Tag Archives: David

Three Murderers

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sad manHave you ever wondered how God could possibly use you? If God could use three murderers, then he can use each of us.

Maybe you’re the mother of young children and your days revolve around them and their needs. Maybe you work all day at your paying job. Perhaps you’re retired and feel a little used up. It could be you are somewhere else along this continuum, and wonder how could God possibly use me?

When we look in the Bible, we see God used all kinds of people in all stages of life. From every tribe and nation. Young. Old. Middle-aged. Married. Single. Widowed. Greek. Jew. Free. Slave.

God even used three murderers in a mighty way.

Don’t believe me? Well, what about Moses, David, and Paul?

Murderer number one.

As Pharoah’s daughter’s adopted son, Moses was a prince living in Pharoah’s palace. He had every privilege imaginable. Acts 7:22 tells us Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was powerful in both speech and action.

After witnessing an Egyptian taskmaster beat a Hebrew slave, Moses went into a rage and killed the Egyptian. When he realized his actions were witnessed, Moses fled Egypt.

Moses ran away and lived in the desert tending his father-in-law’s sheep. There he stayed for forty years until God called to him from a burning bush. God sent Moses back to Egypt. In doing so, God used a murderer to lead his chosen people out of bondage. God used a murderer to lead his people to the Promised Land of Canaan.

Murderer number two.

As Israel’s King, what David commanded be done was done. It did not matter whether what David commanded was just or not. Such was the case when David learned Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, was pregnant with David’s child.

When Uriah’s loyalty prevented him from doing what David hoped Uriah would do in David’s scheme to hide his sin, David sent word to his generals. Put Uriah at the front of the battle. Then pull back so that he is killed.

The baby died, but God wasn’t finished with David. David and Bathsheba’s next child, Solomon, was one of Jesus Christ’s ancestors.

Murderer number three.

As a pharisee of Pharisees, Paul fervently sought out Christians to persecute and kill. He felt in doing so, he was honoring God and defending the Jewish faith.

But Paul was wrong. Christ met Paul on the road to Damascus in a blinding light. He asked Paul why he was persecuting him. Paul ended up writing thirteen (and possibly fourteen if you feel he wrote the book of Hebrews) books of the New Testament. Paul turned his zeal from persecuting Christians, into a zeal to preach Christ and him glorified.

Moses. David. Paul. Their past did not define them. God saw beyond their past to what he could accomplish through them.

Our past does not define us. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are brought into a relationship with him. Our sins our forgiven. Though they were like scarlet, they are now whiter than snow. We are defined as a beloved child of God. Christ looks beyond our past sin to what he can accomplish through us.

Yep. God used three murderers in a mighty way according to his purpose. And since God used these three murderers to fulfill his plans, don’t you think he can use us too, regardless of where we are at this moment in time? All it takes is a surrendered heart and saying yes to God.

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For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

You can find my June Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Victory Over the Marauders

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Photo by Serge Krasnov on Unsplash

Victory over the marauders does not have to be complete for it to be a win.

During the time David and his men ran for their lives from King Saul, they moved to the Philistine town of Ziklag, where they lived for over a year. Near the end of David’s time on the run, some Amalekite marauders came into Ziklag while he and all his men were on a mission for the Philistine king, Achish.

After being sent home from the battle, David and his men returned to find Ziklag completely destroyed. The Amalekites looted the town, then burned it to the ground. They took captive all the men, women, and children.

In their utter distress over the loss of their families, David’s men threatened to kill him. He was their leader. They believed the responsibility for what happened fell on him.

David was distressed over the loss of his family as well, but to have the men turn on him?

What to do?

David turned to the Lord and received strength. He asked God if he should pursue the raiding party. Would he overtake them?

The Lord told David to pursue them. God told David he and his men would surely overtake the Amalekites and succeed in the rescue.

David took four hundred men in pursuit of the Amalekite marauders. They found the raiding party and attacked. Although God promised victory, it was not an easy win. David and his men fought from dusk until the evening of the next day.

It was not a complete victory, either. Some of the Amalekites escaped. Still, David did not lament over the ones who got away. Instead, he celebrated and was grateful for what was rescued. None of the people or possessions were missing.

As this story from David’s life shows us, just because victory over the marauders is assured, that doesn’t mean it will be easily fought. Also, David didn’t have to experience complete victory for this battle to be a win.

There are times in our lives we will face marauders of all kinds that threaten, attack, and steal. Some days we will have victory. Some of those victories will be complete. Some will be partial.

In each of the battles we face, one key, I believe, is to do what David did. Go to God first. Seek his direction. Enter the battle in the Lord’s strength. Fight for as long as it takes. And praise God for the victory. No matter its size.

Are you able to celebrate and be grateful for incomplete victories?

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At dawn the next day David attacked them and fought until evening. Except for four hundred young men who mounted camels and got away, none of them escaped. David rescued everyone and everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives; 1 Samuel 30:17-18 (GNT)

You can find my May Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — The King’s Table

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

After David became king of the united tribes of Israel, he wondered if any of Saul’s family remained he could show kindness. That in itself was a shock to those who understood how the succession to a throne usually went.

No new king looked for his rival’s family members to show them kindness. They looked for family members to eliminate.

You see, David made a promise to one of Saul’s sons, Jonathan. He and David were best buds. Jonathan knew God choose David over him to become king when Saul died. He didn’t try to get in the way of God’s plan. In fact, Jonathan risked his life at the hands of his father’s wrath to protect David. Because of that, David was determined to keep his promise to protect Jonathan’s family.

As it turned out, there was a son of Jonathan’s, Mephibosheth, still alive. David sent for Mephibosheth. Understandably, when he arrived at the palace in front of the king, Mephibosheth expected the worse. As he had every right to expect.

But David told him not to be afraid. He wanted to show kindness to Mephibosheth because of his friendship with Jonathan. He restored everything that belonged to Mephibosheth’s grandfather, Saul, and told Mephibosheth from that day forward, he would live in David’s palace and eat at the king’s table as if he were one of David’s sons.

Amazing.

When I think of this story, which I absolutely love, I connect the image of Mephibosheth eating at the king’s table, with The King’s table which is prepared for us by our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Our Shepherd prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.

I imagine sitting at the king’s table, and eating with David’s sons, made Mephibosheth believe he sat in the presence of his enemies. I doubt David’s sons, especially Absolom and Amnon, were pleased to have Saul’s grandson treated like one of them.

What others thought didn’t matter. David was king. He invited Mephibosheth to eat at his table, and Mephibosheth would eat at the king’s table.

We have a place at the table Jesus prepares for us. He is King. He’s the one in charge. If he believes us worthy enough to eat in his presence, no enemy can keep us from pulling up a seat.

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“Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” 2 Samuel 9:7 (NLT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Listen to God’s Truth

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Thinking about David again this morning …

Many of us are familiar with his encounter with the Philistine giant, Goliath. We remember the Israelite army quaking and shaking; fleeing from battle as Goliath mocked the Living Sovereign God. We remember David stepping up and stepping out to face the nine-foot, nine-inch man the others ran from.

 

We remember the Israelites allowed their fear to shut their eyes and ears to God’s truth of who HE is, while David allowed his faith to open his eyes and ears to God’s truth of who HE is.

 

As I re-read this story I saw the Israelites looked at the giant and found their strength lacking. David looked at God and found more than enough strength to conquer the one who towered over him.

The Israelite army heard Goliath’s voice thunder across the valley, were afraid, and shrunk back from the battle before them. David heard God’s voice in reply and courageously ran to meet the challenge.

Our battles may not be of gigantic proportions like David’s, but then again, they might be.

 

We know Satan is alive and well, taunting God’s people day and night. Just like Goliath. He mocks the Living God. Inflicting pain and hurt wherever he can. Sometimes we see the nine-foot, nine-inch giant and head for the hills. Sometimes we see God’s hand in ours and head into the fight in his power and strength.

Sometimes we listen to the devil’s convincing voice and doubt God’s presence. Or his love. Sometimes we turn our ears to the Lord and his peace fills us in the midst of the chaos that surrounds us.

As with David and the Israelites, the choice is ours. We can believe the devil’s lies and half-truths, or we can believe God’s truth that he is with us, empowering us to fight every battle we face large and small.

We trust in the name of the Lord our God. Amen?

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David answered, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the Israelite armies, which you have defied. This very day the Lord will put you in my power; I will defeat you and cut off your head. And I will give the bodies of the Philistine soldiers to the birds and animals to eat. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a God,  and everyone here will see that the Lord does not need swords or spears to save his people. He is victorious in battle, and he will put all of you in our power.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Step Aside

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Watching the Winter Olympic Games got me thinking about how the Olympic Torch is handed off. After each person does their job, they step aside, much like runners in a relay race.

That thought took me to look at Moses and David. Near the end of both their lives, one thing they pursued was not theirs to complete. God chose another to fulfill what these two dreamed would be there’s.

For forty years Moses led the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land of Canaan, which the Lord promised his people. But as Moses stood at the entrance to the land, God told Moses he would not lead the people in. Joshua would.

From the time David was king, maybe even before, he dreamed of building a temple for the Lord his God. He had magnificent plans for a building that would surpass all others. One fit for the presence of Jehovah God.

But God had other plans.

God did not let David build the temple. Instead, God chose David’s son, Solomon, to build it.

I imagine both of these men were crushed at the outcome of their service and work for God. We see no grumbling or complaining to the fact, however. What we do see is these two men of God accepted his decision, and stepped aside for the one who came after them.

They didn’t selfishly insist on fulfilling the own ambitions. They didn’t get in the way of the one God chose to complete the task. They simple handed off the baton, and stepped aside so someone else, a person of God’s choosing, would complete the race they began.

Maybe we’ve come right to the gate of our long-held dreams, only to have God hand the baton to someone else to complete the race.

How do we respond when that happens? Do we, like Moses and David, step aside, or do we cling to what we believe is our right and refuse to yield the project to someone else when it’s their turn?

Finishing well does not always mean seeing a project through to completion. Sometimes it means we step aside so others can share in the glory of the task God called us to begin.

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I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — Come and Help Me

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Do you have difficulty admitting you need help? Do you reluctantly accept help, fearful you may appear weak? Or are you comfortable admitting you need help and gladly accept it when offered?

During David’s time as king, an Ammonite king died and David sent ambassadors to the king’s son to express his regrets concerning the king’s death. But the son’s officers told him the ambassadors were sent as spies. Believing the lies, the son took the men, shaved off half their beards, cut their robes off exposing their buttocks and sent them home in shame.

This did not sit well with David.

Realizing they had a fight on their hands, the Ammonites hired thirty-one thousand Syrian mercenaries and sent them to fight the Israelites. Some guarded the city gates. Others went to the fields to fight.

When David heard about this, he sent Joab and the entire Israeli army to attack them. Realizing he would have to fight on two fronts, Joab split his army. He took the best fighters under his command to fight in the fields, and left the rest with his brother, Abishai, to attack the Ammonite’s city. Before they split up, Joab told Abishai to come to him if Abishai needed help. Likewise, Joab would help Abishai should he need it.

Theirs was a mutual agreement. If you need help, I’m there. If I need help, you’re there.

In our humanness we often falsely believe we don’t need any help from anyone. Including God. How wrong that belief is.

We were created to be in community with others. God said it was not good for man to be alone. Solomon said a cord of three strands is better than a cord of one strand. For if one should fall, the others can pick him up.

We need each other. We need to be willing to admit when we need help. We need to be willing to help as we can, and accept help when it is offered.

Do you find it easy or difficult to admit you need help?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject.

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Joab saw that the enemy troops would attack him in front and from the rear, so he chose the best of Israel’s soldiers and put them in position facing the Syrians. He placed the rest of his troops under the command of his brother Abishai, who put them in position facing the Ammonites. Joab said to him, “If you see that the Syrians are defeating me, come and help me, and if the Ammonites are defeating you, I will go and help you. Be strong and courageous! Let’s fight hard for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord‘s will be done!” 2 Samuel 10:9-12 (GNT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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P.S.

If you want to know what happened, you’ll have to read the rest of the story in 2 Samuel 10. 🙂

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Sunday Scriptures — Unsin Me

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

While preparing to lead a lesson on David’s penitential Psalm 51 this month, I read a commentator who said “purify” was the same as “unsin”. Isn’t that interesting?

Psalm 51 is David’s petition to God for forgiveness after the prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba, and murder of her husband, Uriah. In this psalm David admits his guilt, and asks for God’s forgiveness. He pleads for the restoration of his relationship with God.

David pleads with God based on knowledge of who God is.

God is gracious, loving and compassionate. David understood God is our only hope. He understood we can go before God and confess our sins, knowing God will not hurt us despite our sin.

In this psalm David didn’t rationalize his sins as we might. He did not blame others for his actions. He made no excuses. He owned his sin and bowed before God in humility, begging for God’s forgiveness.

When David asked God to purify, or unsin him, he asked for God to take David’s sin away. Cleanse him through the sacrificial blood. Blot out his guilt as if no sin occurred. David asked God to return him to fellowship with God, and change his heart and life.

Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and shed blood paid the debt we owe for our sins. Still, God wants to see evidence of sorrow and brokenness over our sins from those who claim him as Lord. It is only through repentance of our sins we can have a restored relationship with God, and that restoration allows us to be useful to him once more.

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God, be merciful to me because you are loving. Because you are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs. Wash away all my guilt and make me clean again. Psalm 51:1-2 (NCV)
 I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — Tell Others

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Oftentimes, I reread the Book of Psalms and marvel not only at the comfort they contain, but the way David expressed his heart so beautifully. One such Psalm is the 40th.

In the midst of David’s pit of despair, he cried out to God for help. God heard his cry. Not only did God hear, he acted. God lifted David from his pit and steadied him along his way.

David’s prayer for help turned into a song of praise because God gave him a new song to sing. No longer depressed and despondent, David told others of the glorious things God did for him. Through David’s testimony those who heard could stand amazed before God. They too, could put their trust in God.

I wonder … when we find ourselves in our pits and miry bogs, how do we respond? Do we cry out to God for deliverance, and wait patiently for his help? Once God rescues and steadies us, do we sing our praise to him, or do we go on our merry way without a second thought?

Could it be our testimony of what God has done for us just might be the thing that points others to our glorious Lord? If that is true, what happens when we receive God’s blessings but keep quiet about them?

Although written ages ago, David’s songs of praise are still read today. Many have benefited from David giving the glory back to God. Many have received comfort and put their trust in the Lord through David’s songs.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful for people to hear our songs of praise to God for what he has delivered us from, and brought us through, and stand in awe before him?

What comes to your mind when you think of what God did for you when you cried out to him? Have you let others know of the glorious things he has done? If not. Why not?

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I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path, and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things he did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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One of my posts is scheduled to appear on Christian Devotions February 10, 2016. Please stop by.

Sunday Scriptures — Broody

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

While researching chickens for a novel I am writing, I came upon some interesting information concerning broodiness.

Broodiness is a hen’s instinct to hatch eggs. A hen that’s thinking of brooding may cluck like a mother hen while she’s getting on or off the nest, and while she’s on the nest will puff out her feathers, growl, yes … growl, and peck your hand if you reach under her for an egg.

Just because a hen is sitting on a nest doesn’t necessarily mean she’s setting on eggs, though. She may still be thinking about the eggs she recently laid, or she may be hiding from some bully that’s higher in the peck order.

So while there are honest to goodness broodies and there are wanna be broodies, there is a test for true broodiness, however. Who knew?

Gently reach beneath the hen and remove any eggs you find. If she runs off in an hysterical snit, she’s not broody. (Just moody!) If she pecks your hand, puffs out her feathers, or growls, then she’s actually setting on her soon-to-be-hatched chicks.

The book I read on the subject said clucking is one sure sign of broodiness. It also said broody hens hiss like snakes when annoyed and disturbed. Pretty much telling anyone near to stay away.

Broodies’ growl is a harsh sound usually accompanied by feather-ruffling that indicates defensiveness and distrust which can also include a peck that means don’t mess with me.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve known my fair share of broody, clucking, huffy-puffy people. And if I’m truly honest, I’ve had my fair share of broody, clucking, huffy-puffy moments as well.

In the Bible there were many broodies, but the first one that comes to my mind is spear-chucking, feathers-ruffled, hissy-fit-throwing King Saul.

Man …

Multiple times the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel mentions Saul got angry, lost his temper, and threw a spear at either David or Jonathan’s head. Not to mention the episode where he had 85 priests killed at one time.

Saul puffed himself up and gave credit to himself even when the great deeds weren’t his accomplishments. He hissed, growled, and pecked at those around him who were a threat.

Seems to me Saul fit both broody categories. He sat on something worth protecting, his dynasty, but by the end of his reign it was all wishful thinking.

There are several techniques which can be used to discourage broody hens. In Saul’s case, God removed the kingdom from his line and gave it to David.

Next time we find ourselves being broody, how about we make sure what we are protecting is worth fighting for and not just a bad case of ruffled feathers?

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 Jonathan asked his father, “Why should David be killed? What wrong has he done?”  Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan, trying to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father really wanted to kill David. 1 Samuel 20:32-33 (CEV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — Seek God First

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Isaiahby Sandy Kirby Quandt

While David and his men ran from Saul, they heard that their enemy, the Philistines, were stealing grain from the town of Keilah. David wanted to do something about it. He had several choices. Head out immediately and attack those pesky Philistines, do nothing and hope they went away, or ask God what David should do.

Seems pretty simple sitting in a comfy chair reading the scriptures … of course David should seek God’s will before taking action. But do you think it was a simple decision for him to make?

How about us? Do we always inquire of God before we head out to do something?

I wish I could say, “Of course. All the time. Wouldn’t dream of taking a step without asking God first.”

That is what I should do, but that isn’t always what I do.

David inquired of God and God told him to go on to Keilah. God himself would help David and his men conquer the Philistines. So David and his small army went up against the large army of Philistines and slaughtered them with God’s help.

King Saul, on the other hand, saw the fact David had come out of hiding as an opportunity to kill him so he headed to Keilah to do just that.

But Saul didn’t check to see what God wanted him to do. Saul’s hatred for David spiked to such an intensity he was blinded to anything else. He may have even thought God was giving David over to Saul.

I guess we can allow our ambition, passion, hatred, drive to push us to do things we think God may be giving us the go-ahead for, when in actuality, that isn’t the case.

Saul knew God had chosen David over him. The prophet Samuel told Saul God had removed the kingdom from him and his line. Surely, Saul didn’t think God would be on board with Saul murdering David.

Before we jump into things, shouldn’t we ask some questions first? Is this something God wants us to do? Is it something that lines up with what we know of who God is? Are we sure of our motives for wanting to do this? Are we fooling ourselves God would approve because we want it so badly?

I know from my own experiences we can want something so bad sometimes, we convince ourselves it has to be from God. Or it has to be what he wants us to do. I’m finding those are the times we need to go to godly people whose opinions we know are grounded in the Word of God and seek their counsel.

Does anyone else struggle with going to God first before acting?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the LORD, “Should I go and attack them?”

“Yes, go and save Keilah,” the LORD told him.

But David’s men said, “We’re afraid even here in Judah. We certainly don’t want to go to Keilah to fight the whole Philistine army!”

So David asked the LORD again, and again the LORD replied, “Go down to Keilah, for I will help you conquer the Philistines.”

So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him.

Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. “Good!” he exclaimed. “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” 1 Samuel 23:1-7 (NLT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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