1 Samuel – Chapter 23

1 Samuel 23 Daily DEVO …And Saul sought him (David) every day, but God did not give him into his hand. 1 Samuel 23:14b – Your enemy may come at you relentlessly everyday, but our God is able to shelter you from any and every attack that may come your way. In our passage Saul is tirelessly chasing David. Yet as we see in verse 14, never did David slip into Saul’s hands. So will it be for you as you continue to walk faithfully after God. Know that if you continue to follow Jesus and set your life to growing closer to Him, God promises to protect you from the attacks of our enemy. Not that the attacks won’t come, but He will shelter you during them. It’s when we begin to choose to walk away from Jesus that we begin to step out of the shelter and feel the weight of the attacks. Know that either choice you make the enemy is still going to be working. So make the choice to step under the shelter that God is providing by choosing to follow Jesus. You don’t have to take on the weight of the enemy’s attack, God’s willing to take that for you if you let Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 423

And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 1 Samuel23:16 – This whole chapter is about Saul continually trying to get to David yet God blocking his way every time. Yet here Jonathan, a friend of David, was able to find David and come close to encourage him. We learn here that God is able to keep our enemies away yet at the same time keep our supporters close. God can create a mountain between us and those that want to do us harm yet make a clear path for those who are wanting to encourage us. Really what we see here is that God is bigger than anything else. Bigger than our enemy’s plans, bigger than our fears, big enough to control the situation we’re in. Let’s seek to stay faithful on God’s path and trust God with our enemy. Take the encouragement and support when it comes. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1648

Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them,²⁷a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” ²⁸So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 1 Samuel 23:26-26 – While running from Saul, David found himself the closest to being captured up to this point. Saul and his crew were on one side of a mountain (more likely just a large hill) and David and his crew on the other. The gap between was closing, when suddenly a messenger shows up and brings a message that completely redirects Saul and David escapes. Coincidence? Not a chance, this was all heavenly blessing and protection. Know you may hear your enemy on the other side of the mounting getting closer to you. You may feel as if all is lost and the defeat you’ve been avoiding is now at your doorstep. If though God is leading you and you are seeking at faithful life after Him, you have nothing to fear from any enemy. As God provided for David, He’ll provide for you. God will make straight your paths, and He will provide for you even in the midst of your enemies. So do not fear when the enemy’s footsteps are heard behind you and the escape seems gone. If God is for us, who can be against us? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2900