Thurs.’s Devo - Tests

Read: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 15:20-21 God put David through many tests to prepare him to be the king and today we read about two of them. God brought Saul to David in the cave. He gave him the choice of killing Saul or trusting him. David went against the desires of his heart and the encouragement of his friends and chose not to harm Saul. The kingdom was in his hands to take but he wanted the kingdom to be given him. He passed the first test. Saul had to face his deception and speak the truth. The deception was that David was his enemy and that he could defeat God’s purpose by killing David. The truth was that David would be the king to succeed him. He even spoke it with his own mouth in verse 20. David’s second test was with Nabal. Nabal was a foolish angry man with no self-control. David’s men had protected Nabal’s sheep for him while they were out to pasture and now that it was sheep-sheering time, they were entitled to be invited to the celebration. Everyone in town would be coming. It was tradition to invite all who shared in the responsibility to a celebration and feast. Nabal brought a curse down upon himself. Abigail, his sensible, god-fearing wife took matters into her own hands and took off after David to supply his men with food. She came with humility and apologies. David passed the test and chose to have mercy. He accepted her gifts and didn’t return evil for evil. God took care of Nabal and he died a humiliating death. Abigail then became David’s wife and got a good husband instead of a foolish one. Meanwhile, back in the kingdom of Saul, he gave David’s wife to Palti. David lost one wife and gained two as he married Ahinoam also. In John, Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication or Hanukkah. Hanukkah commemorated the time when the Maccabee’s retook the kingdom from Antiochus Epiphenes and cleansed the Temple and rededicated it to the Lord. They had only found enough oil to keep the lamp in the Temple going for one day but miraculously he stayed lit for seven days so they had time to make new oil. They celebrated this every year. It was the day evil fell and righteousness reigned. The people came to back Jesus into a corner and have him publicly proclaim to be the Messiah. He refused to do this because he knew their hearts. These were not his followers who were trying to force this. They wanted to stone him but he asked them which good act were they stoning him for. They weren’t stoning him for things he did but for claiming that he was God. Jesus brought out that their laws called their magistrates “God”. He was only claiming to be God’s son. He did all his miracles through God who was in him. They still wanted to kill him so Jesus escaped and went to John’s old stomping grounds. He found many who believed in him there. John had paved the way for them. Lord, may we be used to pave the way for others to come to know you. May we not repay evil for evil but have mercy on those who hate us and despitefully use us.