KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, April 16, 2018
Chapters: I Samuel 24, Psalms 7, 27, & 120
Message: Feeding The Enemy
Hello My Friend,
Enemies; While none of us really want to make enemies with people, the truth is as long as there is good and evil in the world people are going to get offended and take us for enemies. It is truly heartbreaking when family or friends turn on you, and for no reason other than you chose Jesus. Years ago, I was in a relationship that I wanted relation because he cheated on me, and I did get it, but the only one who ended up getting hurt was me. The only good thing that came out of that relationship was that I rededicated my life to Christ through it. Yes, everything does happen for a reason. Yes, God will allow us to fall into temptation. Yes, God will help us when we turn to Him. And Yes, God will get the vengeance for us so instead of getting even with our enemies, be nice, and God will take care of the rest. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:19-21.
Grace, it is the unmerited favor of God, we cannot earn grace, it is given freely to us, but we often forfeit grace by focusing on our enemies rather than the God who can give us the strength to defeat them. Before we make a decision, we first need to make sure it is from God, even if we have to ask Him a few times. Saul was about to learn what grace is all about when David had the opportunity to kill him, he even ripped the bottom of his robe, but then something hit him the second he saw the tear in his clothes.
“Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 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. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 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.” – I Samuel 24:2-6.
“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master,” David thought about it after he cut the hem of Saul’s robe, retaliation was not the answer, he knew that since God was His anointed that God would also be the one to judge him for his actions in His time, and he would also judge him as well if he killed Saul. Another thing David realized in all this is that everything is in God’s time. “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” – Psalm 27:4-5,11-14.
More often than we realize our enemies are not angry at us they are angry at themselves for what they had done themselves, and instead of repenting they go after the one that convicts them consciously. David really did not want to kill Saul, he still never understood why Saul was out to get him anyway when he never did anything wrong. David ran after Saul and cried out to him. “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 hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” – I Samuel 24:8-12.
“and the LORD avenge me of thee:” God had appointed Saul as king, and until He removed him from the throne, David had no right to take this mans life. No matter what people have done to us we have no right to take the law into our own hands, God will never allow us to take a life in order to receive something He promised us, and if they have wronged us He will take care of it in His time and way, not ours. “The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” – Psalm 7:8-11,17.
Saul’s actions were based out of pure jealousy and pride, all he really had to do was repent to God and it would not have been so bad, but instead he chose to go after God’s anointed. Saul finally realizes that it is only by the grace of David that he was not dead by now, and admits that David was the better man.
“And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” – I Samuel 24:17-21.
“will he let him go well away?” How often are we confronted by those who are set out to destroy us only to offer them grace instead of retaliation when the tables are turned? There is a time to fight and then there is a time for grace, most conflicts can be resolved simply by showing them grace, at the least you earn their respect. It is God who judges, and when we give it over to Him than we are the better person, besides, God will take care of them for us. Yes, things we do not enjoy do happen, but if we can hold on to Christ through it than will receive the greater reward, honor and praise from God Himself. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” – II Corinthians 4:15-17.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.” – I Samuel 24:15.
Today’s Prayer: God, You make it easy to do the right thing, what is hard is those who want to challenge us, they will often bring difficulties to discourage or change us into their way of thinking, some may even try to harm us out of jealousy and fear. Lord, You are my strength, my power, my grace to get through every one of my difficulties, nothing is too hard or impossible with You. So, as I walk with You by faith, trust You, and wait for You I know that everything will work out for good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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