Pinned to the Wall

O. T. #621  "Pinned to the Wall"
October 23, 2015
1 Samuel 18-Part 3
Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall" but David eluded him twice.   1 Samuel 18:11

LET IT GLOW

Skipping ahead to verse 15, Saul put David in charge of a thousand troops. He was demoted from the king's personal bodyguard to merely a captain over some troops. did it change David? He remained faithful to the Lord and serve and honor his king.
 In everything David did, he had great success because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, Saul was afraid of David. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their battles and campaigns against the enemies.

How do we react when we are demoted? Do we maintain humility and service? Looks like David had several giants to kill.

LET IT GROW

After killing the Giant Goliath, David did not return home to report to his father. Verse 2 says that Saul did not let him. Do you think Saul thought David would be an access to him kingdom? Well, it didn't turn out that way. You'll recall that the women would come out of their towns and sing unto those returning from the battlefield. Specifically, in contrast, Saul killed his 1,000's and David his 10,000's. Saul got very angry and jealous of David through that. Verse 9 says that Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
Well, the next day didn't get any better, only worse. Saul was prophesying in his house while David was playing his harp. Then an evil spirit came forcefully on Saul. He had a spear in his hand, hurled it at David, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." (verse 11)

That spear was thrown with the intent to kill. Have you had anyone who tried to pin you to the wall? Tried to nail you down, keep you from doing good, tried to get you to quit a job or leave? That is a very difficult situation, trusting the Lord to bring good out of it all. People can be mean and conniving. When it was God's time, I left. He provided another job. Come to find out, others knew the situation, but were afraid to encourage me in fear they would be attacked also.

Thankfully, David was able to elude Saul's spear, not once, but twice. Wow! He strikes out after the one who helps him. (I understand that those with dementia do the same, treating their loving caregivers ugly and hateful.) 

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men. He no longer stayed in the palace with Jonathan and Saul. David led the troops as their captain, successfully in battles. Know why?
In everything he did he had great success because the LORD was with him. (verse 14)
You go David. God bless you.

Do you know there are folks who actually get jealous of spiritual leaders? In some churches, some people want to be the leaders, usually those with money, instead of submitting to the spiritual leaders. We have experienced the battle of the wills. Once, it took 18 years for the breakthrough. Sadly, those folks died off. Now they are submitting to the Lord Jesus in heaven. If only they had submitted while here, they would have been an access and not a detriment.

Beware of them. They are out there, striving to achieve their own agenda and not the Lord's. They hurl spears in various forms-critical words, lies, schemes of harm, selfish deeds, talk behind your back, and the list goes on.

What can we do? Stay true to God; be sure the Lord is with us and leading us through the battle. Live godly before them. Ask God to help you love them.

LET IT GO

Recognize my enemies are not the people, but the devil and his demons. They want to destroy the good work I do and my witness.

Trust God to open a door when it is time to leave.

Otherwise, don't quit, don't give in, be an overcomer. (as the song goes)

Trust the Lord to give me success as He is with me.