Tues.’s Devo - God’s Perfect Set-Up

Read: 1 Samuel 29:1-31:13; John 11:54-12:19; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 15:24-26
God has a way of saving us when we don’t even know we need saving. David was about to enter into a battle on the side of the Philistines against Israel. That could have sabotaged David’s kingship. Since Saul was destined to die in the battle, David would have been held responsible. God knew what he was doing in keeping David from being a part of that battle.
David and his men were offended that they were not trusted to fight but they were able to go home and rescue their own families from the Amelekites. This is such a picture of disappointment turned into a victory. God sees our lives from heaven’s viewpoint. He sees the past and the future so his ways are so much better than ours. We live in the moment but God lives in eternity.
David ended up saving his reputation with his own people, recovering his family and the families of his men and gaining so much spoil from the Amelekites that he was able to share it with 13 cities in Judah. That is a lot of spoil! God was increasing David’s favor with his people.
In the meantime, Saul and his sons were killed on the battlefield just as Samuel had prophesied. David’s long awaited time had come.
So had Jesus’ time come. In John he was six days away from Passover, the day he would give his life for the world. He was keeping a low profile because he knew the Jews were looking for him. He stopped in Bethany to visit with Lazareth and Mary and Martha one last time. Mary anointed him for his burial and used very expensive perfume. Judas objected because he saw it’s worth and wanted the money himself. Judas, like Satan, was a thief and a liar. He would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
I find it funny that the Jews wanted to try to kill Lazareth again. They were so jealous of the people following Jesus and now even more because he had raised Lazareth from the dead. Everything Jesus did was fulfillment of prophecy. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey which was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9.
The people shouted the words of Psalm 118:26 which was the hallel or the hallelujah verses sung at that festival. The Pharisees were quickly losing control of the people and didn’t know what to do.
Lord, you are in total control of this world and our lives. Help us to blindly trust your goodness and your plan because it is the perfect plan.