David in cave Adullam                                        verse 1- 2 

David therefore departed thence – and escaped to the cave Adullam

and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it

      they went down thither to him

And every one that was in distress – debt – discontented

gathered themselves to him

      and he became a captain over them

                  and there were with him about four hundred men 

David leaves parents in Moab                             verse 3- 4 

And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab

and he said to the king of Moab

Let my father and my mother – I pray you

come forth and be with you

      till I know what God will do for me

And he brought them before the king of Moab

and they dwelt with him all the while

that David was in the hold 

Prophet Gad tells David to go back to Judah     verse 5 

And the prophet Gad

said to David

Abide not in the hold

depart – and get you into the land of Judah

Then David departed – and came into the forest of Hareth 

Saul hears of return of David                              verse 6- 8 

When Saul heard that David was discovered

and the men that were with him

(now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah

having his spear in his hand

and all his servants were standing about him)

Then Saul

said unto his servants that stood about him

Hear now you Benjamites

will the son of Jesse give every one of you

fields and vineyards

                        and make you all captains of thousands

                                    and captains of hundreds

That all of you have conspired against me

and there is none that shows me that my son has made a

league with the son of Jesse

and there is none of you that is sorry for me

            or shows to me that my son hath

stirred up my servant against me

to lie in wait – as at this day? 

Doeg tells of David’s visit to Ahimelech              verse 9- 10 

Then answered Doeg the Edomite

which was set over the servants of Saul

and said

I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob

to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub

And he INQUIRED of the LORD for him

and gave him victuals

            and gave him the sword of

Goliath the Philistine 

Saul confronts Ahimelech                                   verse 11- 17 

Then the king send to call Ahimelech the priest

the son of Ahitub and all his father’s house

the priests that were in Nob

                        and they came all of them to the king

And Saul said

Hear now you son of Ahitub

And he answered

Here I am my lord

And Saul

said to him

Why have you conspired against me – you and the son of Jesse

in that you have given him bread – sword

have inquired 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 your servants as David

which is the king’s son-in-law – and goes at your bidding

            and is honorable in your house?

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?             be it far from me

let not the king impute anything to his servant

            nor to all the house of my father

for they servant KNEW NOTHING of all this

            less or more

And the king said

You shall surely die – Ahimelech – you

and all your 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

                        because they knew when he fled

                                    and did not show it to me

BUT the servants of the king would not put forth

their hand to fall on priests of the LORD 

Doeg kills all the priests                                       verse 18- 19 

And the king said to Doeg

Turn you and fall on the priests

And Doeg the Edomite turned

and he fell upon the priests

and slew on that day fourscore and five persons

that die wear a linen ephod

And Nob – the city of the priests

smote he with the edge of the sword

both men and women – children and sucklings

                                    oxen and asses and sheep

with the edge of the sword 

Abiathar the priest joins David                           verse 20- 23 

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub

named Abiathar escaped – fled after David

And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain

the LORD’S priests

And David

said to Abiathar

I knew it that day – when Doeg the Edomite was there

that he would surely tell Saul

I have occasioned the death of all the persons of

your father’s house

Abide you with me – fear not

for he that seeks my life seeks your life

but with me you shall be in safeguard 

COMMENTARY:         

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers           

: 2        And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. (4751 “discontented” [mar] means bitter, angry, expressive of severe grief or regret, anguished, despairing, or despairing)

DEVOTION: Does this sound like a motley crew gathering around David? Or does it sound like a group of believer who gather in a local church? We can look around the congregation in our local church and see individuals in the pews who fit this description.

God called these men to follow David. He needed an army and the ones who came were in distress, in debt, and discontented with what was going on in their world.

We might even fit into one of these categories today. The LORD wants us to realize that HE is there for us and will help us through the local church to overcome any and all of these circumstances.

In David’s day he couldn’t go around asking men to join him, the LORD sent the ones HE wanted around David. It turned out that the LORD chose the right men to be around him to help him learn from his experiences while he was in hiding from Saul.

The LORD knows who we need around us during our times of learning from the LORD. HE brings just the right people into our life to face the present challenges HE wants to use to cause not only us to grow but those around us to grow. Are you presently going through a rough time in your life? Watch to see who the LORD brings alongside you to help you through those rough times.

God has blessed me with many individuals who have come alongside me during each time period of growth in my life. These individuals have helped us through with their prayers and encouragement. This needs to be acknowledged in each of our lives.

CHALLENGE:  If you are going through or have gone through a rough time look around at those who have helped you and tell them “thank you” for being there. Tell them they are a blessing from the LORD!

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

: 5        And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth. (4686 “hold” [metsudah] means stronghold, fortress, bulwark, castle, defense, fastness, net, or strong place)

DEVOTION: What do you think about your parents? Would you think the same thoughts as David concerning his father and mother? Would you make sure they were taken care of? What should be our attitude toward our parents? David honored his parents, even when he was on the run from Saul.

David had all of his family members and all those who were distressed or in debt or discontented gathered around to help him in his fight with Saul. How many people would this be today? David is running from Saul. He had his family join him in hiding. He had about four hundred men follow him in hiding. They were a group of men who were having trouble during the time of Saul. They were hiding in a forest. Does this sound like the movie “Robin Hood?”

David was trying to find the right place to get away from Saul. He left his father and mother with the king of Moab until he could find out what the LORD was going to do with him.

This verse introduces us to a new prophet. This prophet, Gad, warns David to leave where he is and to someplace safer in the land of Judah. The LORD promises us a safe place in HIM.

Saul killed all the servants of the LORD called priests at Nob along with their families because Ahimelech helped David. Only one son escaped to join David.

We sometimes look for other places to get help when we are in trouble. They usually don’t work. If they do, we are still in the wrong place depending on the wrong place or person for safety.

When we try to hide in the wrong place and God has to get our attention to go to the right place. Are we willing to move? We should be!!! David had to be moved with the help of a prophet.

Are we running from an enemy? Are we looking for a fastness or secure place? The LORD is our stronghold. Seek guidance from HIM regarding the proper place to be on a regular basis. David listened to the prophet.

CHALLENGE: We need to be listening!!!

__________________________________________________________________ 

: 14      Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, and who is so faithful among all your servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? (539 “faithful” [’aman] means sure, established, believe, to be reliable so as to be depended on, or to be proved to be firm)

DEVOTION:  Ahimelech the priest noted that David was the most dependable person in Saul’s army. He was someone who was the best friend of his son. He was one who could lead Saul’s army into battle with victory.

Here was a man that Saul should have trusted but because he was jealous of his abilities and knew that Samuel had blessed him. Saul knew that his son would not be the next king and he wanted him to be king.

So we find that Saul was not in his right mind when it came to thinking about David. He had allowed the spirit of jealousy to influence his decisions. It was not the LORD who was giving him these thoughts regarding David.

We can have the same problem if there is someone who seems to be getting ahead of us at work or even in church. We want to be number one in all things. This is not something the LORD gives us but that our old nature gives us.

We have to fight these types of feeling. It is not easy at times but that is not the thinking of someone who wants others to succeed in life. We should be praying for others to grow closer to the LORD and be used of the LORD for HIS glory.

CHALLENGE: How do we look at others? Are we jealous of them if they succeed? Or are we happy that the LORD is using them for HIS glory? This can be a battle that we fight just like Saul. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 17      And the king said to 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 show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of the LORD. (6293 “fall” [paga’] means to deliver a sharp blow, as with a hand, fist, or sharp weapon, fall upon with hostility, strike, or attack)

DEVOTION:  Here we have a king who is not following the LORD giving orders to his troops to kill the priests at Nob. They had not done anything wrong. They had just given David what he wanted without knowing that Saul was mad at him and wanted to kill him.

So Saul gave the order to keep the priests and none of his men would kill them but there was a man who would have no problem killing them because he was from another nation that believed in false gods.

Saul’s soldiers believed in the LORD and didn’t want the LORD to judge them for their actions if they killed HIS servants. Even though the LORD predicted that these descendants of Eli would be killed they didn’t want to be a part of it.

We need to watch who we obey. Sometimes there will be someone we think is spiritual telling us something that is not in tune with the will of the LORD. We have to ask for discernment regarding our obedience to someone who gives an order that we know would not please the LORD.

Our responsibility is obedience to the leaders the LORD places over us but only after we check with the LORD regarding HIS will according to HIS Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

When in doubt regarding an action a leader tells us to do, we need to not do it like these soldiers of Saul. Sometimes if our parents are not believers, they might tell us to do something that would not be pleasing to the LORD and we should obey the LORD rather than our parents.

The same is true between a husband and a wife at times. If one is not a believer or might claim to be a believer but is out of tune with the LORD the spouse needs to check with the LORD regarding obedience.

CHALLENGE: We need to know when to confront and when not to confront if it means hurting someone. The soldiers picked the right decision not to kill the priests against the king’s orders. 

__________________________________________________________________ 

: 23      Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeks my life seeks your life: but with me you shall be in safeguard. (4931 “safeguard” [mishmereth] means keeping, preserving, custody, you are in safe hands, what is to be preserved, placing a guard over an area for safety, or to exercise great care over.)

DEVOTION:  The whole family of Eli was killed except Abiathar who would stay with David throughout his reign. He was the last descendant of Eli who the LORD said would have no future because of the sins of his sons and his lack of discipline of his family. So this killing of the priests in Nob was a fulfillment of a prophecy of the LORD.

Does that take the guilt of Saul and Doeg? No, they were to be judged for this sin. Now however, David had the prophet Gad and the priest Abiathar in his camp.

David was going to go through a time period of suffering which is necessary for everyone who wants to serve the LORD. Growth comes through suffering. He told Abiathar that he would keep him safe from Saul while he was in his camp.

Both men were now going to be hunted by Saul but the LORD was going to keep them safe. David promised he would preserve the life of Abiathar because they had a mutual enemy in Saul.

The LORD wants us to know that we are safe in HIS camp. Does this mean that none of the servants of the LORD would die while the fight continued between David and Saul? NO!! However, we know that the priest was still with David when he took the throne in the future. David kept his promise to him.

CHALLENGE: We need to trust in the LORD for our preservation in this world. HE is the one who has a plan for our life and HIS plan will happen. We need to realize we are safe in the hands of Jesus. 

_______________________________________________________________

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY 

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone) 

SOUL 

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God) 

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level) 

Inquired of the LORD                                              verse 10

Inquired of God                                                        verse 13, 15 

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group) 

Ahimelech the priest                                                 verse 9- 20

            Inquired of the LORD for David

            Gave David victuals

            Gave David sword of Goliath

            Thought David was most faithful servant

                        of Saul

            Said he did inquire for David but not his

                        household

Priests that were in Nob                                           verse 11- 19

            Saul orders all of them killed

Abiathar escaped and went to David                      verse 20- 23 

________________________________________________________________

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead) 

God – Elohim (Creator)                                           verse 3 13, 15

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)   verse 10, 17

Inquired of the LORD                                              verse 10

Inquired of God                                                        verse 13, 15
            Priests of the LORD                                                 verse 17 

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)    

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation) 

Moab                                                                          verse 3, 4

            David’s mother and father

Doeg the Edomite                                                    verse 9- 19, 22

            Set over servants of Saul

            Willing to kill 85 priests

            Killed all in the city of the priests

Goliath the Philistine                                              verse 10 

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels) 

Conspired                                                                  verse 8, 13

Lie in wait                                                                  verse 8, 13

Saul had priest killed                                                verse 18

Saul kills all who lived in Nob                                 verse 19 

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins) 

Care of parents                                                          verse 3

Knowing God’s will                                                  verse 3

Prophet                                                                      verse 5

Enquire of the LORD                                               verse 10, 13, 15

Faithful                                                                      verse 14

Honorable                                                                  verse 14

Not killing priests of Nob                                         verse 17

Fear not                                                                      verse 23 

Israel (Old Testament people of God) 

David gathers family and other (400)                     verse 1- 23

            Cave of Adullam

            All his father’s house

            Those in distress

            Those in debt

            Those discontented

            Four hundred men followed him

            Went to Mizpeh of Moab

            Went to forest of Hareth

            Son of Jesse

            Thought to be most faithful servant

                        of Saul

            Saul’s son of law

            Promised Abiathar the priest he would

                        be his safeguard

Prophet Gad                                                              verse 5

            Warns David to not stay

                        But go to land of Judah

Saul                                                                             verse 6

            Orders all priest killed

            His servants would not kill priests           

Benjamites                                                                 verse 7

Jonathan                                                                    verse 8

            League with David

Ahitub – son of Ahimelech escaped                        verse 20- 23 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events) 

Death of Ahimelech and family                               verse 16

___________________________________________________________________

DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org  Also if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method.  Thank you.

______________________________________________________________________

QUOTES regarding passage 

David tells him (v.22) that he had anticipated Doeg’s act of betrayal ever since their earlier encounter at Nob (cf. 21:7). David then confesses that he himself, however unwittingly, is ultimately accountable for the massacre. In saying “I am responsible,” David uses a form of the same Hebrew verb translated “turn,” “turned” in v.18. Although it was Doeg the Edomite who “turned” and killed the priests, it was David who, through his earlier presence at Nob, was “responsible” for causing their death. He therefore offers refuge to Abiathar, telling him not to “be afraid” (v.23; cf. Jonathan’s similar reassurance to David in 23:17). Abiathar may count on David’s protection: “You” (emphatic), David says, “will be safe with me.” Saul now seeks the life (see comment on 20:1) of both of them; so they become partners in flight. King-elect and priest-elect have joined forces as fellow fugitives. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 737). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

_________________________________________________________________

David then was joined by Abiathar (vv. 20–23), son of the priest Ahimelech, who fled to David after Saul exterminated the whole priestly community. This marked the beginning of David’s priestly staff which would later lead the tabernacle worship in Jerusalem.  (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 451). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

________________________________________________________________

The protected priest (1 Sam. 22:20–23). The only survivor of the massacre at Nob was Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, who then became the high priest. He knew that his only hope was to join David, so he fled to Keilah where David was now camped (23:6). When David moved from Hereth to Keilah isn’t revealed in the text, but having a priest with an ephod was a tremendous help to David and his company. The 400 men had Gad the prophet, Abiathar the priest, and David the king; and they were fighting the battles of the Lord. David took the blame for the slaughter of the priests, but he also took the responsibility of caring for Abiathar and making sure he was safe.

David was now officially an outlaw, but the Lord was with him and he would one day become Israel’s greatest king. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (p. 122). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)

________________________________________________________________

20–23 Probably unknown to Saul at the time, “a” (v.20; lit., “one,” stressing the fact that he was the sole survivor) son of Ahimelech “escaped” (the same verb is frequently used of David; cf. 19:10, 12, 17–18) and joined David’s fugitive band. Abiathar (“The [Divine] Father Is Excellent”) by name (cf. Moses’ father-in-law, the priest Jethro, whose name means “His Excellency”), he performed priestly functions for David for the rest of David’s life (cf. 23:6, 9; 30:7; 2 Sam 8:17), eventually to be replaced by Zadok under Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 2:27, 35; for the reference to Abiathar in Mark 2:26, see comment on 21:6). When he informs David that Saul had issued orders resulting in the massacre of all the priests of Nob except himself (v.21), David tells him (v.22) that he had anticipated Doeg’s act of betrayal ever since their earlier encounter at Nob (cf. 21:7). David then confesses that he himself, however unwittingly, is ultimately accountable for the massacre. In saying “I am responsible,” David uses a form of the same Hebrew verb translated “turn,” “turned” in v.18. Although it was Doeg the Edomite who “turned” and killed the priests, it was David who, through his earlier presence at Nob, was “responsible” for causing their death. He therefore offers refuge to Abiathar, telling him not to “be afraid” (v.23; cf. Jonathan’s similar reassurance to David in 23:17). Abiathar may count on David’s protection: “You” (emphatic), David says, “will be safe with me.” Saul now seeks the life (see comment on 20:1) of both of them; so they become partners in flight. King-elect and priest-elect have joined forces as fellow fugitives. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 736–737). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

_________________________________________________________________

22:6–23 The massacre at Nob. Nob was at this time a major sanctuary. After the Philistine victory of ch. 4, the Shiloh sanctuary had been destroyed, and Nob may have replaced it in importance. Ahimelech, the chief priest at Nob, was the grandson of Eli of Shiloh. It is astonishing that Saul should have massacred so many priests at such an important sanctuary, despite the very reasonable defence which Ahimelech made (14–15). The chapter demonstrates that by now Saul was suspicious of everybody, including Jonathan (8), and saw a conspiracy where none existed. It is significant that his own officials refused to obey his orders (17).

Saul’s brutality at Nob had a result which he did not foresee. One man who escaped the massacre was Abiathar (a future high priest at Jerusalem), who had little choice but to join David. In this way David gained priestly support in addition to the prophet Gad. (Payne, D. F. (1994). 1 and 2 Samuel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 316). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press)

_________________________________________________________________

22:22 I have caused the death of all the persons: David recognized that his deception led to the massacre of the priests and their families (21:1–9). In the sovereignty of God, the destruction of the priests of Nob was a partial fulfillment of the prophesied judgment on Eli’s house (2:27–36). But the sovereignty of God never nullifies personal responsibility for one’s actions (Acts 2:23)  (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 374). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)

__________________________________________________________________

22:22 I have brought about. David recognized his responsibility for causing the deaths of the priests’ families and animals, acknowledging the devastating consequences of his lie to Ahimelech (cf. 21:1, 2). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 22:22). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

__________________________________________________________________

Ver. 22. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, &c.] That is, he thought in his mind at that time: when Doeg the Edomite was there at Nob; in the tabernacle, at the same time that David was there: that he would surely tell Saul; that he saw David there, and what passed between him and Ahimelech; he knew he was a spiteful mischievous man; that he was a true Edomite, though a proselyte, and bore hatred and enmity in his mind against an Israelite, and especially an Israelite indeed, as David was: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house; or have been the cause of all the evils that befell them, and the death they were put unto, not with design, but by accident; and it grieved him that he should be any ways an accessory thereunto, though without intention. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 528). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

___________________________________________________________________ 

FROM MY READING: 

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

______________________________________________________________

This period of persecution in David’s life was a part of the preparation for the throne. He was already a great soldier; now he needed to suffer in the wilderness to learn not to trust men but to trust the Lord. All of us need “wilderness testings” to bring us closer to the Lord and to make us better equipped to serve Him. Saul’s persecution of David is an illustration of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. It also pictures Satan’s persecution of the church today: Saul was not the king, yet he was reigning; David was the king, but he was not yet on the throne. Satan seems to be “reigning” today, but Christ is King and one day He will take His rightful throne. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (1 Sa 22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

_______________________________________________________________

The prophet was Gad (ver. 5), who next to Samuel seems to have stood highest in the nation as a man of God, a man of holy counsel, and elevated, heavenly character. His open adherence to David (which seems to be implied in ver. 5) must have had the best effects both on David himself and on the people at large. It must have been a great blessing to David to have such a man as Gad beside him; for, with all his personal piety, he seems to have required a godly minister at his side. No man derived more benefit from the communion of saints, or was more apt to suffer for want of it; for, as we have seen, he had begun to decline in spirituality when he left Samuel at Naioth, and still more when he was parted from Jonathan. When Gad joined him, David must have felt that he was sent to him from the Lord, and could not but be full of gratitude for so conspicuous an answer to his prayers. It would seem that Gad remained in close relation to David to the close of his life. It was he that came from the Lord to offer him his choice between three forms of chastisement after his offence in numbering the people; and from the fact of his being called “David’s seer” (2 Sam. 24:11) we conclude that he and David were intimately associated. It was he also that instructed David to buy the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and thus to consecrate to God a spot with which, to the very end of time, the most hallowed thoughts must always be connected. (Blaikie, W. G. (1903). The First Book of Samuel. In W. Robertson Nicoll (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible: Samuel to Job (Vol. 2, p. 89). Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co.)

____________________________________________________________

Though David held forth such consolation to Abiathar, yet it appears, from his history, and the contents of the Fifty-second Psalm, which he wrote upon this occasion, that his mind was sharply exercised, though with steady faith. But do we not see a greater than David here? Is not our Almighty David shadowed forth, as brought into distresses, and bringing his followers, to similar situations like Ahimelech? But how sweet the relief to the mind, that our Almighty David hath anticipated the sure judgment, which must follow the persecutors of his people. Yes! the Lord will destroy, all the enemies of our salvation, and that forever. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Deuteronomy–2 Samuel (Vol. 2, p. 586). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)

_______________________________________________________________ 

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
The Christian experience is a definite and a certain experience–“that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” Now if people do not know what they have, how can they wish for others to share it with them? So that is the starting point”that the Christian experience is not a vague one; it is not indefinite or uncertain. Rather, it is a ell-defined experience, and true Christians know what they have; they are aware of what they possess. They are in no uncertainty themselves as to what has happened to them as to their personal position. “These things write we unto you,” says John, “that your joy may be full”–that you may share what we have. You cannot invite someone to share something with you unless you know exactly what you are asking him to share.
We are dealing with what may be called the great New Testament doctrine of the assurance of salvation, which has been subjected to considerable criticism. People have regarded it as presumption. They have said this is something that is impossible, and that no one should be able to claim such a thing. 
But John is a man who tells us that he knows, and it is because he knows and because of what he has experienced that he is writing. Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it. They have it; there is no uncertainty. They “know whom [they] have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12); and it is because John has possessed this that he writes about it.
A Thought to Ponder
Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it. From Fellowship with God, pp. 57-58. (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

____________________________________________________________________

A NEW PRINCIPLE

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
We are meant to use all our God-given natural faculties. That is why when God wants a great teacher of the Christian Gospel, he chooses a man like the apostle Paul. Yes, but Paul was no more a Christian than the most ignorant person in the church at Corinth. It is the principle that matters. We must not merely consider this in terms of understanding and ability; it is something much more wonderful and glorious than that. And that is why Paul was able to say in 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
God, he says, takes the ignorant, and by means of them He confounds the wise, and He takes the weak and confounds the mighty—because of this new principle that He introduces.
What, then, is the effect of the introduction of this principle? This life eternal about which we are speaking is something that affects the entire person. But it is especially interesting to observe the way in which it affects a man’s understanding and apprehension of spiritual things. And the way to look at that is to contrast the natural, unregenerate man, who is not a Christian, with the man who is a Christian. According to Scripture, the natural man is spiritually dead. May I be so bold as to put it like this: If there is anybody to whom these things about which I am speaking are really utterly meaningless, then, as I understand Scripture, it means that such a person is spiritually dead and has not received eternal life because, as Paul puts it, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him” (1 Corinthians2:14). They are meaningless to him.
A Thought to PonderGod takes the ignorant, and by means of them He confounds the wise—because of this new principle that He introduces.
       (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 153-154., by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

__________________________________________________________________

Britney Spears Is Not a Thing (She’s a Person)

Last summer, outside a California courtroom, a group of protestors gathered, marched, chanted, took lots of selfies, and held signs that read, “Free Britney.” Footage from that day now comprises the opening scene of a newly released New York Times documentary about Britney Spears, the pop music star who rose to fame as barely a teenager in the early 2000s. 

Spears is now in the middle of a legal battle over control of her financial estate. Her genuinely tragic story begins with her parents’ insistence on making Britney a star at an extremely young age. Having achieved that goal, her innocent “bubble gum pop” persona turned into something far less innocent. After spending much of her career attempting to outdo her previous sexual explicitness, Britney Spears has spiraled into ongoing and severe mental health issues, worsened by broken relationships, and constantly being stalked by paparazzi. 

Objectifying others is not only a sin itself, it leads to other sins. Pride, contempt, jealousy, adultery, murder, sexual predation, even self-harming behaviors like drug abuse and sexual promiscuity are all rooted in seeing and using people, even ourselves, as objects instead of Image-bearers.

Most Christians, and even non-Christians, would say that treating anyone in any of these ways is wrong. However, objectifying people has become so normal, we do it in ways we don’t even realize. Some of those protestors who gathered outside the courthouse in California were probably genuinely concerned for her well-being. But what of the others, such as those telling reporters over and over how much they “love” this pop star they don’t even know? Aren’t they really using her, too?

After all, they’ve turned her situation – her tragedy and pain – into something to consume. It’s entertainment, or catharsis. They are using a person they cannot practically love, serve, sacrifice for, or even talk to, and making her fill a need they have. That’s objectification, too.

This behavior is different than admiring or honoring a well-known figure. There is a fundamental difference between, for example, the Americans who lined up along railroad tracks to honor the life of Abraham Lincoln as his body was taken to lie in state, and those who gathered for the “Free Britney” rally outside family court. Admiring virtue and being grateful for a life well-lived is different from looking to fill a need that should be met in real relationships.   

In a celebrity-driven culture like ours, it is tempting to think we have a celebrity-shaped hole in our hearts instead of a God-shaped one. For artists, this takes the form of seeking to be popular instead of seeking excellence. For consumers, this takes the form of elevating and worshiping celebrities in their prime and then ridiculing them and gawking at them afterwards.

Celebrity-ism is as much a problem in the Church as out. We can be grateful for YouTube access to the teachings, articles, and sermons of our favorite pastors and for the inspiration from our favorite Christian authors or artists through Instagram. But are we idolizing? Are we angry if they say something we don’t like, commenting as if they’re not real people or as if their job is always to agree with us? Do we assume a level of intimacy that is not appropriate with someone we actually don’t know? Do we use them to replace local churches or to provide spiritual authority in our lives, when that is not their place nor role?

The dangerous mistake is confusing our ability to enjoy the consumable goods we get from Christians “celebrities” or social-media influencers with a right to access or intimacy with the people themselves to meet our needs. It is a mistake we make with people we don’t agree with, too. Just look how Christians treat each other on Twitter, as if we are dealing with cartoon characters instead of real people. 

When it comes to the clarity we need on human value and boundaries with others, our culture is both out of ideas and off its foundation. Objectifying, idolizing, and “celebritizing” (I made that one up…) are all ways of treating image bearers as brands, not people, expecting them to fill our need, whether for diversion or community or meaning. In that context, mutual fandom and the hatred of a common enemy are two sides of the same coin. 

No matter how interesting, how talented, how fun to love or hate they are, people are not objects.  (Break Point)

___________________________________________________________________

An Outspoken conservative and professing Christian, Former NFL player Herschel Walker recently argued during a House Judiciary Committee hearing against reparations for slavery.

According to The Blaze, Walker, a Heisman Trophy winner, made his case during last week’s virtual hearing by quoting Scripture.

Walker first quoted Ezekiel 18:20 which says, “The person who sins will die. A son will not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt, nor will a father suffer the punishment for the son’s guilt; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

“We use Black power to create White guilt,” Walker argued. “My approach is biblical: How can I ask my Heavenly Father to forgive me if I can’t forgive my brother?”

“I never want to put anyone’s religion down, but my religion teaches togetherness. Reparations teach separation,” he asserted. “Slavery ended over 130 years ago; how can a father be asked [to allow] his son to spend prison time for a crime he committed?”

He added that if reparations are “a fee or a correction for a terrible sin of slaveowners, government, and others, but we punish a non-guilty party, is it not creating division, a separation with different races? I feel it continues to let us know we’re still African American rather than just American. Reparations or atonement is outside the teaching of Jesus Christ.”

Walker also asked what reparations would look like on a practical level.

“Reparations — where does the money come from? Does it come from all the other races except the Black taxpayers?” he asked. “Who is Black? What percentage of Black must you be to receive reparations? Do you go to 23andMe or a DNA test to determine the percentage of blackness?”

Walker added that some American ancestors “just came to this country 80 years ago” thus noting that their ancestors “weren’t even here during slavery.”

“Some Black immigrants weren’t here during slavery, nor their ancestors,” he added. “Some states didn’t even have slavery.”

Walker, who also encouraged Americans to vote for Trump in the 2020 election, has previously stated that he does not believe Black Americans are oppressed.

In a widely viewed Twitter video last October, Walker explained how he, a “poor Black kid from South Georgia”, had the opportunity to represent American in “the 1992 Winter Olympics as a bobsledder.”

“I’ve been hearing a lot from people saying, ‘We’re oppressed.’ Well, I’m here to tell you, you’re not,” he said at the time.

In another controversial viral video in September, Walker denounced the Black Lives Matter movement as “anti-government, anti-American, anti-Christian,” and “anti-everything”. (Christian Headlines)

__________________________________________________________________

Deuteronomy 29
The covenant with the children of Israel is renewed in Moab.

INSIGHT

After laying out the options before the Israelites at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim, God now says, “Choose.”

But by His grace, He makes clear the consequences of these choices. How terrible are the curses-and how wonderful are the blessings.

Seeing the alternative so clearly before us, what could possibly account for our choosing the curses? The only conceivable answer is that we don’t believe God. We don’t really believe that the blessings will be that good-or that the curses will be that bad.

The Old Testament was written for our instruction. We must learn to take God at His Word. Period. (QuietWalk)

___________________________________________________________________

Facing Fear

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3

Warren moved to a small town to pastor a church. After his ministry had some initial success, one of the locals turned on him. Concocting a story accusing Warren of horrendous acts, the man took the story to the local newspaper and even printed his accusations on pamphlets to distribute to local residents by mail. Warren and his wife started praying hard. If the lie was believed, their lives would be upended.

King David once experienced something similar. He faced an attack of slander by an enemy. “All day long they twist my words,” he said, “all their schemes are for my ruin” (Psalm 56:5). This sustained assault left him fearful and tearful (v. 8). But in the midst of the battle, he prayed this powerful prayer: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. . . . What can mere mortals do to me?” (vv. 3-4).

David’s prayer can be a model for us today. When I am afraid—in times of fear or accusation, we turn to God. I put my trust in you—we place our battle in God’s powerful hands. What can mere mortals do to me?—facing the situation with Him, we remember how limited the powers against us really are.

The newspaper ignored the story about Warren. For some reason, the pamphlets were never distributed. What battle do you fear today? Talk to God. He’s willing to fight it with you. By Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread)

___________________________________________________________________

The Wicked Man
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)

It is significant that the word “wicked” does not necessarily mean morally depraved or violently dangerous. It is essentially synonymous with “ungodly,” and the Hebrew word used here (rasha) is often so translated. This tenth psalm provides a graphic summary of their real character. They are:

Proud. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God” (v. 4).

Fawning. “For the wicked…blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth” (v. 3).

Atheistic, at least in behavior. “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten, .he will never see it” (v. 11).

Stubborn. “He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity” (v. 6).

Profane. “His mouth is full of cursing.under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (v. 7).

Hurtful. “In the secret places doth he murder the innocent” (v. 8). This surely applies to character assassination, when not to actual killing.

Deceptive. “His mouth is full of…deceit and fraud:. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den” (vv. 7, 9).

It is significant that the apostle Paul cited verse 7 (“full of cursing”) as descriptive of most of the ancient pagans in his day, and it can sadly be applied to many modern pagans as well.

But David said: “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not” (Psalm 37:35-36). “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6).      (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research) 

____________________________________________________________________

NEW

We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.