Prayer: Father, peace is something I seek. Peace is a gift of Yours. You are the source of all peace. Amen.
Reading: 1 Samuel 27 key: vs. 1-2 “Then David said in his heart, “One day I’ll be swept away by the hand of Saul. There’s nothing better for me than to escape immediately to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me in all the territories of Israel, so I’ll escape from his hand.” So David rose and crossed over, he and the 600 men that were with him, to Achish son of Maoch, king of Gath.” TLV
Attention: I remember discovering my mother was reading a novel titled The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I had heard of the man but knew little about him. Unlike David, Solzhenitsyn was sent to prison and later given a ticket out of Russia for being outspoken dissident. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Aleksandr, “Following the removal of Khrushchev from power, the Soviet authorities attempted to discourage Solzhenitsyn from continuing to write. He continued to work on further novels and their publication in other countries including Cancer Ward in 1966, In the First Circle in 1968, August 1914 in 1971, and The Gulag Archipelago in 1973, the publication of which outraged the Soviet authorities. In 1974 Solzhenitsyn was deprived of his Soviet citizenship and was flown to West Germany. In 1976, he moved with his family to the United States, where he continued to write. In 1990, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, his citizenship was restored, and four years later he returned to Russia, where he remained until his death in 2008 (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn – Wikipedia).”
David, after years on the run from the pursuit of Saul, realized that it might be better if he lived in a neighboring land, an enemy of Israel. He decided on Philistine territory and after speaking with the king Achish and assuring him he was no harm to Achish, he was allowed to settle in and given the territory of Ziklag. David lived in Ziklag “a year and four months.” What he did in the practical, was to apply the principles of Proverbs 16:7 “When one’s ways are pleasing to Adonai, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.”
King Solomon, David’s son is credited with writing the book of Proverbs. Why should we not expect to discover a pearl of wisdom like Proverbs 16:7 when he saw it put into practice? Solomon’s kingdom experienced peace during his reign which his father David established during his reign.
May my ways be pleasing to Adonai, just as David’s ways were pleasing, so that He makes even my enemies to be at peace with me.
Action: I choose today to please Adonai in all my ways, so that He will make my enemies to be at peace with me.
Yield: I choose today to give the Ruach Adonai control so that my ways will be pleasing to Him.
Engage: I choose today to engage in holy living with the Ruach Adonai.
Relationship: I choose today to live in holiness with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for the example of David and peaceful living with a former enemy in king Achish. I trust that You will do the same for me. Please restore and reconcile the relationships which have been so hurtful in the past. Amen.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 16:7 When one’s ways are pleasing to Adonai, he makes even his enemies be at peace with him.” TLV
Music Video: Claire Ryann Crosby—Peace In Christ https://youtu.be/Waitmz6C100
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”