A Friend Forever

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Chapters: I Samuel 18-20, Psalm 11,59
Message: A Friend Forever

Hello My Friend,

Laden with guilt and full of fears, I saw my Saviour as my Substitute, and I laid my hand upon him; oh! how timidly at first, but courage grew and confidence was confirmed until I leaned my soul entirely upon him; and now it is my unceasing joy to know that my sins are no longer imputed to me, but laid on him, and like the debts of the wounded traveller, Jesus, like the good Samaritan, has said of all my future sinfulness, ‘Set that to my account.’” – Charles Spurgeon. When I read this this morning tears formed in my eyes, every sin we ever committed and will is laid on Jesus’ account. It is His blood that covers us, and literally wipes clean every one of them, and heals us from the damage that sin has done to our body. Praise God! “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.” – Psalm 11:5-7.

The LORD trieth the righteous:” Remember when we read about all the joyous blessings David was receiving, he was anointed to be the next king, made armorbearer to king Saul, took on Goliath, and led the army to defeat the Philistines? Well, all of those blessings were going about to be tried when Saul discovers it is David that is going to replace him. Even Saul’s own son, Jonathan, realizes this, and becomes like a brother to him.

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?I Samuel 18:1-8.

and behaved himself wisely:” David did not let all this fame go to his head, he was humble, obedient, and wise in his conduct. The best leaders are not the ones who are conceded and too proud to admit they need God, they are the ones who fear God, and are humble, willing to learn, and not think of themselves above everyone else. Now, Saul in all his jealousy, both of the kingdom and God favoring David sets out to kill David, first, he sets him as Captain over an army in hopes a heated battle would do it, then he uses the love of his daughter, Michal, but nothing worked. Still determined, he orders Jonathan to find, and kill him.

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.” – I Samuel 19:1,4-5,9-12,17-18.

to watch him, and to slay him in the morning:Why was Saul so determined to have David killed? He knew God was with him, and that Jonathan and Michal were also on his side. It is the devil that despises anything good, especially when we know that God’s hand in it, and will use anyone, even try to kill anyone who opposes him. Look at our nation today, we have a leader that God put in office, one that is not going to let this country fall into the hands of socialists just waiting to destroy it, and the people despise him and threaten his life every single day. We may not like our leader, but we do need to respect him, and pray for him because God has him here for a reason. As all this was happening, David wrote this prayer to help him cope.

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD. They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold. Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence. The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.” – Psalm 59:1-5,9-10,17.

O my strength, will I sing:” Every one that Saul sent to capture and kill David found out that David was going to be their new king, as God showed them this. When we let go of our own strength to endure the trials of life and walk in the strength that only Jesus can give us to endure them, we can sin of not only His mercy, but of His strength that sees us through. Amen! You know, David was just like the rest of us, one minute he was singing and praising God through his trial, and the next he was discouraged and felt defeated. After some time with Samuel, David found Jonathan, trying to figure out what it was that he did that Saul wanted him dead.

And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:” – I Samuel 20:1,3,9-14.

there is but a step between me and death.” There are times in our lives when we start to feel as though there is no hope for us, that our lives will end before we get a chance to be what God has called us to be. That is where amazing, and true God fearing friends come in. I wish I could say that I had a friend like Jonathan, but I have not had one like him in a long time. When we have no one to talk to we can always talk to our pastor or his wife, but we always have one friend that truly does stick closer to us than a brother, and He is Jesus, and He can and will give us peace and comfort like no one else can. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.” – I Samuel 18:4.

Today’s Prayer: God, You have called us on a journey, not one with a straight road, but one that has hills and valley’ s sometimes so deep that we find ourselves wondering if we are one step between ourselves and death. You promise to never leave nor forsake us, and You hold to that promise, You will give us the strength to climb those hills and crawl through those valley’s, and You will give is peace and rest even through our most trying times. Lord, Give us Your power to keep living by faith, and not in fear of those who are jealous of us. Let us walk in Your strength to stand up for ourselves, and not be afraid to confront them. And give us the wisdom, guidance we need to behave ourselves wisely, and the love that only You can give us so that we are favored both with You and man. In Your name, Jesus I pray. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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