Go In Peace

1 Samuel 20

GO IN PEACE

1 Samuel 20:1-42

King Saul was determined to kill David. Due to his own disobedience, God revoked the kingdom from Saul. When Saul realized that David was God's chosen to take his place, Saul began to resent David. Saul's repeated, attempted murder caused much strife within David and even with Saul's own son, Jonathan. David was innocent, and had only ever helped and cared about Saul, his family and the kingdom. He did not deserve to be targeted for murder; he did not deserve to be forced into exile. Nevertheless, Saul's ruthless pursuit made it necessary. 

While at dinner, King Saul inquired after David's absence. When he found out that David had been allowed out of his sight, he raged! He even attempted to kill Jonathan, his son. Jonathan then, passed a message on to David: he must flee, permanently. Jonathan and David, who loved each other as deeply as brothers, said their goodbyes. Jonathan told David to "go in peace."

We are sometimes reluctant to leave situations, opportunities, or relationships. We resist and resent the circumstances that do not seem fair to us. But we can learn from Jonathan and David here to go in peace, to accept that God will move us around the board, so-to-speak, to ultimately put us in the position we need to be in to triumph. A step backward or sideways is actually a step forward when God determines it is necessary. It was not an easy decision, David had to leave his whole life behind, his family, and seemingly, all of the progress he had made in life.

As we will see, David is about to enter the most crucial stage of his life. In the wilderness, in flight from Saul, David will strengthen and hone the faith that made him central to the Bible. The faith that will rescue Israel from the faithless king before him, the faith that will invite God to protect Israel from the masses of enemies around it.

Our crucial stage in life is within our own wilderness, too. Under the pressure of injustice, grief, or whatever our struggle is, is where we build the faith to follow God out of it. We mine resources in that place with faith as our pickaxe and we leave it with refined material, the character and faith that we need to reach God's highest potential for us. But we have to be willing to go in peace, to leave the situation, opportunity or relationship that just is not meant to be.

If God wanted David to remain in the kingdom at that time, nothing could have forced him out. Trust that God will not allow you to be moved from a place He wants you to stay. If it isn't right, do not force it, do not fight it. Pray always for direction from God. 

The Innocent Party

1 Samuel 19

REMAIN THE INNOCENT

1 Samuel 19:1-17

King Saul began to plot against David's life. He even told his son and servants that they should kill David. But David had the protection of God, the love of his friends, and respect from the people. He was faithful to God, a brave and capable soldier, and most importantly: he was innocent. Saul wanted his successor to die, not David specifically. Saul had once greatly loved David, and remembrance of that love left him conflicted. One day he would try to kill David, the next he would swear not to kill David. 

Yet it did not matter whether Saul decided to kill David or not because David had protection from God. The tumult within Saul's spirit was a personal journey with God, important and instructional scripture itself, but it would not block or ever deter God from placing His chosen on the throne. 

Another attempt at David's life evaded, he arrived home just to realize that Saul's messengers were on their way to take David. Michal, David's wife, urged him to flee for his life; David followed her advice and she used tricks to buy him time when the messengers arrived.  But David's decision to flee was not made from fear. He chose not to kill Saul; He chose not to defend himself. He chose to let God defend and protect him.

Moreover, David cared about Saul. Despite having plenty reason to hate him, David did not want to harm him. He remained innocent; God is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, Proverbs 2:7. God supports the righteous. This particular matter is life and death, but the lesson can be applied to less dire issues. We do not need to return evil for evil; rudeness for rudeness; impatience for impatience. It requires effort, it requires spiritual fortitude, but always endeavor to be the innocent party.

(We must note that David did not hang around to be abused and murdered by Saul. He left and, we will see, relied heavily upon God and prayer to preserve him. In our effort not to copy the bad behavior of our enemy, we are not choosing to allow it.  Also remember that there is precedent and support of self-defense in the Bible).

GODS PLAN CANNOT BE DERAILED 

1 Samuel 19:19-24

David fled, and escaped, and went to Samuel (the prophet through which God chose David as Saul's successor). Saul pursued David even there. He sent three sets of messengers, three separate times, to capture and kill David. Each time, the messengers abandoned their mission. The Spirit of God set upon each set of messengers and caused them to prophesy. After three failed attempts, Saul traveled to David himself. But when he arrived, the Spirit of God set upon even Saul and even Saul prophesied! Against his own agenda!

Not for the first or last time in scripture, we see that even enemies of God bow to His plans. No matter how mighty, no matter how numerous, no matter how clever or determined their own will, each bend to God's will. In Matthew 8:29, two evil spirits came into the presence of Jesus and quaked: "And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

Note that God's enemy is afraid of him, is aware that their destruction is imminent, inevitable, scheduled. The text does not say particularly what was prophesied, but we know the main point: David would be king. We have a choice: align our minds and behavior with God's will, which will not be derailed, or plot and flail and condemn ourselves with our own crooked agenda which will be.

Wise In the Word

1 Samuel 18

TO FOLLOW GOD IS TO BE LED INTO NEW PLACES

1 Samuel 18:1-4

There is an easy-to-misunderstand message in Luke 14:26-28. Jesus explains that a person can only ever follow Him if they are willing to put him first. Our first priority must be Jesus, above everyone else, even our family. (Understand that to put Jesus first is to put your family in the best position they can possibly be in)! The reason a person must put Jesus first is because often, His itinerary and His word is in direct contradiction to what is planned and said around us. Reflect on Jesus' life: he often taught people the opposite of what they had been told before. If you do not put Jesus first, you might resist to enter new places. You might waver on His commands.

David left his old life behind. A shepherd, the youngest son of eight was absorbed into another household. It was necessary that David accepted this. It was all part of God's process to position David as Israel's next king. Indeed God called David into an unfamiliar place but He provided the comfort he would need to settle there. David and King Saul's son, Jonathan, became brothers. From Jonathan, David received a bond stronger than any he had with anyone else, even his own brothers. Essentially, Jonathan (who in previous chapters revealed himself to be a man of great faith) accepted David as the adopted-son of Saul, the heir to the throne, so-to-speak. 

WISE BEHAVIOR CLIMBS RANKS

1 Samuel 18:5-7

It may be difficult to see how single interactions can add up to anything substantial. We are encouraged in scripture to be patient, to be merciful, to be wise, to be harmless, to have compassion; we think about those things as big, general ideas. But actually they are each advice to guide us properly through each interaction that we have each hour. When we behave wisely (wise in the word and way of God) we a drawn up into new ranks.

Such was the case for David. Wherever Saul sent him, he behaved wisely. His behavior revealed that his character was capable to command armies. David was accepted by God, by the king, by the king's people, and by the people. They sang and danced in the streets after his defeat of their enemy. They each heaped responsibility onto his shoulders, and he could handle it, because he lived in accordance with God's will.

A FRIEND TO GOD INHERITS HIS ENEMIES

1 Samuel 18:8

David's behavior made him a friend to many. But King Saul began to see his fate unfold; the kingdom had been stripped from him by God due to his faithlessness. Saul had been disobedient to God, unwise in his behavior, and it became clearer and clearer to him that David was God's replacement. Jealousy and anger began to fester within Saul.

If a person truly wishes to follow Jesus, to stand for God, their faith must be pure. If the fawning crowds and the songs in the streets is what actually draws a person to the cause of Christ, they will be met with a swift and harsh surprise! Remember that in-between the crowds that grabbed for Jesus and kissed His feet were powerful, manipulative enemies who absolutely hated Him and tried thwart Him at every turn. If a person is "in it" to be served, rather than to serve, they will meet the same fate as Saul. 

David was poised to step into royalty, power, and wealth. But with that, he inherited nations of enemies. Satan himself was after Jesus, and anyone in His line. No one should ever feel discouraged from being a friend-to-God; those who truly love and trust Him will be eager to defy God's enemies! And they will trust that they can indeed resist them, having submitted to God, because God as told them so: James 4:7.

DO NOT RESIST WHAT GOD WILLS

1 Samuel 18:9-12

For Saul to leave his post with any dignity, he should have acquiesced to God's plan. Instead, he allowed jealousy and stubborn resistance to turn him into a monster, a monster against a person he genuinely greatly loved (1 Samuel 16:21). 

Jesus taught us to make God's plan our first priority for situations like this. God is the hero of the story; if we are removed from our post because God has chosen a more efficient way, then let our last service to the kingdom be humble acceptance of His plan. In doing so, we will find redemption, we will be given new purpose wherein we can further serve God. God battles the powers and principalities of great evil, must he also battle us? Will we require Him to trek through our own insubordination?

Twice, Saul threw his javelin at David and attempted to murder him... to thwart God's plan to replace him. Twice, he failed. Saul's selfish fears were confirmed; David was God's choice; God protected David from Saul. The Lord was with David. Saul threw his javelin with far greater passion than he ever served the Lord with. He lamented his loss of status more than the loss of God.

GOD PESEVERES YOU THROUGH SNARES THROWN IN YOUR PATH

1 Samuel 18:13-19

The spear did not work, so Saul tried to throw snares in David's path. He sent David away to battles and hoped that he would die. But David remained wise in the word of God and God remained with David. All of Israel and Judah came to love David, their champion. The more the people loved David, the more Saul resented him. Saul failed to kill David, so he continued to send David into battles for the enemy to kill.

God continued to persevere David through each battle; Saul duplicitously promised marriage to his daughter to David if David would continue to fight the Lord's battles. Saul hoped never to have to follow through with this promise. Yet David was humbled by Saul's offer: "Who am I, and what is my life,... that I should be son in law to the king?" David fought and won valiantly, but Saul reneged his promise and marriage his daughter to a different man.

Saul failed once again, however, for it was his other daughter, Michal, who loved David. Yet Saul tried to use this as another opportunity to ensnare David. David remained humbled to be considered eligible to be son in law to the king. To earn her as wife, Saul required one-hundred foreskins of the Philistines (an impossible task, Saul thought). David did not hesitate, he brought back two-hundred. Again, Saul had to admit that God was with David. David married Michal, and she loved him. His reputation continued to increase in esteem.

Psalm 2:1, Why do the heathen rage and the people plot in vain? Why indeed, for the wrath of the enemy of God is futile, and the plots against God's plan will fail. God will persevere us through our part in His plan when we remember that He is the hero of our story; if humbly, wisely serve, we will not forget, and we will always have a part.

Paw of the Bear

1 Samuel 17

ABSOLUTE FAITH IS THE ABSENCE OF FEAR

1 Samuel 17:1-30

The enemy army had a proposal: fight and defeat our fiercest soldier, win the battle. The King of Israel, Saul, and the tribes of Israel looked down from the mountain into the valley. They saw the Philistine, Goliath, and were 'dismayed and greatly afraid.'

Battle was imminent; there was not a soldier of Israel willing to face Goliath. From among the soldiers, Jesse sent his youngest son home to tend their sheep. Perhaps he was worried for his youngest son, perhaps he wanted him out of the way during the war, but unknowingly, he sent home the only person who was not afraid. David returned home to shepherd the family flock. Meanwhile, Goliath presented himself (and his offer) to the Israel army every morning and every evening for forty days.

Time passed and Jesse once again sent David on a mission: this time to bring provisions to his brothers in the army. Among the company of soldiers, David overheard camp-talk that whoever could defeat Goliath would win the favor of the king: riches, and marriage to his daughter, favor for his whole family. David stood in disbelief, he could not understand why soldiers had not jumped at the chance to face Goliath. Not only was the prize outstanding, the philistine in the way of it was no match for the 'living God.' 

No other person had thought in such a way. In fear, they immediately avoided the philistine's proposition. In an instant, each individual measured themselves against Goliath and foresaw defeat. But David, in an instant, measured Goliath against God and foresaw victory. And in an instant, his brothers and the people around him thought him a fool. His brothers called him prideful, reckless, nosy. David did not understand their harsh reaction; he never said that he could easily defeat Goliath, he said that God could. Why should we be afraid of anyone, any-thing as children of the living God?

FAITH IN THE FACE OF FEAR IS A TESTIMONY OF GOD

1 Samuel 17:31-37

In Matthew 15:7-11, Jesus spoke of hypocrites. He spoke of people whose mouths praised God but whose hearts did not. David is an example of the precise opposite: his heart praised God, evidenced by his lack of fear or intimidation of Goliath, and it flowed through his mouth. 'And when the words were heard which David spoke' they were told to King Saul.

King Saul sent for David. He was likely intrigued by the boldness of the words, perhaps even desperately hopeful, and wanted to hear them for himself. But when he saw David, that he was a youth, he lost whatever spark of intrigue or desperate hope he had. He told David that he was not able to defeat Goliath. This was not, technically, a false statement. Yet David presented his case, a testimony of God:

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 

1 Samuel 17:34-37 

Duly note that David gave God credit for the victory. Moreover, he suggested that Goliath provoked a certain indignation. One man scared the whole army of Israel? Their fear would not be the testimony of God for it would be a false one. What does it say to others about God when we, people who claim to believe in Him, with our actions do not actually believe in Him at all? How could we ever draw people out of their fear and into the strength of God that way?

GOD IS YOUR ARMOR 

1 Samuel 17:38-40

David's testimony stirred Saul to action; the king began to arm his armourbearer. It foreshadowed what God had already prophesied: David would replace Saul as king. But the king's armor was not the protection David needed, for David wore the armor of God.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:11-18

In fact, David decided not to bring the sword Saul gave him. He was not familiar with it, it would only be a burden. Instead, he brought the (above-mentioned) sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Indeed David planned to walk into the battle armed with trust in every word God has said. You do not need to be a master swordsman to fight on behalf of the Lord; God has given you gifts that through His might will accomplish the mission. David picked five smooth stones out of a nearby brook and put them in his humble shepherd's bag. He picked up his sling.

FAITH PLACES YOU IN A BATTLE GOD HAS ALREADY WON

1 Samuel 17:41-52

David stood in the valley, the massive philistine walked toward him. Goliath looked at David with distain; he was insulted that Israel had sent an adorable youth to face him. He was insulted that David had not brought a sword; he cursed him and challenged him to step forward to be killed, to be fed to the birds. It does not matter when a fierce enemy curses and promises certain defeat, for the angel of the Lord encamps around the believer who reveres Him in such a way that they fear no one else!

Unfazed by the brutal man, David spoke: "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (1 Samuel 17:45) David boldly told his enemy that his weapon was faith, his strength was God. Humbly, David explained even to the philistines that their might was no match for the least likely of Israel, if that least likely person showed up with God.

David continued:

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 

1 Samuel 17:46-47

Imagine the reactions of both armies as this young, adorable boy spoke these audacious words entirely undaunted! Perhaps with a smirk or a snarl, indignation at the insult, the Philistine arose and took his final steps toward him. David ran toward the enemy army, grabbed a stone from his bag, loaded his sling and shot it directly into the big man's forehead. The power of the Lord sunk it into Goliath's forehead and he fell on his face to ground. David ran forward once again, stood on the Goliath, took his sword and killed him with it.

The Philistine army, who had placed all confidence in Goliath, watched the youth  so efficiently, so effortlessly kill their fiercest champion... and fled. Ran for their lives. The Israel armor took off after them, finally emboldened enough to pursue the fleeing army. David had been emboldened to run toward them as the approached. They were brave when the enemy seemed weak; David was brave when the enemy seemed strong. Still, that faith-filled bravery was (is!) a testimony to the enemy as well as to the believers: the battle is the Lord's (1 Samuel 17:47).

FAITH INHERITS THE POWER OF GOD

1 Samuel 17:53-58

Israel returned from the battle, victorious. Saul watched David; he asked the captain of the guard: whose son is this youth? David had shown such nonchalance, unruffled feathers in the face of an enemy grown, battle-hardened men had feared. It was no wonder that Saul was shocked, awed and interested; surely he could not have been the only one! No wonder he wanted to know more. Eventually Saul asked David himself, and David answered that he was the son of Jesse. Through Jesse and David's lineage came Jesus. Most importantly, David was a son of God.

And so are we. We are children of God, therefore, with faith like David, we will be delivered out of the paw of lion, out of the paw of the bear (1 Samuel 17:37) when we follow after the lamb, when we face the philistine.

Purpose In God

1 Samuel 16

GOD'S PLAN IS IN CONSTANT MOTION

Samuel 16:1-6

Human flaw and failure do not render God's plan stagnant. The man who preceded David as king, Saul, came to be rejected by God. Saul had been called and qualified by God through the prophet Samuel, but because of his disobedience, God revoked his kingship. Samuel lamented the unfortunate events but ultimately Samuel's obedience to God enabled him to move forward with God's plan.

Fervent faith, ardent hope, zealous obedience... these are the traits which keep us relevant and functional within God's plan. But apathy, dejection and arrogance ensure that we will never be. Whichever we choose, God's plan muscles, adeptly, on. Saul allowed himself to be hesitant rather than resolute in the trust and execution of God's plan. He let go of the plow, so-to-speak, but the ground would still be tilled.

In His 'Parable of the Tares', Jesus compared the world to a field (Matthew 13). The spirit and children of God are active in the world, sowing good seed: they implement justice, challenge injustice, uncover deception, disassemble corruption, and protect human rights. All of it direct obedience to the word of God; action within His plan: faith with works (James 2:14). The plan, God's plan, to take care of the people here that earth might become for all an opportunity to see and be, to receive and contribute to, the emulation of Jesus' hope for humanity.

God did not implement Saul as king on a whim without a purpose. The tribes of Israel begged for a man-king (1 Samuel 8) and God relented. Humanity needs leadership that is obedient to God; He is the Great Light, the only light that can triumph against the darkness within and around us. Saul as king, the prophets before him, and David after him were spokes in the wheel that God turned to carry humanity ever to a better quality of life. Good seeks to replace foolishness with wisdom, selfishness with generosity, fear with hope, corruption with righteousness and since humanity has failed time and time again to follow God directly, despite humanity's failure time and time again to follow God directly, He has named us fellow-workers with Him(1 Corinthians 3:9). Fellows of the plow, planters of seeds... but should we neglect our part, we lose our part, but God's plan does not lose its pace.

But the lesson here is not all in caution. We do not depend on humans, who can be wonderful... but can also be flawed and unmoving. We depend on God; He is flawless and in constant, righteous motion. We are His cause and it is in full motion toward heaven, supporting and providing and protecting us while we are still here on earth. A person may be a cog in the machine, an essential part to the purpose of God, but the clogs, the clots, get flushed out so that the living water keeps flowing.

The application of the lesson in our daily lives is first to retain hope. God's ultimate purpose is your well-being, the development of your character and the quality of your life. If you have claimed Jesus, Jesus has claimed you, and presented you to God (Matthew 10:32).  You are never alone in a room, in a feeling or in a situation. The complication, the injustice, the plight in your life is not your permanent state. 

Second, do not neglect to obey the Lord. David received his place as king because Saul neglected to obey God. Saul experienced terrible sorrow; to give up your place in God's plan is to live with a void that cannot be filled. The only fulfilment that actually soothes and satisfies the soul is that which comes from faith and purpose in God. Everything, everyone else will fall short of providing contentment, comfort for your spirit. Do not stop stepping forward with the Lord, there is no greater loneliness! 

Saul and David are scriptural examples. Directly linked purpose with God. God has not chosen us to be monarch over His people. But we are leaders all the same. Called by Him to truth and righteousness. Called by Him to Jesus' standard of behavior as we live and interact with the world. Called by Him to discernment, that we would foster objectivity within our perspective so that we can see lines clearly marked between right and wrong, peace and evil. 

We may not personally liberate a city or topple a nation but God has purpose for us that to Him is just as important, if not more so. Remember that Jesus goes after the one, lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). With your mind on God, your heart committed to His cause and your limbs and lips obedient to His way, you are personally able to help Him with that one, lost sheep...that seemingly lost cause, lost person that is important enough for Jesus Himself to pursue. How?  Through your humble example as a person after God's own heart, like David. Not as a king, not as a preacher or teacher or authority in any way but as Jesus, a servant. A servant not to a person, a slave to nobody and no-thing, but a servant of God declared a fellow-worker with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9)! Bold, beloved, but also humble and hardy; wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove (Matthew 10:16). Ready and aware for the inevitable opportunity to serve God in His ever moving plan. 

(It is always important to note when speaking about the distribution of mercy to humanity: self-care. Remember that Jesus was wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove. From babe to adult, God was consulted about Jesus' movements. Jesus did not allow His disciple to harm even the ear of His enemy (Luke 22:50-51) but neither did He allow even a flawed woman to be stoned (John 8:7). Do not allow anyone to abuse you or your generosity. Consult God about your movements and about how to distribute the resources you have, even your listening ear, your friendship, so that no one can take advantage of what is meant for God's cause).

 Many of God's children will benefit from your active faith but by none of them are you controlled! 

THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART

Samuel 16:7-13

No pageantry necessary. God does not choose His prophets, disciples, or people of purpose by anything but their character. 

After God set Samuel in motion again, no more to lament about Saul but to anoint God's next choice, Samuel went to meet a man named Jesse's sons. When the sons arrived, Samuel looked at the first son's countenance and thought 'surely' he would be chosen. God rejected him. Samuel had looked at the outward appearance but God had looked at Eliab's, the first son, heart. It was not fit for the kingdom; Eliab must not have possessed the qualities Jesus tried (and still works) to instill in us. God knew that Eliab would ultimately fail in God's purpose. Jesse continued to parade seven of his sons before Samuel but each were rejected by God.

It was not until Jesse fetched the least likely son that God made an affirmative decision. God chose the youngest son, David, a shepherd. David was a handsome youth, but we know that is not why God chose him. We know from Samuel's perspective that David had at least one other brother who was also handsome... yet he was rejected by God. Two important things we learn from God's choose: God does not choose based on outward appearance; and God does not reject based on lower status.

It did not seem even to occur to Jesse to bring David to Samuel. Jesse brought seven of his sons but left David with the sheep. After God rejected the seventh son, it was Samuel who initiated David's retrieval. A man may not have deemed David eligible, but God's superior intellect did. 

It may not occur to anyone, it may not even occur to ourselves, that we are eligible to be chosen by God for purpose. But we are aware of one important thing. The one thing we know about David's character is something God said before we meet David: he was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). If our inward self is after God's own heart we possess the quality that convinced God to choose David.

The caution is that we have been raised in a global society that places large, almost total, emphasis on outward appearance. Less and less do we determine a person based on the content of their character. Less and less do we love or chastise ourselves based on the content of our character. If we held others and our own inward character to such high standards as we hold for outward appearance we would be an entirely different people.

But whether or not we search the character of a person, God does. The people you choose to follow, applaud, allow into your life are seen by God. Their inward self is known by Him; your inward self is known by Him. Be and surround yourself with the person(s) God would choose. Someone after His own heart in the way that they treat others! In the values they hold dear. Who you choose to be matters as much as the behavior you allow from others.

Whether or not we develop our own character, God will. The stubborn will resist, the arrogant will ignore, but life will present opportunities for growth and the wise will be humbled. Life will present you with problems and God is, has, the specific tool for each one. Our desperate attempts to fix the problems within and around us: loneliness, depression, disillusionment, with the outward appearances social media and modern day teach us will fail as instruments of happiness. You do not need to be or pretend to be the perfect couple captured in front of the picket fence, the trendy world traveler, the brainiest in the classroom, the wealthiest at restaurant, the fastest on the team, the uncontested recipient of the award... you just need to be humble before God. Acknowledge that it is your inward self that matters then let Him identify the weak spots, and make them strong His way.

In future sermons, we will remember that David had severe weak spots... but ultimately, his inward self was after God's own heart. As long as that is true, God will always see it. And of all the eyes that will ever see you, none will ever see you as God sees you. They do not have the soul piercing-perception, they will not reflect such depth of compassion. Value what His eyes see in you, forget about all the rest. And above all else that can happen to you in this life, you want to be seen by God. You want to cultivate what He has determined is good within you, you want to uproot everything else.

GOD'S PLANS UNFOLD IN UNEXPECTED AND MULI-PURPOSEFUL WAYS

Samuel 16:14-23

God was direct, but merciful and fair with Saul. Saul's behavior caused God to revoke the kingdom, and further consequence was deep distress in Saul's soul. So troubled was he that his servants offered to search for a harpist that might help soothe him. With Saul's acquiescence, they found a clever harpist. A clever harpist, a valiant man and a capable soldier all in one: David.

Saul sent for David; he unwittingly invited God's choice king into the kingdom. Initially unencumbered by that knowledge, Saul came to greatly love David. He elevated David to armourbearer, a trusted attendant. So, in providing Saul the harpist and attendant that brought peace to his distress, God also provided David a front row seat the the workings of the kingdom and the opportunity to earn it in a fair and knowledgeable way, as we will read.

Saul will come to resent David's presence but his love for David will not dim. It becomes clouded, but it never dies. It will complicate the process and subsequently provide David the opportunity for growth as a man and as a faithful servant of God. God understands people and has decided that the most efficient way to progress His kingdom is to use our flaw, and others' flaw, as catalysts for personal growth.

Who would have expected that the new king would soothe the old king, the one unwilling to give up his title? Who would have thought that the old king, by pursuing to the death the new king, would cause him to become kingly? In what better manner could David learn the inner workings of a kingdom than by serving the departing king first, without the pressure of the role? How would David, an unknown, the youngest son, a shepherd, be accepted as king other than by invitation to lead armies... to become famous for cutting through them with the sword, the slingshot of the Lord?

God's plans indeed unfold un unexpected and multi-purposeful ways. Keep your eyes peeled, keep your hearts pursuit of God, because God's plans for you will completely redirect the world's lackluster path for you. You just need to be alert and ready to capture the opportunity. Trust God to orchestrate every circumstance for your good (Genesis 50:20), and simultaneously, for His Kingdom's advancement.