Saul searches for David in wilderness of En-gedi      verse 1- 2

 And it came to pass – when Saul was returned from following the Philistines

            that it was told him saying

                        BEHOLD – David is in the wilderness of En-gedi

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel

            and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats 

Saul enters cave for personal reason                             verse 3 

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way – where was a cave

            and Saul went in to cover his feet

            and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave 

David cut part of Saul’s robe                                        verse 4 

And the men of David

said to him

BEHOLD the day of which the LORD said to you

            BEHOLD – I will deliver your enemy into your hand

                        that you may do to him as it shall seem good to you

THEN David arose – and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily 

David stopped his men from killing Saul                      verse 5- 7 

And it came to pass afterward – that David’s heart smote him

BECAUSE he had cut off Saul’s skirt

And he

said to his men

The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master

            the LORD’S anointed – to stretch forth mine hand against him

                        seeing he is the anointed of the LORD

So David stayed his servants with these words and suffered            

them not to rise against Saul

BUT Saul rose up out of the cave – and went on his way 

David confesses to Saul                                                  verse 8- 11 

David also arose afterward – and went out of the cave

and cried after Saul saying

My lord the king

And when Saul looked behind him

            David stooped with his face to the earth – and bowed himself

And David said to Saul – Wherefore hear you men’s words saying

            BEHOLD – David seeks your hurt?

            BEHOLD – this day your eyes have seen how that the

LORD had delivered you today into mine hand

in the cave and some bade me kill you

                                                BUT mine eye spared you

And I said

            I will not put forth min hand against my lord

                        FOR he is the LORD’S anointed

            Moreover – my father – see yea

see the skirt of your robe in my hand

for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe

and killed you not

                        know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression

in mine hand – and I have not sinned against you

                                                yet you hunt my soul to take it 

David asked Saul who he was chasing                     verse 12- 15 

The LORD judge between me and you

the LORD avenge me of you

                                    BUT mine hand shall not be on you

            As said the proverb of the ancients

                        Wickedness proceeds from the wicked

                                    BUT mine hand shall not be on you

            After whom is the king of Israel come out?

                        after a dead dog – after a flea

            The LORD therefore be judge – and judge between me and you

                        and see – and plead my cause – and deliver me out of your                                                         hand 

Saul wants promise he won’t kill his family             verse 16- 21

 And it came to pass – when David had made an end of speaking

these words to Saul – that Saul said

                        Is this your voice my son David?

                                    and Saul lifted up his voice – and wept

And he

said to David

You are more righteous than I – for you have rewarded me good

            whereas I have rewarded you evil

And you have shown this day how that you have dealt well with me

            forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into your hand

                        you killed me not

For if a man find his enemy – will he let him go well away?

            wherefore the LORD reward you good for that you have done

                        to me this day

And now – BEHOLD – I know well that you shall surely be king

            and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand

Sware now therefore to me by the LORD

            that you will not cut off my seed after me

                        that you will not destroy my name out of my

father’s house 

David promised Saul                                                     verse 22 

And David sware to Saul and Saul went home

            BUT David and his men got them up to the hold 

 

COMMENTARY:               

 

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers 

: 4        And the men of David said to him, Behold the day of which the LORD said to you, that you may do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privately. (3814 “privately” [la’t] means secrecy, hidden, magic, enchantment, gently, not known)

DEVOTION:  Should we take advantage of an opportunity to hurt someone who is giving us a hard time in life? We have all heard “what comes around goes around” in relationships with people. Do we want to see those who have hurt us hurt? It seems to be a natural feeling.

However, the LORD doesn’t want us to be those types of individuals. HE wants us to love our enemies. It is hard to do that when we have feelings of hate toward those who hurt us greatly. The only way we have the power to overcome those types of thoughts is to turn those individuals over to the LORD and let HIM deal with them.

If we try to think of ways to get even then we are just as bad as them. We need to be praying for their salvation if they are not believers and if they are believers we need to be praying for their growth in the LORD. The bottom line is that we need to be nice to them and let the LORD handle them in HIS timing and in HIS way.

God allows these types of people into our life as HE did in David’s life to help him learn lessons he needed to learn before he came into power as a king.

What lessons are we learning from the persecution we are feeling from others? We need to realize that nothing that is happening in our life has no purpose from God’s perspective.

HE only does things for our good. So what David was going through was for his good.  He should not listen to his men but always listen to the LORD.

CHALLENGE:  We should not listen to those who tell us to get even with someone but listen to what the LORD would have us do in any given situation. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers 

: 6        And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. (4899 “anointed” [mashiyach] means a consecrated person, used of the Messiah, and used of kings, priests or Cyrus in OT) 

DEVOTION: The LORD had Samuel consecrate Saul to be king of Israel. The LORD had Samuel consecrate David to be king in Israel. Saul became king almost right away. David had to wait at least ten years before he became king. Both men were consecrated to the LORD.

Saul was trying to kill David. He was jealous of David. However, the LORD protected David.

While David was running from Saul, they were hiding in a cave. Saul came in the cave. David’s men thought the LORD had delivered his enemy into his hands. They wanted to kill Saul. David went over to Saul while he was in the cave and cut a part of his robe.

The LORD struck David with the conviction that he should not touch the LORD’S consecrated king. He told his men not to kill him. He believed the LORD was in control of his position. He knew the LORD was going to work in HIS time to establish him as king. He was willing to wait.

David wanted his men to respect those who were specially consecrated to the LORD. Even though Saul was acting badly, David was going to let the LORD deal with him and not take it upon himself to deal with it.

Too often we see something wrong and we want to fix it. Especially in the church we think that the LORD wants us to fix all the problems. We have special insight into what to do. That is true sometimes but not all the times.

We need to wait on the LORD to deal with some people. David was willing to wait. Are we willing to wait for the LORD’S timing? Sometimes God uses bad people and circumstances to prepare us for future service.

We need to watch how we treat those who are serving the LORD. They have a gift from the Holy Spirit to minister. We know that there are some who want to be ministers who shouldn’t be and some who are serving as ministers that shouldn’t be, but we need to put it in the LORD’S hands and watch HIM work. The LORD might want us to confront them, as David confronted Saul outside the cave.

Timing is in the hands of the LORD. Patience is a trait that the LORD wants us to learn. It is hard. David seemed to have it. We need to have it as well.

CHALLENGE: David also taught those around him to wait on the LORD. We need to do the same.

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: 9        And David said to Saul, Wherefore hear you men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt? (7451 “hurt” [ra‘] means evil, mischief, affliction, ill, adversity, harm, misery, distress, or calamity.)

DEVOTION:  Have you ever suffering from paranoia? Have you ever thought that everyone was against you? Sometimes it seems normal when we are not getting what we want out of life.

Here we have Saul being told by those who are close to him that David wants to kill him and his family. He believed what they were saying. Remember that the LORD allowed him to be troubled by a demon that only music seemed to relieve. Also it was David who was playing the music that gave him the relief.

So Saul was not only hearing rumors from those around him but he was experiencing demons telling him to kill David. Saul was listening to the wrong people and acting on what they were saying instead of the truth. David didn’t want to kill him or his family.

David confronted Saul after he had an opportunity to kill Saul. He showed him the piece of cloth he had cut from the clothing of Saul. Saul knew that he was close enough to kill him if he wanted and yet he did not kill him. He had to think about what had just happened in the cave.

David wanted him to stop listening to the wrong people. He wanted Saul to know that he had no intention to cause him any misery even though he was causing David great misery by chasing him with so many soldiers.

We can find people who think we want to cause them misery in our life. They are not thinking that all we want to do is help them in any way we can to make their life better. However, they don’t think those thoughts. Could these individuals be listening to the wrong people too? Could they be under the influence of demons? We don’t know for sure but sometimes it seems that when we talk to individuals about their eternal state they don’t want to listen for fear that we are taking advantage of them. or something.

Our purpose in our relationships with others should be for their good and especially for their spiritual growth. It should not be for personal advantage. It would help to have close friends, who were only looking out for our spiritual growth and good. We need these types of friends in our life.

CHALLENGE: It is always a challenge to convince people that we just want to be their friends with no strings attached. 

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 13      As said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be on you. (3318 “proceeds” [yatsa] means to come out, to lead out, to produce, to go forth, step forth, or march out)

DEVOTION:  Throughout this chapter there is a lesson that the LORD is trying to teach us in the life of David. David is student of his culture. He wrote many psalms about life that we have recorded in the book of Psalms in our Bible. He wanted to be someone who was listening to the LORD and learning from those around him.

Here we have a quote from a source regarding wickedness. All of us understand what it means to be wicked or sinful or harmful to others and to ourselves. He states that wickedness only comes from those who enjoy being wicked.

In every culture there are people who enjoy doing things that hurt other people. It brings them pleasure. They are usually not those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ but there seems to be some who are in our churches who seem to enjoy hurting people. Mainly because people have hurt them in the past so they think they should hurt others to make up for those who hurt them. It is not sound reasoning for a believer but there are some who claim Christ and think these thoughts.

I have had individuals who wanted to hurt me that claim to be believers. Each of us has faced judgmental people who claim Christ and see us as greater sinners than themselves. Wickedness which this is should never be part of any believer’s life.

Our purpose should be to encourage all those around us to grow in the LORD. If they have sinned, we should put ourselves in a mode of restoration. David was in a mode of restoration for Saul to a proper relationship with him. He wanted Saul to know that he was not out to hurt him but to help him understand that he was trying to be faithful to the LORD and not harm him in any way.

CHALLENGE:  Our hand should not be against anyone. We should be praying for those who don’t know the LORD and show them what it means to be a follower of Christ. And for those who claim Christ to be encouragers of their growth in the LORD.

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: 17      And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil. (1580 “rewarded” [gamal] means dealt bountifully, to behave in a certain manner, recompense, show a certain behavior, repay, or deal in repayment)

DEVOTION:  Saul understood that he was not dealing with David in a proper manner. He was not looking at things the right way. He was working from a vindictive spirit.

Once David confronted him he did think properly. He knew that the LORD was with David because he had done things wrong once he became king. He knew that he was jealous of David’s relationship to the LORD and to his son.

It is hard to face the facts once we understand the motives behind what we are doing to another person. Saul was jealous of David and his relationship with the LORD. He missed that relationship because of his actions.

God didn’t kill Saul right away as HE could have but allowed this to go on to strengthen David in his relationship with HIM. HE wanted David to understand that he had to listen to the LORD and stay close to the LORD, in order that, he might stay alive.

We don’t like the way the LORD does things in our life sometimes. We think that HE could do things differently but the LORD knows what is best for our trust and growth in HIM. We all grow close to the LORD differently. Some can be hit with a hammer. Others need a sledgehammer.

What type of hammer does the LORD need to use on you. HE has used both on me. I didn’t like it but HE knows what is best for my growth in my relationship with HIM.

CHALLENGE: What type of hammer has the LORD used in your life? Have you learned your lessons yet?

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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)

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)

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

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

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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 4, 6,                                                                                  10, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21

LORD’S anointed                                                          verse 6

Judge                                                                                verse 12, 15

Avenger                                                                           verse 12 

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

Enemy                                                                          verse 4 

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

Enemy                                                                        verse 4, 19

Hearing men’s words                                            verse 9

Kill                                                                              verse 10, 11, 18

Evil                                                                             verse 11, 17

Transgression                                                           verse 11

Sinned                                                                        verse 11

Hunting believer                                                      verse 11

Wickedness                                                                verse 13

Wicked                                                                        verse 13 

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

Heart smote (conviction of the LORD)              verse 5

Anointed                                                                    verse 6, 10

Delivered                                                                    verse 10, 15, 18

LORD plead our cause                                             verse 15

Righteous                                                                   verse 17

Good                                                                            verse 17, 19

Reward                                                                        verse 19

Promise (Swear)                                                       verse 21, 22 

Israel (Old Testament people of God) 

Saul                                                                             verse 1- 22

            Took 3,000 soldier to go after David

            Went into a cave to relieve himself

            David considered him the LORD’S anointed

            Saul left cave

            LORD’s anointed

            King of Israel

            Wept regarding David

            Told David he was more righteous

            Knew that David would be king

            Wanted David to swear not to kill his family

            Went home

David                                                                          verse 1- 22

            In wilderness

            In the same cave as Saul

            Cut off skirt of Saul’s robe

            It bothered David what he did to Saul

            He talked with Saul

                        Told him he was listening to men’s words

                        LORD delivered Saul into his hands

                        I spared you

                        Presented skirt of his robe

                        Saul hunted David

                        Promises not to kill him

                        LORD needed to judge between them

                        Told him he would not kill his family

            Went to a safe place 

Israel                                                                           verse 2, 14, 20

Men with David                                                         verse 3

Proverb of the ancients                                           verse 13

Kingdom of Israel                                                     verse 20 

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events) 

Killed                                                                          verse 11, 18 

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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.

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QUOTES regarding passage

David begins his protestation and defense with a “Why?” (v.9) that echoes that of Saul, who had earlier accused David of conspiracy (22:13). He assures Saul that he is not intent on “harming” him (v.9), nor is he guilty of “wrongdoing” (v.11; same Heb. word in both cases). Unlike those who spread false rumors about his murderous plans, David refuses to listen to all who would incite him to vengeance against Saul (v.10). Indeed, the king himself knows that David has just now had a unique opportunity to kill him, but David has refused to seize it. (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. 747). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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Using the piece of Saul’s robe as evidence, David opened his defense by exposing the deception of the courtiers who slandered David to Saul. The logic was irrefutable: David had an opportunity to kill Saul and refused to do so. David even admitted that some of his men urged him to slay the king, but he rebuked them. David was not guilty of any evil against Saul or any transgression against the Lord, but Saul was guilty of trying to kill David. “The Lord will judge between us,” said David, “and prove that your officers are liars, but I will not lift my hand against you.” Saul had hoped that the hand of the Philistines (18:17) or the hands of David’s soldiers (19:20–21) would kill David, but they failed. Ultimately, Saul died by his own hand on the battlefield (31:1–6). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 129–130). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)

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After Saul leaves the cave, David calls out to him and tells him what he has done (24:8–15). Holding up the piece of the robe as evidence of his mercy, David asserts that he is not trying to wrest the throne from Saul and that he is not guilty of treason. Instead, he has committed the matter to the Lord who will decide the case as a righteous Judge. Just as war was considered to be a contest between the gods of the rival nations, so this personal battle will be settled by the Lord in favor of the righteous party. According to verse 14 David is no more dangerous than a dead dog or a flea, and yet Saul is consuming time and energy in an effort to eliminate him. (Wolf, H. M. (1995). 1-2 Samuel. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 209). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)

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Ver. 10. Behold, this day thine eyes have seen, &c.] Or may see; there is full proof and evidence of it, and which will be presently shewn: how that the Lord had delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave; from whence they were both just come: and some bade me kill thee; some of the men that were with David, some of his officers or principal friends put him upon it, having a fair opportunity, and thinking it no evil, since he was his enemy, and sought his life; or it said, kill thee; my heart prompted me to it, that said so at first, as Ben Gersom interprets it; some refer it to God, who in his providence said so, or so it might be understood by David, as if Providence directed him to it, by giving him such an opportunity of doing it: but mine eye spared thee; had pity on him, and notwithstanding the suggestions of friends, and of his own heart at first, or the seeming direction of Providence, yet he had mercy on him, and forbore slaying him: and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; and king, whose subject I am: for he is the Lord’s anointed; the Lord has raised him to this dignity; invested him with the office of a king, and as such I regard him, and therefore have refrained mine hand from him, from hurting him. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 534). 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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Deuteronomy 32
Moses writes in poetic form a summary of everything he has taught the Israelites.

INSIGHT

Man is more than a machine. Man is more than a combination of blood vessels and bones. There is something within man that transcends the physical. It is the image of God. When the major issues of life lie before us, the image of God within us demands that we sing a song or paint a picture or write a poem or perform a dance.

At the end of his life-as Moses is struggling to summarize all that he needs to say to his people-he bursts out in song. Surely the thumbprint of God is seen in his crowning achievement.  (Quiet Walk)

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New Every Morning

[God’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

My brother Paul grew up battling severe epilepsy, and when he entered his teenage years it became even worse. Nighttime was excruciating for him and my parents, as he’d experience continuous seizures for often more than six hours at a time. Doctors couldn’t find a treatment that would alleviate the symptoms while also keeping him conscious for at least part of the day. My parents cried out in prayer: “God, oh God, help us!”

Although their emotions were battered and their bodies exhausted, Paul and my parents received enough strength from God for each new day. In addition, my parents found comfort in the words of the Bible, including the book of Lamentations. Here Jeremiah voiced his grief over the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, remembering “the bitterness and the gall” (3:19). Yet Jeremiah didn’t lose hope. He called to mind the mercies of God, that His compassions “are new every morning” (v. 23). So too did my parents.

Whatever you’re facing, know that God is faithful every morning. He renews our strength day by day and gives us hope. And sometimes, as with my family, He brings relief. After several years, a new medication became available that stopped Paul’s continuous nighttime seizures, giving my family restorative sleep and hope for the future.

When our souls are downcast within us (v. 20), may we call to mind the promises of God that His mercies are new every morning. (By Amy Boucher Pye, Daily Bread)

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HINDRANCES REMOVED

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:4
One basis of security and assurance about eternal life, according to our Lord, is that every hindrance and obstacle to our receiving this gift of eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself. “I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Many things had to be done before I could receive the gift of eternal life. As a natural man I wondered how I could get it. Eternal life really means that we are sharers of the life of God and are in communion with Him. Is it not obvious, therefore, that a great many things have to happen before we can come into that condition? But it has all been done. There is nothing that has been left undone. Christ has dealt with the problem of my guilt by removing it. He has reconciled me to God; the law of God has been satisfied. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33). He Himself has done it, for “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God” (verse 34).
Christian people, this is the position we are meant to occupy. Here is a quotation from an Augustus Toplady hymn:
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do.
My Savior’s obedience and blood,
Hide all my transgressions from view.
That is not boasting, for I am not relying upon myself, but upon Him: “My Savior’s obedience and blood, hide all my transgressions from view.”
A Thought to Ponder
Every obstacle to our receiving eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself. 

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HINDRANCES REMOVED

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:4
One basis of security and assurance about eternal life, according to our Lord, is that every hindrance and obstacle to our receiving this gift of eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself. “I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Many things had to be done before I could receive the gift of eternal life. As a natural man I wondered how I could get it. Eternal life really means that we are sharers of the life of God and are in communion with Him. Is it not obvious, therefore, that a great many things have to happen before we can come into that condition? But it has all been done. There is nothing that has been left undone. Christ has dealt with the problem of my guilt by removing it. He has reconciled me to God; the law of God has been satisfied. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33). He Himself has done it, for “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God” (verse 34).
Christian people, this is the position we are meant to occupy. Here is a quotation from an Augustus Toplady hymn:
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do.
My Savior’s obedience and blood,
Hide all my transgressions from view.
That is not boasting, for I am not relying upon myself, but upon Him: “My Savior’s obedience and blood, hide all my transgressions from view.”
A Thought to Ponder: Every obstacle to our receiving eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself.

               (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 180-181, by Dr, Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Rejection at Home
“But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4)
A town will give great honor to a “hometown boy” if he makes good in athletics or the entertainment world. But if he becomes known as an influential Christian, the hometown folks usually are embarrassed about it.
Jesus Himself experienced this. He grew up in Nazareth, and it was there that He had “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). When He returned to Nazareth, however, after the early days of His ministry, “as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (Luke 4:16). He was already recognized there as proficient in the Scriptures, and they had heard tales about His miracles, so the invitation to speak was natural, but there were certain mumbles. “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” they asked. “Whence then hath this man all these things?” (Matthew 13:55-56).
At first, “all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). But then, as He applied a key prophecy to Himself and rebuked them for their unbelief, they “were filled with wrath” and tried unsuccessfully to slay Him (Luke 4:28-29). “Neither did his brethren believe in him” (John 7:5), and only His mother was with Him when He was crucified (John 19:25). As David had written prophetically, “I am become a stranger unto my brethren…. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (Psalm 69:8-9).
Perhaps those Christians who have been rejected by their family and former friends can identify with Jesus when He said: “For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother” (Mark 3:35). We still have a family—an eternal one! (HMM  (The Institute for Creation Research)  

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We are now two months into this year. This has been a busy year for us so far, as we have had the privilege (despite the weather) of traveling to Cedarville University to present the opportunity for our summer medical mission trip to Zambia. We are now in the preparation phase with our students who have signed up for the trip.

So far, COVID-19 has not impeded our planning to travel, although we are required to make contingency plans for what might happen. The US government is now requiring evidence of a negative COVID test upon return, so we will need to determine how best to do this. Nonetheless, all the students who signed up for the trip would like to leave around the end of May/start of June and stay for six weeks. As you can see from the map, Zambia sits just north of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

 

Our goals are to help the students understand how to grow in their own walk of discipleship with the Lord, challenge the Zambians in the same way (and encourage their campus ministry), work with the medical Christians we know in order to learn how to integrate our walk with Christ with our medical skills, and grow in medical skills through training while we are there. Of course, we want to encourage our country leaders in Zambia, Chapo and Sarah Masona, as well as other Navigator staff and the church in Lusaka. 

Marc is asking the Lord to provide $4,000 to fund him as he leads this trip next summer. If the Lord so directs, you may financially support him in one of two ways: you can give to Chinese Christian Church,
PO Box 25508, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825, or to Navigators (account #23831369), PO Box 6079, Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007. We appreciate our committed prayer partners. We are grateful for your support, emails, and texts to stay in touch. Please let us know how we can pray for you. 

In His service, 

Marc and Mary Wooten

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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.

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