This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.” This is Part 64 of the series and Part 36 of the life of David.
(Read 1 Samuel 19:1-17)
Yesterday we learned yesterday that king Saul had gotten to the point where he literally hated David. Saul did not care that David was married to his daughter, was best friends with his son, was respected by the Soldiers, and loved by the people. He still wanted David dead.
Chapter 19 opens with king Saul urging his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But prince Jonathan, David’s best friend, immediately went and told David what his father was planning. That was a dangerous move, because Saul was so unstable that he could have had his own son killed. The next day, Jonathan talked to his father, he attempted to talk him down “off the ledge,” and it seemed to work. Saul said, “Okay son, as surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.” Afterward Jonathan found David, told him what had happened, and brought David to Saul for the two to reconcile. It seemed to work, at least temporarily, and David went back to serving Saul.
Soon 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 a spear in his 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, Saul’s daughter, David’s wife, said to him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.” So she helped him climb out through a window. 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.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God never said it would be easy.
a) David’s life was much easier before the prophet anointed him to be king. Once God’s purpose for his life was evident, it seemed like his life went haywire. But through it all, David was actually in the center of God’s will. Many people think that if you are facing challenges that you must have done something wrong or that you are outside of God’s will. No. You can face fierce opposition, like David did, and be in the center of God’s will. Because the attack is against the assignment. Don’t take it personal and don’t give up. If you keep going, satan cannot stop you.
b) Satan knows that he cannot stop you when you are operating in the grace and favor of God. But he also knows that God will not force himself upon you, because God honors your right to choose. So satan does all he can to get you to give up, cave in and quit. If you quit, then God will allow you to quit, because that is your choice. At that point satan did not actually stop you. You stopped yourself. The only way David could have missed out on being the next King of Israel is if he quit. Thankfully he did not. It was not easy, but he kept going. Will you?
c) I run into Christians all the time who want to run away from a situation at the first sign of trouble. People run from jobs, business opportunities, marriages, and etc., just because of challenges. Guess what? Everyone faces challenges. Don’t run away just because it gets hard. How can you experience the Lord as an overcomer if you never stick around long enough to overcome?
2. You have grace for the space between the promise and the performance.
a) There is a space between the promise and the performance. In David’s case there was over a decade between the day Samuel anointed David as king and and the day he actually took the throne. Like David, you will have to endure long enough to see what God said!
b) The space between the promise and the performance 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. HOW YOU WAIT can impact HOW LONG YOU WAIT! 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. You must develop the perseverance required to become the man/woman you are called to be. It will not be easy. But it will surely be worth it!
c) While you are enduring the space between God’s promise and the performance of it, you should often remind yourself that you have the grace for it. No matter what you face, no matter how long it takes, and no matter how hard it gets, you have the grace of God on your life to keep going. You can take it. You will make it. It shall come to pass in the fullness of God’s timing!
Closing Confession:
Father, 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. I also know the enemy is going to attempt to get me to give up along the way. 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 upon Him and He passed the tests. When Jesus came out of the wilderness He did so with the POWER OF THE SPIRIT. The same holds true for me. I receive Your promises by faith. Satan comes to test what I received. I have the grace to withstand and pass every test. As I pass the tests and overcome the challenges I come out of the testing phase in the POWER OF THE SPIRIT. I have the grace to endure and I shall not be stopped! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
