Hinge verse: 1 Samuel 23:14
David was secretly anointed king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16 by the prophet Samuel. However, David waits 15 years to take the throne, as Saul continues to reign. Saul knew that David was God's anointed king, and he sought to kill him multiple times. In our verses today, David is on the run from Saul. King Saul calls for Ahimelek the priest and asks him why he helped David by giving him food and weapons (Goliath's sword!!!) and prayer. Ahimelek answers "ummm yeah I did, and I'm not sorry." {paraphrase} In retaliation, King Saul ordered the priests killed, along with men, women, children, and livestock. One son of Ahimelek escapes to David, who takes him in and protects him.
David is a warrior preparing to be king, so he gets involved in different circumstances as he and his men travel. David asks the LORD about a certain skirmish, and the LORD says go and help. David's men said (and I completely relate) "Hey we are scared here in our own country, we won't make it in a foreign land!" David prays and God again says "Go, I'm fighting for you."
When Saul hears that David has entered into a perceived trap, he assumes God has taken Saul's side in the pursuit. The LORD warns David that the city he just saved has zero loyalty to him and will turn him over to Saul in a heartbeat, David and his men escape.
Day after day Saul searched for him, But God did not give David into his hands. David prayed and trusted, prayed and trusted, over and over again. What looked like running away was David pursuing God's own heart. A king in the making.
On July 9, 1755--during the French/Indian war, George Washington was only 23 years old, and mostly an unknown soldier, a colonel over American troops. He and his men joined forces with Britain during this war. The top British commander, a seasoned veteran, went against the recommendations of the younger Washington and led the men into an ambush. Over half of their soldiers were killed. There were around 86 English officers on horseback and, during this battle, Washington was the only one not shot off of his horse. George Washington later shared with his family:
"by the miraculous care of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation. For I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me."
A famous speaker of the time, Rev. Samuel Davies, caught news of the Battle of Monongahela as it was called. As he related to a crowd of soldiers about Washington's But God moment, he concluded that
"because God had saved George Washington's life that surely this young man was destined to be a great leader in the rising America."
Davies was correct. George Washington, because of God's protection, was a president in the making, serving as the very first president and nicknamed "The father of his country".
But God...His Name in verse 14 is Elohim, singular yet plural. One God with many attributes. Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....You were a Savior then, You are a Savior now. You are the same God. You are the same God.
No comments:
Post a Comment