1 Samuel, Chapter 23, Verse 15
While David was in
the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh he was afraid
that Saul had come out to seek his life.
David even though he was afraid still acted to serve
the Lord.
·
The
Philistines are robbing grain at Keilah, so David and his men go attack them.
·
Even
though Saul is after them, David still knows he needs to protect the people for
God.
·
After
David defeats the Philistines, Saul learns of David's whereabouts (1-8).
·
David
learns that Saul is coming for him and he starts freaking out.
·
God
informs David that the people will turn him over to Saul this time, which is a
hard lesson for David because even though he was acting on the people's behalf,
they were willing to stab him in the back (9-13).
·
Even
though Saul is unable to find David, Jonathan finds him no problem. BFFs can be
like that. Jonathan encourages David to keep fighting the good fight because
one day he will be king of Israel as God intends (14-18).
·
Saul
learns that David is staying in the wilderness of Ziph with his merry men a la
Robin Hood. Saul starts chasing through Ziph and a variety of other areas.
·
Unfortunately
for Saul, David is quick as lightning and always avoids danger. At one point, Saul
and his men are on one side of a mountain and David and his men are on the
other side. Tough luck, Saul.
·
Saul
gets word the Philistines are raiding the land. For once, Saul makes a good
decision and goes to defend the Israelites against the Philistines (15-29).
We like David are
being pursued by the Saul’s or the “kings” of the modern world which seek to
drain us of Life, Liberty and our pursuit of happiness, which is not mearly
material gain but eternal truths. Unlike David we may not have a wilderness of
Ziph to flee too from the “kings of this world” but we are not abandoned for the
Son of David, the Christ is present still in the desert of the “Blessed Sanctuary”
go out to that desert—there you will see Christ’s victory over death: there He
will empower you via the church to heal and transform the world through the
Holy Spirit.
OUR[2]
blessed Lord is the visible expression of God s truth and of God’s love to men,
and His temporal mission contemplated the establishment of that truth and of
that love in the hearts of men. In His redeeming blood we have been given “the
power to become the sons of God” and His life and teachings must be the object
of frequent meditation for all those who have their spiritual advancement
seriously at heart. Deep down within our being we experience a longing to know
which would embrace the universe in its compass. Happy in deed are we if, with
the Apostle, we desire not to know any thing but Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. He is the explanation of all things in heaven and on earth. He is
the inspiration of man in youth, his support in full maturity, and his solace
when the battle of life is drawing to a close. Near His Sacred Heart innocence
finds its purest joy and its safest shelter. The afflicted lay down their
burden at the foot of His cross and go their way rejoicing. The sinner hears fall
from His divine lip’s words of pardon and comfort, and dares to be a hero for
love of Him Who has forgiven and forgotten all. We feel the weight of our
infirmities and we would have a remedy. “Come to Me” says Christ, “all you that
labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” The mystery of suffering meets
us on every hand, and in Him we are taught “that the sufferings of this time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come. Yet so, if we suffer with
Him, we may also be glorified with Him. In fine, He is a light to our faltering
feet whilst in the way, and our reward exceeding great when death shall have
been swallowed up in victory. This is eternal life, says our divine Lord
Himself by the mouth of St. John, that they may know Thee, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.
Daily Devotions
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