King David Series: David Spares Saul

David has been on the run from Ramah to Nob to Gath, Adullam, Mizpah and more. Saul's pursuit is relentless. Finally, David escapes to the Desert of En Gedi. David's running can be reflected in Psalms.

Psalm 13, 17, and 22 fit well with the time when David was fleeing from Saul.

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me?How long must I wrestle with my thoughtsand every day have sorrow in my heart?How long will my enemy triumph over me?"-- Psalm 13:1-2

"Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give art to my prayer --it does not rise from deceitful lips.May my vindication come from you;may your eyes see what is  right."-- Psalm 17:1-2

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from saving me,so far from the words of my groaning?O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,by night and am not silent."-- Psalm 22:1-2

EnGedi means "fountain of the kid." It is an oasis with a perennial spring that lies on  the western shore of the Dead Sea. The area rises about 650 feet into the mountains forming a perfect strategic place for David to hide.

When Saul returned from his pursuit of the Philistines, he was told where David was hiding. He took three thousand of his men to look for David near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

Taking a moment to relieve himself, Saul went inside one of the many caves. What he didn't know was that David and his men were hiding in those very caves.

David's men urged him to kill the king, but David chose to trust God's providence. However, he quietly cut off the hem of Saul's garment. David later regretted doing hit, however, because the hem was symbolic of Saul's position as the Lord's anointed.

God uses this moment in the cave to reinforce in David's heart the need to wait on His timing, to secure David in the promises of God that surround him, and perhaps, one more time to try ago reach the stone heart of Saul.

Revealing the tenderness of his heart toward God, David is conscience-stricken for even approaching the king. He understand in a very profound, personal way the significance of being chosen by God. He sees clearly that his own life is in God's hand. Saul's can be no different.

Once Saul left the cave, David called out to him and showed the hem as evidence of his innocent intentions toward the king.

Saul openly admitted his sin against David and confessed with his own mouth that the Lord had chosen David to be king.

"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me about the good you did to me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surgely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will gee established in your hands. Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe our my name from my father's family." -- 1 Samuel 24:17-21

David gives his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Even though Saul admitted to personal guilt and publicly proclaimed the inevitability of David's kingship, David still could not trust him. There is no record here of reconciliation. David knew he needed to keep a safe distance from the unstable Saul.

"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High,to God, who vindicates me.He sends from heaven and saves me,rebuking those who hotly pursue me --God sends forth his love and his faithfulness."-- Psalm 57:1-3

Hiding in a cave, David finds the words of Psalm 57 going up to God. Saul is hotly pursuing him, but David determines to find refuge in the shadow of the Lord. He hides himself in God, allowing the Lord to be his shield and protector. He waits and rests in  the peace and safety of God's love until the disaster passes.

David shows us our first, best move when sorrow, danger, crisis or struggles come upon us. We must hide in the shadow of God's wings and find our refuge in His grace. Enfolded close to His heart, we will be safe and find the peace we need to face the moment.

David is confident of the work of God in his life. He cries out to God who fulfills His purpose for him. David believes God's promises, opening his life up to God's work in him. David trusts that the Lord will use all the circumstances in which he finds himself to bring about His will in David's life.

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 1:6

God is working in you to fulfill His purpose for you. He wants to transform you into the image of Christ Jesus, and He will use all your circumstances, all your surrender, and all your obedience to fulfill His purpose in your life.

Each day, God shapes your life to look a little bit more like Jesus. You can be confident that He who began this good work in you will bring to to completion. Spend your days hiding yourself in the shadow of His wings; praising His love, glory and faithfulness; and crying out to the One who fulfills His purpose in you.

David relies on God with each step he takes to evade Saul in the wilderness.

Next in the King David Series: David Spares Saul's Life Again.

Find Your Heart's Joy Christian Counseling / Coaching

Please join me as I open the doors and my heart to Christian Counseling / Coaching.

Find Your Heart's Joy is a culmination of a life long pursuit of my purpose in life.

Please look around, don't mind the construction still going on....  I was very eager to get the doors open and the paint is a bit wet.

There is also a Facebook page you can join and a private discussion group.


If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me!!!

Looking forward to helping you find your heart's joy!!

Compassion

Compassion

More than an Emotion

Love in Action

Abounding Love and Faithfulness

Trust

Open Arms

Loving Words

Understanding

Tender Touch

Helping Hand

Only One Way …. Look UP!!

He will not Abandon You

Save Your Soul

Shout For Joy!

Tender and Compassionate Hearts

Work together with One Mind and One Purpose

Reflection of God’s Love

by God’s Child

"Are your hears tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one and purpose." -- Philippians 2:1-2

Image provided by Prayers for Special Help 

Perseverance, my take on Making it through Life

I am truly a persistent woman. I think having OCD can do that to a person. I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to some things I have on my mind and how I want to live my life.

David Sarnoff said, "The will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success."

That makes sense to me. I have failed at many things in my life, but I've learned lessons from each failure, least of which is to not do something that way again. I am rarely knocked down for good. I get back up and I'm back in the thick of the action, trying to follow my dream or help someone else follow theirs.

"Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible." Isn't that a great quote by Lord Chesterfield?

That's how I make my way through life. I'm persistent. I don't think things are impossible. That word rarely enters my vocabulary.

I wanted to join the US Marine Corps when I was in high school, so as soon as I graduated, I headed off to boot camp. If you ask my father, he'd say I'd been more bull-headed and stubborn, than persistent, but it doesn't matter. I had a goal and I attained it.

I wanted to write for a living. I didn't let anything deter me from that goal either. I started out as a technical writer so I could provide for my family but when the time came, I moved to writing fiction full time and haven't turned back. I wrote twelve novels and novellas that were published. I was very persistent. I didn't take no for an answer. I found a publisher who was willing to work with me and together we got some great books on the market.

Life has thrown a few obstacles in my way. But, to me, they were just challenges to be overcome. Chronic illnesses, mental illness, pain. It didn't matter. I didn't let any of them obscure my vision of how I wanted to make it through life. Successfully and Faithfully.

Be persistent. Persevere. Don't ever give up. "There was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, "Make sure that I get fair treatment in court." For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself,"Even though I don't fear God or care about people, I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out." Luke 18:3-5

I live my life with the purpose that God has prepared for me. He wants me to help others overcome traumas in their lives. I can do that. I have the way to help these people. I know it works, because I've been using the technique my entire life. I will not give up. I will bring this technique to fruition. It's my purpose in life.

I live my life with perseverance and faith. How do you live yours?

Image credit: photoman / 123RF Stock Photo

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4.) When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________ today.'

5.) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6.) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year.

7.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

8.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of Six.

9.) Dream more while you are awake.

10.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

11.) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13.) Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15.) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17.) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

18.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22.) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

23.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear our fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Everyday is special.

25.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26.) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27.) Forgive everyone for everything.

28.) What other people think of you is none of your business.

29.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

30.) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31.) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

32.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

33.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides remember?!

34.) The best is yet to come. (in Heaven)

35.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

36.) Do the right thing!

37.) Call your family often.

38.) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.' Today I accomplished _________.

39.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

40.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day. Please share with friends!

T.G.I.F. - TODAY GOD IS FIRST