From the Start

So today's section of Scripture finds David at the end of his rope. He seems to be losing hope in the promise God made to him about becoming king...and he has decided to take things into his own hands. David is tired of running all over Israel hiding out, so he makes a plan to head for the land of the Philistines. No, that's not a typo...the guy who has always stood against the Philistines is now going to live with them. Achish, the Philistine king - probably thrilled to have David as an ally and not an enemy - gives David a section of land in the country and David lives there with his men and their families for over a year. Throughout that time, David and his men would raid different nations and then he would lie to Achish about who he had attacked. David led Achish to believe he was raiding Israelite nations. Achish, then, thought of David as his servant and that he would never leave the land because he was now hated by the Israelites. Today I pray for the ability to see outside of the moment. So many times we make decisions based on the now, not pausing to wisely pray for vision for the future. God can always work all things out for the good, but how much longer our training when we get off track. Thank God He teaches us so much no matter which direction we run, but I want to keep focused on His desires and the direction He is running from the start.

Running His Pace

Not long after Saul promises to stop chasing after David, some men come to him and tell him where David is living. Saul takes 3,000 men and sets up camp near the area, again seeking David's life. David sneaks into the camp at night, past a barricade of men assigned to protect the king and right up to where Saul is sleeping with his sword stuck in the ground next to him. The one man David took with him, Abishai, tells David this is his moment to seize and even offers to slay Saul for him. David again states that he will not take matters into his own hands against the Lord's annointed. Instead, he takes Saul's sword and water jug from near his head and leaves the camp. Is David like James Bond, or what? I mean, twice this guy has sneaked up to Saul unheard and unnoticed to take something right out from under him! He is a rock star! When he gets a safe distance from the camp he calls out to Saul and tells him what he has done. Saul again repents, promises not to pursue David again, and returns home. One thing David says to Saul, however, is very interesting. David states that the Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. I think we lean away from that kind of talk because it tends to sound like we can earn God's favor, but I don't think that is what it means. I think David is saying that a daily walk with God - trusting each moment in Him with faith - is rewarded through making choices that honor Him. If He created the world and set up all the principles that keep it in motion, surely there is a benefit to joining into the rhythm by staying in sync with its Creator. By running His pace, we align ourselves with His plans and purposes.

Losing No Time

David now flees to the Desert of Maon into the property of Nabal. Nabal was known as a wealthy man who was "surly and mean" in his dealings. He was married to Abigail, a "beautiful and intelligent woman." David and his men settle near where Nabal's hired men are keeping his flocks, and David makes sure they are protected from thieves and danger and does not harm them or steal anything for himself. When the time comes to shear the sheep, David sends a few of his men to Nabal to ask him to spare "anything he has" for David and his men since they protected Nabal's assets. Nabal lives up to his reputation by answering the men harshly and in essence telling them that David is a wandering nobody and should settle somewhere and take care of himself. When the men return and tell David this, he immediately gets them assembled and prepared to fight Nabal and his men. One of Nabal's servants is witness to all of this and runs to tell the story to Abigail. The Scriptures read that when Abigail heard this she "lost no time." She gathered food and supplies, loaded them with her servants and sent them ahead while she followed at the end of the caravan. David was just saying how he would wipe out all of the men belonging to Nabal's household when Abigail rides up and bows down to him. She asks David to focus on her and her kindness over Nabal's foolishness. She states that he is "bound in the bundle of the living by the Lord" and that he need not have bloodshed on his conscience when he is king. In one interaction Abigail reminds David of his ultimate promise from God to become king and the responsibilities the promise brings with it. David is so impressed with Abigail's wisdom that he vows to let Nabal and his household live and Abigail returns home. Eventually God deals with Nabal in His own way and Abigail marries David. Today I am reminded of how important is our focus in life. Abigail embraced her beauty and intelligence and used it for good. How hard it is for us - especially women - to truly embrace our beauty and wisdom! When the time presented itself, Abigail didn't lose time focused on her husband's screw up or make excuses for him, she used her own gifts to seize her moment in history. I pray for the wisdom to focus on what I can give to others; to not lose time worrying or blaming others but to act in a way that is "beautiful and intelligent" in my own life.

His Race Strategy

Saul returns from fighting the Philistine's and takes 3,000 men with him to continue his manhunt of David. David is hiding in a cave when Saul steps into the darkness to relieve himself...yes, that is really in the Bible! David's men encourage him to kill Saul while he is in this compromising position, even saying that had to be orchestrated by God because of the strange circumstances of the situation. David instead creeps up and cuts off just a corner of Saul's robe. After Saul leaves the cave, David feels guilt over what he did and puts into words what his actions have shown from the beginning. He states that he should never have lifted his hand against the Lord's annointed. In other words, David knows that God will remove Saul and he will be made king because God promised it and he doesn't need to do anything to rush or manipulate that plan on his own. David leaves the cave and confronts Saul, proving that he could be trusted and that he does not seek to harm Saul. Saul recognizes David's integrity and vows, for the time, not to hunt him down any longer but David must have sensed some need to be guarded because he does not return home with Saul but goes back to the stronghold. Today I pray for God's timing to be my timing in all areas of my life. I don't want to run in and try to make things happen but instead wait on His timing and ways.

Alive and Running

While in hiding, David receives word that the Philistines have attacked Keilah and he desires to go and fight them. Apparently his disdain for the Philistines has not ended since he defeated Goliath so he asks God if he should go and save Keilah. God answers that he should, but when David gathers his men they are afraid and don't want to go. Again David asks God what he should do and God says for them not to be afraid; He will deliver their enemies into their hands. David and his men fight and win, which gets back to Saul who thinks that God is delivering David into his hands. Saul's ability to convince himself that God is on his side - even though he has turned his back on God - is one we all must be aware of in our own lives. We often turn from God and His way of doing things, then expect to know His will or have our hearts open to His voice when we have closed ourselves off from Him. David continues to inquire of God before each move he makes and is able to stay one step ahead of Saul in his pursuit. Obviously David is tired, frustrated and discouraged from all of the running from Saul, but he is encouraged when Jonathon visits him and "helps him find strength in God." Jonathon is again acting as a true friend in one spirit with David by pointing him to God's strength in his time of need, as well as reminding him of God's promise that David will be king. Saul makes alliances with some of the men in the area where David is hiding and actually is closing in on David when he is suddenly called away because the Philistines are attacking his country. Even when the end seemed very near as Saul almost caught up to him, David must have clung to the promise that God would see him through and keep His promise. Today I pray for the strength to see God's promises in the dark moments. When God makes a promise to us, He never does so with conditions based on our efforts or the actions of others. His promises remain; I pray that my focus and faith will remain in Him.

The Running Club

After acting like a crazy person to escape being found out, David finds refuge in some caves. His family learns of his whereabouts and comes to find him, resulting in a ragamuffin band of renegades resembling Robin Hood's story. David gets his parents into safe keeping with an ally king, then becomes leader to all the others. Saul hears of David's encounter with the priest in Nob from one of his servants and puts the priest and all of their families to death...this guy is ruthless and relentless. David hears the news and feels the weight of guilt that all those people died, in part, due to his lying. Had David not lied to the priest about being on a mission for Saul, he may not have helped David and even given him some wise counsel. Instead, David put his own safety and needs first, eventually leading to the death of 85 priests and their families. How often I think of myself and even lie to get my priorities put first. I know you're probably thinking that you don't lie...but we all do...even if only to ourselves by convincing ourselves we are looking out for others when really we are looking out for number one. David at least took responsibility for his part in the deaths of all of those people...he owned his own and was then capable of moving forward. Truly, we can only change ourselves so owning our part in any conflict is the only sure way to see change. Today I pray for the strength and wisdom to own my stuff...to face my part in the chaos and to see the peace God grants through that humility. I am running today with eyes wide open.

On the Run

In David's story up to this point he seems focused on trusting in God through his good and bad days. As he continues to flee from Saul, however, his story takes a twist. He runs to Nob where he finds the priest Ahimelech who asks David why he is traveling alone. David lies and states that he is on a mission for King Saul and in need of food. Ahimelech gives him the conscecrated bread of the temple as well as the sword he used to slay Goliath, which must have been kept there at the temple as a sort of dedication to God. The sword David once used to fulfill God's purpose is now in David's hands for his own purposes. The tone of this section of Scripture is that of a man on the run who is solely depending on his own strength and intellect. David then flees from Nob to Achish, the king of Gath, and is questioned by his servants as to why he is on the run since he is Israel's great hero. The word says David "took these words to heart". I think fear began to set into to David's soul. Fear of Saul, fear of whether God would come through, fear of being a fugitive, fear of not having anyone on his side all began to erode David's trust in God. He decides to further lie by pretending to be insane; a far cry from the David who boldly stood against the giant. The difference, I believe, is David completely relied on God's power when he was confident against Goliath; now he relies on his own devises to try to manipulate others for his purposes. Today I praise God for the times I relied on Him and stood my ground for His purposes. I pray for the times I will be tempted to run from God by taking things in my own hands. I pray for the wisdom to see the difference and the courage to run after His lead.

Running from the Edge

David is again being hunted down by Saul and goes to his trusted friend Jonathon for help. Jonathon assures David that Saul is NOT seeking his life; Jonathon is convinced that his father would not do anything without first confiding in him. David persists, however, and says, "There is only a step between me and death." Have you ever been there? Maybe not literally, but do you ever have those seasons of life where you feel right at the edge of death in your soul? Jonathon comes through for David in this moment, when he needs support so desperately. He and Jonathon construct a plan for determining whether Saul really is after David and a way for Jonathon to get word to David. You can read as the two are planning that David is apprehensive of whether Jonathon will actually stand for him - not because he is doubting Jonathon's integrity, but because of the trust it will require out of Jonathon toward a fugitive who has nothing to offer him. As David predicted Saul does prove his anger and deceit so that Jonathon is convinced he is seeking David's life. He meets with David and the two share a moment of true trust and love as Jonathon again swears to be loyal to David all their lives. David weeps at the outpouring of Jonathon's trust and that he would risk his life to stand for David. Just by being there for David, Jonathon pulls him back from the edge of death and gives him hope that someone, somewhere, is living out God's hope in him. This morning I pray as I run that I will see the people in my life that are standing for me...that believe in me against all odds...that sacrifice for my good...that see God and His work in me. I pray that I will be worthy of their hope in me and live with integrity by God's strength. I pray for a good run through this life.

Taking one for the Team

This morning God speaks to me again about the power of having someone in your life that believes in you. We have all experienced the human capacity to let others down, as well as being let down, but the privileged few know the gift of being truly known and loved by another. Saul's jealousy toward David has so consumed him that he now seeks David's life. He tries to get his son Jonathon to join in the manhunt for David. Jonathon convinces his father that David has done nothing to wrong him, and Saul makes an oath that he will not harm David. But, after another battle with the Philistines in which David is hugely successful, Saul's envy rages again and he seeks to kill David. Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, helps him escape but when Saul finds out and questions her she shifts her loyalty away from David because fear for her own safety outweighs her love for David. How often am I in the position of choosing to be a Jonathon or a Michal? Will I stand for someone else - putting their passions and dreams above my own - when it endangers my own spirit's desires? Truly, God asks us daily to choose a selfless life of love in which others are first - a loyalty that goes beyond our own comfort many times. Today as I run I pray for eyes to see into the spirit of others and the strength to put their dreams first.

Running Partners

David is definately at a high point in his life as he triumphantly returns to Saul from killing the giant. Jonathon, Saul's son, is there and after hearing David speak, "becomes one in spirit with David and loves him as himself." He sees something in David that he can't ignore - maybe confidence, maybe faith, maybe courage - and he makes a pact to always be on David's side in life. For the rest of David's life, Jonathon desires to run with him through whatever comes his way - to put David's priorities above even his own. Is that possible? I mean, being one in spirit means putting someone else's deepest dreams, desires, passions first - even above your own. Jonathon is so attracted to God in David that he is willing to invest all of himself in someone else...what a gift. Today as I run I pray for the grace of God to humbly put others before myself - to truly experience being one in spirit with and loving others as myself.

Running Outside Yourself

This morning I read about David as he continues living in his father's house and going between serving Saul through music and serving his dad by checking on his brothers in battle. David's older brothers are on the front lines fighting in Saul's army against the Philistines. Well, not technically fighting...more like listening to a huge guy from the other side taunt them every day. The Philistine's have one big man, Goliath, that daily throws down the challenge to the Israelites - Saul's army - to send out a man to fight him. Whichever man wins that army will be declared winner of the war and they will be masters over the other side. David runs to the battle lines to take supplies to his brothers just as Goliath is making his daily threats. David takes it personally that Goliath is challenging HIS God and questionning whether HIS God is real. David decides he's the man to answer Goliath's challenge and is met with "resistance" by his brothers, the Israelite army and even Saul. Let's just say they have pretty low expectations of David and think he's nuts. The funny thing is, it's not that David has high expectations in himself but rather in God. He fully expects God to come through for him in this way. Call it faith or ludicracy but David banks his reputation and even his life that God will come through - that God is for him and with him. Of course, he's right and he knocks Goliath out and the Israelites take the battle. So many times I have really high expectations of myself and play them off as God's or other's expectaions of me - constantly trying to run fast enough to keep up. Instead, my expectations need to be based on what God does in me, which is completely out of my control. This morning I'll run thanking God that I can just be...and expecting HIM to do whatever He wills in me with His power, love, goodness and grace. All in His timing at His pace.

Running with Heart

So today it begins. I decided to join the blogging world for 6 months and see where it goes.
The Challenge: to integrate two of my top three loves in life - running and God - every day.
How I plan to do it: I get up pretty early each morning and spend it with God, then run, so I plan to read one chapter from the Bible each morning and then figure out a way to integrate some part of it into my run. I want the things I am reading to really effect me and my day, and I am hoping that this little experiment may do just that.
I'm beginning in 1 Samuel with the story of David. Way back before Jesus' time, God's chosen people asked for a king. God told them He was their king but they persisted and He gave them Saul. A while later, a prophet named Samuel is asked by God to anoint a new king after Saul has been “rejected by God.” Samuel is afraid to obey since Saul is still king and he doesn't want to anger him, but he does what God asks. Samuel travels to Jesse's house and has each of his sons - he has a lot of them - walk before him but God rejects each one. Finally, somewhat confused I'm sure, Samuel asks Jesse if he has any other sons. He says there is still the youngest, David, but he is out tending the sheep. Apparently there was no way Jesse or any of his older sons thought David could be chosen so they didn't even bother bringing him in. Samuel calls him, God chooses him, Samuel annoints him to be king, and David goes back to tending sheep! Meanwhile Saul is suffering terribly from the tormenting of an evil spirit, and he asks for a harp player to be brought in to comfort him – ENTER David! Now the scene is set for David to begin his rise to king, all in God's timing and without any effort on David's part. To quote Andy Stanley, "He just kept doing what anyone would do who knew God was with him."
This story encourages me. It reminds me that God has a plan in motion well outside of me yet it includes me. He will work out whatever it is He has for me, I just need to keep trusting and living in the faith that He hasn't forgotten me. Samuel had to have his doubts when he was annointing some little shepherd boy to be king...but God didn't. He knew what was in David's heart. Samuel had to be almost laughing out loud at God's choice. Today on my run I will laugh at the ways God has chosen me for His purposes when there are so many others out there so much more "equipped." At each mile I will thank Him for the ways He has searched out my heart and ask Him for the patience to let Him set the pace.