Between A Rock and A Hard Place. Part [12] 07/11/2024 (Morning thought)

1st Samuel 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why are you alone, and no man with thee?

The next example of being caught between a rock and a hard place is taken from the experience of David, who was anointed by Samuel to be king over Israel. But lo and behold, after the signal defeat of Goliath, the relationship between himself and Saul goes sour, and he finds himself having to constantly look over his shoulders, for fear of being found and executed by Saul. So, David tries his best to hang in there, hoping for some signal intervention from God that would turn the odds in his favor.

But the more David hopes and waits, is the more Saul is on his heels, until David is between a rock and a hard place. In this hour of desperation, he, like Rebekah decides that it is time to use stratagem, to extricate himself from what he sees as an untenable situation. In this time of extremity, he resorts to lying his way out of his dilemma, for to him, it seems as if God is missing in action. He then goes to the high priest and utters a blatant lie, in order to protect himself.

1st Samuel 21:2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, let no man know anything of the business whereof I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

1st Samuel 21:5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. 6 So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Between A Rock and A Hard Place. Part [11] 07/11/2024 (Evening thought)

1st Samuel 13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

1st Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, what hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore and offered a burnt offering.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 618] With growing impatience he awaited the arrival of Samuel and attributed the confusion and distress and desertion of his army to the absence of the prophet. The appointed time came, but the man of God did not immediately appear. God's providence had detained His servant. But Saul's restless, impulsive spirit would no longer be restrained. Feeling that something must be done to calm the fears of the people, he determined to summon an assembly for religious service, and by sacrifice entreat the divine aid.

The Lord had spoken by His prophet that at this time He would reveal what Israel must do in this crisis. If Saul had fulfilled the conditions upon which divine help was promised, the Lord would have wrought a marvelous deliverance for Israel, with the few who were loyal to the king. But Saul was so well satisfied with himself and his work that he went out to meet the prophet as one who should be commended rather than disapproved.

1st Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, you have done foolishly: you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded thee: for now, would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. 14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!