Agape Devotions

Read 1 Samuel 30 - 31; Proverbs 19. Verse chosen for meditation: 1 Samuel 30:7-8 ESV  7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” Reflect David and Saul reacted very differently to crisis. What could be the reason or reasons for the difference in their approach and response? Is it true that one crisis was more severe than the other?  In the end, were the outcomes similar for the two men though their responses were different? Who do you think they considered for their actions? Self? Others? God? What can we learn about God? Relate David came back to his home city only to find it utterly destroyed by the Amalekites while he and his men were away. It was totally unexpected, so much so that they were thrown into complete disarray. ...

READ 1 SAMUEL 28, 29  TEXT FOR REFLECTION 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” 1 SAMUEL 28:16-19 6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and...

Read:1 Samuel 26-27; Proverbs 17 No devotional today (Sunday)

Read:1 Sam 24-25; Proverbs 16 Verses chosen for reflection:  1 Samuel 24:8 [8] Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. Reflect Saul had wanted David dead. Very much dead. However God had other plans. Whatever Saul used in his plans to destroy David, the super insecure king could not succeed.   Then it came to the point where after much stress, disappointments, betrayals and trouble, David had the opportunity to end it once and for all.  He had the opportunity to kill Saul and hence end the terrible pursuit. After all this evil king ordered Deog the Edomite to slay the priest Ahimelech and his family. Just because Ahimelech spoke up against him and refused to bow to his madness about David. What a man of courage and integrity! But perhaps much to the disappointment of those close to David and even for us readers; he did not d...

READ : 1 Sam.22-23/Proverbs 15:30-33 REFLECT : Chapter 22 opens with David leaving Gath and hiding in a cave in Adullam. David’s family heard that he was in the cave and his family came to him (22:1). Listen to verse 2. Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented came to David and he became commander over them, about 400 men. Imagine what David was going through. Would you go to him while he was living in this cave, running for his life? It is not a logical choice except for this: David was the anointed and they must follow the anointed. David led his followers and his parents to a stronghold in Moab. But a prophet came to David and told him to return to Judah and not remain in the stronghold (22:5). The anointed could not stay where it was safe. God sent David back into the danger where Saul was looking for him. Saul continued to be pictured as completely unhinged at this point. He declared that all of his servants had conspired against hi...

READ : 1 Samuel 20-21 / Proverbs 15:1-29 Verse chosen for meditation: 1 Samuel 20:32-34 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. REFLECT In this chapter, David felt death’s door was near, trying to convince his good friend Jonathan that his father will not stop till he’s dead. Jonathan seemed caught in between and reserved the possibility that King Saul was not as unhinged as David made him out to be. David then proposed a plan to reveal Saul’s true intent, which involved himself missing a feast he was expected to attend. Jonathan promised disclosure to David, helping him escape if he discerned evil intent from his father. During the...

  READ 1 Sam 18-19, Pr 14 Verses Chosen for Reflection: “The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬ REFLECT King Saul rebelled against the Lord so many times and the Lord had rejected him as a King. He disobeyed God and acted according to his own will and flesh (as we have seen many times in the previous chapters). Most importantly God had left Saul and the evil spirits took this opportunity to influence him to do wicked things to inflict harm on an innocent man (David). So his heart was full of envy and jealousy as David became more successful and garnered respect and support from the people. Saul became ever more ...