Thursday,
April 21, 2016 Piedra Buena, Patagonia
Scripture
reading: 1 Sam 24 Psalm 57, 58 1 Chron
8 Matt 7
S=Scripture O=Observation
A=Application P=Prayer SOAP for the soul.
S. 1 Sam 24:6 David speaks,
“The LORD forbid that I should do this thing
to my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing
he is the anointed of the LORD."
Vs 19-21
Saul speaks “...if a man finds his enemy,
will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good
for what you have done to me this day. And now I know indeed that you
shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in
your hand.” NKJV
O. David will not allow his men to harm
Saul, although Saul has 3,000 men out seeking his life. He refuses to
rise against “the Lord’s anointed”. However, he sneaks up and cuts off
the corner of Saul’s robe... and afterward feels remorse for even having done
that. When Saul sees the true heart of David... he knows that David has
no intention of ever harming him. And he verbally admits that David will
soon be the new king. David is aware that King Saul is a man driven by
jealousy into terrible acts of violence and is out seeking to kill him, yet he refuses
to retaliate with violence. In spite of all the evil Saul has done, David
sees Saul as “the Lord’s anointed”.
A. I was serving as assistant pastor in
Orangevale. A couple, who apparently had “run the church” for years and
frightened off several former pastors, rose up against our Pastor Mel
Woods. Pastor Woods wasn’t perfect, but he was a loving, caring
pastor. At the peak of the trouble this couple called for a church board
meeting. My office was right next door. Pastor asked me to listen and
to pray for him. I heard as this couple raised up many unsupported
accusations against Pastor Woods. Each time they would stop, Brother
Woods would say calmly, “Is that all?” They would answer, “No that is not
all!” and start out again with an ugly attitude. Finally, when they had
nothing more to say, Pastor Woods turned to an elder who he knew was a good
man, “Brother Meriweather, what do you think?” “I’m with you, Pastor.”
Pastor Woods did not try to defend himself. He just asked each of the board
members for their opinion. All stood with their pastor. This couple rose
in a fury and left the church, but they contacted many people and convinced
over 30 of them to leave the church including a beautiful new family that had
recently given their hearts to Christ. The following week we had our
highest attendance and the church continued to grow rapidly. Many years
later the woman that rose against the Pastor Woods, called from her sick bed
and asked for him to come. She thought she was dying and wanted to ask
forgiveness for rising against “God’s anointed.”
P. Lord, I know that Your
“anointed” servants are all imperfect men and women. Sometimes they fall
into sin and have to be confronted. Still, please help me to never have
to rise against one of Your “anointed.” Yes, Lord, I know that sometimes
Your “anointed” ones use this high honor to rise above others. Saul had
become a madman, but You have left David’s story, who refused to lift a hand
against Saul, for me to read and learn ... for David is one of my godly
mentors. Amen.
Ralph
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