Victory in Christ

So often in Psalms we read words credited to David that show a humble heart. “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed.” (Psalms 65:1) David made his share of mistakes, but he knew where to find the only hope of forgiveness. “When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions.” (Psalms 65:3) The atonement is available to us, but it requires our turning away from that sin. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19) That cleansing power continues for Christians if we live our life by His pattern. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) 

Today’s reading: Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63

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Have you ever had an opportunity to get revenge on someone who had treated you very badly? Most of us would jump at that kind of opportunity. David again had a chance to kill Saul, but once again he did not harm the king. “And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Samuel 26:9) David made his share of mistakes in his life, but the love and respect he had for Jehovah God are evident in his responses to those mistakes.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 25-27

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Psalm 142 is said to be written by David when he was hiding from Saul in a cave. He felt like everyone had abandoned him. “Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.” (Psalm 142:4) But David knew His God was always there for him. “I cry to you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’” (Psalm 142:5) Paul reminds us that no matter what happens, God’s love toward us is there just like it was for David. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) 

Today’s reading: Psalms 56, 120, 140-142

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It is easy to let the material blessings of this world become the place we lay our trust. David reminds us that this should not be so. “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.” (Psalms 52:7-9) 

Today’s reading: Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, 52

King Saul and his men were chasing David in an attempt to kill him. Saul went into the cave where David was hiding but he never knew David was there. Instead of using this opportunity to harm the man who wanted to kill him, all David did was cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. I doubt any person who knew the situation would have blamed David if he had used this opportunity to kill Saul. Most would have considered it self defense, but David felt bad for just the small thing he did to Saul’s robe. “And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” (1 Samuel 24:5) Why did David feel so strongly about not harming Saul? “He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:6)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 21-24

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In the chapter we have as Psalm 59 are some of David’s writing about King Saul sending men out to watch David’s house in order to kill him. He describes this enemy and their plans of evil toward him. Mixed in with the descriptions of them are David’s prayer to God for help. His words show that no matter what happened, David knew that God was in control of everything. “But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.” (Psalms 59:8) He repeatedly calls out to his source of strength and protection. (Bolding added for emphasis) “O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.” (Psalms 59:9) “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” (Psalms 59:16)  “O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” (Psalms 59:17) David’s source of strength and protection is the same one that is available for us today!

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 18-20; Psalms 11,59

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In this section of scripture we see another instance of Saul’s insubordination. Saul had been commanded to destroy all of Amalek. Saul and his people instead decided to save some of the best animals for themselves. When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to say he had done as he was commanded. Samuel knew better. “And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” (1Samuel 15:14) Samuel let Saul know how God felt about his actions. “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1Samuel 15:22) We are not under the old Law so we are not required to offer animal sacrifices, but we are commanded to obey Him. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) 

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 15-17

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King Saul made some decisions that were against God’s commands. One instance of this was in 1 Samuel chapter 13 when Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifice. Samuel had not come by the time he was supposed to and Saul was afraid to wait any longer so he took matters into his own hand. Shortly after Saul offered the sacrifice Samuel arrived. “Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.” (1 Samuel 13:11-13) Saul assumed he could do it his own way and God would still be pleased. We cannot be like Saul and decide to do most of what God has commanded and expect Him to be pleased. We must study His word diligently and follow it completely.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 13-14

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Samuel gave good advice on how to live and we should strive to follow that same advice today. “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24) 

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 9-12

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Sometimes we think what we want is what we need. We see this from the Israelites in 1 Samuel chapter 8. “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1Samuel 8:6-7) It really troubled Samuel that they would not listen to him, but they had other reasons for wanting a king. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1Samuel 8:19-20) They wanted to be like other nations. Wanting to be like the world around us can get us on the wrong path. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 4-8

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