Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 3, 2024

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 26:1-12.

“Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?”  So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.  Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, beside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness.  When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming.  David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped.  And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army;  and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?”  And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”  So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head;  and Abner and the people were lying around him.  Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand;  now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time.”  But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be without guilt?”  David also said, “As the LORD lives, surely the LORD will strike him, or his day will come that he dies, or he will go down into battle and perish.  The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed;  but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.”  So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.”  1 Samuel 26:1-12.

—————-

“God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm 68:20.

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4.

“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.” Psalm 34:6.

“The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17.

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19.

“4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:4-6.

Comments Off on “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 2, 2024

“discern the fear of the LORD” – “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 25:32-44.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Samuel 25 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me, and blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.  …

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back His servant from evil.  The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.”  Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife.”  1 Samuel 25:32-33 and 39.

——————

David praised the discernment of Abigail and married her after Nabal’s death.  

We remember that Solomon requested the gift of discernment from God which pleased God.

“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night;  and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

…  So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil.  For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

It was pleasing in the sight of the LORD that Solomon had asked this thing.”  1 Kings 3:5 and 9-10.

“10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:10-12.

“3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:3-6.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;”  Philippians 1:9-10.

“… Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:2-3.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.

Comments Off on “discern the fear of the LORD” – “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 1, 2024

“He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 25:18-31.

“Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread and two jugs of wine and five sheep already prepared and five measures of roasted grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.  She said to her young men, “Go on before me;  behold, I am coming after you.”  But she did not tell her husband Nabal.  It came about as she was riding on her donkey and coming down by the hidden part of the mountain, that behold, David and his men were coming down toward her; so she met them.  Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him;  and he has returned me evil for good.  May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by morning I leave as much as one male of any who belong to him.”

When Abigail saw David, she hurried and dismounted from her donkey, and fell on her face before David and bowed herself to the ground.  She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the blame.  And please let your maidservant speak to you, and listen to the words of your maidservant.  Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he.  Nabal is his name and folly is with him;  but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

“Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, since the LORD has restrained you from shedding blood, and from avenging yourself by your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek evil against my lord, be as Nabal.  Now let this gift which your maidservant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who accompany my lord.  Please forgive the transgression of your maidservant;  for the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil will not be found in you all your days.  Should anyone rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, then the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God;  but the lives of your enemies He will sling out as from the hollow of a sling.  And when the LORD does for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and appoints you ruler over Israel, this will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my lord, both by having shed blood without cause and by my lord having avenged himself.  When the LORD deals well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”  1 Samuel 25:18-31.

——————–

Abigail’s intercession leads us to meditate on some Scriptures of the intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit for us.

“And He saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.” Isaiah 59:16.

“5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.

….

11 As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:4-5 and 11-12.

“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;  but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:11-14.

“who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:34. 

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27.

Comments Off on “He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 30, 2024

“Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 25:1-17.

“Then Samuel died;  and all Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and buried him at his house in Ramah.  And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel;  and the man was very rich, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats.  And it came about while he was shearing his sheep in Carmel (now the man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail.  And the woman was intelligent and beautiful in appearance, but the man was harsh and evil in his dealings, and he was a Calebite), that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.  So David sent ten young men;  and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, visit Nabal and greet him in my name;  and thus you shall say, ‘Have a long life, peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.  Now I have heard that you have shearers;  now your shepherds have been with us and we have not insulted them, nor have they missed anything all the days they were in Carmel.  Ask your young men and they will tell you.  Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day.  Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in David’s name; then they waited.  But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David?  And who is the son of Jesse?  There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.  Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?”  So David’s young men retraced their way and went back; and they came and told him according to all these words.  David said to his men, “Each of you gird on his sword.”  So each man girded on his sword.  And David also girded on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David while two hundred stayed with the baggage.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he scorned them.  Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not insulted, nor did we miss anything as long as we went about with them, while we were in the fields.  They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep.  Now therefore, know and consider what you should do, for evil is plotted against our master and against all his household;  and he is such a worthless man that no one can speak to him.”  1 Samuel 25:1-17.

——————

We may try to do good to all, but we may come across people like Nabal who was “harsh and evil in his dealings”.  Verse 3.

But, there is hope!

“8 Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed their unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low;
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14 From men with Your hand, O LORD,
From men of the world, whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.
15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.” Psalm 17:8-15.

Comments Off on “Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 28, 2024

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 24:16-22.

“When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?”  Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.  He said to David, “You are more righteous than I;  for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.  You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me.  For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely?  May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.  Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.  So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”  David swore to Saul.  And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.”  1 Samuel 24:16-22.

———————-

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7.

It would have been good enough for the LORD to only provide an escape, a deliverance, and save David’s life.  But, the LORD caused Saul to humble himself and to praise and bless David.

“Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.  He said to David, “You are more righteous than I;  for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.”  Verse 17.

“…  May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.”  Verse 19.

“Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.  So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.”  Verses 20-21.   

But, there is hope for us too!

“5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:5-6.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11-12.

“2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

“So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come;  all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ;  and Christ belongs to God.”  1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

“but just as it is written,

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,”.  1 Corinthians 2:9 and 12. 

Comments Off on “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 27, 2024

“we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” – “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 24:8-15.

“Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!”  And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.  David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?  Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you;  and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’S anointed.’  Now, my father, see!  Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand!  For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.  May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you;  but my hand shall not be against you.  As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’;  but my hand shall not be against you.  After whom has the king of Israel come out?  Whom are you pursuing?  A dead dog, a single flea?  The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me;  and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.”  1 Samuel 24:8-15.

————-

David pled his case to Saul.  David proclaimed his innocence.  David prayed for protection.  We are reminded of the following Psalm of David.

“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and try me;
Test my mind and my heart.
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,
And I have walked in Your truth.
4 I do not sit with deceitful men,
Nor will I go with pretenders.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O LORD,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders.

8 O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house
And the place where Your glory dwells.
9 Do not take my soul away along with sinners,
Nor my life with men of bloodshed,
10 In whose hands is a wicked scheme,
And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
Redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on a level place;
In the congregations I shall bless the LORD.” Psalm chapter 26.

And, there is more hope and help!

We have an Advocate, Jesus Christ, to plead our case!

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;  and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  1 John 2:1-2.

And, we have the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to intercede for us according to the will of God!

“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;  for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”  Romans 8:26-27.

Comments Off on “we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” – “the Spirit Himself intercedes for us”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 26, 2024

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD” – “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” – “do good”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 24:1-7.

“Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.  He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave;  and Saul went in to relieve himself.  Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.  The men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold;  I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’”  Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.  It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.  So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed.”  David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul.  And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.”  1 Samuel 24:1-7.

——————–

“The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23.

We should seek not only be aware of God’s future and ultimate will for us;  we should also seek to be aware of God’s current and temporary/transitory will for us.

David was aware of God’s future and ultimate will for him to be king over Israel.  “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.  Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you;  and Saul my father knows that also.”  1 Samuel 23:16-17.

And, we see in today’s Scripture that David was aware of God’s current and temporary/transitory will for him.  It was not yet time for him to be king.  “So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’S anointed.”  Verse 6.

“7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9.

“Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” Psalm 37:3.

David trusted the LORD and did good in God’s current and temporary/transitory will for him.  We remember prior Scripture.  “So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered;  and Saul set him over the men of war.  And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”  1 Samuel 18:5.

“27 Depart from evil and do good,
So you will abide forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.” Psalm 37:27-29.

Comments Off on “The steps of a man are established by the LORD” – “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” – “do good”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 25, 2024

“God is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 23:15-29.

“Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.  And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.  Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you;  and Saul my father knows that also.”  So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD;  and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.

Then Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is David not hiding with us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?  Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so;  and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”  Saul said, “May you be blessed of the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.  Go now, make more sure, and investigate and see his place where his haunt is, and who has seen him there;  for I am told that he is very cunning.  So look, and learn about all the hiding places where he hides himself and return to me with certainty, and I will go with you;  and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.”

Then they arose and went to Ziph before Saul.  Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.  When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon.  And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon.  Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain;  and David was hurrying to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to seize them.  But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.”  So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines;  therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.  David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of Engedi.”  1 Samuel 23:15-29.

——————

As one way among many ways, God caused the Philistines to make a raid on Israel at the perfect time in order to cause Saul to return from pursuing David to provide an escape and deliverance of David.

“God is to us a God of deliverances;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm 68:20.

“8 Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.” Psalm 17:8-9.

“Had it not been the LORD who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say,
2 “Had it not been the LORD who was on our side
When men rose up against us,
3 Then they would have swallowed us alive,
When their anger was kindled against us;
4 Then the waters would have engulfed us,
The stream would have swept over our soul;
5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”

6 Blessed be the LORD,
Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;
The snare is broken and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm chapter 124.

“Those who trust in the LORD
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 125:1-2.

Comments Off on “God is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 24, 2024

“But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 22:20 to 1 Samuel 23:14.

“But one son of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.  Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.  Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul.  I have brought about the death of every person in your father’s household.  Stay with me;  do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, for you are safe with me.”

Then they told David, saying, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are plundering the threshing floors.”  So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”  And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah.”  But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah.  How much more then if we go to Keilah against the ranks of the Philistines?”  Then David inquired of the LORD once more.  And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.”  So David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines;  and he led away their livestock and struck them with a great slaughter.  Thus David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.

Now it came about, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.  When it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, “God has delivered him into my hand, for he shut himself in by entering a city with double gates and bars.”  So Saul summoned all the people for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.  Now David knew that Saul was plotting evil against him;  so he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”  Then David said, “O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has heard for certain that Saul is seeking to come to Keilah to destroy the city on my account.  Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand?  Will Saul come down just as Your servant has heard?  O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant.”  And the LORD said, “He will come down.”  Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?”  And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.”  Then David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go.  When it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the pursuit.  David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph.  And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.”  1 Samuel 22:20 to 1 Samuel 23:14.

—————–

“Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.” Psalm 32:9.

We see the sovereignty of the LORD in rescuing Abiathar from the hand of Saul and causing him to flee to David and seek refuge with David.  We see the sovereignty of the LORD in making Abiathar and his ephod available for David to use to inquire of the LORD.  We see the sovereignty of the LORD in knowing and answering all of David’s questions.  In summary, we see the sovereignty of the LORD in leading and delivering David.  

We can and should trust the LORD for each step.  We should not reserve our trust and thanks until we reach heaven’s shores, so to speak.

There are those who are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.  They want to hedge their bets, so to speak.  They think they are providing the LORD with a way out, so to speak.  

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  James 1:6-8.

We can and should trust the LORD, be glad in the LORD, and rejoice for each step as the concluding Scripture leads us to do. 

“6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:6-11.

Comments Off on “But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 23, 2024

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 22:6-19.

“Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered.  Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.  Saul said to his servants who stood around him, “Hear now, O Benjamites!  Will the son of Jesse also give to all of you fields and vineyards?  Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?  For all of you have conspired against me so that there is no one who discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in ambush, as it is this day.”  Then Doeg the Edomite, who was standing by the servants of Saul, said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.  He inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

Then the king sent someone to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s household, the priests who were in Nob;  and all of them came to the king.  Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”  And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.”  Saul then said to him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush as it is this day?”

Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, “And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?  Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today?  Far be it from me!  Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair.”  But the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s household!”  And the king said to the guards who were attending him, “Turn around and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.”  But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the LORD.  Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn around and attack the priests.”  And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.  And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants;  also oxen, donkeys, and sheep he struck with the edge of the sword.”  1 Samuel 22:6-19.

——————

Saul falsely imputed to David that he (David) was against Saul and was conspiring against him.  Ahimelech perfectly refuted Saul, but Saul was blind with rage against David, and Saul falsely believed that there was no one trustworthy to help him (Saul).  

Today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the importance of being trustworthy. 

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?” Proverbs 20:6.

“4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6 Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:4-7.

“Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” Psalm 12:1-4.

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.” Proverbs 8:13.

“Hate evil, love good,
And establish justice in the gate!
Perhaps the LORD God of hosts
May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:15.

“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”  Luke 14:26.

But, there is hope!

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  Titus 2:11-14.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

Comments Off on “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags:

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories