God's humor in stopping a killer king

I often feel like irrational behavior cannot be stopped. But irrational behavior can be stopped! Sometimes, the best way to stop it is comically. We would be wise in asking how we can pray for a humorous stop to irrational behavior.

As I have been reading, 1 Samuel 18 and 19, I noticed that King Saul's irrational behavior just kept spiraling. It started with jealousy then progressed to fear that kept escalating. At first he threw spears at David, then King Saul tried to use the Philistines, his servants, his son, his daughter, more spear throwing, and more Philistine battles to get David killed. To no avail King Saul was out of control.

Then King Saul decided to send messengers to kill David. But God put a stop to their journey in the most unusual way. God allowed them to encounter a company of prophets. As they encountered prophets of God, suddenly, this band of killer messengers started prophesying. Imagine Saul getting word that his killer messengers were now praising, preaching, and praying instead of killing David!

So Saul sends a second band, but they also encounter the prophets and start prophesying. At this point you would think Saul would stop to question why, but not so. 

He sends a third band of messengers only to have them start prophesying, too. So what is a mad King to do but go himself? I imagine King Saul's heart attitude was "if you want a job done you just got to do it yourself!" 

Saul was so bent on his rage against David, he just knew the company of prophets were no problem for him. I visualize him moving through a wooded area only to enter the space where his band of prophesying messengers were humbled before God and the company of prophets ready to whip them all into action, but... What does he do when he encounters the prophets? He takes off his royal robes and starts prophesying, too. Would be killer becomes prophet!

By definition a prophet or to prophesy is someone who speaks by the inspiration of God. It is NOT about fortune telling. It is about praising, preaching, or praying under God's inspiration. 

We are not told what they said that day. But we do know that Saul was bent on killing David, BUT GOD DID NOT ALLOW IT. Instead God stopped King Saul's men and him in their tracks. God caused a humbling moment and caused them to take off their royal robes and surrender to God's inspiration in praise, preaching or prayer. What a powerful moment visualizing God's intervention and humor! 

This scene makes me laugh. Chapter 19 ends with a sarcastic question, "Is Saul among the prophets?" 

When I read true stories like this one and consider God's humor, it gives me greater insight into how to pray for those that serve as enemies. Why not pray the LORD thwart their efforts by turning them into prophets... even if it only lasts for a moment it can thwart their plans and allow the one under attack to flee safely.

I love that God is humorous! Don't you!

How far am I will to walk to serve my parent or my God?

How far am I willing to walk to serve the living God? Will I proclaim the truth even after a long journey? Will I remain steadfast even when those I am trying to help give me what I don’t need or what hasn’t been tested? Will I fight the good fight even when the enemy taunts daily the people of God? 

These are a few of the questions the LORD put to me recently as I studied David and Goliath’s battle. It was one of those mornings where I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and decided around 4:00 am to go ahead and get up because sleep was elusive. I had a very deep time with the LORD as I studied this battle and by 6:00 am I decided to take a nap until 7:00 am before I should get up to take care of things before an 8:30 am meeting. I went into the kitchen to make Greg’s famous eggs in the air fryer. He just discovered this method of frying an egg and I wanted him to show me. We set it up and I went to get ready while they cooked. When I came back into the kitchen the air fryer had tripped the fuse which turned off the refrigerator and probably a few other things. Greg set out to fix this. 

Then the fire alarms went off and would not stop. Apparently, the toaster downstairs burnt the toast. At this point, our stress levels were heightened. My goal for the morning was to take it slow and relax as I focused on quiet work because I was fasting for a shot in my spine to alleviate symptoms of spinal stenosis. The morning was anything but peaceful. I finally sat down after texting my boss three times to say I needed to delay our meeting when the phone rang. It was Mom. She was obviously having a hard time breathing. She needed me. The worker did not show up and Papa needed care. She tried, but it was too much. Without thinking I walked into the room and said, “I am about to get in a meeting.” Mom immediately felt attacked. She got defensive and then before I knew it we were in a fight. It was awful and honestly looking back stupidly funny. Once I sucked in my stupidity and did somewhat of a moment of let's get it together and remember your heart is good and so is mine, I set about helping Papa. As I helped Papa, the need to protect him and bless him immediately took over my heart and peace covered me. I knew how to handle that process, but when it comes to my mom being stressed I lost it pretty quickly. I am ashamed to say that I am not as quick to remember my role in serving. 

As I reflected on this moment, it occurred to me that I don’t have to walk six hours like David to do what the LORD asks of me. I only need to walk down a flight of stairs. But sometimes it is so hard to do the LORD’s will. As I studied David’s battle with Goliath I realized that David had to get up very early in the middle of the night to go take food for his brothers to be at the battle line at the start of the day. I looked it up. It is 30.7 km from Bethlehem to the Valley of Elah where the battle took place. David had to walk that distance which would take approximately six hours by foot. How far have you traveled to do an errand for your parent, your siblings, or a family member? 

David immediately went to where his brothers were on the battlefront and when he saw that Goliath was taunting the living God of Israel he was willing to speak up about it. Word got back to his older brother Eliab and Eliab actually called David evil for saying, “Who is this that defies the living God of Israel?” What David said was holy and righteous, but Eliab had a different perspective about his little brother. He assumed he was out for evil and just out to see the battle. David responded with a typical sibling whine, “What did I do now?” 

As if that was not enough, King Saul tried to put on David his own armor. Now, we must remember that we are told that Saul stands a full head taller than all of the people in the land. This man was not small and David was but a youth. Anyone in their right mind would know that his armor would not fit and would not be wise to use in a battle. King Saul should have had that armor on and stood in the front line to fight for his people, but instead, he was somewhere removed enough to offer his armor to a young boy. I love David’s response, “I cannot use this because it is not tested!” David was wise enough to know that in a battle you need to be comfortable with what you take to the battlefront. You cannot wear someone else’s armor without knowing how your body will respond to it. A wise person slows down and remembers what has been effective in the past. 

David faced so much in that morning, but David kept his eyes on what mattered. He knew that the living God of Israel was where victory happened. He alone was the one who would deliver them. He was willing to walk a long journey to honor his dad and brothers, but even more so the living the God of Israel. He was willing to speak up when everyone else cowered. He was willing to press in even when his brother called him evil. He was willing to say, “No!” when King Saul tried to dress him in his armor. David knew that the battle belonged to the living God. He alone gave victory. He trusted God above all else. He was willing to risk his life and take on a giant because his belief in God’s presence and victory had proven faithful in the past. 

I had to inhale and exhale for a moment as I pondered the story. Sometimes, I think it is hard to walk down a flight of stairs to honor my parents. I focus on circumstances like a blown fuse, fire alarm, body stress, emotional words, etc. instead of the living God and His presence. 

I have a lot to learn from David. I am enjoying studying David because I truly see someone who is in the middle of all the stuff of life really trying to honor God just like me. He was a kid seeking to honor his dad, a child of God seeking to fight for His honor, a younger sibling putting up with big brothers, and a citizen trying to honor his king. I realize that my battle is not against a giant like Goliath, but I do feel the pressure and frustration of circumstances and need the reminder that the living God is present. He delivers. He gives victory. He saves. Even when a morning routine is not what you expected. He is present. I want David’s strength of belief to be evident in me even when I only have to walk down a flight of stairs to serve. Don’t you!

Yes, LORD! Amen!

Heaven's Hospitality: 1 Samuel 25 Nabal, Abigail & David

Sometimes, when we are in a situation where we feel oppressed and not important we can discover that it is in the moments that God can most use us. In today's Bible story, we will discover that two oppressed people: a servant and a wife end up saving their entire clan and reminding the man of God, God's chosen path for him. As you listen to the story of Nabal, Abigail, and David unfold examine the outcomes of their hospitality and how it impacted those around them. The constrasts in this story are quite profound. Let me know what you discover! Shalom y'all!

Abigail - an Instrument of Peace

"God has nothing to do with it!" 

I thought, "Here we go again!" Sometimes, sitting at a family table can be anything but peaceful. I remember as a young person getting all knotted up inside while trying to figure out how to bring peace, but also stand up to my uncle's aggressive logic about God, Christianity, and well me as a follower of Christ. I find myself wondering at times, What does an instrument of peace look like? As I study Abigail, I see some character qualities that birth actions worth noting. Her story is short and can be read in 1 Samuel 25. It includes a surly, foolish, drinking husband and a soon to be passionate king that defends his men's rights and a courageous servant not afraid to defend goodness to protect his people. Upon finding out that Nabal rejected the traditional gift of hospitality during sheep sheering to the shepherds who kept the sheep safe, David decided to kill all of Nabal's men for such a blatant disrespect of him and his men. Abigail, Nabal's intelligent and beautiful wife, provides us with an example of a woman that acts as a peacemaker. Abigail acted swiftly, generously, and humbly as she gathered supplies and greeted David with a bow. When she spoke, Abigail spoke of God's presence and goodness. She spoke life to David reminding him of where he had been and what he had done for the LORD. Abigail spoke life by speaking truths that came as reminders that showed the best of what had been and what will be. She acknowledged clearly the mistakes made and asked for pardon for her husband's error. She spoke with confidence in what she knew about God and David. All of this came from a heart to serve and protect. 

So, again I ask, What makes someone an instrument of peace? The person is swift to respond to circumstances. Acknowledges both the good and bad in the circumstance. Brings God into the conversation and speaks of what God has done and will do. An instrument of peace speaks with confidence in what she knows. She speaks life into the person about who they are called to be and not be! Sometimes this is easier said than done. 

I know one day, as a older teen I spoke boldly to my uncle about my belief in God. He listened and ended up saying, "Now that is a Christian I will listen too!"  When I look back, I realize that it was my confidence to speak up about what I knew that earned me his respect. He never fought with me about God again and even allowed me to talk to him about God through the years. How might you be asked to live out as an instrument of peace today? Which character qualities of Abigail do you need to grow in by acting swiftly to live them out? Praying for a humble, servant heart that acts courageously! Will you join me?