I Chronicles 12:23
“Now these are the numbers of the divisions equipped for war, who came to David at Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD”.
God had promised David the kingdom. He had taken it from Saul. However, Saul resisted and he attempted to kill David. We’ve got the take of two people, one who God was assisting and the other, He was opposing. All of humanity is like that. If we are fear and serve God, He is with us, If we aren’t, He is opposing us.
Just a comment on those He opposes. He loves them and seeks to bring them to Him, but the way He acts can be in opposition to their goals. He is seeking to save their souls. An extreme is a believer who walks away from God. He is not against taking his life, before he gets so far and loses his soul (I Cor 5:5). He is showing love to them, by opposing them.
God loved Saul, but he was being a poor representation of Him to the people. If Saul would have stepped down and sought the Lord, he would have had a good relationship with God and a peaceful life. But he was so addicted to power, that he chose to live in opposition to God. So much so that God allowed a demon to haunt him (I Sam 16:14). That sounds terrifying. However, all he had to do was repent and seek the Lord. God would have driven the evil spirit away and the Holy Spirit would have returned to him.
God was blessing David. Even though it took about 15 years from the promise of the throne, to when he received it. These years on the run were important. He was taught dependency on God. Today’s verse says that God sent these warriors to him to turn the kingdom from Saul to David. It didn’t happen over night or in the next week. It took about ten years.
Proverbs 16:7 is a great verse, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.” We probably won’t be friends with them, but we’re at peace. I like the point of the verse. God is so pleased that even those who hate him, don’t give him grief.
God wants to bless everyone. When we yield to Jesus as lord and savior, it begins. He gives us peace in our hearts. A big change I noticed is that I began to sleep well (Proverbs 3:24). I was forgiven. All the conflicts within eased. It wasn’t a new attitude, but the sentence was lifted. More importantly, Jesus came into my heart and life. He is the Prince of peace.
We learn to obey Him. It might be a command in the bible. Some times He brings something to our attention to do. Proverbs 3:5,6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” We give our lives to Him. We devote each day to Him. When we aren’t sure what to do, we ask Him for guidance. Then He fulfills today’s verse. He brings allies into our lives in which we help each other.
Thank You, Lord, for Your blessings. You give us so much. We don’t deserve it, but You gladly do it. Thank You.