his evil ways so he hid them him; darkness hides from light.

 3 But David took an oath and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."

 4 Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."

How many times have you heard or said "can I do anything for you?" Did you really mean anything? Jonathan did, but he knew David's heart and that David would not ask him to do anything wrong or to even rebel against his father. Do you have a friend like that?

 5 So David said, "Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, 'David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.' 7 If he says, 'Very well,' then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. 8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the LORD. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?"

9 "Never!" Jonathan said. "If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn't I tell you?"

What a risk! By confronting his father Jonathan was taking a huge risk, but David did also, he was willing to lay down his life. David reminded Jonathan of their covenant and the obligation to be honest with each other, even it meant being killed.

Wow, do you desire to be that honest in your relationships, even if it means death?

Would we have the courage to have friendships that have that level of honesty and the desire to push each other toward holiness?

 
 

Leave?

"Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan…"
1 Samuel 20:1

Why did David leave?

Remember, Saul is trying to kill him and David is with Samuel the prophet, 3 posses sent to arrest David are stopped by the Spirit of God, even Saul can't touch
him, he can't even get up off the ground! He is safe, why leave?

The only reason that makes any sense is that he misses his dear friend Jonathan.

Ever had a friendship like that?

You would risk safety, comfort, everything for them?

This past week I taught three times on three different passages, but really it was on the same subject – the love we should have for God and our brother/sister in Christ – about being devoted.

I think that the love we must have for our brother or sister in Christ in sorely missing and misunderstood in the church today.

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 1 John 2:9-11

Jesus commanded we "Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Jesus lived out this command and as disciples we are to follow his example. Love becomes the lens through which we should view all of our relationships.

Do you see this love being displayed around you?

What are you doing to make it so?

There is a promise in there for you if you do, did you notice it? The promise says "there
is nothing in you to make you stumble", wow, what a promise!

There is also a warning! If you don't love your brother or sister in Christ you will wander aimlessly in the dark.

I think David and Jonathan found that kind of love, that's why he would leave.

Stripped

22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?"
      "Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said.

 23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 1 Sam 19:22-24

"If you want something done, you got to do it yourself." I'm sure that's what Saul was muttering to himself.

All full of himself he goes, but the Spirit of God came on him and he started professing the things of God as he walked along the road.

This is Saul, remember?

Ever been around someone who showed God's gifts but lived like "hell" behind the scenes? There have been way too many of these in ministry and because of that unbelievers see us as hypocrites.

God, help me live in the power of your Holy Spirit!

Saul sure didn't have the character to back up his words. But, I'm also reminded that we are talking about God, the Great I Am, and He can use anybody he chooses to fulfill His will and His ways are not my ways.

I am God, and there is no other;
       I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,
       from ancient times, what is still to come.
       I say: My purpose will stand,
       and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:9-10

Here's the warning for any of us who pretend; at some point we are going to encounter God and He might strip us naked and expose all the stuff that we've tried to hide!

Without his robes, Saul was reduced to an ordinary man or even less.

Do you think God might have been saying to Saul that the only reason he was still king was by God's own mercy and not by Saul's merits?

Can you imagine waking up after that?

Okay, some of you can, but it wasn't from an encounter with the Almighty!

"Is Saul among the prophets?"

These words were once spoken in amazement about Saul (10:11), but now they are spoken in ridicule.

Sometimes the only people we are fooling, turns out to be ourselves.

"…let us
strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1

Before God does it for us!

 

 

 

Being around you

Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time and they also prophesied. 1 Samuel 19:19-21

Saul wants David bad, he's trying to kill him, who would you send to capture David? It probably wouldn't have been the nicest guys in the room, right?

What happens? They encounter Samuel and the other prophets and the spirit of God comes over them, they act as if they are prophets.

I wonder what the report is that comes to Saul about his first "posse" sent to arrest David.

So he sends a second party to arrest David. I would venture to say that he chooses men who are not as inclined to be "spiritual" this time. The very same thing happens to them. Saul then sends a third party, only to have the same thing repeated again.

Have you ever been around someone who was so in tune with God that it took you somewhere spiritually? Just by being around them you could almost feel God's presence.

For many years I have taught that great leaders make other people feel great around them. But after reading this passage this morning, I'll probably change that to "great leaders make others feel the great I AM around them."

When people come into my life do they feel the presence of God?

They should, right? If I truly believe God's word, then I have to believe that I am just a container for the almighty God.

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. Romans 8:10-11

My prayer almost every morning these days is that there must "be less of me and more of You!" (John 3:30)

How about you? Do people feel the presence of God just by being around you?

“Go to”

When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
1 Samuel 19:18

Who do you go to?

When you're running, stressed, can't take it anymore, who do you turn to? Do you have someone in your life that will speak truth to you?

David didn't turn to his friends or even his earthly father, but turned to his spiritual father, the prophet Samuel.

When running on empty is there someone you look to, to fill your tank, to refresh you. That's what Samuel
does for David.

Some say that David might have written this Psalm while he was with Samuel.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
       whom shall I fear?
       The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
       of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When evil men advance against me
       to devour my flesh,
       when my enemies and my foes attack me,
       they will stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army besiege me,
       my heart will not fear;
       though war break out against me,
       even then will I be confident.

 4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
       this is what I seek:
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple.

 5 For in the day of trouble
       he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
       he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
       and set me high upon a rock.

 6 Then my head will be exalted
       above the enemies who surround me;
       at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
       I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
       be merciful to me and answer me.

 8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
       Your face, LORD, I will seek.

 9 Do not hide your face from me,
       do not turn your servant away in anger;
       you have been my helper.
       Do not reject me or forsake me,
       O God my Savior.

 10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
       the LORD will receive me.

 11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
       lead me in a straight path
       because of my oppressors.

 12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
       for false witnesses rise up against me,
       breathing out violence.

 13 I am still confident of this:
       I will see the goodness of the LORD
       in the land of the living.

 14 Wait for the LORD;
       be strong and take heart
       and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27

Do you have someone who will pour life into you?

If not, seek after them.

It's been my experience that God has already placed them in our lives, but sometimes fear stops us from going to them. Ask God to give you the courage to go to them.

Sometimes we are just unaware of their presence. Ask God
not to hide their face from you.

Will you be that for someone else?

Climb out

11 Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13 Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head.

 14 When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill."

 15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him." 16 But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats' hair.

 17 Saul said to Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?"
      Michal told him, "He said to me, 'Let me get away. Why should I kill you?' " 1 Sam 19:11-17

Where did your thoughts go when you read that passage?

Did you think of the daughter deceiving her father to save the one she loves?

Did you, like I, wonder what were they doing with an idol in their house? Really, an idol? Surely not, it's David a man after God's own heart, he wouldn't let that in his house. Maybe it was just one of those life size Santa's we all have. Hum, but it does say idol.

Here's where my thoughts landed; how many of God's men at one point in their lives had to run or escape, leave the comforts of home and family and set out on the lonely road of an outcast. Here's a few that came to mind Abraham (Gen 12), Joseph (Gen 37), Moses (Exodus 2), Elijah (1 Kings), I'm sure if I looked I'd find many more.

I was reminded that God will often use conflicts and difficulties to set us out to find the narrow path that few choose to follow. It is usually on that path that we find intimacy with God and the clarification or fulfillment of the call on our lives.

14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:14

Narrow literally means pressed together, restricted; do you feel pressed? Maybe God is trying to light your path by "pressing" you toward the window.

Will you be one of the few?

Go out through the window today, not the door.