MORNING DEW: 30-11-2018
TOPIC: DAVID, THE MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 20:1-10
- David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, “What have I done? What is my crime, and how have I wronged your father so that he’s determined to kill me?
- Jonathan told him, “Far from it! You won’t die. Look, my father never does anything, great or small, without telling me; so why should my father hide this thing from me? It’s not like that!”
- David again took an oath: “Your father certainly knows that I’ve found favor with you, and so he told himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this so he won’t be upset.’ But as certainly as the LORD is alive and living, and as certainly as I’m alive and living, too, there is only a step between me and death.”
- Jonathan told David, “Whatever you say, I’ll do.”
- David told Jonathan, “Look, the New Moon is tomorrow, and I’m expected to sit down with the king to eat. Let me go so I can hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow.
- If your father actually notices that I’m not there, then you are to say, ‘David urgently requested that I allow him to run to his hometown of Bethlehem because the yearly sacrifice for the entire family was taking place there.’
- If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant will be safe. But if he actually gets angry, you will know that his intentions are evil.
- Now, show gracious kindness to your servant because you have entered into a sacred covenant with your servant. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself—why should you bring me to your father?”
- “Nonsense!” Jonathan replied. “If I actually knew that my father intended evil against you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”
- Then David told Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
DAVID AND GOD’S APPOINTED TIME
There is time for everything. When God appoints you, there is an appointed time He will showcase you to the world. Why would David running from his fellow king, which was obvious that God was no longer with King Saul? David knew that he was the next king yet he was not comfortable staying with his own people for the fear of Saul.
Why was David running?
Wisdom! He was a king, yes, but it was not time for him to reign as one. But he never rushed. He acted wisely. He never conspired against king Saul. Even though it was not a good experience yet he had to take the challenge.
One of the fruits of the Spirit is “self-control,” which is “the ability to master one’s desires and impulses.”
David had to master his desires and impulses to be able to get to the throne.
Self-control lacks the inhabitants of our society today. Everybody wants to get it quick by any means, neglecting God’s direction. We are more familiar with “self’s” voice than God’s voice. Our flesh desires are well observed than God’s desires. We love our flesh more than God. Controlling one desires is the best way of attaining to greatness.
David had to wait for God’s appointed time so he had to run from his distractors, it is called wisdom, you can do same to help you wait for your appointed time.
…to be continued…
Prayer: Oh Lord, I want to experience more of you to be able to control my desires in order to wait for my appointed time, in Jesus’ Name!
Amen!
Rev. John Wundengba
020 9 422 159