Sunday, September 1, 2019

HAVING DONE NO WRONG BUT STILL REJECTED


PROCLAMATION
“Achish answered, ‘I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’  Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.’”  1 Samuel 29:9-10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
During the time when he was discouraged as he continued to flee from King Saul, David left the wilderness of Ziph and went to Gath and settled with Achish, the son of Maok, the king of Gath.  Achish gave David and his men the town of Ziklag to live in. (1 Samuel 27:6-7)  Later, as the Philistines were preparing to go to war, David and his men joined in with them, but the Philistine commanders refused to accept him. (1 Samuel 29:3-4)  When David asked why he couldn’t go with them and what had he done; this was the reply that Achish gave him.  The Philistine commanders rejected David because of who he was and for what he had done in the past. (1 Samuel 29:5)

APPLICATION
David had done nothing wrong for the year and a half that he had been living with the Philistines, but he was still rejected because of his past.  There are people today who will not accept us because of what we have done in the past.  There are others who will refuse to accept us because of who we are.  We cannot change people or the way they perceive us.  We are only responsible for our behavior towards them.  If we are not accepted for who we are, then it is time for us to move on.  Don’t stay where you are not wanted.  If people cannot forgive us there is nothing that we can do about it.  The Lord God has forgiven us for our past sins.  It is Satan who keeps reminding us of our past sins so that we feel unacceptable.  We need to ask God to forgive us and then learn how to forgive ourselves for our past mistakes and move on.  The Lord God can close one door that no one can open, and He can open another door that no one can close. (Revelation 3:7-8)  Trust in God and move on.

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