King James Bible Study – “And 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: Sunday, April 18, 2021
Chapters: I Samuel 26-27 Psalms 35, 63
Message: Power Of Mercy
Hello My Friend,
Well, I am late getting this out because my computer decided that it needed to take eight hours to update right when I got up this morning. A couple of good things came out of it, I spent two and a half hours talking with God, then I actually picked up my Bible and read the chapters for today from it rather than the computer. There is just something about having God’s Word in your hands that breathes His breath into it and you can feel Him there with you. And as I was reading the chapters for today, this passage came to mind, [Matthew 5:5-8 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.]
True, saved, born again Christians, will face more affliction and persecution for their faith than any other religion, or belief for that matter. You see, just as much as the Bible is alive, so, is Jesus. In fact, Jesus is the Bible made flesh, [John 1:14], and because Jesus is alive, we are made alive through our faith in Him. Praise God! Our faith in Jesus gives us so much power to defeat the enemy without lifting one finger, that power is mercy. Now, when Saul was after David, he was not really after him because he would be the next king, he was after him because God was with him. Learning that Saul is after him once again, even though he said that he would no longer pursue him.
[I Samuel 26:1-4 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? 2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.]
[and understood that Saul was come in very deed.] While David sent the spies over to find out what Saul was up to, deep down he knew that he was after him. He still did not understand why Saul wanted to kill him, he decided before making one move to pray, [Psalms 35:1-7 A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.]
[Draw out also the spear,] The Angel of the LORD is none other than Jesus Himself, and it is incredible that David would reference our amazing Saviour, when centuries later He would come in the flesh through his lineage. Yet he fully understands that He is alive and of the Father, and is there to help him. And yes, Jesus will always chase our enemies away, but even that has a purpose, and He truly does draw out the spear, and he literally did after David prayed. After the spies came back, they told David that Saul was just laying there asleep, that was when he and Abishai, sneak over to their camp, only to find them sound asleep.
[I Samuel 26:7-12 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? 10 David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. 12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.]
[because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.] Do not think for one moment that God does not know what is going on? That He is just going to throw us in the lions den and make us fend for ourselves? We who are saved, and born again, are Christ’s anointed, no one can touch us, [II Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.]
These men, Abishai and Abner, will play a huge part in David’s life, and will discover what happens when they try to touch God’s anointed. There are times when God does tell us that we need to strike first, so to speak, so that we can prevent anything from happening to us. However, we cannot strike at the ones He places in charge of His people, and while they may not all be His anointed, He appointed them. So, while we may have all the power to retaliate, God forbids us to do so. David knew that in God’s time He would deliver him from Saul. In fact, David was kind of upset that he was able to just go right up to Saul, and no one knew about it and after he gets to a distances he calls out to them.
[I Samuel 26:14-16 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king? 15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’S anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.]
[because ye have not kept your master,] David knew that it was the mighty power of God that Abner and the rest of the guards were cast into so deep a sleep, and that God’s immediate hand was in it, he reproaches Abner as unworthy to be captain of the lifeguards, since he could sleep when the king his master lay so much exposed. As Saul wakes and hears him speaking, he immediately knew who it was David.
[I Samuel 26:17, 21-25 And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. 22 And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed. 24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.]
[because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day:] Saul knew first hand the mercy that came from having God in his life, but he lost it all because he tried to seek God his own way. However, David discovers something, it did not matter what he faced, God’s loving kindness is better than life.
[Psalms 63:1-7 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: 6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.]
[and meditate on thee in the night watches.] I am usually up by 4:30 am, for a while I was waking up at 3 am, that is my time with God, and if I do not get that time with God my day is a mess. Of course, we do not have to get up in the wee hours of the night, but the key to getting through each and every day is simply by talking to God. I know, sometimes we pray and pray and still wonder where His mercies are upon us, but as long as we keep praising Him, knowing that He will soon deliver us from our enemy, we will see not only our circumstances change, but the great power of His mercy through the entire situation, [Romans 11:30-32 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.]
Still a bit discouraged, David decided that the best thing was to leave Israel, so, he made the strangest decision ever, he moved into Philistine territory, even got the king to give him, his family, and those who followed him a city to call their own.
[I Samuel 27:1-8 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. 8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.]
[for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land,] It may seem like David made a decision against God’s will, but God did allow it for several reasons, one, He was preparing David to be king, two, He used David to do something that should have been done centuries ago, and third, He took him away from was about to happen in the battle that was to come. Sometimes the things God allows in our lives seem strange, and it can discourage us because we just do not understand. And long as we trust Him we will more than endure, we will learn that the tribulations we went through helped mold and shape us for the purpose He has for us, [Romans 8:27-28 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.]
Jesus Christ Magnified: [1 Samuel 26:23 The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed.]
Today’s Prayer: God, It seems like it has been years since I chose to dedicate my life to Your Son, I know I have had my ups and downs, I have gotten discouraged, depressed, and sorrowful as I went through persecutions and afflictions. I have come a long way since then, and it is only by Your mercy and grace that I am who I am today, one thing is for sure, I see Your hand holding on to me wherever I go, and although You keep my on my toes, I will keep praising You because I know You are not only perfecting me, you are also perfecting those You bring into my life too. Lord, lead me and guide me, early I will seek You, my soul thirsts for You, my flesh too in this dry and thirsty land. You have my soul tucked under Your wings, and is perfect, the rest of me needs work, fill me with Your mercy and grace, never let me cease from praising You, in my affliction, keep me looking to You and holding on to the hope of something great coming out of it. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/welcome/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/readytofollowJesus/
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/imfollowingjesus
Copyright © 2021 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.