Come Down Whenever You're Ready

O. T. #639  "Come Down Whenever You're Ready"
November 23, 2015
1 Samuel 23-Part 2
And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.  1 Samuel 23:14b

LET IT GLOW

Have you ever had an encouraging visit or call from an old friend, just when you needed it? I have had such many times. An encouragement it was, too. David had an encouraging visit from an old friend. Yet, the men of the town turned to Saul's side and told him how they would help out. All Saul had to do was "Come down whenever you're ready", they said.

Saul and his army were heading to the city where David and his men slaughtered the Philistines, at Keliah. Then David got assurance from God that it would happen, he took his 600 men and they wandered around in the wilderness to escape Saul. When Saul heard of this, he didn't go to Keliah. so David's troops stayed in the stronghold of the wilderness and hill country of Ziph.
Listen to what happened. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn't let Saul find him.

God's protection is better than a 1,000 men army, right? If God could keep Saul from finding him, can't He protect us from harm, too? So why do we worry, or am I the only one? Walking down the path which is God's will, by faith, can be a rough road. Most of our ministry has been that way. Wouldn't trade it for anything, though, because we experienced our God providing and protecting us along that road. Few walk the narrow way. They want the wide way, but it leads to destruction.

How strong is your faith in our strong God? Anyone seeking to harm you? The devil is for one.

We don't know how long that lasted, but one day David got the news that Saul was headed his way. David's friend, Jonathan, came to encourage David to stay strong in his faith in God. What a friend, a true friend. This must have been the last time they saw each other, though.
What did Jonathan tell David?

• His father would never find David.
• David was going to be king of Israel.
• Jonathan would be next to him.
• Saul knew that would happen.

The guys renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home and David stayed at Horesh.

LET IT GROW

The men of Ziph betrayed David by going to Saul in Gibeah. They told the king exactly where David was hiding. Thy said, "Come down whenever you're ready and we will catch him and hand him over to you."  BETRAYERS! As long as David and his army was in town, the town was secure from the Philistines. They knew it, but for whatever reason, it did not hold water to being on the good side of the king.

Don't you know those words excited Saul.
Do we truly know who our true friends are, except when times get rough. How do we react?

LET IT GO

Forgive our betrayers and never loose faith.

Love my enemies, pray for those who despitefully use me.