An officer selected by kings and generals because of his bravery, not only to bear their armour, but also to stand by them in the time of danger. They were the adjutants of our modern armies (Judges 9:54; 1 Samuel 14:7; 16:21; 31:6).

What strikes me about this is the fact that Saul’s armor bearer became greatly afraid. This was a person, selected by the king or generals because of his bravery. This certainly doesn’t sound like the description of the man in 1 Samuel 31:4. He was not loyal, he was not brave and he certainly didn’t stand by his king in the time of danger. Unlike this armor bearer, Saul did once have a great armor bearer — David (1 Samuel 16:21). David walked with the LORD. He did not walk with Saul. He was focused on his heavenly King and LORD, not the earthly kings. David wore the armor of the LORD (Ephesians 6:10-18). Am I wearing the armor of the LORD? Am I the armor bearer of the LORD? Am I brave, loyal and always by His side? Often times, I put other priorities before Him. This is certainly evident by my quiet time schedule over the past few days.

Father, you know everything about me. You know everything I have every thought. LORD, I want to be changed from the inside out to work for you and your glory. Father, you know I struggle at work to be a good witness to others. Father, I really desire to know Your will in a deeper way. I want to be a good witness and I want to do Your will in everything I do — not just at church. Father, work a miracle in me and help me to become a better person that relies on Christ at the center of my life instead of my false idols. Father, I praise you, I thank you and I ask all of these things in Your Son’s holy precious name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

As I think about the decisions in my life, do I jump to conclusions too often? Am I quick to think that God did this or did that? Even know, as I look to help the church plant in Hutto, am I jumping too quickly to assume that God wants me to move right now? What if the LORD doesn’t want me to move locations until a year from now. I need to stop making the assumptions and go to the LORD for wisdom.

David seemed a bit put out by the fact that the Philistine lords did not want him to be a part of their army. It’s interesting because David knew that the LORD did not want him to take Saul’s life at this point. I wonder why he wanted to be a part of that army. If I picture the scenario of 1 Samuel 29:6-11, I imagine David looking somewhat offended by these statements. This is coming from a Hebrew who has just killed tens of thousands of Philistines. That had to be quite a sight to see this!

I thank the LORD that He has a plan for me. He has a path that He wants me to walk down. I am not completely sure of that path but I know that He will guide me daily so that I may walk in a way pleasing to Him and fulfilling His plan for me. I hope that I can only show a glimpse of Christ to others around me as I walk down this path. I want to return the glory to God in my day-to-day life, instead of showing my earthly false idols.

Once again, Saul teaches me character. He teaches me how not to act. In this passage, Saul summons Samuel because the LORD will not answer him. I start to think about the guarantee of salvation in the NT. I am digressing from the story here but it is wonderful to know that God always loves me and once I have accepted Christ as my personal savior, He will never leave me. That is incredibly reassuring.

The medium is very intriguing in this story. Does this passage give way for the validity of mediums and psychics? I don’t think it does at all. I think it gives validity to the fact that the LORD will allow miracles to happen for a precise reason. What I question then is why didn’t the LORD just give Saul this message? Why didn’t He tell Saul that he was not walking with God and that he would die on the next day. Why do it through a medium?

Something that strikes me suddenly is that, yesterday, when I believe the LORD gave me an answer to my prayer, I was quick to get excited about that answer. At no time did I pray that back to the LORD to make sure that we had a clear understanding. I have to make sure that I pray back to Him what I believe I heard. This ensures clear communication between us — no different than any other relationship. I wonder, however, if David was listening to the LORD at this time?

Luckily, God will provide for His children. He will protect them and He will give them everything they need. I am very thankful to have a God that loves me this same way.

And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. (1 Samuel 24:20 ESV)

Saul knew David was with the LORD and that nothing could stop yet. He even admitted that David will be king of the land someone and that Israel will be established through David. Yet, here he is — chasing after the same man. Am I that blind to my surroundings? Sin will blind every man, but the LORD can grant discernment and wisdom. If I go about my business not listening to the LORD, not hearing his direction, I will very well go the same way as Saul — following the words of earthly fools.

Honestly, I don’t think there is anything else I want to write about this passage. All of the sudden, the LORD gave me a clear thought that is an answer to a prayer I have had for quite some time. God is telling me that I should go to the Hutto church. This is bizarre. I haven’t heard Him this clearly in a long time. It is wonderful to hear this and to feel this kind of knowledge from the LORD.

Father God, thank you for your answers to prayers. Father, I have done nothing to deserve Your grace but You are amazing. Thank you, Father, for caring about me enough to talk to me and give me direction. Thank you for opening my eyes. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I give all of the praise to you. In Jesus Christ’s holy name, amen.

This story of Nabal reminds of Matthew 19:23-24:

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Nabal was very rich but he did not have a heart for the LORD. Luckily, his wife, Abigail, did not share his demeanor. She realized the importance of David with the LORD and went out to meet him. I am not sure if Abigail was spiritual at this point or not, but it strikes me that this woman has just left her husband (without telling him) to go and meet this other person, giving him quite a few belongings of her husband. That had to be a brave decision to have to make! When it comes to decisions in my life, am I brave like Abigail or am I cruel and evil like Nabal? Nabal means fool. I wonder how often I am a fool?

God is clear in His Word that I need to read the Word and meditate on it day and night. Why do I say that? As I do my quiet time, the LORD is telling me things that I do not even realize I am being told. I have to listen, be patient and be faithful to Him. Samuel was all of these things. He was obedient to the LORD. Nabal was not. Nabal was a fool. I have a choice in my daily living to follow God in righteousness or to follow the world in foolishness. Only through prayer and obedience to the LORD can I find myself on the correct side of the path.

Because of David’s heart and obedience to the LORD, Saul was impacted. He realized he was doing evil to David for no good reason. Verse 16 says that he “lifted up his voice and wept”. This would have to have been amazing to see. This man who has been chasing David, trying to kill him, has just lifted his voice to the LORD and is audibly crying. It appears to me that He has remorse for his sin and wants to be cleansed by the LORD.

I also think while that Saul recognized the errors of his ways, he also was willing to admit that he was “out of his league”. The LORD clearly had big plans for David. Saul goes so far as to say that he realizes David should be king of Israel (verse 20). That had to be hard for Saul to finally swallow his pride and be humble. While it was probably obvious to most around Saul and David, it couldn’t have been easy. I certainly struggle with that same thing. It is hard to be humble, especially at the office. I am very glad that David, Saul and others in the Bible have given me these examples to follow for my own good.

I am impressed by the fact that David and his men have been hiding from Saul and now they are going to go into this city and attack the Philistines. When you are hiding from someone or something, you don’t think about going into public places and starting a war — you know that people are going to talk about that. David was living for God’s will and His plan — not his own.

Again, David isn’t sure what to do next when he hears that Saul is coming to capture him at Keilah. He prays to the LORD and asks for instructions. The LORD tells him everything he needs to know so that David flees the city and lives in hiding in the wilderness. Do I listen to the LORD like David? He has protected me so many times but am I willing to listen to Him when times are good and bad?

The key take-away from this passage today is that prayer is the key to decisions in my life. Just like David, I have to take my questions and concerns to Him for guidance and direction. When the answer isn’t perfectly clear, maybe I am not listening hard enough (or quiet enough). I need to focus on Him and His Word for guidance.

Saul is an evil person. There is no two ways about it. He decides to kill Ahimilech and the other priests from Nob because they did not tell him about David. Now, why in the world would they think there was a problem between the two (Saul and David)? Saul is extremely jealous of David and will stop at nothing to get to him. This is interesting because I remember when Samuel appointed Saul king over Israel and thinking that this is what they wanted so now they have it. Again I am thinking that same thing — this is what they wanted, so now they have it. I wonder what the people around Saul thought of all this? The passage does make an interesting point in verse 17:

And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

Why wouldn’t these servants kill the priests? They knew it was wrong and they knew it was not justifiable. I wonder how many of them stayed with him and followed his leadership versus did their own thing and avoided him at all costs.