In 1 Samuel 21 & 22, David is on the run from Saul who has a mission set to kill him. David meets with Ahimelech and is starving. Ahimelech only has the Bread of the Presence. He goes ahead and gives him that bread so he can be nourished for his journey ahead. This bread was meant for the priests. Human need overtakes the law and mercy and compassion are shown. Religious ritual is not meant to be placed above human need, mercy, and compassion for humanity. We are called to love like Jesus and show His kindness to everyone around us. David continues on and 400 men, including all of his family, find him and flock to him. He takes in all the outcasts, just like Jesus. Saul is angry, paranoid, and arrogant and has 85 priests and their families murdered. One got away. God made sure one got away because He has a plan brewing for David. A new wine skin is coming. David takes responsibility for the situation - something Saul has never done. He takes the one priest in with him and promises him protection. God is moving David into the perfectly right time and place to take his place as king. Jesus too is awaiting the right and perfect time to return and defeat the enemy once and for all. It's coming - it's only a matter of time.

In 1 Samuel 19 & 20, Saul's wrath towards David festers and he is out to kill David. David has been acting on faith in God and has been doing great things for God and the people favor him. Saul is envious and as a result angry and murderous. David and Jonathan have formed a covenant friendship under the witness of God and Jonathan helps David flee. As he flees, God is providing for him and getting him to the right place at the right time. God has perfect timing every time. Jonathan devoutly serves David and honors him. David points to Jesus. We are like Jonathan and should always seek to serve and follow Jesus without wavering no matter what we face around us. Jonathan and David say goodbye to each other in a tearful embrace but David is going in the peace of God and they both know that. When we depend on the peace of Christ, anything is possible. The peace and love of God is key for getting through these days in this very temporary world we are in. We can depend on God, His peace and love never fail and never will.

In 1 Samuel 18, Jonathan and David develop a bond under God and are fast friends. Jonathan, as Saul's son, should have been the rightful heir as the next king but he renounces that honor and recognizes it belongs to David. David has already been anointed by God as the next king and Jonathan sees that in David and joins forces with him. David moves from taking care of sheep to taking care of people. God's anointing is on David so success follows in all he does and the people see that and start to flock to him. Saul becomes very angry and envious of this and sets his sights on terminating David. God gives David a shield of favor and when he is given one of Saul's daughters as a bride, God even doubles the bridal price for him. Even though Saul is living as David's enemy, David continues to serve and fight for him. David walks in faith and the anointing of God screams out "I got this" wherever he goes. Faith allows us to be lesser for God's glory and greatness. No matter what we face, if we have faith and fully submit ourselves and trust in God, we can stand confident in the fact that "God has this."

In 1 Samuel 17, a Philistine giant is taunting the Israelites. Rather than standing on the power and might of God, they freeze up in fear and just stare at the enemy for 40 days and 40 nights. When we buy into the enemies lies, we no longer engage in battle. We are on the front lines and need to be prepared for battle daily and stand firm on the Word and power of our almighty God. The enemy will mock us and taunt us and try to feed us lies. It's vital to shut off the worldly noises and listen to God. The enemy has been defeated and we can stand firmly and confidently on the truth of God and His Word and His victory. David steps in and stands on the authority of God and who He is. He enters the battle with confidence. When he does, his brother questions his heart and motive. David knows his heart and motive and doesn't let it get to him. When we stand up and into our calling, opposition will rise and try to discourage us. Focus on God and who He says you are and keep moving. We are to use the talents and gifts God has instilled in us to enter the battle and win lives for Christ. God empowers faithful servants. The odds don't matter. God does. God raises up those who are committed to God's glory and honor. It's time to shut the enemy up, turn the lies away, and enter the battle. The eternity of many lives around us are at stake.

In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel is mourning the loss of Saul. When someone turns from God and refuses God, it should cause us to mourn. Life is eternal and the choices we make this side of heaven will affect our eternity. We can choose Christ and encourage everyone around us to do the same. God desperately wants every single person to choose Him and live in eternity with Him. His love for every one of us is beyond human comprehension. More than anything else, He wants our hearts to chase God and all His goodness and mercy. Samuel goes to Jesse's house and God calls David. The youngest and smallest but the one who truly has the purest heart and has integrity and character that chases God passionately. He is called by Saul to play the harp for him and he humbly serves. God has already anointed him but David chooses humility and service. God is working to set him into his position in God's perfect timing and in the meantime, David keeps loving God and serving others.

1 Samuel 15, God gives Saul a clear direction and Saul disobeys and only does part of what God asks. He makes excuses as to why he did what he did rather than running straight to repentance. He cared more about his image and pleasing people than what God wanted or God's rejection. He feared people more than God Himself. He's addicted to his image rather than God's image. We will make mistakes along the journey, but we can choose to be quick to repent and keep clinging to God with all our hearts. God's hold on us is way stronger than our hold on Him and He will never let us go. Our failures do not signal God's defeat. God wants us in His story. He wants us to reflect His image and character in our lives. Above all else, He wants our hearts and an intimate and real relationship with us.

In 1 Samuel 14, the Israelite army is fearful and in hiding while they wait. They are surrounded by the vast Philistine army. Jonathan has an idea and tells his armor bearer, let's go. He adds "perhaps the Lord will help us". He doesn't know what is going to happen but chooses to stand in faith in what he knows God can do. He knows the power of God and trusts in Him. Jonathan and his armor bearer go up to one of the Philistine outposts. They are given victory over the outpost and God goes even further and sends an earthquake. God is really great at showing us His amazing glory and saving us from impossible looking situations. The deserters and chickens see the glory and strength of God moving and come out of hiding. Saul makes a really horrible oath during the battle telling the army to not eat until he has full revenge on his enemies. He's more concerned about himself and his image than following the direction of God. His army becomes weak and faint. It is so vital that we feast on the sweet honey of God's Word so we remain nourished and strong and can keep on doing the things God asks us to do. Jonathan eats the honeycomb God provided and is energized. In trying to save face and his image, Saul is set on killing his own son for breaking his crazy oath. The people rise up and save Jonathan from his own father. Saul could avoided so much if he would have obeyed God and His direction. His pride got in the way of his obedience. What matters is not whether or not we've obeyed God in the past, but whether we are willing to submit and obey God now and in the future days. Man's plans will wear us out and leave us depleted. God's plans will energize us. While man's plans bring bondage, God's plans bring freedom.

In 1 Samuel 13, Jonathan defeats a bunch of their Philistine enemies which makes them angry and they raise a vast army to come against them. Saul's men become terrified and run into hiding rather than praying and trusting in God. Saul makes an impulsive sacrifice rather than waiting on Samuel which is against the proper order and direction of God. Saul acted on his feelings rather than on faith in God and God's perfect timing. Samuel arrives on scene right as he finishes the sacrifice and tells Saul that his reign would now end as king. God was raising a new king (David) who was a man after God's heart rather than a man after the people's hearts. David made plenty of mistakes but was always repentant and chased after God with all he had. Failure doesn't have to be the last word. Failure doesn't guarantee more failure. Just as success doesn't guarantee more success. Having a humble, repentant heart that chases and clings to God changes everything. God's plan will come forth and we can trust Him with everything in us.

In 1 Samuel 11 & 12, one month after Saul is recognized as king of Israel, he's out plowing fields. He hasn't truly stepped forward. Jabesh-gilead was a part of the nation and they were in a state of separation. The Ammonites rise up against them and they request peace for 7 days as they cry out to Israel for help. They don't know if they will get help, but brotherhood rises up in God's people, righteous anger rises up in Saul, and they join forces to rescue their brothers. We should never leave our brothers or sisters alone to face sin. We should be quick to rise up in unity despite any differences and fight sin together. God calls us to be united and fight together. We are an army - together. After the victory and reunion, Saul is officially recognized as king and steps into his role. Samuel gives one final farewell warning reminding them of all God has done in their lives and that this kingship was not God's plan because God was their King. They are convicted and repent and cry out for forgiveness. God hears and Samuel lets them know God is with them and as long as they cling to God moving forward, God will still bless them. We are not perfect, we are forgiven. We may fall, but as long as we repent when we do and keep striving after God, He will work around our imperfections. God is all powerful and His will is going to come forth. He loves us desperately and simply wants us to continually be a part of His story. He desires us to be a part of His plans. Choosing God is the one thing that will make God happier than anything else we do throughout life.

In 1 Samuel 9 & 10, Saul is looking for donkeys but finds his calling and God's will for his life. Samuel anoints Saul privately first, then gives him the confirmation he needs so he'll know this call is from God. The confirmation points to exactly what happens when we choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. What was lost is now found, a hunger will be fed, you will desire to praise and worship to God, and the Holy Spirit will empower you making you into a different person. There will be a change of heart. After this confirmation, Saul is indeed empowered by the Holy Spirit and people notice the change in him. A public coronation follows along with getting Saul the support he will need. He will not be walking in this alone. God's design is never for us to be alone in anything. He then faces some opposition from some of the people. When we step up and move forward in what God has for us, we can expect to face opposition. The great thing is we won't be facing it alone. We have both God and a whole team surrounding us to make it through whatever lies ahead.