Author: Brian Burdett

“He said to David, ‘You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.’ – 1 Samuel 24:17

This is at the heart of what made King David, for all his later failures, a man after God’s own heart. This is also what makes him one of the Old Testament’s clearest forerunners of Christ. He didn’t give King Saul what he deserved, which was death. He didn’t seek revenge for the years Saul had taken from him. David trusted God to make all things right in His perfect timing.

So, David spent years on the run. Living in caves, hiding in forests, traveling throughout the region as Saul’s army searched for him. Separated from his family and in constant danger of death at any moment. However, David didn’t harbor ill-will or bitterness toward the man who unjustly pursued him. And like Jesus, David refused to take the shortcut to what he knew to be God’s will – the crown of Israel.

In his faithful patience, obedience, and integrity in the face of opposition, David revealed the character of Jesus a thousand years before He entered the world. David showed us what God values most – not external appearances or effectiveness in war but a faithful heart. Gentleness, grace, and mercy in the face of suffering and injustice. Love and respect for others, even when they don’t deserve it.

That is what Jesus always demonstrates toward us, even though our sins nailed Him to a cross. Because this is how Jesus lives and loves people under every circumstance, this is also what He commands and calls all who follow Him to live by. Do not repay evil for evil. Repay with good. #FollowJesus

“The Lord tests the righteous,
but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
– Psalm 11:5

A helpful, and straightforward, reminder…

The righteous will be examined, tested, and evaluated. They will experience long seasons of stress, difficulty, pressure, suffering, and persecution which will prove, refine, and strengthen their righteous character in the Lord for all to see.

The wicked – HATED by the Lord. That isn’t popular to say in our culture, but it’s certainly biblical.

Those who love violence, who are excited by the prospect, seek it out, delight in it, and perhaps even pray for it – HATED by the Lord.

Be righteous. Don’t be wicked. Don’t love violence. #FollowJesus

“So they inquired again of the Lord, ‘Is there a man still to come?’ and the Lord said, ‘Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’” – 1 Samuel 10:22

God had already anointed Saul to become the first king of Israel. However, when the moment came to reveal him to all of God’s people, Saul was nowhere to be found. Having heard his calling from God, Saul was overwhelmed and afraid. Perhaps he was afraid of how the people would respond… Would they follow him as king? What would they say to or about him? Perhaps he was afraid of how his life would be utterly changed forever by answering God’s call. Either way, Saul hid himself amongst the camp baggage. But he couldn’t hide from God and he couldn’t hide from God’s call on his life.

If Jesus is your Lord, then you, too, have a calling. In a general sense it looks like loving God, loving other people, and making disciples by telling people about Jesus and helping believers learn to obey Jesus. In a particular sense – who and how and what that exactly looks like – that’s between you and God. Perhaps you already know and are happily doing it. Or perhaps you know and are avoiding it, trying to hide from it like Saul. Or perhaps you’ve never wrestled with this question and sought God’s will for your life. It’s natural to have some fear about responding to God’s call on your life. To wonder how will people respond to you? What will they say? What if you mess up? What will it cost you? How could you possibly fit it in your schedule? How could you possibly take that step given your past or present situation?

Nonetheless, you can’t hide from God and you can’t hide from His calling! All you can do is miss out on some of the blessings of doing what God made you to do! To miss out on some of the great purpose and significance of your new life in Christ. You really don’t want to do that! So, are you answering God’s call on your life – whatever that call is? Are you avoiding it like Saul tried to do? Or have you not yet begun to prayerfully explore what God has waiting for you? #FollowJesus

“But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.” – 1 Samuel 5:4

God’s people had been thoroughly defeated. However, that didn’t mean God was defeated!!! Israel had been repeatedly defeated by the Philistines because their leaders were incompetent and their religious leaders were ungodly, corrupt, and abusive. When they foolishly tried to use YHWH’s power by carrying the Ark of the Covenant into battle, it didn’t change the fact that they were led by sinful, foolish, weak, and wicked leaders. So YHWH permitted Israel to lose badly. Those despicable leaders were killed and the Ark fell into the hands of Israel’s enemies.

However, that didn’t mean that Israel’s God had failed, as the Philistines imagined. Quite the contrary! Because YHWH is THE King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it was His will for Israel to be crushed for their sins. It was His will for the Ark to fall into the hands of the Philistines. And when the Philistines tried to celebrate their god’s “victory” over YHWH, YHWH repeatedly humiliated their god, Dagon.

Each morning, the statue of Dagon would be found having fallen over during the night in a posture of submission before YHWH. One night, the fall caused Dagon’s statue to break into pieces. Israel was defeated because of its many sins but Israel’s God cannot be defeated. Remember this and never confuse the worldly standing of God’s people (especially when they’ve fallen into repeated sin and are led terribly) with the unchanging reality that God is always on His throne! #FollowJesus

“And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant hears.’” – 1 Samuel 3:10

The young Samuel experienced a unique, dramatic, and unmistakable calling from God. An experience suitable for the man who would bridge the gap from judges to kings and who would restore integrity to the prophetic and priestly roles in Israel. Most of us won’t experience a calling from God nearly so dramatic. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t called. That doesn’t mean YOU aren’t called.

If Jesus is your Lord, then Scripture promises that God has prepared good works for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Do you know what those are? Are you doing them? Are you clear about your calling from God? Most people aren’t.

Broadly speaking, God’s calling is clear… Love God wholeheartedly. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love fellow believers so well that unbelievers know you’re a follower of Jesus. Make disciples. Live a holy life.

But what does your calling specifically look like within those big commands? How has God uniquely gifted and shaped you to do those things in the power of the Holy Spirit? Do you know? Are you even asking God? Are you trying to serve and love in various ways in order to discover where God may be calling you? Are you fasting and praying for clarity?

Life is too short and too precious to waste on the endless trivial amusements, distractions, and pursuits the world encourages us to go after! Seek the enduring joy, peace, and meaning that only comes when you do the things your Savior has prepared, invited, commanded, and called you to do. #FollowJesus