David delivered Keilah from the Philistines        verse 1- 5 

Then they told David

saying

BEHOLD – the Philistines fight against Keilah

and they rob the threshingfloors

THEREFORE David inquired of the LORD

saying

Shall I go and smite these Philistines?

And the LORD

said to David

Go – and smite the Philistines and save Keilah

And David’s men

said to him

BEHOLD – we be afraid here in Judah – how much more then

if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

Then David inquired of the LORD yet again

and the LORD answered him

and said

      Arise – go down to Keilah

                  for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand

So David and his men went to Keilah – and fought with the Philistines

and brought away their cattle

      and smote them with a great slaughter

So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah 

Abiathar the priest brought ephod                      verse 6 

And it came to pass – when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech

fled to David to Keilah – that he came down with an

ephod in his hand 

Saul marches to Keilah                                        verse 7- 8 

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah

and Saul said

God has delivered him into mine hand – for he is shut in

by entering into a town that hath gates and bars

And Saul called all the people together to war

to go down to Keilah

                        to besiege David and his men 

David prayers for instructions                            verse 9- 12 

And David knew that Saul secretly practiced

mischief against him and he said

to Abiathar the priest

                                    Bring hither the ephod

Then said David

            O LORD God of Israel

            YOUR servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come

to Keilah – to destroy the city for my sake

            Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand?

            Will Saul come down

as YOUR servant hath heard?

            O LORD God of Israel

I beseech YOU tell YOUR servant

And the LORD

said

            He will come down

Then said David

            Will the men of Keilah deliver me

and my men into the hand of Saul?   

And the LORD said

            They will deliver you up 

David wanders around avoiding Saul                 verse 13- 14 

Then David and his men – which were about six hundred

            arose and departed out of Keilah

                        and went whithersoever they could go

And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah

            and forbare to go forth

And David abode in the wilderness in strongholds

            and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph

And Saul sought him every day

            BUT God delivered him not into his hand 

Jonathan encourages David                                verse 15- 18 

And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life

            and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood

And Jonathan Saul’s son arose – and went to David into the wood

and strengthened his hand in God – and he

said to him

Fear not – for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you

      and you shall be king over Israel

                  and I shall be next to you

      and that also Saul my father know

And they two made a covenant before the LORD

and David abode in the wood

and Jonathan went to his house 

Men of Ziph betray David                                   verse 19- 20 

Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah

saying

Does not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the wood

            in the hill of Hachilah – which is on the south of Jeshimon?

Now therefore – O king 

come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down

                        and out part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand 

Saul send men of Ziph back to find David          verse 21- 24 

And Saul

said

Blessed be you of the LORD \

for you have compassion on me

Go – I pray you – prepare yet

and know and see his place where his haunt is

and who has seen him there

for it is told me that he deals very subtly

See therefore – and take knowledge of all the lurking places where

he hides himself – and come you again to me with the certainty

and I will go with you – and it shall come to pass

                                    if he be in the land

that I will search him out throughout

all the thousands of Judah

And they arose – and went to Ziph before Saul

BUT David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon

                        in the plain on the south of Jeshimon 

David moves to wilderness of Maon                    verse 25- 26 

Saul also and his men went to seek him

            and they told David – wherefore he came down into a rock

                        and abode in the wilderness of Maon

And when Saul heard that

 he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon

And Saul went on this side of the mountain

and David and his men on that side of the mountain

and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul

for Saul and his men compassed David and his men

round about to take them 

Saul has to leave area to fight Philistines         verse 27- 29            

BUT there came a messenger to Saul

saying

Haste you – and come

for the Philistines have invaded the land

Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David

and went against the Philistines

therefore they called that place

Sela-hammahlekoth [rock of divisions]

And David went up from thence

and dwelt in stronghold at En-gedi 

COMMENTARY: 

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers 

: 4        Then David inquired of the LORD yet again, And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand. (7592 “inquired” [sha’al] means ask, desire, to address a question to and expect an answer from, interrogate, consult, beg for, or ask permission)

DEVOTION:  David had a confirmation from the LORD that they would win the battle against the Philistines. However, his men were afraid of the Philistines and Saul. They didn’t want to get involved because they thought they might win against the Philistines and Saul would come and conquer them.

So David went a second time to the LORD, with the same request, and the LORD answered him the second time with the same answer. This time the men accepted the answer and fought and won the battle against the Philistines.

It would seem that David should have forced the men to accept the LORD’S first answer but he was willing to go back and make sure of the promise of God. We sometimes seek an answer to a question and then doubt when the LORD gives us an answer.

Is the LORD patient with us? The answer is YES!!! HE was being patient with David and his men and HE is just as patient with us. We can go back to HIM again and again with a request. HE is willing to give us assurance of HIS answer.

Too often we don’t go to HIM enough. If there is a battle in our life we need to turn it over to HIM and watch HIM work out a victory. Sometimes it seems that we doubt whether HE is able to give us a victory over a situation. Doubt doesn’t come from HIM.

CHALLENGE:  If you are struggling with something in your life, go to the LORD in prayer and seek HIS wisdom and wait for an answer. The Bible promises us an answer to our prayers. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

: 12      Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, “They will deliver you up.” (5462 “deliver” [cagar] means to surrender someone or something to another, to shut in, to hand over someone, imprison, enclosed, or confined)

DEVOTION: Here is David for a second time asking the LORD for direction regarding what to do next. He had just won a victory over the Philistines to help the community of Keilah. They were being attacked by the Philistines and their possession had been taken by them. David and his men had attacked the Philistines and brought back their possessions. They had saved the community from loss.

Now Saul was on his way and David when to the LORD to find out if the people of Keilah would deliver him to Saul. The LORD gave a plain answer. It was the fact that they would turn him over to Saul.

It is sad that there is no appreciation for what David had done for the community. He had saved them from the loss of their possessions and even the loss of their lives. Yet they would not defend him.

Today we find that we can help people for years and they will still turn their backs on you when you have a need. It is hard to imagine but it is true many more times than we would like to admit.

We have to remember we are not doing it for them but for the LORD. It is the LORD who is the one who will take care of us. We are not to depend on other people for our needs but the LORD. HE is the one who promised to provide.

Too often we get frustrated with people when in reality we should expect it of people because they are fickle. God is the only one that we should expect to help us when we face a crisis.

HE might send people to help but it is our obedience to HIM that guarantees our blessings. David knew he had to ask the LORD regarding the people of Keilah. We need to realize the same thing in our time period.

CHALLENGE:  Remember the promise that the LORD gives to all HIS people: I will never leave you or forsake you. Humans will but the LORD will not.

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: 14      And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. (5414 “delivered” [Nathan] means to give, add, apply, appoint, ascribe, recompense, restore, trade, or yield.)

DEVOTION:  Have you ever known two groups of individuals who say they are both honoring the LORD but yet not agree? Here we have Saul saying that the LORD will bless the people of Ziph. How can someone who wants to kill the next king of Israel give a blessing to others? Jonathan knew that David was going to be the next king and wanted to serve under him. Saul was not doing what the LORD wanted him to do. He was acting on his own but still thinking that the LORD was with him.

David was trying to serve the LORD. He saved a city and they were going to turn him into Saul. Saul wanted to kill David, so that, the kingdom would go to his son. God was the one in control of the details in David’s life. HE protected David from Saul. Everywhere that Saul went was wrong. David was always one step ahead of Saul. The enemy was chasing but not reaching. That happens in our lives as well if we are following the LORD’S directions.

We need to learn some lessons from the life of David. One lesson is that God is in control. Another lesson is that while we are serving the LORD we can go through hard times. The LORD is with us but HE is maturing us as he matured David. The third lesson we need to learn is that when we are having a hard time, we need to turn to the LORD in prayer. HE will direct our steps through prayer.

CHALLENGE: The LORD doesn’t set us up to fail. HE wants us to be individuals who are full of HIS Holy Spirit at all times. HE wants us to know that HE loves us. We lose the filling of the Holy Spirit when we sin. We don’t lose HIS indwelling.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 16      And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. (2388 “strengthened” [chazaq] means to be/grow/ make strong, to prevail, have/show courage, to make stronger, to persist, or become powerful)

DEVOTION: Many times, we can’t face what the LORD allows in our life by ourselves. We sometimes need people to come alongside us and give us strength to face some hard trials the LORD allows in our lives.

David had many hard trials before he became king and even after he was king. He was not always perfect in his response to the LORD and what HE wanted him to do in his live.

However, David had people who came alongside him at many times in his life to help him make wise decision. On this occasion HE sent the son of his enemy to encourage him. It was a strange relationship to have but this is the one that the LORD allowed in the life of David.

We need to know that the LORD does send people into our lives on many occasions to help us face the trials HE allows in our lives. We need to learn to depend on HIM alone at times but we also need to allow others to encourage us when we are facing problems that are not of our own making and even some that we have caused ourselves.

God wants us to know that HE will never leave us alone. We will have the Holy Spirit at all times to turn to when we face any problem the LORD allows in our lives, but sometimes HE will send people to encourage us.

HE knows we need both

We need to be open to the LORD sending us to help someone who is facing difficult times. We need to be available to serve the LORD in those HE allows in our lives. We need to be willing to listen to others at times in our lives when we are facing difficult decisions.

CHALLENGE: Are we and am I willing to come alongside those who are struggling? Am I willing to listen to those the LORD sends alongside? Are you?

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: 28      Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore, they called that place Se-la-ham-mah-le-koth. (5555 “Selahammahlekoth” [Cela, ham-machlaqowth] means the cliff of escapes, the cliff of divisions, rock of escape, slipping away, or rock of separation)

DEVOTION:  What is in a name? All the names of places and people had meaning. The meaning for persons sometimes showed what the LORD going to do in their life. Eve meant mother of living. Each person’s name had significance in the Old Testament.

Here we have a name of a place that was given in memory of what didn’t take place. Saul was about to find David and try to kill him but word came that the Philistines were attacking and Saul headed off to fight with the Philistines instead of David.

David had the higher ground over Saul’s troops and could have won a battle if he wanted to but he didn’t want to fight against the LORD’S anointed because he had respect for the position. David was the LORD’S anointed too but he didn’t to kill one of the LORD’S anointed to become the LORD’S anointed sooner than the LORD wanted him to be king.

God doesn’t want HIS anointed killing one another. We are commanded to love one another throughout the New Testament. Believers are not supposed to be in battles against each other but against the real enemy, Satan. Satan loves it when we fight amongst ourselves. He gives us reasons to fight among ourselves because some of those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ are not true to the Word of God.

How are we to love one another when one group is not faithful to the Word of God? The answer seems to be given here that we are not to be the ones who are arguing but the ones that are avoiding the fight and doing what we are supposed to for the LORD.

We are to preach the Word of God by speaking the truth in love. Jesus confronted the Pharisees with the idea of showing them the errors of their ways and giving them a chance to repent.

Jesus tells us that we are blessed if men “revile us because of HIM.” People will say all manner of evil against us falsely and we will still be blessed of the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Accept the fact that false teachers will speak evil of you. Christ promises us a great reward in heaven and tells us to rejoice even when persecuted.

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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) 

Covenant between David and Jonathan                 verse 18 

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) 

David inquired of the LORD                                   verse 2

LORD answers YES                                                     verse 2

David inquired of the LORD again                        verse 4

LORD answers YES                                                     verse 4

David prayed for guidance                                      verse 10- 12 

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

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

Abiathar – son of Ahimelech                                   verse 6, 9

Ephod                                                                              verse 6, 9 

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH: 

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead) 

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)   verse 2, 4,                                                                                            10- 12, 18,  21

God – Elohim (Creator)                                           verse 7, 10,                                                                                                      11,  14, 16

LORD God of Israel                                                   verse 10, 11

God delivered David from Saul                             verse 14 

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) 

Philistines                                                                        verse 1- 5,                                                                                                      27,  28 

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

Afraid                                                                                     verse 3

Mischief                                                                                  verse 9

Seeking David’s life                                                             verse 14 

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

Inquire of the LORD                                                        verse 2

Deliverance                                                                       verse 4, 14

Servant                                                                                verse 10

Prayer for guidance                                                         verse 12

Strength from the LORD                                                verse 16

Fear not                                                                               verse 17

Covenant                                                                            verse 18 

Israel (Old Testament people of God) 

David                                                                                 verse 1- 29

            Told the Philistines to fight Keilah

            Inquired of the LORD

            LORD told him to fight for Keilah

Saved the inhabitants of Keilah

Servant of the LORD

Prayed for answer to question

Abode in wilderness of Ziph

Promised he would be king of Israel

Made covenant with Jonathan

He and his men were in wilderness of Maon

Dwelt in storng holds at Engedi

                        Keilah                                                                             verse 1- 13     

Abiathar fled to David with ephod                          verse 6

Saul                                                                                     verse 7- 28

            Called Israel together to fight David

            Men of Keilah will deliver David to Saul

            Blessed the inhabitants of Ziph

            He surrounded David but word came

                        of Philistine attack

Jonathan – Saul’s son                                                     verse 16- 18

            Strengthened David

            Make covenant with David

Israel                                                                                       verse 17

Ziphites                                                                                   verse 19

            Promised to deliver David to Saul

Sela-hammahlekoth                                                            verse 18 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

Jonathan vigorously continues to encourage David: “You [emphatic] will be king,” while “I [emphatic] will be second to you”—an inevitable truth that Saul also knows (v.17). Although “second” in contexts of this kind means primarily “second-in-command,” “next in rank” (1 Chronicles 16:5; 2 Chronicles 28:7; 31:12; Esth 10:3; Jer 52:24), Miscall makes the suggestive observation that it can also mean “double” or “copy” (Gen 43:12; Deut 17:18) and that therefore Jonathan is at the same time David’s “copy, his equal” (p. 142). “The two of them” (v.18)—as equals—then make a covenant in the presence of the Lord, perhaps invoking his blessing and taking an oath in his name. While it is possible that this constitutes a reaffirmation of the earlier covenant initiated by Jonathan between the two men (18:3; 20:8), it is better understood as a fresh, bilateral covenant defining their new relationship (see comment on 18:3). Having comforted his friend, Jonathan returns home to Gibeah—perhaps never to see David again (no further meetings between the two men are recorded). (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. 741). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)

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So he withdrew with 600 men, who remained faithful to him (v. 13; cf. 27:2; 30:9; 2 Sam. 15:18), to the Desert of Ziph (1 Sam. 23:14), a desolate hilly and wooded area between Hebron and the Dead Sea. He was joined there (at Horesh in the desert) briefly by Jonathan, who again confirmed the legitimacy of David’s kingship (vv. 16–18). (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.)

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David’s beloved friend Jonathan risked his life to visit David in the wilderness and “helped him find strength in God” (v. 16, niv). This was their last recorded meeting. Jonathan isn’t mentioned again in 1 Samuel until 31:2 where we’re told he died on the battlefield. Jonathan had no idea that he would be slain before David became king, because he talked with David about their future coregency and renewed with him the covenant they had made (18:8; 20:31). He assured David that God would surely make him king in His good time, and that David would always be delivered from Saul’s schemes to capture him. Jonathan admitted that his father knew all these plans. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (p. 126). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)

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The brief note of Jonathan’s words to David in the wood is singularly beautiful and suggestive. “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee, and that also Saul my father knoweth.” To begin with the last of Jonathan’s words, what a lurid light they throw on the conduct of Saul! He was under no misapprehension as to the Divine destiny of David. He must have known therefore that in fighting against David, he was fighting against God. It looks unaccountable madness; yet what worse is it than a thousand other schemes in which, to carry out their ends, men have trampled on every moral precept, as if there were no God, no lawgiver, ruler, or judge above, no power in hell or heaven witnessing their actions to bring them all into judgment?

In his words to David the faith and piety of Jonathan were as apparent as his friendship. He strengthened his hand in God. Simple but beautiful words! He put David’s hand as it were into God’s hand, in token that they were one, in token that the Almighty was pledged to keep and bless him, and that when he and his God were together, no weapon formed against him would ever prosper. Surely no act of friendship is so true friendship as this. To remind our Christian friends in their day of trouble of their relation to God, to encourage them to think of His interest in them and His promises to them; to drop in their ear some of His assurances— “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee,”—is surely the best of all ways to encourage the downcast, and send them on their way rejoicing.

And what a hallowed word that was with which Jonathan began his exhortation—“Fear not.” The “fear not’s” of Scripture are a remarkable garland. All of them have their root in grace, not in nature. They all imply a firm exercise of faith. And Jonathan’s “fear not” was no exception. If David had not been a man of faith, it would have sounded like hollow mockery. “The hand of Saul my father shall not find thee.” Was not Saul with his well-equipped force, at that very moment, within a few miles of him, while he, with his half-starved followers was at his very wits’ end, not knowing where to turn to next? “Thou shalt be king over Israel.” Nay, friend, I should be well pleased, David might have said, if I were again feeding my father’s flocks in Bethlehem, with all that has happened since then obliterated, reckoned as if it had never been. “And I shall be next unto thee.” O Jonathan, how canst thou say that? Thou art the king’s eldest son, the throne ought to be thine, there is none worthier of it; the very fact that thou canst say that to me shows what a kingly generosity is in thy bosom, and how well entitled thou art to reign over Israel! Yes, David, but does not the very fact of Jonathan using such words show that he is in closest fellowship with God? Only a man pervaded through and through by the Spirit of God could speak thus to the person who stands between him and what the world would call his reasonable ambition. In that spirit of Jonathan there is a goodness altogether Divine. Oh, what a contrast to his father, to Saul! What a contrast to the ordinary spirit of jealousy, when someone is like to cut us out of a coveted prize! Someone at school is going to beat you at the competition. Someone in business is going to get the situation for which you are so eager. Someone is going to carry off the fair hand to which you so ardently aspire. Where, oh where, in such cases, is the spirit of Jonathan? Look at it, study it, admire it; and in its clear and serene light, see what a black and odious spirit jealousy is; and oh, seek that you, by the grace of God, may be, not a Saul, but a Jonathan! (Blaikie, W. G. (1903). The First Book of Samuel. In W. Robertson Nicoll (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible: Samuel to Job (Vol. 2, p. 93). Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co.)

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Ver. 18. And they two made a covenant before the Lord, &c.] Renewed the covenant they had before made in the name and fear of God, and before him as a witness of it. Kimchi and Abarbinel interpret this phrase, before the Lord, of the covenant being mace before Abiathar, with the Urim and Thummim in his hand; and so Jerom, before Gad the prophet, and Abiathar who wore the ephod: and David abode in the wood; being a proper place for him for secrecy and safety: and Jonathan went to his house; in Gibeah; and these two dear and cordial friends never saw one another more, as is highly probable. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 531). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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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!!)

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FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER–FROM OUR SIDE

…and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
“Our fellowship is with the Father.” We have communion with God. This can be looked at from our side. What does this wondrous thing that has been made possible for us in Christ mean from our side? It means, obviously and of necessity, that we have come to know God. God is no longer a stranger somewhere away in the heavens; He is no longer some stray force or power somewhere, some supreme energy. God is no longer some potentate or lawgiver far removed and faraway from us; God now is someone we know.
Consider the apostle Paul especially as he deals with this. You will find that in writing to the Galatians he talks about their knowing God; “but now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God…” (Galatians 4:9). That is the idea. God is now a reality–we know Him; that is the very essence of this matter. You cannot have communion, you cannot have conversation with a person without knowing that person; there is nothing distant”there is an intimacy and a knowledge.
The Christian, says John, is one who has come to know God, but it is not only that. God not only is a great person–I speak with reverence–the Christian is one who has come to know God as Father. That is why John uses his terms so carefully–“our fellowship is with the Father.” The Christian is one who turns to God and addresses Him as “Abba, Father.” That is how Paul puts it in Romans 8:15″we have the spirit of adoption, the result of which is that we know God in an intimate way so that we address Him as “Abba, Father” because we are His children. This also means that we delight in God and that we have joy in His presence. We know God in that way.
A Thought to Ponder: It means, obviously and of necessity, that we have come to know God. (From Fellowship with God, p. 83. By Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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THE WILL OF GOD

Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  Luke 22:42
The person who has eternal life loves to do the will of God. This is the logical sequence. The man who loves is the man who is anxious to please the object of his love. There is no better test of love than that, and unless you desire to please someone whom you claim to love, then I assure you, you do not love that person. Love always wants to be pleasing and to give itself, and anyone who loves God wants to do the will of God.
If you look at Christ, you see that the whole of His life, His one object, was to do the will of His Father. He did not care what it was; even in the Garden of Gethsemane when He faced the one thing He did not want, even there He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He says, “I do not want to drink this cup, but if it is doing Thy will, I will do even that.” That is love at its maximum and its best, and it is true of all who have His life. The chief end of the true Christian is the glory of God; therefore he spends his time seeking to know the will of God and doing it.
He strives to do it, and he loves to do it. He is controlled by this one idea. Having learned what God has done for him and what God is to him, having realized something of this love of God, he says,“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Any man, therefore, who has eternal life has this as the supreme object and desire of his life—to do the will of God.
The ultimate manifestation of the possession of eternal life is that it produces certain results in our lives. Fortunately for us they have all been set out in a very brief compass in Galatians 5:22-23, where the apostle Paul speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. These verses are rightly called “the shortest biography of Christ that has ever been written.”
A Thought to Ponder: The true Christian spends his time seeking to know the will of God and doing it.  (Saved in Eternity, pp. 168-169, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Deuteronomy 30

Restoration is promised to the Israelites.

INSIGHT

Where would we be without forgiveness? In his weakness, man is not able to sustain any relationship without eventually needing to forgive and to be forgiven. This includes his relationship with God. Unless God were willing to forgive us, we could have no relationship with Him, for we are unable to be sinless before Him.

What a warm and tender chapter comes on the heels of the curses. God says, “If you turn from Me, I will pour out on you the curses. But if you repent and return to Me, I will forgive you and restore you.” What a comfort. What a wonderful God. (Quiet Walk)

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No Longer Yourself

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 In the summer of 1859, Monsieur Charles Blondin became the first person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope—something he would go on to do hundreds of times. Once he did it with his manager Harry Colcord on his back. Blondin gave Colcord these instructions: “Look up, Harry . . . you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. . . . If I sway, sway with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing yourself. If you do, we will both go to our death.”

Paul, in essence, said to the Galatian believers: You can’t walk the line of living a life that is pleasing to God apart from faith in Christ. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to! No amount of attempting to earn our way to God will ever cut it. So are we passive in our salvation? No! Our invitation is to cling to Christ. Clinging to Jesus means putting to death an old, independent way of living; it’s as if we ourselves have died. Yet, we go on living. But “the life [we] now live in the body, [we] live by faith in the Son of God, who loved [us] and gave himself for [us]” (Galatians 2:20).

Where are we trying to walk the tightrope today? God hasn’t called us to walk out on the rope to Him; He’s called us to cling to Him and walk this life with Him.

By Glenn Packiam,  (Our Daily Bread)

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The Firstborn of Every Creature
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” (Colossians 1:15)
A widespread cult heresy based on this verse claims that Jesus Christ was not eternal but merely the first being created—perhaps an angel—before becoming a man. Note, however, that the verse does not say He was the “first created of every creature” but the “first born of every creature,” and there is a big difference. In fact, the very next verse says that “by him were all things created” (v. 16). He was never created, for He Himself is the Creator. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).
He is “born” of God, not “made,” the “only begotten Son” of God (John 3:16). “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). The eternal Father is omnipresent, and therefore invisible, inaudible, inaccessible to the physical senses. The eternally existing Son is the “image” of the invisible Father, the One who declares, reveals, embodies His essence. Although He is always “in the bosom of the Father,” yet He is eternally also “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). He is the eternal, living Word, which was “in the beginning with God” (John 1:2), and which “was God” (John 1:1).
Thus, the phrase “firstborn of every creature” in our text can be translated literally as “begotten before all creation.” The eternal inter-relationship of the Persons of the Godhead is beyond human comprehension in its fullness, and the terms “Son” and “begotten” are the best human language can do to describe it. Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is the only begotten, eternally generated Son of the Father, forever shining forth as the image of the otherwise invisible God.

                  (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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