Constant threat to the Kingly Line.

Am I totally sold out on you oh lord, you know innermost desires of my heart?

”As I look into your heart as every other person I have created, I see a huge mixture of emotions. On the one hand the desire to make me the most important in your life, your thoughts, your desires. On the other hand, there are many issues which take your attention and drag you away from me. Take heart, I look at the intentions of your heart and understand the complexity of it. Your desire is to seek me completely and I will honour that desire and help you to accomplish it by My grace. yet the trials and tests of this world are there to test and grow your faith – not to destroy it. So, I hear you as you sing; ‘As the deer pants for water, You alone are my heart desire and I long to worship You.'”

Chapter 26 of 1 Samuel almost seems like a repeat of ch 24. However, although Saul is once again relentlessly pursuing David, circumstances have changed. Things are out in the open and David is no longer so vulnerable. On seeing that Saul was exposed to him David plans a daring intervention in an attempt at diverting Saul and his murderous intentions. Accompanied by Abishai they enter Saul’s camp and take some trophy’s to prove that they were there.

Although Saul is completely at his mercy David refuses to harm him on the basis that he was God’s anointed. Once again David confronts Saul with the evidence and Saul appears to be heartily sorry for his actions. But a worldly sorrow? 2 Cor 7:10

As I pondered this passage, I wondered how much of a role Satan was playing in pushing Saul to kill David. We need to remember that David was in a line of kings who would eventually end with Jesus. From the beginning of Matt gospel, we read how Satan tried to annihilate this Messiah king. Was he already active at this stage of God’s story? We should at all times be on our guard against Satan’s attempts to derail God story which is playing out in our lives,

I was struck again how David acknowledged God all the time as the story unfolds cf vv 9.16,19,23. In turn there is no doubt that God is there all the time with David cf v 12.

Maybe we feel that we are not as important a part of God’s story that He should also be intimately with us as we live our lives. However, I believe while David was an important part of God’s story each one of us is equally important to God and He is busy all the time in our lives too. Are you totally sold out on God’s providence? It is such a deeply reassuring fact that God is big enough and wise enough to be involved in each of our stories. Of course, the way He is involved is far above our understanding and therefore tends to puzzle us. We can rest assured though that His way is always the best.

God bless till next week.