Thurs.’s Devo - The Protection of the Lord

Read: 1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19 Four hundred men who had been faithful to David found him hiding out in the caves of Adullam and joined him. Many were not happy about the politics of the day and some were in debt. Adullam was two miles south of the place David had killed Goliath. *** David left there and went to Mizpeh in Moab where he asked the king to let his parents stay there in hiding. The prophet Gad told David, one day that it was time to return to the land of Judah so David went to the forest of Hereth. Saul soon heard where he was hiding. Saul had been hunting David down and spoke harshly to his solders. He accused them of being faithful to David who could give them nothing in return. He had the power to reward them. He accused them of conspiring against him like Jonathan. Doeg, the Edomite who had seen David when he took the bread and sword from Ahemelech, told what he had seen. *** Saul took his men immediately to Nob and accused the priests of treason. He would not listen to Ahimelech’s testimony and ordered his men to kill the priests. His men would not do it so he commanded Doeg to kill them. He killed all the priests and their whole families. These priests were all relatives of Eli. Abiathar was the only priest to escape. He ran to David and told him all that happened. David told him to stay with him and he would protect him. He had brought an ephod with him which means they could use it to ask the Lord for direction. *** David heard that the Philistines had attacked the town of Keilah and were stealing their grain. He asked the Lord if he should go and deliver them from the Philistines and God told him to go. He won their freedom back for them. Keilah was a fortified city with walls and gates. David and his men stayed there in the town. Saul found out where they were and were coming to kill David and his men. David asked the Lord if Saul was coming and if the people of Keliah would give him over to Saul. God said “yes” to both so David and his men fled the city. *** Jonathan found where David was hiding and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in the Lord, because he was to be the next king of Israel and Jonathan would be next to him, supporting him. They renewed their pact of friendship before Jonathan left for home. *** The people of Keliah told Saul where David was hiding which saved their lives. Saul sent his men into the wilderness to find David. They ended up on the same mountain on opposite sides. David was just about to be found out when Saul got an urgent message from home that the Philistines were raiding Israel. (I wonder if Jonathan sent that message to save David.) *** In John, Jesus gives them an illustration of what happened in Eden. Satan was the one who snuck over the wall into Eden. God entered every day through the gate. Adam knew his voice. Eve listened to the voice of the serpent. *** Jesus was the good shepherd and all who heard his voice and believed in him would follow his voice. He would give them a rich and satisfying life. He would protect them from the wolf and lay down his life for his sheep. *** Jesus made it clear that he was laying down his life for them. No one was going to murder him. He was the willing sacrifice. *** The crowd was divided: some thought he was demon-possessed and others thought he was a miracle worker from God. *** Lord, we believe you are who you say you are, the only true God. Thank you for laying down your life for us and bringing us salvation. You are the loving Shepard and keeper of our soul. We put all our trust in you and your goodness.