“So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.”
I remember when Uncle Chuck came down with 2 workers and rebuilt our back porch. I left for work that Friday morning with a pergola for a porch and when I got home the old porch was gone and new one was under way. Two days later, voilà, a new porch. To this day, I am still grateful for Uncle Chuck, his guys, and the sacrifice they made to make our new porch a reality. Many home improvement projects later, I realized that enduring the mess and work produced something the whole family can enjoy.
In the last chapter of 1 Samuel, we find David going after the Amalekites and Saul still engaging in a Philistine battle. David raids the Amalekites and gets back all the women and children while Saul and the Israeli army is fighting a serious battle. David is victorious against the Amalekites and Saul and his three sons and his armor bearer are all dead by the end of chapter 31. After years of running from Saul, David will finally will be seated on the throne of Israel as king.
In the last chapter of this book, I am reminded of the law of timing. David was on the run from Saul for over 15 years. David grew up to a man running from his own countrymen and being ratted out by his own people. Saul was fighting two fronts, the Philistines and hunting after David. No rest for Saul for those 15 years either. Both men had their fair share of battles and victories in that time.
Many of us can relate to David and Saul in this book. David running from Saul and Saul’s personal struggle with his own selfish desires and hardships seem like historical accounts of our own lives in many ways. Maybe you are currently having to endure some serious traumatic events or life has thrown you curve ball after curve ball. It could be relationally, spiritually, physically or even financially. I can tell you from experience that no matter how hard we try, we cannot tell the future and we all don’t get a break from marching down life’s road.
David trusted in the Lord those 15 years and he was spared from several close encounters that could have ended up with David pushing up daisies. Those years of running gave David a clear picture of loyalty with his mighty men that traveled with him for the rest of his years. Chapter two is coming in David’s life soon and it promises to be a huge one as king of Israel.
Keep running the race the Lord has set in front of you. Quit trying to exalt yourself before the right time. God has a plan, just like he did with David. The running from Saul all those years made a young man into a powerful man of God who would lead Israel. The battle your are in may be shaping you into something the Lord will use later. Just like half done, doughy, biscuits are nasty and no one wants to eat them; your half done, doughy, outlook on life may not be ready to be used either. Trust in the Lord and let his timing be your timing.
1 Peter 5:6-8 says “And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.” Don’t be lion’s bait for Satan to chew you up. Trust in the Lord and humble yourself under his mighty hand. You might just be closer to the light at the end of tunnel than you think.
Prayer: Father, as we all have prayed many times for you to take the pain, hurt, sin, or addiction away, we must humble ourselves under your mighty hand knowing that your timing is perfect. Strengthen our faith so we can endure the hard times and when we are on the other side, help us to strengthen our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Father, we will still pray for the madness to end, but we also know that you will not tempt us beyond what we can bear. You promise to be there with us and watch over us. Help us to look up to you during the trials of life and keep our focus on Jesus instead of the circumstance. I pray that our steps during these times of hardship be ordered by the Lord and we make the joy of the Lord our strength. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Let It Go 
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