“As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ‘Is this your voice, my son David?’ And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.” (1Samuel 24. 16)

Saul was jealous of David’s rising popularity and favor with God. He pursued him to kill him. But David told Saul he would not act the same way. He would spare Saul because Saul was still God’s anointed. He was not going to go down the “eye for an eye” path. David let God speak through him, instead of his humanness. He acknowledges this in his questioning response, “Is that your voice my son?” Saul knew David’s reaction and words were from God alone and it convicted Saul to the very core of his being.

Have you ever been the victim of malicious and untrue gossip? Has someone lashed out at you with hateful words? Most of us can answer “yes”. It seems that no matter what we do or say, it only adds fuel to the other person’s fire of jealousy or vindictiveness. How easy it is to instead shrink away and avoid conflict, or worse, retaliate and “fight fire with fire”. But both reactions only lead us down paths of unrighteousness, don’t they?

When we cower and shrink away, it sends the message that we are not confident in ourselves, and thus not confident in God who has promised we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). We weaken our witness. Cowering is not turning the other cheek; it is fading away from the next blow and admitting defeat when we are supposed to be claiming Christ as the victor of our lives.

On the other hand, those of us who are feistier want to come out swinging and “do unto others as they just did unto us”. Not exactly the Golden Rule. It only escalates the battle and leaves both people wounded.

David demonstrated the more excellent way. He was confident that God had his back. He recognized that Saul was also a man who belonged to God; he was just misguided because he had not kept in right relationship with God. Joyce Meyer is famous for saying, “hurting people hurt people”. Through God’s eyes, David saw how Saul was hurting. He let the sword of truth wield the blow to Saul’s spirit, rather than letting the metal sword in his sheath stab into Saul’s neck or chest. By relying on God’s perspective, David responded correctly – not out of the instinctual fight or flight reaction, but out of the stand-firm-and-be-confident-in-God-to-be-in-control stance.

When the arrows are slinging in your direction, don’t duck. And, please don’t try to catch them on your own and fling them back. Call on the blood of Christ to shield you, God’s eyes to give you vision inside that person’s motives, and the Holy Spirit to guide your tongue and your timing in response.

There is one last thing David’s actions can teach us. He confronted Saul alone in a cave, not in front of His armies, thus saving Saul embarrassment. He treated Saul with dignity while also telling him the error of his ways. Only God could have guided that conversation!

Next time someone hurts you, will you let Him guide yours? Will you let Him be your voice? You may just win over the other person’s soul to Christ, or if they are a Christian, help guide them back into relationship with the Lord. That is the true battle worth fighting.

Questions: What happened the last time you were in conflict with someone? Did you let God guide the situation? If not, do you think it would have turned out differently if you had? 

Isn’t it good to know that even when we don’t love with a perfect love, he does? God always nourishes what is right. He always applauds what is right. He has never done wrong, led one person to do wrong, or rejoiced when anyone did wrong. For he is love, and love “does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6, NASB).

God passes the test of 1 Corinthians 13:6. Well, he should; he drafted it.

So where does this leave us? Perhaps with a trio of reminders. When it comes to love:

Be careful.

Until love is stirred, let God’s love be enough for you. There are seasons when God allows us to feel the frailty of human love so we’ll appreciate the strength of his love. Didn’t he do this with David? Saul turned on him. Michal, his wife, betrayed him. Jonathan and Samuel were David’s friends, but they couldn’t follow him into the wilderness. Betrayal and circumstances left David alone. Alone with God. And, as David discovered, God was enough. David wrote these words in a desert: “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you … My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods” (Psalm 63:3, 5)

Be prayerful.

What if it’s too late? Specifically, what if you’re married to someone you don’t love—or who doesn’t love you? Many choose to leave. That may be the step you take. But if it is, take at least a thousand others first. And bathe every one of those steps in prayer. Love is a fruit of the Spirit. Ask God to help you love as he loves. “God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love” (Romams 5:5, CEV). Ask everyone you know to pray for you. Your friends. Your family. Your church leaders. Get your name on every prayer list available. And, most of all, pray for and, if possible, with your spouse. Ask the same God who raised the dead to resurrect the embers of your love.

Be grateful.

Be grateful for those who love you. Be grateful for those who have encouraged you to do what is right and applauded when you did. Do you have people like that in your world? If so, you are doubly blessed. Be grateful for them. And be grateful for your Father in heaven.

From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2004) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: How do you feel about the word “love” today?

Do you struggle with the darkness of depression and find yourself without hope? We are here. Talk to us.

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

On a whim, I stopped at a fast food restaurant to get a cold drink while dashing about with my to-do list of errands. The line of cars at the drive-through was six deep, so I parked to go inside instead.  I saw a dear friend of mine through the glass. She was bent over her computer, holding her right hand to her mouth, worry lines exaggerated on her forehead.  I waved to get her attention but she was too busy concentrating on what was on the screen to look up.

I leaned over the small landscaped shrubs and tapped the glass. No response. I went inside and stood in front of her, ready to say something jovial. Then I saw a tear run down her cheek, so I slid into the booth and placed my hand over her left one as it crunched a napkin. She jumped, then relief filled her face and she hugged me. “How did God know I’d need a good friend right now?” she whispered. On the screen was an email from her son with disturbing news.

In Psalm 10 David asked why God seemed so far away in times of trouble. I think if we are honest, that same question has crossed out thoughts as well. Why does God seem so far away? Back in the day, there used to be a bumper sticker that read something to the effect of “If you can’t feel God in your life, guess who moved?”

God’s love is constant, but our anger, our grief, and our doubts can push Him away from our thoughts. The negatives crowd out that small voice we know is not from our own brain waves.  Despair robs us of the closeness we once felt. Yet the Bible tells us God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

God is always there. Sometimes we just need to look up from our troubles to see Him. Maybe it will be in the form of a friend, a rainbow on a stormy day, the words to a hymn, or a passage of scripture.  Perhaps it will be a sudden calm that coats us like a protective shell. David learned that. His faith helped him to see God through his despair. He says later on in Psalm 10 -

“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear” (vs. 17).

God is a gentleman. He waits to be asked before entering into our situations. He also knows our hearts, and when we just may need someone we know to pull into a fast food restaurant on a whim and see us, unaware that she is about to become His instrument of peace.

Questions: If you looked up from your troubles right now, who would you see? Have you asked your Lord to come into your situation to comfort you and give you strength?

“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 1:8, KJV).

David probably spent most of his early life keeping sheep. He had many experiences in the wilderness and opportunities to know God. He had seen God work on his behalf protecting him and strengthening him. In this time of aloneness he had built his relationship with God. His knowledge of God’s ability surpassed his knowledge of the ability of anyone else therefore the awesomeness of God was something in his heart and not his head.

When David arrived at the place of battle he was amazed at the ignorance of Goliath and shocked by the fear of Israel. The defiance and strength of Goliath existed because he was empowered by the fear of Israel. Had Israel feared God more than Goliath they would not have had an enemy.  “The fear of man brings a snare: but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25, KJV)

To fear God is to reverence, accept and honor who He is. It is impossible to know who God is without intimacy. ‘Goliaths’ stand in the areas where God is not exalted and known. Our words and conversations will reveal who we are better acquainted with. It is interesting to note that in the conversations between David and the men there is no mention of God except from David.

The people had been had been listening to Goliath every morning and every evening. They chose the words of Goliath above the knowledge of God.  In so doing they had created a “high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” (2 Corinthians 10:5). T, KJV) The result of this was they became servants of Goliath even before the start of the battle. We are told they became dismayed and greatly afraid. (v. 11) If the voice of God is not louder to us than every other voice we will begin to serve those voices. It is important we keep His word before us and hear His voice.

When David ran towards Goliath he declared that this defeat would show the whole earth there was a God in Israel. When we take down the Goliaths everyone will know God is with us.

“the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Dan 11:32, KJV).

Questions: Are you facing a Goliath in your life right now? How are you handling it? Whose voice are you listening to?

Life gets complicated. Don’t go it alone. We have mentors who want to pray for you.

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1 & 2 ).

David’s affair with Bathsheba got her pregnant, and to cover up, he arranged for her husband to be killed. Then he hurriedly married Bathsheba. He thought he had covered up well until Nathan the prophet confronted him. How did David respond?

1. He confessed his sin. It wasn’t a flippant “I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time,” but a deep realization that he had sinned against the LORD! (2.Samuel 12:13) Sin is rebellion against God. Sin puts a wedge between us and God. Sin hurts His people.

2. David realized he didn’t deserve forgiveness. “You desire truth in the inner parts, but I’ve been a sinner from birth,” he said. (Psalm 51:5, 6, 10) Sin is a fundamental condition of our nature, not a temporary lapse into error. “Create in me a pure heart,” he cried.

3. David asked God to forgive him. On what grounds? “For your own name’s sake,” he prayed in Psalm 25:11 He counted on God’s character of mercy, unfailing love and compassion.

4. David moved on in hope. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…then will I teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you” (Psalm 51:10-13).
When we’ve sinned, we’re prone to think that, even though God forgives us, our life of service is finished. Our reputation is ruined. We’re a complete failure. Satan wants us to live in defeat, but God wants us to live in victory. He forgives us and gives us hope that we can rise above failure and make a new start.

Sometimes our greatest failure becomes our greatest opportunity for ministry. Is there a sin in your life that you need to confess to God and make right? Accept God’s forgiveness and let Him restore you.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen.

Questions: Is there a sin in your life that you need to confess to God and make right? What is the result of unconfessed sin?

Are you considering divorce? Do you need to talk  to someone?

“David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword” (1 Samuel 17:48; 51).

What was he thinking? David not only dared asking about Goliath but volunteered to fight him? No wonder why Eliab, David’s oldest brother got angry and asked him to return to his home duties: watching over the family’s sheep in the wilderness.

All odds were against David. Goliath was an over nine feet tall giant who has been a warrior from his youth as stated by King Saul (1 Samuel 17: 33). If this detail was not enough, Philistine champion Goliath is described as ruthless and plain rude to his opponents, the Israelites (1 Samuel 17: 8-10).

In fact, the Israelites were so “dismayed” and “terrified” on hearing his verbal attacks that “for forty days, [Goliath] came forward every morning and evening and took his stand” (1 Samuel 17:16). I am not the best students in math (just ask my brothers :) but I know that forty days means 30 days (a month) plus 10 days! This sounds like an impressive amount of time for an individual to terrorize an army.

The spirit of fear obviously dominated the Israelite camp. Now let’s focus on David for a moment. David, the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, is described as “ruddy” and “handsome” aka pretty boy with a swag. David vs. Goliath is like asking a 30-year-old to fight against his 10-year-old cousin.

In man’s standards, David was doomed to lose the fight. In God’s standards, it was not the case. In fact, Goliath’s rude comments and physical appearance did neither impress nor scare David. Actually, David made sure Goliath heard from him. There he goes yelling at Goliath:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17: 45-47).

What a bold statement! At first, David presented his spiritual resume to King Saul in order to get the job by focusing on his past godly victories (1 Samuel 17: 34-37), then he informed his opponent about his reliance on GOD and finally took action (1 Samuel 17: 48-51).

We have a lot to learn from David’s godly boldness and his victorious attitude. Too often and too fast, we declared defeat when facing the goliaths of our lives. One of the reasons may be that we rely too much on ourselves and forget that the battle is not ours but GOD’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). Like David, we must run toward our Goliaths with a godly confidence. Above all, we must be strong and courageous, not afraid or terrified because of [our Goliaths], for the LORD [our ] God goes with us; he will never leave us nor forsake us.(Deuteronomy 31:6).

Questions: How are you responding to the Goliaths in your life?  How was David able to be so fearless in the face of danger?

Do you feel like nobody listens? Do you want us to pray for you?

“Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me” (Psalm 56:1).

Living in a smaller town, I forget how hustle-bustle it can be in the city. So when I get into large crowds at a concert or in the mall during the holidays, I get a sense of panic. Being short, often all I see in the rush of the crowd are shoulder blades and the napes of necks. I can’t see where we are going. I am not in control of where I am headed, but am being moved along by masses. They decide where point A and point B is and if I don’t match their pace, I’ll get stepped on. It’s a very unnerving feeling.

Part of me wants to break free and go my own way. Find point B by myself.  But, have you ever tried to go against the direction of a crowd? It’s hard to do without getting bumped, shoved and glared at, and perhaps called a name or two you’d rather not hear.

People don’t want you to go against the crowd. We are all supposed to conform, go one way and be united. They may do what they can to get you back in line. No one likes a maverick, an outsider who won’t play the game. David in this Psalm must have had that experience.  Hear what he says about his enemies — “They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps” (vs.6)

As Christians, we often don’t follow the crowd. We follow our Savior instead. The world dictates self-involvement, dog eat dog, me first, grab-it-while-you-can attitudes.  Christ calls us to turn cheeks, think of others first, and even give to our enemies.  Paul said the way of Christ can be a stumbling block. It goes against the flow of human nature, and often times stirs up strife. How often was he kicked out of synagogues and a few towns for speaking the Gospel?

How often are we? Do we proclaim Christ crucified as the director of our path, or do we silently move along the crowd in our daily lives, diverting just momentarily on Sunday mornings? Do we fear the extra effort it takes to break free of the crowd and be an example, afraid someone may step on our toes, or worse perhaps provoke them by stepping on theirs?  Do you fear if you get out of sync with the world you’ll stumble and fall, and perhaps be trampled?

How do you walk in the rush of the crowd? Here is what David did. He let God do the directing —
“For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” (vs.13).

If we really believe Christ is the Way, His is the direction we must follow. We must trust He will deal with the crowds and their reaction. Who knows, maybe we’ll not only turn a few heads in our diverting from the ways of the world, but turn a few hearts to follow Him as well.

Questions: When was the last time you went against the crowds for your beliefs?  How did that go?

“As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.” 1 Samuel 17:48

During training exercises, the green lieutenant was driving down a muddy back road. He encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. “Your jeep stuck, sir?” asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside.”Nope,” replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys. “Yours is.”

Now that story might give you a chuckle, but isn’t that the way most people want to handle their problems, but handing the keys to someone else? By nature we neither want to admit that something was our fault nor do we want to take the imitative and responsibility to fix it. Our tendency is to run from it and hand it off to someone else to solve.

One of the fundamental principles of sailing is that when you get into a storm, head into the wind. If you run from it, you will be caught from behind. If you turn sideways, you will capsize. But, by meeting it head on, you have the best chance to ride out the storm and overcome it.

Life is that way. We will never conquer our fears, sins, problems, the giants in our lives by running away. Those giants will always be there just like Goliath was there every day taunting, challenging, badgering. The only way that we can overcome and conquer the giants in our lives is to do as little David the shepherd boy did. He quickly ran out and faced his giant. So we must face our problems. Face your giant. Acknowledge it and address it. Only by facing the giant can we overcome.

But there is more for you between facing your giants and personal victory. We have to turn from facing to focusing. Don’t focus on the giants … focus on God. The miracle of overcoming giants is to trust in the Lord … focus on Him!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Face your giants, rather than running from them, but then focus not on your problem but rather focus on God. With that formula for dealing with life’s problems, we can overcome anything that we may face in life. Just remember to focus on God in all times, in all situations and in all ways.

Question: What “giants” are you facing right now?

Do you feel isolated, hurt or afraid and have no one to talk to?

Her mouth stood wide open, unable to answer the accusations her once-good friend was spewing at her like the rat-tat-tat of a machine gun. Her lips clamped into a thin straight line as her eyes began to swim. Shaking her head, she backed away and ran for the Ladies’ room, riddled with shame.

This could happen in the halls of a high school, or in the aisles of an office work area, in the confides of your own home, or believe it or not, in the fellowship hall of a church. It may have happened to you. False accusations, misunderstood motives, misconstrued actions result in unforeseen reactions. How dare she or he think you’d ever . . .but they do. They want you to be ashamed. Instead, you are perplexed.

No one likes to be accused of doing something they did not do. But often, Christians are put in that position.  People see the hypocritical actions of a few and leap to judge the whole. It is as if there is a target painted on our hearts that say, “I’m a Christian. It’s not only okay to slap my other cheek when I turn it but to punch me in the gut or stab me in the back.”

Perhaps people have been hardened by skepticism. They are looking for the angle – what’s in it for you? Where is the secret key that will open the door and reveal the scam?  What’s the hidden truth in your message that will prove it is false?  Why are you being nice, and why should you care?

Jesus understands. He’s been there. The Scripture readings during the season of Lent are full of examples of how he was misunderstood and his motives misconceived. The Pharisees and Sadducees, even his own followers could not grasp the concept that He was willing to die for their salvation, much less that he had the authority to do so. His last day, He suffered shame, ridicule and physical beatings, yet he never opened his mouth. Why? Because to do so would fuel the fire. How do you rationalize with the irrational?

Instead, He looked to the One who gave Him the strength to endure it all our sake, for yours and mine. So did David, when he wrote this psalm. So can we when people wrong us. After all, the only person we are ultimately answerable to is our Lord. If we put His mercy and grace in control of the situation, then our conscience is clean, our souls renewed, our hearts protected.  We can find a way to love our accusers. The rest is between Him and them.

Questions: If you have been wronged, what was your reaction? Did you turn to Jesus for guidance? If you didn’t would the outcome been different if you had?

Do you feel you can’t be real with anyone? Take this free online course on the topic of secrets.

The world has smudged the lines between right and wrong. Cheating and lying, in the corporate world and our personal lives, seem to be not only acceptable but encouraged. The Bible, however, sets a different standard. “Therefore love truth and peace” (Zechariah 8:19).

What does someone who loves truth look like? Perhaps this psalm written by David gives us a picture of someone who loves truth:

“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent” (Psalm 15 2-5).

Look carefully at what this person does and doesn’t do:
•    does what is righteous
•    speaks the truth
•    doesn’t slander anyone
•    doesn’t wrong his neighbor
•    doesn’t say anything to disparage others
•    despises those who are evil and dishonest
•    honors those who fear the Lord
•    does what he promises – even when it is difficult
•    lends money honestly, without taking advantage of those in need
•    doesn’t accept a bribe or distort justice

Don’t you want to be that kind of person? Take time right now to ask for God’s power to transform you into the person David describes.

Holy God, I don’t want to live by the world’s standards; I want to love truth. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, change my thoughts and words and actions so I can demonstrate to every person I know, that I love truth.  Amen.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: When All Else Fails, Tell the truth?

Questions: How would you describe a person who loves truth? Why is it important to love truth?

About the Author Suzanne Benner