Wed.’s Devo - Faith Over Fact

Read: 1 Samuel 14:1-52; John 7:31-53; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 15:5-7
Jonathan was an independent soul. He was also fearless and strong. He took his armor bearer and faced 20 Philistines alone. He also knew to ask God for help. He would have made a great king, but Saul was responsible for losing the kingship for his family.
Because of Jonathan’s courageous act, the whole Philistine army was thrown into confusion and fear. The Israelites were able to chase them and save Israel. Saul had foolishly put a curse on any soldier who ate anything and since Jonathan hadn’t been there to hear the curse, he ate some honey and was cursed. If the army hadn’t come to Jonathan’s rescue, Saul would have killed him.
Israel won a great victory over the Philistines that day, but fought them constantly throughout Saul’s whole lifetime.
Philistines stands for “self-pity and regret”. Those were the enemies that Saul and Israel constantly fought against.
In John, it was the Feast of Tabernacles and everyone was talking about whether Jesus was the Messiah or not. The Jewish leaders sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus, but he told them he would not be with them much longer. I find it a miracle that he just spoke and they couldn’t arrest him.
On the last day of the feast they were doing their Water Libation ceremony where a third of the priests would go down to the pool of Siloam with a pitcher and get water to bring up to the Temple and pour on the altar. The Pool of Siloam was known as the “living water” which was suppose to bring healing when it was stirred. Jesus spoke and said that He was the living water and if anyone believed on him, they would have this living water flowing out of their heart also.
One of their big stumbling blocks was the fact that they thought Jesus was born in Nazareth and they knew that the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem. I wonder if after he died, Mary didn’t tell them the truth. It was a simple matter that Jesus could have cleared up, but he chose not to. He wanted them to believe him by faith, not by fact. When we don’t understand the facts, it is our faith that carries us.
Lord, thank you for faith. Thank you that you have opened our eyes to see the truth and given us a heart to believe.