PRAYER - "God Save Me As I Saved You"
Ziphites again revealed David's hideout. Saul pursued with 3000 men. That night, David found Saul and Abner in deep sleep from the LORD. Abishai wanted to kill Saul but David stopped him, refusing to touch God's anointed. Instead, he took Saul's spear and cruse of water. From afar, David taunted Abner for failing to protect Saul. David honored and respected the fallen king. Godly men respect authority.

1 Samuel 26:24 - "As thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD."
PRINCIPALS - "Ziklag"

After David got the best of Saul in the wilderness of Ziph, Saul promised not to pursue David any more. But David did not trust him. He fled back to Achish at Gath with 600 men. They stayed there sixteen months. David said to Achish, "If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country." Ziklag was David's headquarters until God took Saul out of the picture.

1 Samuel 27:6 - "Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day."

 

PRINCIPLES - "Consulting Familiar Spirits"

Saul faced a terrifying conflict with the Philistines. He sought the LORD, but God would not answer. Samuel was dead. Saul sent for a woman with a familiar spirit. She brought up a spirit appearing to be Samuel. The spirit rebuked Saul, reminding him that the curse was from the LORD. The spirit said Israel would lose the battle. Saul and his sons would die that day. Saul fell out on the floor, terrified. Seeking witches or wizards is an abomination to God.

1 Samuel 28:13 - "The woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth."

PROPHECIES - "Saul's Date With Destiny"

The Philistines fought hard against Israel. Many were killed. Archers hit Saul, sorely wounding him. He told his armourbearer, "Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not." Saul took his sword and fell on it, but an Amalekite came along and finished him off. The Philistines cut off his head, stole his armour, and flaunted it when they got home. Prophesied demise.

1 Samuel 31:6 - "So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together."

PRAYER - "Killed for Praying"
Saul hated Ahimelech the priest, partly for praying for David. Saul commanded his footmen to kill Ahimelech, but they refused. Like jealous Cain killing righteous Abel, sin laid at Saul's door. "A certain man ...was there that day, detained before the LORD" - Doeg was at Saul's door, killing 85 priests for him. Like Judas Iscariot, God turns evil men over to their devices, and the righteous suffer.

1 Samuel 22:13 - "Saul said unto [Ahimelech], Why have ye conspired against me, ...in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him?"

PRINCIPALS - "Achish, King of Gath"

Fleeing Doeg, David fled to Gath. The king's servants recognized him as the brave king of Israel who people sang and danced about. David feared King Achish was allied with Saul, so he feigned madness, scrabbling and drooling, to disguise himself. Achish ran him out of town. But they met again later and became fast friends. Achish donated Ziklag to David for a hometown. Sometimes, crazy situations can yet turn out for the good.

1 Samuel 21:15 - "Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence?"

 

PRINCIPLES - ""Mighty" Men"

From Saul at Jerusalem, to Ahimelech at Nob, to Achish at Gath, David kept running to the cave Adullam. There, his family and friends came to his defense. "Every one that was in distress, ...in debt, and ...discontented." What a motley crew! Whatever God gives you, take them. They became David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8).

1 Samuel 22:2 - "Every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men."

PROPHECIES - "Will they? Yes, they will."

Philistines attacked a town named Keilah. With his 400 men, David defeated them. But Saul came to Keilah to capture David. Abiathar the priest had the ephod, so David had him enquire of the LORD whether the men of Keilah would betray him to Saul. The LORD said that they would, so David took that warning, and he and his men scattered throughout the countryside. Thank God for His prophetic warnings.

1 Samuel 23:12 - "Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up."

PRAYER - "David Overcomes Doeg"
To escape Saul's assassination attempts, David fled to the priest Ahimelech at Nob (1 Samuel 21). But Saul's servant, Doeg, was nearby and threatened David. According to Psalm 52, David overcame his enemy with a bold statement of faith. Great men of God consistently assert their faith in God during their fearful trials.

Psalms 52:1 - " Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually."

PRINCIPALS - "Ahimelech"

Ahimelech was the priest at Nob. David fled to him to escape Saul's assassination attempts. Ahimelech gave David the day-old shewbread, and Goliath's sword for David's protection. But Saul's servant, Doeg, betrayed David to Saul. David escaped, but Saul came and ordered Doeg to kill Ahimelech and all 85 priests at Nob.

1 Samuel 22:18 - "And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod."

PRINCIPLES - "Exile"

Exile is a major Bible principle, if not a doctrine. Virtually every major Bible character suffered a period of exile (Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and more). Why does God ordain His people to be separated from home? Home represents the old pre-conversion life. Sin and the past are incompatible with the new life of righteousness. They cannot dwell together. Exile proves the animosity of evil against good. Exile is the inevitable companion to anointing.

1 Samuel 21:10 - "And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath."

PROPHECIES - "Thou Shalt Be In Safeguard"

God's anointing on David caused him a lot of trouble, but ultimately, it was his best protection. After Saul killed 85 priests for taking sides with David, only one priest, Abiathar, escaped with his life. David regretted the casualties, but assured Abiathar he would be safe with him. David understood he had a divine destiny that no enemy could change. We should have as much confidence in our place with God.

1 Samuel 22:23 - "Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard."

PRAYER - "God Responds Dramatically to Moses' Prayer" 
Numbers 11 records a dramatic exchange between Moses and God. The people were tired of manna and wanted meat. Moses was desperate for help. God vindicated Moses with two great miracles. He anointed seventy elders to prophesy over the people, then sent TONS of quail for thirty days.

Numbers 11:30 - "And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp,...as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth."
PRINCIPALS - "Leviticus" 
Leviticus is a seminal document, in many ways more profound than the United States Declaration of Independence or Constitution. How? First, Leviticus sets in order the priesthood, and organized religious service to God. Secondly, it contains the germ form of the universal code of civil and moral law that now rules not only Israel, but most of modern civilization. Although Hammurabi's Code (Babylon) predated "Moses' Law," Judeo-Christian ethics can be seen far more predominantly in governments worldwide.

Leviticus 8:5 - "And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done."

PRINCIPLES - "Fellowship" 

The Peace Offering was shared three ways. Part was burned on the altar unto the Lord. Part (the Heave Offering) was given to the priest to eat. The remainder was eaten by the people. It is often referred to as the fellowship offering because it brings the people together with God and the Priesthood.

Leviticus 10:14 - "And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings.".

PROPHECIES - "Killed By The Beneficiary" 

It seems somehow ironic that God required each person to slay their own sacrifice before presenting it to the priest for placement on the altar. The murderer would be the beneficiary of the atonement. That is exactly how Jesus' sacrifice was enacted. He was killed by the very people He came to save.

Leviticus 3:2 - "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about."

PRAYER - "The Wave Offering"

When Israelites brought their offerings to the Lord, they were considered sacred tokens in the covenant between God and men. Certain offerings were "heaved" into the air as testimony of their presentation, then eaten by the priests. In other cases, the meat was "waved" before the Lord, and was eaten by the worshiper. Today, we wave our hands to the Lord as tokens of surrender to Him.

Leviticus 14:24 - "And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD."
PRINCIPALS - "The Body of Heaven"

We are forced to reconcile verses that appear to contradict. Again and again, the scripture says that God is invisible. But the seventy elders saw "the body of heaven in his clearness," on His throne upon a sapphire foundational stone. The key word here is "clearness." They saw a bright shining light representing God's presence. See, The Oneness of God

Exodus 24:10 - "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."
PRINCIPLES - "Ninth Commandment - No False Witness"

God defends the integrity of the individual by forbidding false testimony. Slander is a heinous, grievous sin against anyone. Lives are destroyed by lies, false accusations and misrepresentations. God demands truth and right-doing in our relationships with others. The devastating sinfulness of malicious gossip and scandalous rumor-mongering ranks equally with murder and adultery in this context. If you cannot say something nice about someone, do not say anything at all. Get the stick out of your own eye before assailing their splinter.

Exodus 20:16 - "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
PROPHECIES - "The Ephod"

The High Priest wore an elaborate vestment called the ephod. Two sardonyx (onyx) stones on the shoulders contained the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. Twelve precious stones were mounted on the front on blue, red, and white embroidered linen. Also called the Urim and Thummin, when the Priest consulted God before the Ark of the Covenant, the stones illuminated if God blessed, or gave a "yes" answer. Dull stones meant God's cursing, or a "no" answer.

Leviticus 8:7 - "...and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith."

PRAYER - "Making a Vow"

Jacob made the first vow, promising to pay tithes as God blessed him. Under the law, in the absence of a sacrificial animal, a man could vow to pay later. It is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay. You can negotiate with God, but you must be prepared to live up to your bargains.

Leviticus 22:21 - "...whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein."
PRINCIPALS - "The Tabernacle Materials"
God instructed Moses to collect a free-will offering from the people to construct and furnish the tabernacle. Gold, silver, brass, linens, skins, wood, oil, spices, precious stones, and much more. "...whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD," (Exodus 35:5). Soon, Moses had more than he needed. God's work is the most worthy cause. We should be excited to give all we can to support His work.

Exodus 36:7 - "For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much."
PRINCIPLES - "Eighth Commandment - Do Not Steal"

God supplies all our needs according to His riches. Every person receives what God has appointed to him. According to the talents and abilities that God gives, we earn our daily sustenance. God forbids you and me from taking anything that belongs to others. That is THEIR portion. Imagine the world descended into chaos, where no one could keep that which he has worked to attain; a world without borders, boundaries, privacy or safety. That is the world of thieves. Obedience to God's laws would prevent such a world.

Exodus 20:15 - "Thou shalt not steal."
PROPHECIES - "The Priests' Holy Garments"

A priest is an intercessor between God and men. From its inception, the priesthood was the highest office a man could occupy. Accordingly, God instructed Moses to dress them appropriately. Holy garments would be glorious and beautiful. Herein is a great precept. Our appearance should reflect our value. The world would have us "dumb-down", dressing grungy, sloppily, like worthless creatures. God would have us look holy, glorious, beautiful. Are you a godly person? Dress the part!

Exodus 28:2 - "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty."

PRAYER - "Confessing Sins"
This is the first occurrence in the Bible of any requirement for confession. After Moses listed several sins, he called for the guilty party to confess his sin. A precedent for all time was set. As a general rule, the priests confessed all Israel's sins when they offered sacrifices. God requires that we acknowledge our wrong-doing. He is more interested in producing righteousness in us than in punishing our wrongs.

Leviticus 5:5 - "And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing."
PRINCIPALS - "The Golden Calf"
While Moses was in the Mount with God, the Israelites prevailed on Aaron to make a golden calf, which they called their god. Their worship was an abomination, and Moses was outraged, crushing the tablets written by the finger of God. God's Spirit planned to dwell in them, but gold makes a bitter god. He made them DRINK it!

Exodus 32:20 - "And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it."
PRINCIPLES - "Fifth Commandment - Honor Father and Mother"
This is the first commandment with a promised blessing. At the very least, your parents have a 15-20 year experience ahead of you. They provided shelter, food and clothing while you were otherwise helpless. But that is only a fraction of countless reasons why we should respect, reverence, esteem, even obey our parents - our elders! Our world would be radically improved if this generation would obey this command.

Exodus 20:12 - "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
PROPHECIES - "The Veil"
The veil prevented anyone from entering the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was. The veil was blue, purple and scarlet. Blue is the color of water, and red is the color of blood. Purple is the color of royalty - kingship. By the blood of Calvary and the water of baptism, the Son of Man, prince of peace, Jesus, was exalted to royalty - King of Kings.

Exodus 26:31 - "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made."