Scripture:
1 Samuel 21:10-15; 22:3-5; 29:1-11
Fri, 3 December 2021

God’s Grace Is So Tenacious

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about God and David in David’s two flights to Gath to escape from Saul’s pursuit of his life?

Deeper Reflection
DAVID FLED TO GATH to save his life from Saul’s pursuit twice (v.10; 1 Sam 27:1-5). It was God’s will for David to remain in “the land of Judah” – the place of his “divinely ordained destiny”2 – as God spoke to him through the prophet Gad (1 Sam 22:5). But it made David very vulnerable to Saul’s attack on him. Nevertheless, David had to trust in God that He would protect and deliver him (cf. 1 Sam 19:18-24; 23:13-14), and fulfil His purpose for him (cf. 1 Sam 16:12-13; 24:16-17). David fled to Gath because he wavered in his faith and took things into his own hands. His flight to Gath means he had gone off course from God’s will and God’s way. And in both flights to Gath, David had made things dangerous and difficult for himself. But God in His quiet presence delivered him from the same mistake – once (vv.11-15) and again (1 Sam 29:1-11). God’s grace is so tenacious. He will deliver us from our mistakes again and again. “God’s mercy and patience are not exhausted when we choose our foolish Philistia.”3 However, we should not assume from David’s experience that God always extracts us so easily when our faith in Him wavers and we go off course from His way. Sometimes God does so; at other times He allows us to experience the pain of negative experiences so that we may learn and grow. In either case, God’s grace and mercy are tenaciously present.
2 Robert B. Chisholm Jr., 1 & 2 Samuel, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Baker, 2013), 143
3 Dale Ralph Davis, 307
Application:

How does the tenacious grace of God affect my life?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise:
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To know God’s tenacious redemptive grace and mercy
  • Pray for significant people:
  • Pray for those in need:
  • Pray for self:

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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