1 Samuel 23-24; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 54; Acts 16
Envy was the main reason Saul pursued David relentlessly for a long time. Envy placed the people in a state of civil war. Envy became the cause of death for many people. Something similar happens in our day when envy puts God's people in a similar state.
The ingratitude of the inhabitants of Keilah is another example of the unreliability of people. David saved them from the Philistines, but they were ready to betray him into Saul's hands (1 Samuel 23:5-12). He leaves Keilah and hides "in strongholds" near Ziph. But the Ziphites, desiring to please Saul, who was in power, also betray David by informing Saul of his whereabouts. Saul almost captured David, but God prevented it by sending the Philistines to fight against Saul.
Despite the various mistakes made by David, his overall attitude towards life and the problems he faced were governed mainly by the fear of God. The fear of God kept him from the temptation to kill Saul when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, David again tries to appeal to Saul's reason and calls upon the Lord as a judge between them (1 Samuel 24:1-16). This helps, and Saul changes his attitude towards David. But unfortunately, not for long.
Psalm 54 describes these events. David understands that his safety is in God's hands. He prays to God and confesses his hope in Him.
Acts 16 describes the beginning of the second missionary journey of the apostle Paul. After parting with Barnabas due to disagreements about ministry (Acts 15:36-39), Paul, accompanied by Silas, visits the churches he established to encourage the disciples. A few interesting observations:
- Our good plans may not always be feasible because God has something better for us (Acts 16:6-10).
- The Lord opens hearts to perceive truth (Acts 16:14).
- The salvation of souls always encounters satanic resistance. It can manifest in various forms. In Philippi, it was associated with the loss of income for the owners of the girl from whom Paul cast out a demon (Acts 16:16-24).
- Despite beatings and harsh prison conditions, Paul and Silas praise God, and the prisoners listen to them.
- Preaching about Christ was the main task of the apostle Paul. Regardless of circumstances, he speaks about Christ to everyone. In this situation, he preaches to the jailer and his family (Acts 16:26-34).
The ingratitude of the inhabitants of Keilah is another example of the unreliability of people. David saved them from the Philistines, but they were ready to betray him into Saul's hands (1 Samuel 23:5-12). He leaves Keilah and hides "in strongholds" near Ziph. But the Ziphites, desiring to please Saul, who was in power, also betray David by informing Saul of his whereabouts. Saul almost captured David, but God prevented it by sending the Philistines to fight against Saul.
Despite the various mistakes made by David, his overall attitude towards life and the problems he faced were governed mainly by the fear of God. The fear of God kept him from the temptation to kill Saul when the opportunity presented itself. Instead, David again tries to appeal to Saul's reason and calls upon the Lord as a judge between them (1 Samuel 24:1-16). This helps, and Saul changes his attitude towards David. But unfortunately, not for long.
Psalm 54 describes these events. David understands that his safety is in God's hands. He prays to God and confesses his hope in Him.
Acts 16 describes the beginning of the second missionary journey of the apostle Paul. After parting with Barnabas due to disagreements about ministry (Acts 15:36-39), Paul, accompanied by Silas, visits the churches he established to encourage the disciples. A few interesting observations:
- Our good plans may not always be feasible because God has something better for us (Acts 16:6-10).
- The Lord opens hearts to perceive truth (Acts 16:14).
- The salvation of souls always encounters satanic resistance. It can manifest in various forms. In Philippi, it was associated with the loss of income for the owners of the girl from whom Paul cast out a demon (Acts 16:16-24).
- Despite beatings and harsh prison conditions, Paul and Silas praise God, and the prisoners listen to them.
- Preaching about Christ was the main task of the apostle Paul. Regardless of circumstances, he speaks about Christ to everyone. In this situation, he preaches to the jailer and his family (Acts 16:26-34).
Posted in Reading Bible Together