Mon.’s Devo - The Truth Will Set You Free

Read: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 1121-10; Proverbs 15:12-14 After David killed Goliath and gave Israel the great victory over the Philistines, Saul made him a commander over the men of war. Saul returned home to hear the women singing, “Saul has killed his thousands, David his ten thousands,” and became insanely jealous of David. He tried to pin him with his sword the next time he played his harp for him but David dodged his spear twice. Saul knew that God was going to take his kingdom and give it to another, so he was extremely paranoid of who that might be. It became obvious that it might be David. It was also obvious that God was with David in all he did. Saul had promised to give his daughter in marriage to the one who killed Goliath, so he planned to give David his older daughter, Merab, but put a stipulation on it. David must prove himself a real warrior by fighting his battles. Saul was hoping David would be killed by the Philistines. David had already proved himself with Goliath. When it came time to give Merab to David, Saul gave her to another man instead. Saul’s other daughter, Michal was in love with David. Saul saw this as another opportunity to get David killed in battle. He told him he would give David his daughter if he brought back 100 Philistines foreskins. David loved the challenge and brought him 200 foreskins. Nothing Saul planned was working. Saul then tried to get his men to assassinate David. Jonathan found out and went to his father and reminded him all David had done for Israel. Jonathan had a kingdom mindset where Saul had a ME mindset. Saul relented on killing David for the time being. The Philistines attacked and David went off to war again. When he returned victorious, Saul tried to pin him to the wall again with his spear but David escaped at night. He and his wife put an idol in his bed to look like he was there sick. This bought him enough time to get out of town. David went to Ramah to find Samuel. He told him everything and Samuel hid David and himself in Naioth in Ramah. Saul found out and headed there but the closer he got to Samuel the stronger the Spirit of God was. It finally struck Saul to the ground where he lay naked prophesying. This was the second time Saul had been overwhelmed by the spirit of prophecy. The first time was when he had met Samuel for the first time and was told he would be the leader of Israel. In John, Jesus has his most poignant conversation with the Pharisees. He was trying to explain that to be a son of God is to be free. To be a son of God you must accept and obey his teachings. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. They didn’t know they were not free. They thought that just because they were Jews and sons of Abraham that they were free. Jesus told them that to be a slave to sin was not freedom. The Son was the only one who could set them free. When they insisted they were Abraham’s children, Jesus told them they were illegitimate children. Their father was the devil! They should see this since he was a murderer and all they could think about was murdering him. They argued back and forth who was from the devil and who was possessed by a demon. When Jesus told him that their father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to his coming, they were baffled. When Jesus told them before Abraham was I AM, they picked up stones to stone him. Jesus was so bold with the Pharisees. The spirit they possessed was Jesus’ enemy even more than the Romans who were their natural enemies. Jesus came to defeat and call out religion for its hypocrisy and lies. The Pharisees had the same spirit of murder that Saul had. Religion always tries to kill truth. Lord, thank you for the truth that sets us free to walk righteously before you. May our lives today further your kingdom.