Key Verse: 1 Samuel 22:2
And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

David’s men, a collection of those who had suffered at the hands of Saul and his government, gave their loyalty to David. Each one may have seen the opportunity to improve their conditions by serving David and by helping to make him king. All were fugitives whose lives were in constant danger. The exception was their spiritual leader, Ahimelech. He could have remained secure under Saul’s reign, but he chose David. It cost this priest and his family very dearly. Ahimelech gave back to David the sword of Goliath, the symbol of David’s greatest triumph (21:9). To fight the fight of faith we need an Ahimelech to provide the Sword of the Spirit, which is, according to Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God.
We can probably identify with these people. We, too, are in danger from the “kingdom of darkness” (Colossians 1:9-14). To fight our spiritual enemy, we need the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Colossians 1:13 points out that “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” We are all needy people. Paul describes all who follow Jesus in 1 Corinthians 1:26-30. There is a humility here born of the recognition of our need. What a great comfort to know that “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27b). This is who we are. We rejoice that God has chosen us to be His own.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I choose You as my King. Grant that I may humbly follow You, whatever it takes. I’m Yours! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I have watched, from time to time, a very interesting man on the Fox News Channel whose name is Bill O’Reilly. He has written several books, among which are, Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, detailing the historical events leading up to their assassinations. More recently he has written a new book…Killing Jesus. This got my attention. I’m reading the accounts of Jesus’ death from the four Gospels leading up to Good Friday. I feel compelled to pray for Bill. He’s touching the very heart of God in this new book. He’s also touching God’s ancient people, the Jews. I’m putting a copy of my email to him below.

Yours for giving allegiance to Jesus,

David