Today in the Word for November 10-18
Today in The Word
Tuesday Nov 10, 2020
The candidates for president know what it is like, this past week to be ‘in-between’. It is quite stressful! Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In I Samuel 16:13-14 we read of a succession of kingship:
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed [David] in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David…
Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit…tormented him.”
David was likely a teen when this anointing to be king occurred, yet we read in II Samuel 5:4:
“David was thirty years old when he became king…”
David was ‘in-between’ the announcement and outpouring of the Holy Spirit for leadership of the country, and actually taking the throne for a very long period—approximately 10-15 years.
You and I often find ourselves ‘in-between’ as well. We can be between jobs, between moving from one place to another, between relationships, in the waiting time before a promotion. God was with David when he was ‘in-between’ all those long years, and He can be with us in our ‘times between’ as well.
Listen in the days ahead for advice from the life of David on how to live when we are ‘in-between’.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
King David knew what it was like to be ‘in-between’ being anointed king, and assuming the throne—it was longer than a decade! Can we learn from his actions during that time to help us when we are ‘in-between’? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. I Samuel 18:10-14 reads:
“…David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did he had great success…”
We might have a tendency when under such a long delay, and in danger of our boss’ violence to lose heart, and just ‘mail in’ our job, but David does not. David keeps doing his job excellently. David does not coast in the ‘in-between’. And that is good advice. When ‘in-between’, keep doing your job with all you’ve got, even if others are making life difficult.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly.
Today in the Word
Thursday Nov 12, 2020
David had already been anointed king, but was ‘in-between’ for more than a decade. Can we learn from him? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Hear his story in I Samuel 26:7-11:
“So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp…Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? As surely as the Lord lives…the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.””
David was #1 on King Saul’s hit list, and was living the life of a renegade in the wilderness. Yet he respects Saul’s office. He calls him God’s anointed, when David himself has been anointed to succeed him. But he respects the office of king.
And so should we. We should respect the leadership position, whether that be of a politician, or a pastor, or a teacher or a parent—especially when we are ‘in-between’.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Nov 13, 2020
What helps David to act well when ‘in-between’ his anointing and the time he actually takes the throne? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Psalm 57, David describes what helps sustain him when he is running and hiding from King Saul. Verse 1 reads:
“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
David has a warrant on his head by paranoid King Saul. Even staying alive is difficult. Yet, David understands that God is his refuge. He can hide himself in God’s great love and power. He is not on his own to protect himself. God is his ultimate protector.
When you and I find ourselves ‘in-between’ and vulnerable, we can take refuge in God. He is the ultimate safety, and we can rest in him.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:30 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday Nov 16, 2020
What helps David to act well when ‘in-between’ his anointing and the time he actually takes the throne? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Psalm 57, David describes what helps sustain him when he is running and hiding from King Saul. Verse 2 and 3 read:
“I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me…”
When David is provided an opportunity to finish Saul off sleeping in his tent, he won’t do it. He leaves the vindication to God. When we are in the difficulties of being ‘in-between’ and being unfairly treated by those in power, we have a tendency to strike back. We are told to get even. But David advises us by his actions to not strike back. Leave it to God’s vindication. He can handle it better than we ever could.
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Nov 17, 2020
What helps David to act well when ‘in-between’ his anointing and the time he actually takes the throne? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Psalm 57, David describes what helps sustain him when he is running and hiding from King Saul. Verses 7-10 read:
“My heart, O God, is steadfast…I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord…among the peoples,
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”
David calls for his soul to wake up and worship God. The difficulties of being ‘in-between’ and on the run can deaden our soul, and quail our heart, but David calls for just the opposite, a steadfast heart and an awake soul. How does he do it? By worshipping God. You might say, but I do not see circumstances changing. David does not worship because of his circumstances. He worships God for his character—his love and faithfulness. These will never change, regardless of circumstances. And that is worth waking our soul to sing about!
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Nov 18, 2020
After we replace our predecessor, how should we act? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. David has been on the run from a paranoid king for many years. He gets word that King Saul and Prince Jonathan have fallen in battle. How does he react, now that he will replace them? In II Samuel 1:23-25, he sings a lament:
“Saul and Jonathan—in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold. How the mighty have fallen in battle…”
David could have taken a shot at a leader who made his life miserable, but instead he remembers the best about King Saul. He extolls the things he did well. You and I could take a lesson from David. When we are advanced to a position of greater authority, we do not need to throw our predecessor under the bus. We do not need to rise up by pushing them down. We can celebrate their wins and build on them. We can honor the best in our colleagues.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly. We are Facebook Live streaming every Sunday at 10:30 am.