(Read 1 Samuel 22:5-8)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” When last we heard of David he was in the cave of Adullam and he built a stronghold there, fortifying his position, and establishing himself as the leader of a band of misfits, 400 men in all. The Lord blessed David in that cave and he stayed there until he heard from God to move. Remember, when David put his parents in his own form of ‘witness-protection’ he told the king of Moab that he was waiting to find out what God was going to do for him. David did not know what was next, but he did know that God was up to something.
David continued to wait on the Lord and one day the Lord moved on the prophet Gad to go to David to give him a word. The prophet said, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” David received this a Word from the Lord, so he obeyed immediately. David went to the forest of Hereth. It did not take long before the news of his arrival in Judah reached king Saul. When he received the news he was sitting beneath the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, holding his spear and surrounded by his officers. Saul immediately lost it. The king shouted, “Listen here, you men of Benjamin! Has that son of Jesse promised every one of you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you all generals and captains in his army? Is that why you have conspired against me?” Here you have the sitting king of Israel expressing his frustration to his own men. Saul was no longer stable. He knew the Lord was no longer with him, he knew the Lord was with David, and it was driving him crazy. Saul continued shouting, “For not one of you told me when my own son made a solemn pact with the son of Jesse. You’re not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son—encouraging him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day!” Saul wanted his Soldiers to feel sorry for him and he thought his own son was conspiring to kill him. This is a picture of what happens to those who fight against God’s plans and purposes.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Hearing from God is essential. David knew God was up to something, but he did not know what it was, so he stood pat until he heard from God. Today, as Born-Again believers, we have God’s Spirit inside of us and the Father can lead us through His Spirit. A question I get all the time is, “How do you hear from God?” While God can speak to you a myriad of ways, one thing I have learned is that you cannot be in a hurry. Many Christians spend 10 minutes in prayer and then want to hurry to the next thing. While you can’t put a timeframe on it, you must make time to spend time with God. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will learn to hear from Him.
2. God can speak to you through others. God sent the prophet Gad to David and He can still do the same today. Some Christians believe the time for prophecy is over, but I don’t know where they get that from. God has spoken to me through many who are anointed to be prophets and through others He simply led to share a Word with me. The point here is, when waiting to hear from God, don’t put limits on how He can speak to you. God can speak to you through others, through His Spirit, through the Bible, through circumstances, and through many other ways. Open yourself up to hear from Him and you will.
3. God will deal with your enemies. David did not have to fight Saul. Saul was losing his mind under the pressure of being against God and his anointed. When people come up against you, God has a way of removing His protection from them and allowing them to feel the weight and pressure that comes when someone fights against God’s Kingdom plans and purposes. You will stand by and watch as they buckle under the pressure.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for speaking to me on a regular basis. I am Your sheep, I hear Your voice, and the voice of a stranger I will not follow. I am never hopeless, because I am never helpless. You are always with me, every second of every day. Your Spirit has taken up residence inside of me and You lead me by Your Spirit. I have an inner conviction that leads me in the way I should go. You also speak to me through others. You send people my way — some that are anointed to be prophets and some who are not — to speak a Word into my spirit. I receive the Word You send through others and I obey it as a tailor-made Word for me. You also speak to me through Your written Word. As I read Your Word the words often jump off the pages and come alive in my heart. Your Word is the ruler by which I judge every decision and I feast on Your Word every day. Father, You also speak to me through circumstances. Things happen, both good and bad, and You then tell me how to interpret what happened and what to do next. I don’t have to loosely stumble through life. I am led of You in all my ways. I enjoy walking with You and You walking with me. And when people come up against me, and Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life, I can simply stand still watch them buckle under the pressure that comes to those who foolishly fight against God and His anointed. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
