The LORD, your defender

Father, I thank you for Your Word, that is life and truth. May You give us understanding and revelation as we read and share it today In Jesus Name.

Today's lead Word is from 1 Samuel 23:14 NKJV.

"And David stayed strongholds in the wilderness, and remained in the mountains in the wilderness of Ziph.

Saul sought him everyday, but God did not deliver him into his hand."

Amen.

To provide context to our lead Scripture, Saul was the anointed king of Israel until he disobeyed God which caused God to anoint another king, David, to replace him. The LORD's anointing of David as king by a prophet named Samuel, gave David favour before God and men. The anointing on David's life also enabled him to kill Goliath, a giant in stature that was troubling God's people at the time. This victory made David popular among the people which made king Saul extremely resentful of David seeking to kill him.

When you look at David's life, one could argue that he probably had less problems in his life before he was anointed by God through Samuel to become king of Israel. From the outside, it may be very difficult to believe that David was blessed and anointed by God. He was constantly in battles, living in caves as a hideout, constantly on the run and fleeing from Saul and his enemies. Despite all the trials and adversity, David did not lose heart and the LORD faithfully did not deliver him into the hands of his enemies as seen in today's lead Scripture. Sometimes when trials, adversity, opposition and bad reports arrive, one may be tempted to wonder God's presence in the midst of all the trials.

Friend, the presence of trials and adversity is not the absence of God in your life.

David slept in caves probably hungry and sleep deprived at times but that did not mean that God did not love him. I believe David had a revelation of God's love for him that was not dependent on his circumstances at the time. Philippians 1: 6 reminds us that everything that started with God in our life shall be completed by Him and it states, "I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. As a result, God continually created ways of escape for David until he became king. God also protected his family which can be seen in 1 Samuel 22:3 in the new city with the king of Moab that David secured for his father and siblings by God's mercy.

It is also important to note that David had a personal relationship with God. The LORD referred to David "...as a man after His own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14). Sometimes before battle, David would inquire of God to find out whether his enemies would prevail against him or not. This shows us the importance of not leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) and always praying and asking God for His direction, intervention before we make decisions and in every situation we face.

I pray that David's story encourages everyone that's reading this post through every storm and adversity. David had to wear the priest's ephod to be able to hear God but because of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, a believer under the new covenant is able to hear God for oneself (John 10:27) with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). May you always remember that God is with you always as His child. When the Bible says no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17), it is the established truth of God's Word that must stand and God will surely see it come to pass in your life In Jesus Name. Just like David, may you continue to seek God in prayer. I also ask the Father to give each one of us the grace to read His Word, lean on Him and not on our own understanding In Jesus' Name.

I'll end with Jesus' Words in John 10:27-30

27"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

28"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

29"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

30. "I and My Father are one."

Hallelujah, Amen.

If you would like to know this God who will never leave nor forsake you, who loves you with an everlasting love before you ever loved Him and has given you eternal life through the faith of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ - who is also your great High Priest, I invite you to make this confession, "I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour today and forever."

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17). To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

As a new believer, I urge you to let your Pastor know that you took the confession of faith or if you don't have one, become a part of a church. I also encourage you to get water baptised as soon as possible and get yourself a physical copy of the Bible or download the Bible app on your mobile in case you don't already own one! If you have taken the confession of faith and would also like a physical copy of the Bible, please send us an email at info@bibleversionoflife.com with your address. We would love to hear your story. GOD BLESS.