Tues.’s Devo - God’s Perfect Timing

Read: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverbs 15:20-21 Once Saul was finished with his dealings with the Philistines, he heard that David was in the wilderness of Engedi. Saul and three thousand men went to pursue David and his men. Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. Little did he know, David and his men were deep inside that same cave. David’s men thought this was David’s golden opportunity to kill Saul. It was like the Lord had given him into David’s hands. It was a test. *** David passed the test. Instead of killing Saul, he cut off a piece of his robe to use it as evidence that he could have killed him, but didn’t. When Saul had finished and was leaving the area, David came out and revealed to Saul what he had done. David asked Saul why he was chasing him to kill him when David meant no harm to him. *** Saul repented of trying to kill David and even told him that he knew that David would one day be the king. He asked David to please not kill his offspring and destroy his name when that happened. David swore he wouldn’t. Saul then left and went home and David stayed in his stronghold. *** Samuel died and all Israel met in Ramah to mourn and bury him. David went to the wilderness of Paran. There was a very rich but worthless man who lived there named Nabal. He had a wise and beautiful wife named Abigail. *** David and his men had protected Nabal’s shepherds while they were out in the fields and were like a wall around them. David sent his messengers to Nabal to ask if they could come and join them in their festival because they were hungry. *** The messenger explained how valuable David had been to them and how he and his men deserved to enjoy their harvest. Nabal foolishly refused to let David and his men come. *** When David heard this, he told his men to strap on their weapons because they were going down to kill the men of Nabal and take their harvest. 
 *** The messengers came to Abigail and told her what had happened and how Nabal had opened them up for an attack. She quickly had her servants prepare wine, bread and fruit to take to David. She rode out and met David. She repented for what Nabal said and gave them the food. She asked for mercy from David, and begged him to spare their lives. *** David blessed Abigail for her actions and told her that he would not attack them but let them live in peace. *** Abigail returned home to find her husband drunk from his feast. She waited till the next day to tell him what she had done. When she told him, he had a stroke and died ten days later. *** David heard about Nabal’s death and sent for Abigail to come and be his wife. She came with five young women who attended her. David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Saul had given Michal, David’s wife and his daughter to Palti as his wife. *** Timing is everything in the Lord’s kingdom. It was not time for David to usurp Saul’s kingship. He would have to wait until God gave him the kingdom. On the other hand, Abigail had to act quickly or she would have lost everything to David’s men. Instead, she gained everything. ***In John, Jesus explained how his children can walk in his timing and his will. They hear his voice and follow him. God will give them eternal life and no one will be able to snatch them out of his hand. He told them that he and his Father were the same. *** Then the Jews picked up stones to stone him. Jesus reminded them of all the good works he had shown them and asked then which of them were they stoning him for. They answered that they weren’t stoning him for his works, but his words of blasphemy because he make himself to be God. *** Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 that says to the divine council, “I said, ‘You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.’”He explained this was written to the ones the Word of the Lord came to, so how much more should he be able to say he is one with the Father since he was consecrated by God and sent to the earth. Jesus was doing the works of his Father. If they couldn’t believe he was from God, at least they should acknowledge that his works are from God. Then maybe they could believe that God is in him and he is in God. *** They tried to arrest Jesus, but it was not his time so he escaped. He went across the Jordan where John had began his ministry. Many there realized that he was everything John had said he was. *** Lord, may our lives reflect who we believe you are. We are your children and you live in us just like you lived in Jesus. May our works magnify you. May we respect and honor your timing and learn to wait on you.