Mon.’s Devo - Open Our Eyes

Read: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:1-41; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17 David was on the run from Saul and found Jonathan to ask him if he knew why his father was so upset with him that he wanted him dead. Jonathan was certain that his father didn’t want to kill David. He told David that the next day was the beginning of the new moon festival so he would talk to Saul then, and let him know. They devised a signal that would tell David the answer. Jonathan made David promise that when he became king that he would treat his family with love. David agreed and they reaffirmed their vow of friendship. At the festival, David’s place was empty and noone said anything. But, the next day, Saul asked Jonathan about why David was not there. Jonathan told him that he was at a family sacrifice. Saul boiled up in anger and shouted at Jonathan saying that as long as David was alive, he would never be king. He told him to go get David so he could kill him. Jonathan argued that David had done nothing wrong but saw that his father was determined to kill David. Jonathan left enraged at his father. He went to signal to David what his father had said. They embraced and both cried. They knew they would not be able to continue their friendship and said their good-byes. Jonathan reminded David that they had made a covenant that would extend to their children forever. He left and went back home and David fled to Nob to see the priest, Abimelech. David didn’t let Abimelech know that he was running from Saul. He asked for bread for his men and a sword. Abimelech gave him the shew bread that only the priests ate and gave him Goliath’s sword. David was very grateful. He left with his men to go to Achish of Gath. When he arrived the people recognized him as their enemy. Gath was a Philistine city. David had to play like a madman to save his life. In John, Jesus healed the man born blind. Jesus had healed the man by recreating his eyes with dirt and his spit. We came from dust so Jesus was just doing what he did to Adam when he created him. When the man washed in the pool of Siloam, he could see. This was a big deal since the Sanhedrin had decided a long time ago that one of the litmus tests of the Messiah would be that he would heal a man born blind. So they questioned him over and over. They even questioned his parents who were afraid of testifying for him for fear that they would be thrown out of the synagogue. But, when they asked the one who had been healed again he took up for Jesus. He argued with the Pharisees that the only way he could be healed was from God, so this man, Jesus, had to be from God. They threw the man out of the synagogue because he spoke against their narrative. Jesus found him and revealed who he was to the man and he believed. He told them that he came to this world to judge - to give sight to the blind and to show those that think they see, the fact that they were really blind. The Pharisees that heard him were indignant. They wanted to know if Jesus thought they were blind. Jesus replied that if they were blind, then they wouldn’t be charged as guilty; but because they claimed to see, they would be charged as guilty. God only holds us accountable to what we have been shown as truth. The Pharisees had the law and were the keepers of the truth. They should have recognized the truth, but they had so covered up the truth with their own laws and traditions that they couldn’t see the real truth right in front of their eyes. Lord, help us to open our spiritual eyes and see. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.