Good morning to one and all. God bless each one this day the Lord has made.
This morning's devotions continue with the flight of David in 1 Samuel 21: 10-15. An interesting twist here when a man of God is in fear of another earthly king. David flees....where? Into the hands of a Philistine king; a heathen. "And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. This is certainly to bring David into trouble in associating with a heathen.
David is in fear, and how does he react? He acts like a madman, frothing at the mouth and drooling down his face. He makes a spectacle of himself. What happens when we turn from the Lord as our only source of strength? Verse 13.."And he changed his behaviour. How often would we change our behaviour for whatever reason and destroy the former testimony built in the Lord? They spoke of David's accomplishments....verse 11 : "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands..." And yet when we fear man, we can bring to naught all that the Lord has done in us and through us. I didn't have the consumption of alcoholic beverages in mind, but here is an example of what one drink can do in the face of the heathen, and why I will not touch alcohol. It can singlehandedly undo great accomplishments done unto the Lord. They perceived that David was mad and was of little consequence to them. Again, David had to flee. When we are in fear of man and in the hands of the heathen we are always running. It is like a treadmill. We run a great distance, but reach nowhere.
Here I turn my attention to Psalm 56 which is the remedy for fear. It is David's song in retrospect. "Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me......mine enemies would daily swallow me up.....but here David shows his true heart, and this is the key verse of the day...."What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (verse 3). What happens? Verse5..they wait to prey upon the believer; verse 6, "They mark my steps.." The enemy of the soul tracks you down and haunts you.
The turning point, verse 9.."When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back..full assurance...this I know; for God IS with me...."
Verse 11: "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. As Jim Elliot said at his validictorian address at Wheaton College, just a short time before he was killed in the service of the Lord; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
God bless everyone and remember, it is the Lord who is our strength, and not we ourselves. We ought not to fear, but to be of a strong mind and heart, with courage in Him each step of the way.
God counts the sorrows of his saints,
Their groans affect His ears;
Thou hast a book for my complaints,
A bottle for my tears.
When to Thy throne I raise my cry,
The wicked fear and flee:
So swift is prayer to reach the sky;
So near is God to me.
In Thee, most holy, just and true,
I have reposed my trust;
Nor will I fear what man can do,
The offspring of the dust.
Have a great day, and blessings be yours, and mine, in the Lord Jesus,
Cheers,
Jim
[ April 30, 2003, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: Jim1999 ]
This morning's devotions continue with the flight of David in 1 Samuel 21: 10-15. An interesting twist here when a man of God is in fear of another earthly king. David flees....where? Into the hands of a Philistine king; a heathen. "And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. This is certainly to bring David into trouble in associating with a heathen.
David is in fear, and how does he react? He acts like a madman, frothing at the mouth and drooling down his face. He makes a spectacle of himself. What happens when we turn from the Lord as our only source of strength? Verse 13.."And he changed his behaviour. How often would we change our behaviour for whatever reason and destroy the former testimony built in the Lord? They spoke of David's accomplishments....verse 11 : "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands..." And yet when we fear man, we can bring to naught all that the Lord has done in us and through us. I didn't have the consumption of alcoholic beverages in mind, but here is an example of what one drink can do in the face of the heathen, and why I will not touch alcohol. It can singlehandedly undo great accomplishments done unto the Lord. They perceived that David was mad and was of little consequence to them. Again, David had to flee. When we are in fear of man and in the hands of the heathen we are always running. It is like a treadmill. We run a great distance, but reach nowhere.
Here I turn my attention to Psalm 56 which is the remedy for fear. It is David's song in retrospect. "Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me......mine enemies would daily swallow me up.....but here David shows his true heart, and this is the key verse of the day...."What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." (verse 3). What happens? Verse5..they wait to prey upon the believer; verse 6, "They mark my steps.." The enemy of the soul tracks you down and haunts you.
The turning point, verse 9.."When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back..full assurance...this I know; for God IS with me...."
Verse 11: "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. As Jim Elliot said at his validictorian address at Wheaton College, just a short time before he was killed in the service of the Lord; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
God bless everyone and remember, it is the Lord who is our strength, and not we ourselves. We ought not to fear, but to be of a strong mind and heart, with courage in Him each step of the way.
God counts the sorrows of his saints,
Their groans affect His ears;
Thou hast a book for my complaints,
A bottle for my tears.
When to Thy throne I raise my cry,
The wicked fear and flee:
So swift is prayer to reach the sky;
So near is God to me.
In Thee, most holy, just and true,
I have reposed my trust;
Nor will I fear what man can do,
The offspring of the dust.
Have a great day, and blessings be yours, and mine, in the Lord Jesus,
Cheers,
Jim
[ April 30, 2003, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: Jim1999 ]
