Chester ARP Devotional Podcast

David asks the Lord for direction as he responds to the capture of his wives and the families of his men. He follows the Lord's wisdom. We should learn from him.

God works in everything to accomplish his will for his glory and our good. David was preserved from doing something extremely harmful to his future when King Achish sent him home from the battlefirled. God worked that out for David's protection.

God rejected Saul, because Saul had rejected God. Sadly, Saul refused to recognize that reality and made a giant mess of his life. Finally, he heard the truth plainly from Samuel as Israel prepared for battle against the Philistines. The truth is the truth.

King Saul is in a bad situation as he looks over the valley and sees the army of the Philistines coming for him. What does he do? Tries to get a witch to conjure up Samuel from the dead to inquire of the Lord for him. He always does the wrong things.

David's situation after 1 Samuel 26 with Saul forced him to walk away from the land of Israel and to seek exile in Philisita. While there, he fulfilled his responsiblities to King Achish and waited on the Lord to deliver him from Saul's purusit of his life. We are called to do the same at times.

Nabal refused to return the good fortunes that his men received from David. But, David had done the right thing by Nabal's men before he sought any repayment. We are to return the good we receive and be good to others because its the right thing to do.

The period of the Judges came to a complete end when Samuel died. Israel is now a monarchy with a power hungry madman on the throne. But, hope is not lost. God is still in control. He provides the continuity.

David preserved the life of the Lord's anointed becasue it was the right thing to do. He was to honor Saul because Saul had been placed in a position of leadership by the grace and will of God. We are to do the same.

King Saul was arrogant enough to think that somehow he would change the will of God. He thought he could guarantee the continuation of his kingdom by killing David. He thought he could go against God's will and win. He was wrong. We are too when we think like that.

David fled the land of Israel for the greener pastures of the Philistines in Gath. When recognized by the servants of King Achish, he changed his behavior to make the king think he was insane. He should have remianed in Israel and trusted the Lord.

God uses ordinary men and women with all their flaws to accomplish his purposes. He is full of grace and truth.

Jonathan sacrificed his own spot on the throne of Israel so that David could be king one day. Jonathan wanted the will of God done more than he wanted to be king. He did it because he worshipped the Lord alone. We should learn from him.

Jonathan was loyal to David. He had his back. That's what true friends do. They care for one another.

Jonathan and Michal protected David from their father Saul and his vicious plan to kill him. They played their part in the outworking of God's plan beautifully. We must be willing to intervene and intercede for others as well.

The characters of Saul and David come out in the last half of 1 Samuel 18. Saul wants to maintain power and conives a way to destroy his enemy David. But, God has other plans. He presevers David for His own purposes.

Saul pursued power above all other things. His identity was wrapped up in his position. David, however, was content to wait on the Lord. We should be as well.

Jonathan and David were fast freinds. They loved each other. We see Jonathan demonstrating the humility of freindship. His faith produced the fruit of humility and the desire of exalting others over oursleves.

David trusted the Lord to bring the victory to His people. He went in the name of the Lord of host and beleived that He would be vicotirous. David had the boldness and courage to do the work before him. We must as well.

David had the guts to go to the battle. He knew that God would be with him and deliver him from the hands of the giant. He had fought lions and bears. What was Goliath?

David recognized that Israel's battel with Goliath and the Philistines was not about them and the Philistines. Rather, it is about God and the Philistines. He knew he was fighting for the Lord. Too bad the Israelites didn't realize that too.

David has an encourther with Goliath as he brings provisions to his brothers from their father. He hears Goliath's daily speech. What will the young shepherd boy do?

Goliath challenged the army of Saul. He was an insurmountable warrior who represented Philistia on the battlefield. He all bu guaranteed victory for them. God's people, however, were delivered by a shepherd boy. There's a lesson in that for us.

The Spirit of the Lord rests on David after He departed from Saul. Saul's spirit was harmful and broken because he rejected the Lord. God worked all things for His glory in then and still does today.

David was God's choice to be Saul's successor on the throne of Israel. He was the complete opposite of Saul. And, that's the kind of man God wants. Humble. Trustworthy. Devoted.

The Lord tore the kingdom of Israel from Saul becasue Saul had been disobedient and was unrepentant. We must learn that the Lord desires our hearts and devotion and he deserves it because He is the Lord.