Sat.’s Devo - The Hard Truth

Read: 1 Samuel 20:1-21:15; John 9:1-41; Psalm 113:1-114:8; Proverbs 15:15-17 David had to flee Saul’s wrath or stay and be killed. He ran to Ramah to find Jonathan. He asked Jonathan why Saul was so mad at him and wanted him dead. Jonathan was oblivious to any reason his father would want to kill David, but they devised a plan to find out. *** When David didn’t show up for the new moon celebration, Saul finally questioned Jonathan about it. Jonathan gave Saul David’s excuse and it didn’t set well with Saul, especially that his son was defending David. The truth came out. Saul accused Jonathan of wanting David to be king over himself and told him he was a disgrace to him and his mother. Saul told Jonathan to bring in David so he could kill him. Now Jonathan saw clearly that his father wanted to kill David over his jealousy and fear of him. *** Jonathan went to where David was hiding and gave him the signal that meant David was right and he needed to flee for his life. They met one last time and embraced and wept. Jonathan reminded David of their vow to be loyal to each other. This vow would pass to their children forever. Then they separated and David went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech was a grandchild of Eli’s. David asked for food and a sword. He didn’t tell him he was running from Saul but that he was on a special mission for Saul. Ahimelech gave him the old bread from the priest’s table and Goliath’s sword. *** Doeg, Saul’s chief officer was there and saw him. David left immediately and fled to King Achish of Gath in Philistine territory. He had to act like he was insane to keep from being killed by the king. *** David had done nothing but serve Saul faithfully, and now he was having to flee for his life. Seems unfair, but God’s trials are his school. David was being trained to be the next king and he would have to face many more trials to get him ready for his destiny. We go through trials for the same reason - God is training us for our next assignment. That is why we should “count it all joy.” *** In John, Jesus met a man who had been blind from birth. The Pharisees and religious leaders believed that the true Messiah would be able to do these three things: heal a Jewish leper, heal a man deaf and dumb and a man who was born blind. That is why Jesus sent the lepers he healed to the priests to show them. He had also healed the man who was both deaf and dumb. Now he is met with a man who was born blind. When his disciples asked him if he was blind because of his own sin (duh, he was born blind) or his parent’s sin, Jesus answered, “neither.” This was for the glory of God. This was the third sign. Jesus explained he had a short time to bring light to the world. He made mud from dirt and his own saliva then told him to go to the pool of Siloam and wash it off. He came back seeing! *** The people took this man to the Pharisees to show them. This is what made some of the Pharisees believe Jesus was the Messiah. It caused a division in their ranks. *** The Pharisees questioned his parents but they were afraid of being kicked out of the synagogue because they understood what this meant. They wouldn’t take responsibility for their son’s healing. The Pharisees went back to the man and questioned him again. They tried to get him to give the glory to God and not Jesus. He told them that all he knew was that he was blind, and now he sees. They countered that they were disciples of Moses and not Jesus. They didn’t even know where Jesus came from, how could he be the Messiah. The man said, how strange, Jesus healed his eyes and no one since the world began has been able to do that. *** The Pharisees were offended that this common man would try to teach them and they threw him out of the synagogue. It was probably the first time he had ever been allowed to go into the synagogue. *** Jesus heard what happened to the man and went and spoke with him. He asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. The man said he wanted to, but he didn’t know who he was. Jesus told him he was the man. The man told him he believed. Jesus told the man that he came into the world to bring sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind. *** When some of the Pharisees heard this they asked if he was talking about them. Jesus told them if they were blind, they wouldn’t be guilty, but they remain guilty because they claimed to be able to see. This had to make them livid. *** Lord, may we not be like the Pharisees and think we have all the answers when there is so much we still don’t know and don’t see. Open our eyes to see your truths even if they are painful to look upon. May we repent of our arrogance and humble our hearts to receive your truth.