THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

1 Samuel 30:8

"Then David asked the Lord....."

1 Samuel 29

PROVIDENCE OF GOD

Have you ever made a decision or did something without praying and asking God first? I know I have.

You and I are not alone.

In 1 Samuel 27 we see David chooses to escape from King Saul by running tired, weary, fearful and discouraged to the Philistine enemy. He makes this decision without ever praying and asking the Lord for guidance or permission.

Because David has gone on his own plan and journey without seeking God he is totally out of God’s will.

In 1 Samuel 29 David is caught up in disguising the truth and his future plans with the Philistines.

But God is good and His mercies are new every morning.

Notice how the providence of God has the Philistines reject David from their army and David is providentcially kept from fighting on the battlefield with the Philistines against his own Israelite people.

APPLICATION:

Praise the Lord; God helps us avoid difficult situations. As we seek the Lord on a daily basis we can thank Jesus for all of our Providential Moments in our lives.

1 Samuel 30

SEEKING GOD FOR ENCOURAGEMENT AND RECEIVING THE

PROVIDENT HAND OF GOD

Have you ever been in a dark place in your life?

Where did you turn for your light and hope?

David chooses to turn to God for his encouragement. All of us need to recall and follow David’s actions. In verse six David encourages himself in the Lord.

What can we do to follow David’s example?

APPLICATION:

1. WORSHIP God instead of Worrying

2. Seek God First instead of Self

3. Choose God’s Character instead of worldly bad behavior

Once again, the providence of God is present in David’s life and the lives of his soldiers. Notice that the Amalekites destroy their city and take their entire families of women and children hostage but with the hand of God not one family member was killed. God spared the life of each family member. This is the provident hand of God saving again.

1 Samuel 31

CHOOSE LIFE

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Death is a tough subject and at times uncomfortable but let’s face it together.

Saul admits he is a sinner (1 Samuel 26:21)

Saul willingly chooses to be disobedient, destructive, self-centered, and jealous ending his relationship with God.

Proverbs 16:25 describes Saul

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

Saul chooses to commit suicide.

Suicide is not what God wants for us.

Deuteronomy 5:17; Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Saul was more concerned about his image as a dead man and the abuse of the enemy on his life than he was about his relationship with God.

This is very sad.

Remember what we studied about Saul’s actions in 1 Samuel 28?

Saul chose to connect with the witch of Endor right before the battle.

Satan had his hand in the events of Saul’s life.

Another example would be from the New Testament in the life of Judas.

In Matthew 27:3-5 the Scriptures tells us that Satan entered Judas and after he made the choice to turn against Jesus he committed suicide as well.

In John 8:44 the devil lies and is a murderer and loves to do evil.

When anyone begins to have suicidal thoughts they are being deceived and lied to by the devil who comes to kill, steal and destroy (John10:10)

Saul faced death the same way he faced life. He took matters in his own hands without asking and seeking God.

When we are dying we will respond to God the same way we do when we are living.

Saul did not have any peace or joy. The only way to maintain peace and joy is to live according to God’s instructions. In order to live in peace and joy we must strive to seek the Lord in His Word and prayer on a daily basis. Participating in worship and a community of Christian Bible believers will help you grow in your faith and encouragement as you share your faith with others.

How are you living your life today? Are you seeking the Lord on a daily basis?

Be encouraged. Today is a new day and you can begin a fresh and new way of seeking the Lord in prayer and Bible Study for everything in your life.

APPLICATION:

Today Lord, help me to live with You at the center of my life.

I want to live my life for You.

Change me Lord and help me to be the godly person you created me to be.