Today's treasure: Psalm 54:6
David took every possible opportunity to defend his people, even when he was repaid with betrayal. David often had "no place to lay his head" Matt 8:20
Read 1 Sam. 23
What did David do before he defended the people of Keliah?
How did David's men react to his instruction from God?
Why do you think David asked the Lord a second time in v 4?
What contrasting information do you discover in v 7 and 14?
Tucked into the priestly ephod were the sacred lots. Casting the lots were nothing like throwing dice. These lots were ordained by
God as a means by which God's Word is now written in its entirety and we have no need of sacred lots, although we need lots of study. He would guide His people in making decisions that were not specifically addressed in the written Word at that time.
What two answers from God did David receive through the ephod?
Why did David flee from Horesh in the Desert of Ziph?
Two evidences of God's faithfulness on 1 Sam 23
1. God reconfirmed His directions to David
David's men reacted fearfully when he gave the order to fight the Philistines. Rather than shame them for questioning the word he had received from God, David went back to God to reconfirm.
In the same way, we may ask God to reconfirm His direction, not because we doubt God's Word but because we question our understanding.
2. God sent David a minister of encouragement. Jonathan went to David and "helped him find strength in God". God used Jonathan to reconfirm His calling on David's life. David had been betrayed by the people he tried to help. God was saying "You can trust Me to fulfill what I promised to you, and you can trust Jonathan not to turn his back on you".
If you have been more than once, do you still believe people can be trusted, or have you expected most people to betray you?
Read Psalm 54
We once again see prayer is not only for God's sake, it often is a reminder for our sake.
We will see David call on God by a multitude of names before we conclude this series. David seemed to have as many names for God as he had needs. The psalm concludes with David vowing to sacrifice a freewill offering to the Lord.
No better time arises to count our blessings than when we're tempted to believe we have none.
We often want to be called of God, then ushered painlessly into a position of service and honor, God doesn't work that way. It is not about the glamour, but all God's glory.
God always works to prepare us to serve Him, but He rarely prepares us in ways we expect. He will bring another lesson when we have learned, and on it goes!!
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