1 Samuel: No Better Friend

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday, March 27, 2016
Chapters: 1 Samuel 20-22
Message: 1 Samuel: No Better Friend

Hello My Friend,

We all face difficulties in life, some seem to be more significant than others, and as Christians, we are often found with a dilemma, ask God what to do or make our own decision. Whenever we resort to our own reasoning, no matter what difficulties we face, we bring about more difficulties, but if we trust God and look to Him to make the right decisions for us He will send us on the right path. However, when we come to Him He will even make use of our mistakes. Remember, God will not push Himself on us, even when we are saved, He waits until we come to Him before He makes a move before He gets involved. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” -Romans 8:34,35,37.

One thing I never had growing up and still lack is a close friend, one that would be there for me, even in my darkest hour, one that would fight for me, even if it put them in danger. The second that Saul's son, Jonathan met David he felt a connection with him, they were in a sense soul brothers. When David realized that Saul wanted to kill him he had no idea why, but Jonathan insisted it was all a mistake and that if he went to his father it would be all cleared up. Jonathan soon found out that it was not a lie, and his father would stop at nothing to kill him.

“Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.” - 1 Samuel 20:30-34.

“thou shalt not be established,” Saul tried to use temptation and intimidation to get Jonathan to turn his back on David, stating that he would not be a king if David became king. The biggest ploy a person uses to get people to do what they want is temptation, and when that does not work, intimidation. At the end of our life there is only one person we must stand in front of and that is Jesus Christ. We will be accountable for everything we do in this life, while the saved do not face an eternity in hell, they do face seeing missed opportunities they could have had in His kingdom. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” - Matthew 12:35-37.

David finds no relief in Saul, all efforts to seek help from Jonathan, Michal, and Samuel are exhausted, his only hope for survival is to leave. He finds himself in Nob, where the tabernacle resided at that time, searching for aid from the priest, someone spots him there, one of Saul's men, Doeg.

“Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul. And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste. And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me. And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.” - 1 Samuel 21:7-10.

“detained before the LORD;” Held back of the priest for some religious purpose such as the fulfillment of a vow, or purification, a Sabbath, or on account of suspected leprosy. We do not know why Doeg was at the temple, but given what he does after he sees David it is likely that it had nothing to do with getting right with God. We must be careful who we get around, there is always someone out there trying to work there way up the ladder and will do anything to get what they want as well. While we never really know who will turn on us, we do have someone who will never turn on us and will fight for us in a moments notice, one who is always there, and even gave His life for us, that friend is Jesus Christ. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” - John 15:13-16.

It is often jealousy and envy that turns a friend into an enemy. Jealousy is like a disease, it slowly spreads until it consumes and controls the person that it captures and stops at nothing to destroy what gets in its way. Saul became increasingly violent with an uncontrolled temper, he considered any opposition as treason. He even went as far as having the priest who helped David and all his family killed.

“And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.” - 1 Samuel 22:12-18.

“and fall upon the priests.” There is always someone willing to in a sense, sell their soul by going against what is right, our country is falling apart because of this very reason. Let me tell you, nothing is worth selling your soul for fame and or wealth, it will always end tragically. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” - Matthew 16:26-28.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through David, who was the safeguard for Abiathar the priest who escaped Saul (22:23). Jesus is our safeguard, not only from hell and the lake of fire, but from the world.

Today's Prayer: God, There is no better friend to have than Your Son, He truly does stick closer than a brother. Lord, let me be the friend You need me to be to bring others to You, give me Your power to stick close to Jesus, to learn from and follow Him at all times. Let me be a faithful friend who boldly proclaims Jesus as my Savior and seeks to reach others with the Gospel so they too know Him. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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