I Samuel 22
David in cave Adullamverses 1-2
David therefore departed thence – and escaped to the cave Adullam
and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it
they went down thither to him
And every one that was in distress – debt – discontented
gathered themselves to him
and he became a captain over them
and there were with him about four hundred men
David leaves parents in Moabverses 3-4
And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab
and he said to the king of Moab
Let my father and my mother – I pray you
come forth and be with you
till I know what God will do for me
And he brought them before the king of Moab
and they dwelt with him all the while
that David was in the hold
Prophet Gad tells David to go back to Judahverse 5
And the prophet Gad
said to David
Abide not in the hold
depart – and get you into the land of Judah
Then David departed – and came into the forest of Hareth
Saul hears of return of Davidverses 6-8
When Saul heard that David was discovered
and the men that were with him
(now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah
having his spear in his hand
and all his servants were standing about him)
Then Saul
said unto his servants that stood about him
Hear now you Benjamites
will the son of Jesse give every one of you
fields and vineyards
and make you all captains of thousands
and captains of hundreds
That all of you have conspired against me
and there is none that shows me that my son has made a
league with the son of Jesse
and there is none of you that is sorry for me
or shows to me that my son hath
stirred up my servant against me
to lie in wait – as at this day?
Doeg tells of David’s visit to Ahimelechverses 9-10
Then answered Doeg the Edomite
which was set over the servants of Saul
and said
I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob
to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub
And he INQUIRED of the LORD for him
and gave him victuals
and gave him the sword of
Goliath the Philistine
Saul confronts Ahimelechverses 11-17
Then the king send to call Ahimelech the priest
the son of Ahitub and all his father’s house
the priests that were in Nob
and they came all of them to the king
And Saul said
Hear now you son of Ahitub
And he answered
Here I am my lord
And Saul
said to him
Why have you conspired against me – you and the son of Jesse
in that you have given him bread – sword
have inquired of God for him
that he should rise against me
to lie in wait – as at this day?
Then Ahimelech answered the king
and said
And who is so faithful among all your servants as David
which is the king’s son-in-law – and goes at your bidding
and is honorable in your house?
Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me
let not the king impute anything to his servant
nor to all the house of my father
for they servant KNEW NOTHING of all this
less or more
And the king said
You shall surely die – Ahimelech – you
and all your father’s house
And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him
Turn – and slay the priests of the LORD
because their hand also is with David
because they knew when he fled
and did not show it to me
BUT the servants of the king would not put forth
their hand to fall on priests of the LORD
Doeg kills all the priestsverses 18-19
And the king said to Doeg
Turn you and fall on the priests
And Doeg the Edomite turned
and he fell upon the priests
and slew on that day fourscore and five persons
that die wear a linen ephod
And Nob – the city of the priests
smote he with the edge of the sword
both men and women – children and sucklings
oxen and asses and sheep
with the edge of the sword
Abiathar the priest joins Davidverses 20-23
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub
named Abiathar escaped – fled after David
And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain
the LORD’S priests
And David
said to Abiathar
I knew it that day – when Doeg the Edomite was there
that he would surely tell Saul
I have occasioned the death of all the persons of
your father’s house
Abide you with me – fear not
for he that seeks my life seeks your life
but with me you shall be in safeguard
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. (4751 “discontented” [mar] means bitter, angry, expressive of severe grief or regret, anguished, despairing, or despairing)
DEVOTION: Does this sound like a motley crew gathering around David? Or does it sound like a group of believer who gather in a local church? We can look around the congregation in our local church and see individuals in the pews who fit this description.
God called these men to follow David. He needed an army and the ones who came were in distress, in debt, and discontented with what was going on in their world.
We might even fit into one of these categories today. The LORD wants us to realize that HE is there for us and will help us through the local church to overcome any and all of these circumstances.
In David’s day he couldn’t go around asking men to join him, the LORD sent the ones HE wanted around David. It turned out that the LORD chose the right men to be around him to help him learn from his experiences while he was in hiding from Saul.
The LORD knows who we need around us during our times of learning from the LORD. HE brings just the right people into our life to face the present challenges HE wants to use to cause not only us to grow but those around us to grow. Are you presently going through a rough time in your life? Watch to see who the LORD brings alongside you to help you through those rough times.
God has blessed me with many individuals who have come alongside me during each time period of growth in my life. These individuals have helped us through with their prayers and encouragement. This needs to be acknowledged in each of our lives.
CHALLENGE: If you are going through or have gone through a rough time look around at those who have helped you and tell them “thank you” for being there. Tell them they are a blessing from the LORD!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth. (4686 “hold” [metsudah] means stronghold, fortress, bulwark, castle, defense, fastness, net, or strong place)
DEVOTION: What do you think about your parents? Would you think the same thoughts as David concerning his father and mother? Would you make sure they were taken care of? What should be our attitude toward our parents? David honored his parents, even when he was on the run from Saul.
David had all of his family members and all those who were distressed or in debt or discontented gathered around to help him in his fight with Saul. How many people would this be today? David is running from Saul. He had his family join him in hiding. He had about four hundred men follow him in hiding. They were a group of men who were having trouble during the time of Saul. They were hiding in a forest. Does this sound like the movie “Robin Hood?”
David was trying to find the right place to get away from Saul. He left his father and mother with the king of Moab until he could find out what the LORD was going to do with him.
This verse introduces us to a new prophet. This prophet, Gad, warns David to leave where he is and to someplace safer in the land of Judah. The LORD promises us a safe place in HIM.
Saul killed all the servants of the LORD called priests at Nob along with their families because Ahimelech helped David. Only one son escaped to join David.
We sometimes look for other places to get help when we are in trouble. They usually don’t work. If they do, we are still in the wrong place depending on the wrong place or person for safety.
When we try to hide in the wrong place and God has to get our attention to go to the right place. Are we willing to move? We should be!!! David had to be moved with the help of a prophet.
Are we running from an enemy? Are we looking for a fastness or secure place? The LORD is our stronghold. Seek guidance from HIM regarding the proper place to be on a regular basis. David listened to the prophet.
CHALLENGE: We need to be listening!!!
: 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, and who is so faithful among all your servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house? (539 “faithful” [’aman] means sure, established, believe, to be reliable so as to be depended on, or to be proved to be firm)
DEVOTION: Ahimelech the priest noted that David was the most dependable person in Saul’s army. He was someone who was the best friend of his son. He was one who could lead Saul’s army into battle with victory.
Here was a man that Saul should have trusted but because he was jealous of his abilities and knew that Samuel had blessed him. Saul knew that his son would not be the next king and he wanted him to be king.
So we find that Saul was not in his right mind when it came to thinking about David. He had allowed the spirit of jealousy to influence his decisions. It was not the LORD who was giving him these thoughts regarding David.
We can have the same problem if there is someone who seems to be getting ahead of us at work or even in church. We want to be number one in all things. This is not something the LORD gives us but that our old nature gives us.
We have to fight these types of feeling. It is not easy at times but that is not the thinking of someone who wants others to succeed in life. We should be praying for others to grow closer to the LORD and be used of the LORD for HIS glory.
CHALLENGE: How do we look at others? Are we jealous of them if they succeed? Or are we happy that the LORD is using them for HIS glory? This can be a battle that we fight just like Saul.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 17 And the king said to the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of the LORD. (6293 “fall” [paga’] means to deliver a sharp blow, as with a hand, fist, or sharp weapon, fall upon with hostility, strike, or attack)
DEVOTION: Here we have a king who is not following the LORD giving orders to his troops to kill the priests at Nob. They had not done anything wrong. They had just given David what he wanted without knowing that Saul was mad at him and wanted to kill him.
So Saul gave the order to keep the priests and none of his men would kill them but there was a man who would have no problem killing them because he was from another nation that believed in false gods.
Saul’s soldiers believed in the LORD and didn’t want the LORD to judge them for their actions if they killed HIS servants. Even though the LORD predicted that these descendants of Eli would be killed they didn’t want to be a part of it.
We need to watch who we obey. Sometimes there will be someone we think is spiritual telling us something that is not in tune with the will of the LORD. We have to ask for discernment regarding our obedience to someone who gives an order that we know would not please the LORD.
Our responsibility is obedience to the leaders the LORD places over us but only after we check with the LORD regarding HIS will according to HIS Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
When in doubt regarding an action a leader tells us to do, we need to not do it like these soldiers of Saul. Sometimes if our parents are not believers, they might tell us to do something that would not be pleasing to the LORD and we should obey the LORD rather than our parents.
The same is true between a husband and a wife at times. If one is not a believer or might claim to be a believer but is out of tune with the LORD the spouse needs to check with the LORD regarding obedience.
CHALLENGE: We need to know when to confront and when not to confront if it means hurting someone. The soldiers picked the right decision not to kill the priests against the king’s orders.
: 23 Abide you with me, fear not: for he that seeks my life seeks your life: but with me you shall be in safeguard. (4931 “safeguard” [mishmereth] means keeping, preserving, custody, you are in safe hands, what is to be preserved, placing a guard over an area for safety, or to exercise great care over.)
DEVOTION: The whole family of Eli was killed except Abiathar who would stay with David throughout his reign. He was the last descendant of Eli who the LORD said would have no future because of the sins of his sons and his lack of discipline of his family. So this killing of the priests in Nob was a fulfillment of a prophecy of the LORD.
Does that take the guilt of Saul and Doeg? No, they were to be judged for this sin. Now however, David had the prophet Gad and the priest Abiathar in his camp.
David was going to go through a time period of suffering which is necessary for everyone who wants to serve the LORD. Growth comes through suffering. He told Abiathar that he would keep him safe from Saul while he was in his camp.
Both men were now going to be hunted by Saul but the LORD was going to keep them safe. David promised he would preserve the life of Abiathar because they had a mutual enemy in Saul.
The LORD wants us to know that we are safe in HIS camp. Does this mean that none of the servants of the LORD would die while the fight continued between David and Saul? NO!! However, we know that the priest was still with David when he took the throne in the future. David kept his promise to him.
CHALLENGE: We need to trust in the LORD for our preservation in this world. HE is the one who has a plan for our life and HIS plan will happen. We need to realize we are safe in the hands of Jesus.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Inquired of the LORDverse 10
Inquired of Godverses 13, 15
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Ahimelech the priestverses 9- 20
Inquired of the LORD for David
Gave David victuals
Gave David sword of Goliath
Thought David was most faithful servant of Saul
Said he did inquire for David but not his household
Priests that were in Nobverses 11-19
Saul orders all of them killed
Abiathar escaped and went to Davidverses 20-23
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 3, 13, 15
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 10, 17
Inquired of the LORDverse 10
Inquired of Godverses 13, 15
Priests of the LORDverse 17
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Moabverses 3, 4
David’s mother and father
Doeg the Edomiteverses 9-19, 22
Set over servants of Saul
Willing to kill 85 priests
Killed all in the city of the priests
Goliath the Philistineverse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Conspiredverses 8, 13
Lie in waitverses 8, 13
Saul had priest killedverse 18
Saul kills all who lived in Nobverse 19
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Care of parentsverse 3
Knowing God’s willverse 3
Prophetverse 5
Enquire of the LORDverses 10, 13, 15
Faithfulverse 14
Honorableverse 14
Not killing priests of Nobverse 17
Fear notverse 23
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David gathers family and other (400)verses 1-23
Cave of Adullam
All his father’s house
Those in distress
Those in debt
Those discontented
Four hundred men followed him
Went to Mizpeh of Moab
Went to forest of Hareth
Son of Jesse
Thought to be most faithful servant of Saul
Saul’s son of law
Promised Abiathar the priest he would be his safeguard
Prophet Gadverse 5
Warns David to not stay
But go to land of Judah
Saulverse 6
Orders all priest killed
His servants would not kill priests
Benjamitesverse 7
Jonathanverse 8
League with David
Ahitub – son of Ahimelech escapedverses 20-23
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Death of Ahimelech and familyverse 16
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QUOTES regarding passage
David tells him (v.22) that he had anticipated Doeg’s act of betrayal ever since their earlier encounter at Nob (cf. 21:7). David then confesses that he himself, however unwittingly, is ultimately accountable for the massacre. In saying “I am responsible,” David uses a form of the same Hebrew verb translated “turn,” “turned” in v.18. Although it was Doeg the Edomite who “turned” and killed the priests, it was David who, through his earlier presence at Nob, was “responsible” for causing their death. He therefore offers refuge to Abiathar, telling him not to “be afraid” (v.23; cf. Jonathan’s similar reassurance to David in 23:17). Abiathar may count on David’s protection: “You” (emphatic), David says, “will be safe with me.” Saul now seeks the life (see comment on 20:1) of both of them; so they become partners in flight. King-elect and priest-elect have joined forces as fellow fugitives. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 737). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
David then was joined by Abiathar (vv. 20–23), son of the priest Ahimelech, who fled to David after Saul exterminated the whole priestly community. This marked the beginning of David’s priestly staff which would later lead the tabernacle worship in Jerusalem. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 451). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The protected priest (1 Sam. 22:20–23). The only survivor of the massacre at Nob was Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech, who then became the high priest. He knew that his only hope was to join David, so he fled to Keilah where David was now camped (23:6). When David moved from Hereth to Keilah isn’t revealed in the text, but having a priest with an ephod was a tremendous help to David and his company. The 400 men had Gad the prophet, Abiathar the priest, and David the king; and they were fighting the battles of the Lord. David took the blame for the slaughter of the priests, but he also took the responsibility of caring for Abiathar and making sure he was safe.
David was now officially an outlaw, but the Lord was with him and he would one day become Israel’s greatest king. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (p. 122). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)
20–23 Probably unknown to Saul at the time, “a” (v.20; lit., “one,” stressing the fact that he was the sole survivor) son of Ahimelech “escaped” (the same verb is frequently used of David; cf. 19:10, 12, 17–18) and joined David’s fugitive band. Abiathar (“The [Divine] Father Is Excellent”) by name (cf. Moses’ father-in-law, the priest Jethro, whose name means “His Excellency”), he performed priestly functions for David for the rest of David’s life (cf. 23:6, 9; 30:7; 2 Sam 8:17), eventually to be replaced by Zadok under Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 2:27, 35; for the reference to Abiathar in Mark 2:26, see comment on 21:6). When he informs David that Saul had issued orders resulting in the massacre of all the priests of Nob except himself (v.21), David tells him (v.22) that he had anticipated Doeg’s act of betrayal ever since their earlier encounter at Nob (cf. 21:7). David then confesses that he himself, however unwittingly, is ultimately accountable for the massacre. In saying “I am responsible,” David uses a form of the same Hebrew verb translated “turn,” “turned” in v.18. Although it was Doeg the Edomite who “turned” and killed the priests, it was David who, through his earlier presence at Nob, was “responsible” for causing their death. He therefore offers refuge to Abiathar, telling him not to “be afraid” (v.23; cf. Jonathan’s similar reassurance to David in 23:17). Abiathar may count on David’s protection: “You” (emphatic), David says, “will be safe with me.” Saul now seeks the life (see comment on 20:1) of both of them; so they become partners in flight. King-elect and priest-elect have joined forces as fellow fugitives. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 736–737). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
22:6–23 The massacre at Nob. Nob was at this time a major sanctuary. After the Philistine victory of ch. 4, the Shiloh sanctuary had been destroyed, and Nob may have replaced it in importance. Ahimelech, the chief priest at Nob, was the grandson of Eli of Shiloh. It is astonishing that Saul should have massacred so many priests at such an important sanctuary, despite the very reasonable defence which Ahimelech made (14–15). The chapter demonstrates that by now Saul was suspicious of everybody, including Jonathan (8), and saw a conspiracy where none existed. It is significant that his own officials refused to obey his orders (17).
Saul’s brutality at Nob had a result which he did not foresee. One man who escaped the massacre was Abiathar (a future high priest at Jerusalem), who had little choice but to join David. In this way David gained priestly support in addition to the prophet Gad. (Payne, D. F. (1994). 1 and 2 Samuel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 316). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press)
22:22 I have caused the death of all the persons: David recognized that his deception led to the massacre of the priests and their families (21:1–9). In the sovereignty of God, the destruction of the priests of Nob was a partial fulfillment of the prophesied judgment on Eli’s house (2:27–36). But the sovereignty of God never nullifies personal responsibility for one’s actions (Acts 2:23) (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 374). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
22:22 I have brought about. David recognized his responsibility for causing the deaths of the priests’ families and animals, acknowledging the devastating consequences of his lie to Ahimelech (cf. 21:1, 2). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 22:22). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 22. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, &c.] That is, he thought in his mind at that time: when Doeg the Edomite was there at Nob; in the tabernacle, at the same time that David was there: that he would surely tell Saul; that he saw David there, and what passed between him and Ahimelech; he knew he was a spiteful mischievous man; that he was a true Edomite, though a proselyte, and bore hatred and enmity in his mind against an Israelite, and especially an Israelite indeed, as David was: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house; or have been the cause of all the evils that befell them, and the death they were put unto, not with design, but by accident; and it grieved him that he should be any ways an accessory thereunto, though without intention. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 528). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
This period of persecution in David’s life was a part of the preparation for the throne. He was already a great soldier; now he needed to suffer in the wilderness to learn not to trust men but to trust the Lord. All of us need “wilderness testings” to bring us closer to the Lord and to make us better equipped to serve Him. Saul’s persecution of David is an illustration of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. It also pictures Satan’s persecution of the church today: Saul was not the king, yet he was reigning; David was the king, but he was not yet on the throne. Satan seems to be “reigning” today, but Christ is King and one day He will take His rightful throne. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (1 Sa 22). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The prophet was Gad (ver. 5), who next to Samuel seems to have stood highest in the nation as a man of God, a man of holy counsel, and elevated, heavenly character. His open adherence to David (which seems to be implied in ver. 5) must have had the best effects both on David himself and on the people at large. It must have been a great blessing to David to have such a man as Gad beside him; for, with all his personal piety, he seems to have required a godly minister at his side. No man derived more benefit from the communion of saints, or was more apt to suffer for want of it; for, as we have seen, he had begun to decline in spirituality when he left Samuel at Naioth, and still more when he was parted from Jonathan. When Gad joined him, David must have felt that he was sent to him from the Lord, and could not but be full of gratitude for so conspicuous an answer to his prayers. It would seem that Gad remained in close relation to David to the close of his life. It was he that came from the Lord to offer him his choice between three forms of chastisement after his offence in numbering the people; and from the fact of his being called “David’s seer” (2 Sam. 24:11) we conclude that he and David were intimately associated. It was he also that instructed David to buy the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and thus to consecrate to God a spot with which, to the very end of time, the most hallowed thoughts must always be connected. (Blaikie, W. G. (1903). The First Book of Samuel. In W. Robertson Nicoll (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible: Samuel to Job (Vol. 2, p. 89). Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co.)
Though David held forth such consolation to Abiathar, yet it appears, from his history, and the contents of the Fifty-second Psalm, which he wrote upon this occasion, that his mind was sharply exercised, though with steady faith. But do we not see a greater than David here? Is not our Almighty David shadowed forth, as brought into distresses, and bringing his followers, to similar situations like Ahimelech? But how sweet the relief to the mind, that our Almighty David hath anticipated the sure judgment, which must follow the persecutors of his people. Yes! the Lord will destroy, all the enemies of our salvation, and that forever. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Deuteronomy–2 Samuel (Vol. 2, p. 586). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3
The Christian experience is a definite and a certain experience–“that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us.” Now if people do not know what they have, how can they wish for others to share it with them? So that is the starting point”that the Christian experience is not a vague one; it is not indefinite or uncertain. Rather, it is a ell-defined experience, and true Christians know what they have; they are aware of what they possess. They are in no uncertainty themselves as to what has happened to them as to their personal position. “These things write we unto you,” says John, “that your joy may be full”–that you may share what we have. You cannot invite someone to share something with you unless you know exactly what you are asking him to share.
We are dealing with what may be called the great New Testament doctrine of the assurance of salvation, which has been subjected to considerable criticism. People have regarded it as presumption. They have said this is something that is impossible, and that no one should be able to claim such a thing.
But John is a man who tells us that he knows, and it is because he knows and because of what he has experienced that he is writing. Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it. They have it; there is no uncertainty. They “know whom [they] have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12); and it is because John has possessed this that he writes about it.
A Thought to Ponder
Christians are not men and women who are hoping for salvation, but those who have experienced it. From Fellowship with God, pp. 57-58. (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A NEW PRINCIPLE
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
We are meant to use all our God-given natural faculties. That is why when God wants a great teacher of the Christian Gospel, he chooses a man like the apostle Paul. Yes, but Paul was no more a Christian than the most ignorant person in the church at Corinth. It is the principle that matters. We must not merely consider this in terms of understanding and ability; it is something much more wonderful and glorious than that. And that is why Paul was able to say in 1 Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
God, he says, takes the ignorant, and by means of them He confounds the wise, and He takes the weak and confounds the mighty—because of this new principle that He introduces.
What, then, is the effect of the introduction of this principle? This life eternal about which we are speaking is something that affects the entire person. But it is especially interesting to observe the way in which it affects a man’s understanding and apprehension of spiritual things. And the way to look at that is to contrast the natural, unregenerate man, who is not a Christian, with the man who is a Christian. According to Scripture, the natural man is spiritually dead. May I be so bold as to put it like this: If there is anybody to whom these things about which I am speaking are really utterly meaningless, then, as I understand Scripture, it means that such a person is spiritually dead and has not received eternal life because, as Paul puts it, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him” (1 Corinthians2:14). They are meaningless to him.
A Thought to Ponder God takes the ignorant, and by means of them He confounds the wise—because of this new principle that He introduces.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 153-154., by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Deuteronomy 29
The covenant with the children of Israel is renewed in Moab.
INSIGHT
After laying out the options before the Israelites at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerazim, God now says, “Choose.”
But by His grace, He makes clear the consequences of these choices. How terrible are the curses-and how wonderful are the blessings.
Seeing the alternative so clearly before us, what could possibly account for our choosing the curses? The only conceivable answer is that we don’t believe God. We don’t really believe that the blessings will be that good-or that the curses will be that bad.
The Old Testament was written for our instruction. We must learn to take God at His Word. Period. (QuietWalk)
Facing Fear
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 56:3
Warren moved to a small town to pastor a church. After his ministry had some initial success, one of the locals turned on him. Concocting a story accusing Warren of horrendous acts, the man took the story to the local newspaper and even printed his accusations on pamphlets to distribute to local residents by mail. Warren and his wife started praying hard. If the lie was believed, their lives would be upended.
King David once experienced something similar. He faced an attack of slander by an enemy. “All day long they twist my words,” he said, “all their schemes are for my ruin” (Psalm 56:5). This sustained assault left him fearful and tearful (v. 8). But in the midst of the battle, he prayed this powerful prayer: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. . . . What can mere mortals do to me?” (vv. 3-4).
David’s prayer can be a model for us today. When I am afraid—in times of fear or accusation, we turn to God. I put my trust in you—we place our battle in God’s powerful hands. What can mere mortals do to me?—facing the situation with Him, we remember how limited the powers against us really are.
The newspaper ignored the story about Warren. For some reason, the pamphlets were never distributed. What battle do you fear today? Talk to God. He’s willing to fight it with you. By Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread)
The Wicked Man
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)
It is significant that the word “wicked” does not necessarily mean morally depraved or violently dangerous. It is essentially synonymous with “ungodly,” and the Hebrew word used here (rasha) is often so translated. This tenth psalm provides a graphic summary of their real character. They are:
Proud. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God” (v. 4).
Fawning. “For the wicked…blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth” (v. 3).
Atheistic, at least in behavior. “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten, .he will never see it” (v. 11).
Stubborn. “He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity” (v. 6).
Profane. “His mouth is full of cursing.under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (v. 7).
Hurtful. “In the secret places doth he murder the innocent” (v. 8). This surely applies to character assassination, when not to actual killing.
Deceptive. “His mouth is full of…deceit and fraud:. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den” (vv. 7, 9).
It is significant that the apostle Paul cited verse 7 (“full of cursing”) as descriptive of most of the ancient pagans in his day, and it can sadly be applied to many modern pagans as well.
But David said: “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not” (Psalm 37:35-36). “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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