When men pursue….

What to do when men pursue? Trust God. Not man. Lest your fear of man becomes a snare to you. You must trust God more than you fear man. Only one will Rule.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25

Let us think on why David ran from Saul.

The whole story that we read in 1 Samuel beginning in chapter 18, all began with a plot from Saul to destroy David, whom God intended and anointed to be King. What God planned from you from your beginning, doesn’t come without a fight. Sometimes it seems it won’t come to fruition. David was anointed early on as a boy but he didn’t become king until he was 30. There was a lot that happened in between that went on to get him there. Ups and downs are lessons on the road of life to get us to where we need to be as maturity plays out.

But then David faced his final challenge before becoming king, king Saul. It was all part of the plan to take the throne.

Saul set out for David’s life but David’s life was in the hands of God. God used Saul’s own children to protect David. Saul however, used his daughter as a tool to trap David. It backfired. He had evil intent, but that’s ok, because God can use whoever He wants to too. (Even if they are in the enemy’s camp.) There is nothing that He cannot do.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, became David’s closest friend and confidant. God will often bring help along the the way, in the most mysterious ways. David ran. He trusted God and he sought direction. He wasn’t a coward, he had killed many men, but this one was in God’s hands. He was smart. God was using this circumstance not as a curse to David, but as a means to bless David. In the end, Saul was cursed for his evil intent and disobedience. God eventually replaced Sauls position and gave it David.

So remember this: if you are where you are and it doesn’t make any sense, hold on. It seems like the furthest place from God and the least likely place that you wanna be, but know that nothing is further from the truth. If the enemy is pursuing you, God is too. If every time you turn around you’re being persecuted or attacked, it might just be a sign that you are right where God wants you to be. He’s got something He wants to do in, for and through you. Just because the enemy pursues doesn’t mean God is against you, it will go to show that He is for you. Seems like a funny way to prove, but anything great doesn’t come without great resistance.

Look at the life of Jesus. There was always someone sneaking around the corner to make talk, question, try to find a way to prove Him wrong, or to catch Him in a lie. They finally plotted to kill Him. It was all part of the plan. There is a God but just as sure as there’s a God, there’s an enemy too. They both have a plan and they both fight for you. Jesus death and resurrection proves that God wins. He is the same today, yesterday, and forever more.

John 10:10 says it best: the thief comes ONLY to steal, to kill and to destroy, but Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly. It’s not cliché, but the fact is: if God is for you, who in this world can be against you? They’ll be against you alright but pursue as they may, they will not win and evil will NOT prevail. We don’t see victory until the end of a fight. Even Jesus’ followers felt the pressure from His persecution. One sold Him out and one denied Him. But as far as David’s concern, Jonathan never caved. Michal did. Read the story for yourself. God will use whoever and whatever He wants to, to cause you to win. Jesus looks out for your best interest as did Jon with David. There are those who will sell you out, but God uses that too.

It’s easy to take the verse that if God be for us, who can be against us, literally as if no one will come against us. People will come against you! What it means is, they won’t win or prevail against you. We are taught how to fight for a reason as Ephesians 6 instructs us. We are warriors and we were made to fight the good fight. It is a fight and we must decide which side we choose. We overcome evil with good and by doing what is right, not wrong. Saul was against David. The Bible says that weapons will form but that they will not prosper. In the end they prove they can’t even be against you because God wins.The Bible also says that when your ways please God, He will even make your enemies to be at peace with you. Keep trusting, keep pursing God and keep doing good. Take the high road, even if you have to hide for a while. Don’t get out of His shadow, The Great Divine!

David questioned Jonathan but his intent was pure. Have I done anything wrong? Am I guilty of anything? If so, kill me yourself. (V 20:8) What it all came down to was jealousy! Saul hated David because he was jealous of him. (See verse 18:9) But it had to be so that God could show Himself strong and David would get the seat of king. Mind you that David was the same one who played for Saul when an evil spirit taunted him. Sometimes those whom you’ve been the best to, hate you the most.

Couldn’t it have been easier? Couldn’t God have given us a safer route? Yes! But if so the enemy might have overtaken you. God teaches us to fight and right. God could have removed Saul or taken him out, but there was a lesson for Saul in all of this. There is a lesson for us through him and David both - on what it truly means to serve God and what it doesn’t. What it looks like to be a true leader and what it doesn’t. There’s a stark difference between the two. The people loved David and David loved the people. Saul cared too much about what the people thought. He was led by opinion and fear of man. That’s wicked.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” 1 Samuel 15:23-24

David however, was led by God and feared Him, not man. He led the people, he wasn’t led by the people or their opinion. There was no fear of them, only God. David was always up for what God put in front of Him. Neither did David take heavy weights to tie the people down so that they would follow by control. He wasn’t a manipulator or a people pleaser. He didn’t rule with an iron fist. He was a natural born leader and they willingly followed him. Saul resisted.. He resisted God and His will. He was stubborn and defiant, and so God’s Spirit was eventually taken from him. And still we see that this plot went on for a while, yet God had David right where He wanted Him to be. Though he ran, he was brave and wise. At one point he could have taken Saul’s life, but He didn’t.

The enemy or world will tell you to…

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, hat you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45

Leave it in Gods hands. Because it’s not in your control; then it’ll be left up to Him. 

David left it in God’s hands, even when he could have taken it into his own. Do  you? OR, do you try to figure it out and take it back regularly? As Christians we face spiritual warfare and it is real. You will be hated by some for doing God’s will. Jesus was hated without cause. That’s a fact. He answered matter-of-factly when asked who he was. But, after that He was silent and confident in Whose.. He didn’t argue, try to cause a fight, try to prove or justify who He was. He already knew! Also, He could’ve sent down 10,000 angels to save Himself, but He knew that the death and resurrection was part of God’s plan. He said: ‘Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done.” It didn’t feel good, but it was to save you and me from the very one that pursues us still. That’s our real enemy. We must fight God’s way to prevail.

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22

But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ John 15:25

Evil people will hate the goodness of God in you. Don’t be surprised. Didn’t Jesus say if they persecuted Him, they would you too! Endure. Don’t cave. 

It doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place! Let them pursue, it’ll prove them wrong and He will prove right. It’ll be a snare to then. When evil digs a ditch for you, they themselves will fall into. It will not prevail. Wait it out. Trust it out. 

Remember God sent an evil spirit on Saul just as He allowed Satan to attack Job, but in the end, He proved to be God.

I can’t get this point across enough. If today you face persecution, it feels like you’re in the wrong place and you’ve had enough: stay and remain until God tells you to make a move or come out. Make a stance right where you are. He will lead you to where you need to be. Even though the heat of the battle is fierce and it seems to get worse day by day with no end in sight, remember this: DAVID WON AND SAUL WAS DEFEATED, eventually, and in the end. Do not give up hope but be a prisoner to it. Return back to your Strong hold, God Himself, and you will see salvation. David had to wait. David had to run. David had to hide. But God can prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. He is the one that anoints what your head with oil so that the enemies cannot defeat you. Psalm 23 says yay though I walk through….. Don’t stop, you’re never meant to stay in one place, you’re just passing through it. This too shall pass.. Like one preacher said: “It didn’t come to stay, it came to pass.”

The enemies taunts are nothing more than mere threats to scare and stop you. Don’t back down.

David was anointed from a young age and all of this had to be in order to play out. This was part of the plan and because his head was anointed, eventually his head would be crowned. But it did not come without a fight. David learned to fight from a young age in the field how to fight by fighting a lion and a bear first off. Then it was a Goliath. When his brother told him he couldn’t fight this giant, he turned his head. He didn’t listen to him, he trusted God in him. Then after that he fought armies. Now Saul. Yet God saw him through every battle. So if and no matter what battle you face today, it’s probably a good sign that you’re right where you need to be. A battle does not come without war. War does not come without a fight. Victory never comes without both, or else why would you need victory if no fight.

You will not be defeated, but when having done all you can do, Stand! Stand firm in your faith that God will win. Don’t waver. Don’t bend. Stand. The Bible says to not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Lord, when we don’t know what to do, we can keep our eyes are upon You. Whether it be an invisible fight or full out war, when we have God on our side, we can be sure the victory is assured.

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:12-13

God, thank You that You have me right where You want me and I am right where I need to be. Direct and redirect me as You see fit and I will follow You. I am only safe in You. And though the battle wages on, I can have peace internally knowing that You’ve got my back even when my enemies pursue. You will see me all the way through. A good man or woman can’t be kept a down, because Christ is within us. Jesus was and is The ultimate proof. On that third day He rose again. I know and am confident that you’re still rolling  stones. So, today I stand assured where I was feeling defeated. It may look like I’m surrounded, but the truth is, I’m surrounded by you. Open my eyes like you did the servant of Elisha to see Your army all around. I look up to the heaven’s, where my help comes from - To You, Maker of heaven and earth. My ever present helper in trouble times. Safe and sure.

The enemy will not prevail and You will use this for my good, and for Your glory. You promised to as long as I love and walk according to Your purposes. I’m gonna choose to keep on believing that eventually You will crown me with honor and not defeat. That is why I will not give up till the end.

God I’m being pursued hard right now and it doesn’t feel good. Come to my rescue. The battle is great and I don’t know what to do, but nevertheless, my eyes are upon You!

There’s something about when we sing in the midst of the battle. So, I will choose to sing and declare victory and not defeat:

“See a victory” by Elevation Worship

“The weapon may be formed, but it won't prosper
When the darkness falls, it won't prevail
Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
Oh my God will never fail

I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord
I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord

There's power in the mighty name of Jesus
Every war He wages He will win
I'm not backing down from any giant
'Cause I know how this story ends
Yes I know how this story ends

I'm gonna see a victory
I'm gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to you Lord

You take what the enemy meant for evil
And you turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And you turn it for good
You turn it for good“

(You are The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You stand above all and sit enthroned. You never fall off of Your throne. Nothing will stop you. In vain we fight alone. I’m going with You.)

“He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4

A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Psalm 110:1

All in Jesus Almighty Name, Amen.