Tues.’s Devo - Resurrection Power

Read: 1 Samuel 26:1-28:25; John 11:1-54; Psalm 117:1-2; Proverbs 15:22-23 Saul found out where David was and came looking for him again. David learned of Saul’s plans and went to his camp at night to spy on them. God had put everyone in the camp into a deep sleep so David was able to get the spear and water bottle that was right beside Saul. *** When he got far enough away, he shouted to Abner, Saul’s commander in chief of his army. He asked him why he hadn’t guarded his king. He showed him the spear and water bottle. Saul recognized David’s voice and told him he was sorry for wanting to kill him and invited David to come back to Judah and live. He blessed David and told him he would do many heroic deeds and succeed. They parted, but David knew this would not be the last of Saul so he decided the only way to assure his safety of him, his men and their families would be to join with the Philistines. *** Achish, the King of Gath welcomed David and his men and eventually gave them the city of Ziklag to live in. David and his men would go out during the day and fight the Amelekites, the Geshurites and the Girzites which were allies with the Philistines but enemies of Judah. He made sure he killed everyone in the towns he attacked so there would be no witnesses. Then he told the king that he was attacking towns in Judah. *** The day came when the Philistines planned to attack Israel. David wanted to come with them. King Ashish wanted David to be his armor-bearer. *** Meanwhile, Saul was very afraid when he saw the vast army of the Philistines coming to attack him. God wasn’t answering him through his regular means to Saul asked his men if there was a medium who could bring someone up from the dead. He had outlawed all the mediums and sorcerers from the land but his men knew of a witch who lived in Endor. *** Saul disguised himself and they went to her house. When they told her what they wanted she was afraid of the law. Saul assured her they would not hurt her so she agreed to help them. He asked her to bring up Samuel who was not happy to be woken up. He told Saul that God had taken the kingdom from him and given it to David. He and his sons would be killed tomorrow in the battle and Israel would be defeated by the Philistines. *** When it was over, Saul was faint with fear and hunger. They convinced him to eat and the witch prepared his last supper. He probably ate the same food Jesus ate at his last supper only the atmosphere was completely different. Both Jesus and Saul knew they would die the next day but one was dying innocent - for the sins of the world, and the other was dying guilty for his own sins. *** In John, we have the story of another man who was brought out of his grave like Samuel was. His name was Lazareth, the brother of Martha and Mary and Jesus’ good friend. *** When Lazareth became deathly sick, Mary sent the message to Jesus telling him to come quickly. Jesus waited 2 days before he began his travel to see about Lazareth. By the time he got there, Lazareth had been dead for 4 days. Lazareth lived in Judea where they had tried to kill Jesus, but Jesus knew that if he was in God’s will, he was in the light and nothing would harm him. *** Mary and Martha knew that if Jesus had come sooner, Lazareth wouldn’t have died. Jesus told Martha that he was the resurrection and the life and anyone who believes in him would live. He asked Martha if she believed this. She did and she believed that Jesus was the Messiah. *** Jesus became angry when he saw the sadness and mourning of the ones who loved Lazareth. He became angry, probably at death because of the sorrow it brought. They all went to the grave where Jesus called them to roll away the stone. *** Jesus called Lazareth out of the grave and he came out wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus told them to take them off and the chains of death were taken from him and he was alive. This was a picture of what Jesus would do on the cross. He would set us free from death once and for all. *** When the religious leaders heard what had happened they wanted him dead more than ever. If he continued to live, their kingdom of power would be destroyed. *** Lord, thank you that you are the resurrection and the life. Thank you that you have delivered us from the fear of death. May we walk in confident fear of only you.