REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 9, 2015. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“God’s Protection Unbeknownst to Us”
1 Samuel 23:7-14
Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands, for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.” 8 And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. 9 When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” 10 David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will.” 12 Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men to Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will.” 13 So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. 14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.
As soon as I became a father, I made a discovery of a whole line of products that I hadn’t paid much attention to prior to parenthood. For instance, there are numerous products that help parents “child-proof” the house. These include: protection from swallowing deadly chemicals, protection from electricity, protection from falling and bumping into sharp edges, etc. Good parents do their best to provide protection. In the same way, do you believe that God also provides protection for you as His child?
David had just delivered the citizens of Keilah from the ruthless Philistines; apparently. This must have been notable news since it reached Saul’s ears. Having attained information about David’s whereabouts, Saul immediately dispatches his force to besiege the town of Keilah. Meanwhile, David gains knowledge from God that Saul is on his way and that the people of Keilah, despite being saved by David, would give him up to Saul. I can just imagine David and his men expressing, “Thanks for nothing.”
Moving quickly, they escape before the arrival of Saul and his army. Once again, David and his men find themselves on the run from King Saul while living in the wilderness. Nevertheless, although Saul searches for David “day after day,” “God does not give David into his hands.” Here, we get a glimpse of God’s protective nature as he keeps David safe from the hands of his enemy.
In our lives, we may never truly know how many times God actually has protected us. But we do know that the Father protects us from the evil one (2 Thess 3:3), and Jesus taught us to pray, “deliver us from evil [one]” in the Lord’s prayer. Yesterday, we were reminded of people facing persecution around the world. Today, again as we think of our persecuted brothers and sisters, let’s ask God for His protection and deliverance from the evil one whose aim is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).
Prayer: Lord, there must be countless ways in which you have been protecting me all these years. I pray that you will continue to deliver me from the evil one. Thank you for the spiritual armor that is available for me as your child. I pray for my persecuted brothers and sisters that You will protect them and their families. Please deliver them from the evil one. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 8
Lunch Break Study
Read Ephesians 6:10-17: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Questions to Consider
- Why is the armor of God important for the believer?
- What is the duty of the believer in regards to spiritual warfare?
- What “spiritual battle” are you facing at the present moment? How do you need to equip yourself to ensure a victory over this?
Notes
- A believer is the target of the devil’s schemes (1 Pet. 5:8); he is now in a battle against the powers of this dark world. It would be foolish to engage in this battle without the proper armor (e.g., God’s truth, Christ’s imputed righteousness) and weapon (i.e., God’s word).
- Paul’s charge is to put on the full armor of God and then to firmly stand your ground against the enemy. By God’s grace, it is important for a believer to resolve not to give in to the enemy’s schemes.
- Personal response
Evening Reflection
Has there been a time when you realized that the Lord had protected you? If so, write about that event in your journal and keep a record of the time when God displayed His might and protected you from the evil one.