DAVID, A MAN ON THE RUN

Hey!  We are starting off with a new beginning knowing Christ came to save us from our sinful lives. Let us poke our noses back to a story way before Jesus, to two kings early in the history of Israel, Saul and David.


First, some personal information.  Both men had been chosen as a king of Israel, but Saul was reluctantly chosen by God to be king while David, still a lad, was growing up.  David served Saul, both in his army and as Saul's private musician in his court to help keep Saul calm. Saul was apt to become overly zealous and, at first, David seemed to calm him out of his moodiness.


But, what David and others did not understand, was Saul was jealous of David himself!  David's skill as a soldier and his fine good looks had people singing about him in the streets and in their homes.  Saul heard of this and knew people preferred David, not him. "Saul can kill his thousands, but David his ten-thousands!" The voices rang out and cheering followed. Yet, Saul seethed more and more with hatred and wanted David dead.  He made his own attempts at killing David, but David did not die.  No!  But he did take his own entire entourage and  beat it to the hills, where he hid for years, never falling far from the admiration of the people.


Although neither man was perfect, David did trust in God and when he did sin he was bent with sorrow and begged forgiveness from God.  Saul had lost touch with God altogether and although David had married Saul's daughter, Saul commanded David be killed.  Therefore, David lived much of his early years  in hiding with those of the army who were still faithful to him, his wives and friends. 


Although David had opportunities to kill Saul, he did not.  David only let Saul know what harm to Saul he might have done. 


And at times, David was lonely for his  lost companions and the times of compatibility with the king when Saul was David's friend.  He missed, too, the company of others when in prayer and during the sacrifices in the temple.


So, David's prayer life took the form of psalms, which he then could sing.  In Psalm 141, David prays, "May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."  He went on to ask God to "set a guard over" his mouth, as he was quick to react over criticism.


In my study bible, it suggests the theme of Psalm 141 is this:  "A prayer for God's protection and wisdom in accepting criticism.  Be open to criticism--God may be speaking through others." (An interesting thought, right?)


It also reminds me that we "open our mouths approximately 700 times a day to speak.  David asked God to help keep him from speaking evil--even if we undergo persecution!   Jesus himself, much later, was silent before His accusers. (Mt. 26:63)  Knowing the power of the tongue, we would do well to ask God to guard what we say so that our words will bring honor to his name."


I am going to try to do as David did and ask God to guard my thinking and my words, and ask that I might be changed on the inside to better obey.  Even so, I may screw up.  David did, later; yet
he is one of my favorite people  in Biblical History.


Oh, to be like David!  But better to say, "Oh, to be like Jesus!"


Jo of MN...Thanks, Jesus!  You're my man...and my God!