1 Samuel 26:25 “Then Saul said to David, ‘Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.’ So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.”

FINAL WORDS

How many times have you heard of people speaking harshly to each other just before one of them dies?  The survivor almost always has regrets of their last encounter.  They wish they had a chance to correct their last words.  But…it’s done.

David and Saul did not know that this encounter would be their last.  Saul had been pursuing David for months trying to kill him.  Here, at last, is the final conversation between the two.  Saul finally relents to chasing David, after hearing David’s voice and seeing how he spared his life again.  They part with Saul’s final words of blessing.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children can get mad and say things they really don’t mean at the time.  Remember the movie “Home Alone”?  Kevin gets in trouble and says he wishes he didn’t have a family.  Poof!  The next morning they are all gone, or so he thought.

This passage today is right before David and Jonathan die in battle.  David did not know that was going to happen.  Neither did Saul.  But they left each other this final time with kind words, not angry.  Our children need to see that their words can carry a lot of guilt, if spoken in haste and anger.

Who have you hurt lately with unkind or hurtful words?  Do you need to make that right, before it’s too late?  Better yet, who has hurt you with unkind words?  Forgive them, and then let them know it.  Don’t let your feelings keep you from the peace that comes from forgiveness.

Pray for those who have hurt you.  It’s really hard to be mad at someone you are praying for.  The Lord will quicken your spirit towards forgiveness very quickly.

Choose your words carefully.  Think before saying what is on the tip of your tongue.  Words are like toothpaste.  Once they are out, it’s not easy to get them back.

Psalm 63:6 “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,”

SWEET DREAMS

Do you have trouble going to sleep?  A lot of people do.  Some take sleep aids or have machines that make noise to help them drift off to sleep quickly.  But have you ever tried reciting Scripture?  To do that you have to memorize some passages, but I have found if I have trouble going to sleep that I can start quoting verses (in my head, of course) and can almost always go to sleep.

Why is that?  Because God’s Word brings peace of mind.  God’s Word allows you to rest in Him.  And if you are at peace with God, you normally can sleep pretty well.  You may still need to take your sleep aid or have that machine, but I can promise you that the Word of God will bring you rest.

TEACHING MOMENT

The next time little Johnny or Susie can’t go to sleep why not try that.  Read the Word to them.  Start helping them memorize some passages of Scripture so they can quote it to themselves.  If they wake up from a bad dream, take them to the Word.  David used it.  So can you.

There is no more important gift we can give our children than the gift of knowing God’s Word.  It will take them through their lives, strengthening them in hard times.  It can bring them comfort when they are hurting. It can give them wisdom when they are searching for answers.  Start now, if you haven’t already done so.

How about you?  Are you hiding God’s Word in your heart?  Are you meditating on God’s Word during the “night watch”?  What is bringing you comfort and peace?  Won’t you allow the Lord of Peace to give you that peace that passes all understanding?

Oh Lord, bring Your Word to my mind as I lay in my bed each night.  Let it fill my mind so that I can rest in You.

1 Samuel 24:10 “Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’”

PATIENCE

I am not sure I could have done what David did.  Saul was relentlessly pursuing David to kill him. If given the opportunity to kill David, Saul would have not blinked an eye.  He saw David as a threat to his throne, so he wanted him dead and gone.

Now, here in this cave, with the support of his men, David has the chance to stop running and claim what God had already promised him – the throne of Israel.  How tempting is that?  Surely, the Lord had provided this opportunity.  Right?  Wrong!

TEACHING MOMENT

Your children will be faced with many life and death choices. Now, I don’t mean that literally.  But every choice they make in life is a matter of spiritual life and death, beginning with the choice to receive the Lord Jesus as Savior.  Every other decision they make is built on that one.  What will please the Master?

David had to make a quick decision.  If he didn’t, one of his men would have probably slain Saul for David.  But David, I’m sure, consulted the Lord in that cave and was reminded that only God establishes kings and kingdoms.  God would place David on the throne when it was time. God wasn’t through preparing David for the throne.

Children want to make quick decisions.  We need to slow them down sometimes and let those choices marinate for a while.  We need to teach them to ask the Lord what will give Him honor and then do that, no matter how crazy it seems.

Are you seeking the Lord in your decisions daily?  Are you asking Him to help you make not only the right choice, but also the godly choice.  David could have killed Saul in that cave and no one would have objected (well maybe Saul, lol).  Even Saul’s son, Jonathan would have approved.  But David did the godly thing.  He let God’s anointed leave unharmed.

Will you make the godly choice today?  Will you do what God wants, even if others think you should make another choice?  God will give you the peace in the midst of the decision making process to guide you.

Trust Him – not your gut.

1 Samuel 23:28 “So Saul returned from pursuing David and went to meet the Philistines; therefore they called that place the Rock of Escape.”

NO ESCAPE?

David was trapped!  Saul’s army was surrounding him in the wilderness of Maon.  He was sure to be captured and killed.  Finally, Saul would catch his man.  But….God.

God, yes God, orchestrated a Philistine attack to draw Saul away, allowing David to escape.  Don’t ever think there is no escape. If you are in God’s will and depending on Him, He will deliver.  It may not be in the way you thought, but He will come through.  I bet David never thought the Philistines would deliver him from death.

TEACHING MOMENT

This would be a great acting out story for your kids.  Get some toy soldiers and build some hills. Study the chapter and some background information of that area.  Map out what was going on.  Let your children see just how hopeless it appeared for David.

Our children need to understand that hopelessness in the eyes of men does not equal the same thing to God.  He is hope.  He brings hope.  He gives hope.  We don’t hope in things or circumstances.  We hope in Him.

Where is your hope placed today?  In whom do you hope?  I pray you are hoping in the God of Hope, because if you hope in anything else, you are sure to be disappointed.  Look to Him who never sees anything or anyone as hopeless.

Let your children hope, not in you, but the Christ who lives in you.  Let them see you hoping in Him, not in your job or family.  We have to show our children that hope is not something. It is Someone.

Will you allow hope to flood your spirit today through the presence of the Holy Spirit of God?  Will you pour that hope out on others?  God wants to use you to give hope to others.  Be a fountain of hope today!

1 Samuel 22:14 “Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, ‘And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king’s son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?’” 

KNOWN FOR GOOD

Ahimelech is in a tough spot.  He has been summoned before King Saul and accused of treason with David, who had fled from the king’s presence because he was trying to kill him.  Ahimelech was an innocent bystander in this saga.  All he knew was that David was highly respected, a commander in Saul’s army and the king’s son-in-law.  Why was Saul accusing him?

David had built his reputation as a respected man.  People all over the nation knew his name.  When David’s name was mentioned they only thought good things.  No one would have ever suspected David of treason.  The lesson here is your name means something.

TEACHING MOMENT

What a great story to share with your children.  The next time they do something that could possibly bring them public shame (stealing, lying) share this story.  Our children need to know how important having a good name is.  It could actually save their life one day.

If we are known for good, rather than evil, we can have a stronger influence on others also.  Who wants to listen to a known liar?  No one.  Who wants to trust someone who they know steals?  No one.  Teach your children the importance of a good reputation, not for themselves, but for the Lord.  We represent Him as believers.

Are you representing the Lord with your reputation?  Do people hear your name and think only good things?  Does your name bring a smile or a frown on the face of others?  Do your children hide the fact they are your children or wear your name proudly?

What are you doing today to build up the name of Jesus?  If you are a believer, do nothing to bring shame on His name.  Let all who know you as a Christian know that you stand for truth and honesty.  Let them see pure joy and love in your countenance.

Allow the Lord to shine through you today.  Allow Him to be your mouth, eyes and ears today so that all you do brings Him honor.

1 Samuel 19:13 “Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.” 

THE ACORN DOESN’T FALL FROM THE TREE

This story of how David escaped Saul’s attempt to kill him in his own home has always intrigued me.  Why did David and Michal have a “household idol” in their house?  Why did David, the man who was after God’s own heart, allow this?  It seems this was a large idol, probably something like a bust of a person.  It was big enough to put into the bed and cover up in the attempt to fool Saul’s men.

It was common for Israelite women to have these idols.  So, here is Michal, the king’s daughter, deceiving her father who was trying to kill her husband.  I wonder where she learned such deception?  Hmmmm?  She must have seen him doing similar deceptive things.  She was worshipping this idol in her home, which is the ultimate form of deception, the deception of ourselves.

TEACHING MOMENT

Children will follow our lead most of the time.  I can still remember my son mimicking me when he was little.  That was cute then, but it made me think very hard about the things I said and the things I did.  Did I want him mimicking everything I did?

What are you modeling for your kids today?  Are there deceptive idols in your home that are influencing your children?  What has become the center point of your family?  If it is anything except the Lord Jesus, it is an idol.  I am not going to name things.  You can figure that out all by yourself.

Are you sold out to the one true God?  Obviously, Michal wasn’t.  That idol had no place in the home.  God only has room for one God in your life – HIM!  All other gods must go!  They are false anyway, with no power and no authority.

Will you ask the Lord today to reveal all those things that are placed like idols in your life?  As He reveals them, deal with them.  Don’t let ANYTHING divert your full attention towards God.  Remember, your little ones are watching.

Father, thank you for being my All.  Thank you for being my Everything.  Show me those things that distract me and give me the courage to get rid of them today.

1 Samuel 17:40 “He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.”

FIVE SMOOTH STONES

The question is often asked, “Why did David choose five stones?”  The answer is quite simple.  He wanted to be loaded for action.  David was a shepherd and was skilled in the use of the sling.  He had probably killed animals that attacked his father’s sheep using that sling and some stones.  But a giant?  One stone?  Even if he did kill him with the one stone, what were the chances that the rest of the Philistines would attack anyway?

There is also the theory that Goliath had four brothers.  There are four other giants mentioned in Scripture, and they could have been related to Goliath.  We don’t know if they were there at the battle, but they could have been.  So, what can we learn from this story.

TEACHING MOMENT

Giants are everywhere.  I don’t mean real, live giants who stand nine feet tall.  I mean we face giants every day.  Your children need to know how to use the sling and the stones (not literally, lol).  Don’t you bet David’s father, Jesse, taught him to use that sling?  We have the responsibility to teach our children to defend themselves spiritually.

How is that done?  By discipling them in God’s Word.  We need to make them disciplemakers.  They should be able to face ANY battle with the confidence that their aim is true and they can fall any giant that crosses their path with His Word.  Are you preparing them with the Word?  Are you teaching them the skills necessary to bring down the giants?

Are you prepared?  Or do you run and hide when you face giants?  Do you fear and tremble like the Israelite army did in the presence of Goliath?  Even Saul was willing to allow a young David to go face the giant.  “Here, take my armor.  But I’m not going!”

As they say today, “Buck up, buttercup!”  It’s time to face the giants.  But don’t think you can do it without the power of God in your life.  You must rely on Him to fight for you, just like David told Goliath.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the confidence through your Son, Jesus Christ, to face any and all giants who may come my way.  You are the one who guides the stone.

1 Samuel 13:8 “Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

RATIONALIZE AND JUSTIFY

You really need to read chapters 13-15.  In fact, from the moment Samuel anointed Saul King of Israel, Saul started making excuses.  It seems he was always justifying or rationalizing why he did what he did.  This verse today is just another excuse.  “Samuel, you are late.  I had to do something.”

We, of course, know what follows.  God “rips” the kingdom from Saul and gives it to the boy David.  Israel’s first king may have been head and shoulders about all other men physically, but a young shepherd boy stood way above him in devotion to the Lord.

TEACHING MOMENT

Teaching our children to obey is hard, isn’t it?  A lot of the time they do not understand our rules or try to change them.  Sometimes they completely ignore them.  Then there are consequences, and the excuses begin.  We’ve all been there, right?  Little Johnny can give you a hundred reasons why he did what he did, knowing he was going against your rules.

Listen Mom and Dad!  You must hold true to your convictions.  Don’t give in to their excuses or tears.  Samuel held the king accountable for disobeying the Lord.  Saul offered the sacrifices, which wasn’t his responsibility.  He had no authority, even as king, to do that.  So, he had to suffer the consequence of losing the kingdom.

Before you judge Saul too quickly, think about how many times YOU have rationalized your actions.  “But Carl, I HAD to do something.”  Really?  God is a right on time God.  Sometimes He delays His actions just to see if we will be faithful and wait on Him.  He is not tempting us toward evil.  But He is testing our faithfulness.

Will you today allow the Father, through the Son, to remind you Who is in charge?  It “ain’t” you!  We are to wait and wait and wait until God shows up.  Then and only then will we see the hand of God working in our lives.

Let the Almighty God of the universe work as only He can work.  Wait on Him!  You will NOT be disappointed.

1 Samuel 12:22 “For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

HIS PEOPLE

In this chapter of 1 Samuel, Samuel is establishing Saul as the first king of Israel.  He lays out the conditions for God’s blessing on the king and the people.  But here in this verse we find a truth which holds true even today. It says, “the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name,…”

Did you catch that?  If we are His people He will never abandon us.  Back then it meant following the Lord and obeying His commands.  Today it means the same, but through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you can find God in many places or religions.  There is only one way to be His people – through Jesus.

TEACHING MOMENT

One of my greatest fears today is the bombardment on our children of the inclusiveness of all beliefs and lifestyles.  God has standards, even today.  We can’t let our children believe that basically anything goes, as long as you say you love God.  That is not it.  It’s not about loving God.  It’s about total surrender to Him and His Will for your life.

Our children need to see us totally surrendered to Him.  They need to hear us asking God for direction in the family decisions and then following whatever it is He says to do.  My children observed my wife and I seeking the Lord in our ministry moves. There were some opportunities that God allowed to enter our lives that, after praying and seeking His Will, were obvious not the right move for us.  Saying “no” to a great opportunity isn’t easy, but it’s right.

Do you believe God will NOT abandon you?  Do you hold that truth today?  He won’t if you are His.  If you aren’t, then there is only one thing you can do – turn to Him.  Allow Him to come in and be the source of your strength.  Let Him be your King.

Father, I know as your child You will never leave me or forsake me.  Remind me today to look to You for each step I take and then take it, no matter where it leads.

1 Samuel 8:7 “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’” 

NOT ME!

We don’t have a king in America, so it’s hard to comprehend that type of rule.  But the people of Israel wanted one.  They wanted someone to lead them, since Samuel’s sons were not following in their father’s footsteps.  The people wanted a leader like everyone else.

You probably are saying, “I would never do that Carl.  I love the Lord.  I would never replace Him.”  Are you sure about that?  They say you can determine your god by examining where you spend your time and money.  Where is yours spent?

TEACHING MOMENT

This lesson is all about loyalty.  Our children must learn from us what that is.  This is another one of those traits that is better caught than taught.  We must show them what loyalty looks like by being loyal ourselves.  How do we do that?

Loyalty can be seen in a number of ways, but for the purposes of this lesson, it is seen in how we talk about our God.  Everything we say and do should honor Him.  Our decisions should be weighed in relation to what He would have us do.  Our children need to see us doing that, and when they do, we need to explain our loyalty to God.

To whom are you loyal?  Are you loyal to your spouse?  Are you loyal to your employer?  Are you loyal to your friends?  Most importantly, are you loyal to God?  Do others know you are “sold out” to Him?  Can others see your loyalty?

Before you judge the Israelites for wanting a king, check out your own loyalty.  And remember that as you follow Him, others will reject you.  They, like the Israelites, are shunning you as much as they are the Lord.  That’s okay.  You just be loyal.

Father, help me to be loyal to the point that all who know me will know with Whom I stand and Who stands beside me.  You are faithful.  Help me to be more faithful.