(Read 1 Samuel 19:8-17)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Yesterday we saw how Saul’s son Jonathan intervened to save David’s life. The prince convinced his father and the king said, “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.” A friend of mine pointed out that with this statement Saul was acknowledging the Lord’s providence and power, and the fact that God’s hand was on David. But the acknowledgement was short lived. Soon after David returned to the palace war broke out again. David led his troops against the Philistines and he attacked them with such fury that they all ran away. After the battle Saul was sitting at home, enjoying David’s harp playing, with spear in hand. All of a sudden the king hurled the spear at David. David dodged the spear, leaving it stuck in the wall, and David quickly fled into the night.
Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were instructed to kill David when he came out the next morning. But princess Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.” So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. The princess then took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head. When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn’t get out of bed. The troops went back and reported to Saul that David was sick. Saul did not care. The king sent the troops back, saying, “Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!” Sure enough, the troops went back to David’s house, prepared to carry the entire bed if necessary. It was then that they realized David was gone and the only thing left in his bed was the idol and cushion of goat’s hair. Saul was furious with his daughter, asking, “Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape?” But Michal, fearing for her life, lied and said, “I had to, he threatened to kill me if I didn’t help him.” And with that, David was on the run again.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. There is a space between the promise and the performance. Very rarely does a promise from God manifest itself immediately. In David’s case there was over a decade of time between the day Samuel anointed David as king and and the day he actually took the throne. In your case it may not take that long but however long it takes, it will more than likely not happen immediately.
2. The space is often challenging. When you know you have a promise from God and you are convinced that it shall come to pass, the time you spend waiting on the manifestation is important. In the the space between the promise and the performance of it, the devil is going to try to do everything he can to get you to give up on the promise. David could have easily given up and went back home to Bethlehem, but the calling on his life was too great to give up on, and the grace of God kept him going even when the challenges came one after the other. But here’s a source of encouragement for you. The devil is crafty and he knows what he is doing. He is not going to waste his time attacking people that are not going anywhere. If the enemy keeps attacking you, it is because you are worth attacking. The Lord is doing something in your life and the enemy is trying to get you to give up before you see the manifestation of it.
3. You have grace for the space. No matter what you face, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how hard it gets, you have the grace for it. If you are facing it, then it is evidence that God trusts you with it. You can take it. You will make it. Don’t give up, cave in, or quit. This too shall pass. Before you know it, the trials and testings will be over and you will see the manifestation of the promise. So keep going, keep pressing, and keep believing, relying on God’s grace the entire way!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I realize that there is often a space between the promise and the performance, between my confession and the completion of it, between my prayer and the manifestation of Your power. And I know the enemy is going to attempt to get me to give up along the way. In the space between the promise and the performance, the enemy will bring me problems. In the space between the confession and the completion, the enemy will stir up confusion. But I refuse to focus on the challenges, I focus on You! Jesus received a Word from You at His baptism, confirming that He was Your Son. Jesus was then LED OF THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted of satan. Satan tested the Word Jesus received and questioned whether or not He was the Son of God. Jesus had Your grace and He passed the tests. When Jesus came out of the wilderness He had the POWER OF THE SPIRIT. The same holds true for me. I receive Your promises, satan comes to test what I received, I have the grace to withstand and pass every test, and as I pass the tests and overcome the challenges I come out with the POWER OF THE SPIRIT. I have the grace to endure the space between the promise and the performance and anything the devil brings my way in between only helps me to grow and mature into the person You desire for me to be! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
