Daily Manna 02-Aug-2016

Topic: Safety is of the Lord 13

Reading: 1Sam 23:7-14

Scripture: And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. (1Sam 23:7)

Note: Saul had missed his moment with God. It was nobody’s fault. Disobedience as a result of overconfidence laced with arrogance due to some little victories that he won over the Philistines after his coronation as king of Israel, misled him into a steep trajectory of deception and destruction.

The price was hefty; he was rejected by God. Saul’s consistent stiffneckedness in attitude, refusing to submit his strong will to the authority of God in repentance, did nothing asking God for forgiveness and restoration, except fighting over his throne with all his might, resources, intelligence, connections and manpower. David became his main target. It was very easy finding the cause of his woes as the dancing women said it all in their lyrics. That was the pathetic diagnosis by Saul concerning his slipping throne. Samuel confirmed it after all during his passing judgment, that the throne had been given to someone after God’s own heart. Who else could that have been apart from David? After all the daily intimidation from Goliath, he fell down dead from just a single sling of David’s stone. He definitely must be the chosen one.

Saul had a weakness in whatever he hears irrespective of the source of information. The singing women that danced their way into the war reception party did not escape Saul’s anger for their thoughtless lyrics. Their singing had hit a raw nerve and it was no one else but the king who was the unfortunate victim. A benign song from women had set the palace of the king spiraling in confusion. Great heads and minds had started spinning possible solutions and strategies to win a war over the man who overcame the man they all feared; David. This must be no small fight.

Saul’s anger was no secret. He wasn’t the type who would quietly bemoan his disappointment, as he was quick to give the game away by publicly voicing his displeasure at what he suspected was a grand scheme to usurp his throne in favour of David. _”They have given David ten thousands, and given me one thousand.”_ The battle lines were clearly drawn and David was about to engage in the toughest fight ever in his life, battling for his survival at the hands of an outraged king.

Food for thought: Anger, mixed with a heavy dose of suspicion, can easily trigger an avalanche of unpredictable, bottled up emotions.

Declaration: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)

©Author: Rev Fred Aboe