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 David hangs with scoundrels.

• 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NLT) – So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. ² Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

The Enemy wants to take you out.

• The enemy knows about you – 1 Samuel 29:4-5 (NLT) – But the Philistine commanders were angry. “Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” they demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him? ⁵ Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
• Hebrews 10:1 (NLT) – The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview …
• 1 Corinthians 10:7 (NLT) – These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
• And then the enemy delivers the death blow – 1 Samuel 30:1-3 (NKJV) – Now it happened, when David & his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

The “O’ woe is me” syndrome.

• 1 Samuel 30:4-6a (NKJV) – Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices & wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters.
• This is the place where people start murmuring and complaining – Philippians 2:14 (NKJV) – Do all things without complaining (murmuring) and disputing

Sometimes you just got to encourage yourself.

• You need to encourage yourself – 1 Samuel 30:6b – But David strengthened/encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
• You remember His promises for your life – 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) – For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
• Then you need a word from God – 1 Samuel 30:7-8 (NKJV) – Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”
• Why encourage yourself? Because your purpose has never changed!

 * The audio corresponding to this post is under “media” on this site – dhfirstag.org – and is available on Monday