Caring for Elderly Parents

O. T. #636   "Caring for Elderly Parents" 
November 16, 2015
1 Samuel 22-Part 3
Later David went to Mizpeh in Moab, where he asked the king, "Please allow my father and mother to live here with you until I know what God is going to do for me."  1 Sam. 22:3 NLT

LET IT GLOW

I have known of adult children who take advantage of their elderly parents, squandering their retirement funds. Then, on the other hand, I have known of children who take care of their elderly parents so they don't have to go to a nursing home or sell their home. Decisions for those days ahead will eventually have to be faced by so many folks. Which will you be like? Is it time for you to think ahead and make plans now for such situations?

David went to Mizpeh, located in Moab to set up his camp. (Great grandmother Ruth was from that land.) David asked the king of Moab to allow his mother and father Jesse to live with him until David knew what God was going to do for him. So his parents stayed with the King of Moab during the entire time David was living in his stronghold.

Sounds like David did not put anything passed Saul. He could have kidnapped David's parents for a ransom of getting David. I had not considered that possibility until reading how David protected his parents from the hateful and killer Saul.

Are we lovingly taking care of the needs of our parents? Some of you may be caregivers of your elderly parents. May the Lord bless you as you continue to sacrifice your time and energy to lovingly provide for them. How I wish my parents were alive for me to care for them. Family loves, no matter the price.

LET IT GROW
Then David returned to Judah after the prophet Gad convinced him to do so. Soon news of his arrival reached Saul. Evidently Gad was a longtime spiritual guardian and prophet to David. (2 Sam.24:11)
How did Saul react to such news?
He asked his officers if:

• the son of Jesse promised them fields and vineyards;
• David promised to make them generals and captains in his army.
• that is why they conspired against him (accusingly).

Saul reminded his officers that not one of them told him when his own son, Jonathan, made a pact with David. He accused them of not even being sorry for him. Openly, Saul accused his own son of encouraging David to kill Saul, even today. What a messy attitude Saul had.

The Doeg spoke up revealing what he witnessed in Nob-David spoke with the priest Ahimelech, who consulted the Lord, and gave David food and the sword of Goliath. Immediately, Saul sent for Ahimelech and his family after hearing such news.

We will convene with the story next post. what is Saul going to do to this priest and his family?

Do we falsely accuse people of conspiring against us? Do others do that to us? How do we react when it happens? Do we tell the truth or let them think whatever they will and we don't confront them?

LET IT GO

Love those in the  older generation in my family and church family.

Stand up for the truth.