1 Sam 20-21; Ps 34; Matt 5;

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;
Ps. 34:19

In the story of David trying to deal with his father in law, Saul the king of Israel David goes to his friend Jonathan, Saul’s son, and asks him what to do? He says what I have done to your father that he wants to kill me. Jonathan says my father would never try to kill you. But, he did not know the heart of a king that had turned against God. In these few chapters David shows us the behavior of a man following those directives given in Matt 5, a thousand years before they were given. He has the attitude of the meek ”for they will inherit the earth.” He hungers and thirsts for righteousness, He is merciful and pure in heart, even thought he is a warrior with Saul he tries to be the peacemaker, and finally Jesus says Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We see all of these things in David and then in the end of the chapter Jesus says (Matt 5:43-45) "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” This was the attitude of David toward Saul who continually tried to kill him. Sometimes these things seem impossible but when I look at them in the life of others I am more ready to accept that with the help of the Holy Spirit I can make them true in me.

May this be the day God imparts in us (me) Meekness, a hunger and thirst for righteousness, mercy and purity of heart, the mind of a peacemaker, someone who excepts being persecuted because of righteousness, and most of all a person who loves our enemies and prays for those who persecute us, that you may be sons of our Father in heaven.

Pastor Jack

Next reading 1 Sam 22; Ps. 17, 35; Matt 6;