The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!"  2 Samuel 12:1-7

This is not the first time that Nathan appeared before David. In 2 Samuel 7, Nathan told David that someone from David's lineage would build a house for the Lord. David trusted Nathan. In the present story, Nathan got David angry about a story character that Nathan had presented.

Then, out of nowhere, Nathan said to David, "You are the man!" Then Nathan revealed to David what he had done.

The last two devotionals have talked about God knowing all. We just cannot hide from the eyes of the Lord. As the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139, "if I make my bed in the depths, ah, you are there!" No place on earth, under the earth, above the earth, or in the seas can we hide from God. Do you think He doesn't see it all? Do you think he is able to see watch six billion people at once?

Praise God that He is all-seeing and all-knowing. Then pray that He will continue to smile upon your actions.

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. 2 Samuel 11:26-27

David essentially raped a woman, then had her husband killed. King David tried to cover up his actions with Bathsheba. If it had come out what he had done, it would be scandalous. He would probably lose a great following. It troubles me that the situation wasn't dealt with more harshly on the spot (because at the very least Joab knew what David had done with Uriah).

But I find great comfort in verse 27: But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. As far as I can tell, displeasing the Lord is not a good thing. And it was written down for generations and generations to see: David had displeased the Lord.

As I mentioned in yesterday's devotional, God knew what David had done even though most of his Kingdom hadn't a clue. He knew and He was displeased.

Maybe you have been wronged; God knows it. Perhaps you have been cheated or robbed; God knows it. Or even yet, maybe you have been abused, violated, or raped; God knows it.

God's heart breaks at your pain and your suffering, and am convinced He wants to be your Comfort and Strength.

In the story above, Bathsheba was all of that, and yet it seemed like King David, Mighty King David, got away with it. It seemed like God just turned away from Bathsheba while all of this happened to her. He didn't turn away and David didn't get away with it. I don't have a lot of answers that can explain all of that, but I do know that God is worthy. Just as he was Bathsheba's strength, He will be yours as well.

So David sent this word to Joab: "Send me Uriah the Hittite."
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die." 2 Samuel 11:6, 14-15

Coverups are usually more disastrous than the actual event being covered up. David's dealing with Uriah is a clear case of this. Rather than dealing with his own sin, David covered it up. Bathsheba knew it. David knew it. And God knew it.

God knew it.

God knows when we're false and when we try to cover our own sinful tracks. Rather than taking the blame for our faults and actions (or inactions), we try to shift blame whenever possible. It's human nature. Adam and Eve tried to point fingers and shift the blame. David did the same. In Adam and Eve's case, God responded by "searching" for them. In David's case he would later send the prophet Nathan. There will come a day "when God shall judge the secrets of man by Jesus Christ according to my gospel" (Romans 2:16). In other words, we're not going to get away with sin or its coverup. They are not a secret to God.

Praise the Lord that He knows our hearts and our actions. Praise HIm that He is there to rescue us from our sin and the coverup it can lead to.

One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 2 Samuel 11:2-3

This is perhaps one of the most well-known stories in the Old Testament. David sinned. It wasn't Bathsheba's fault because refusing the King could have meant death for her. No, David sinned. He should have been at war but he wasn't. He couldn't sleep so he got up and roamed his palace. He was bored. We could even use the adage, "idle hands are the devil's tools."

When you're bored and have time on your hands, you can get into trouble. It happens to celebrities all the time. They have unstructured time between movies, so they do whatever they want and often it lands them in jail or worse.

So, this paragraph is geared for the guys in my audience. Be extremely careful of your unstructured time, especially if you're on the internet a lot. You don't have to be a genius to realize that photos and videos of nude women are all over the internet. Guard your hearts and your minds, gentlemen. Don't go there. Don't even think of going there. Run from it. Flee fast. Don't put yourself in that situation.

And ladies, don't think you're not immune to the temptations that idleness brings you. Perhaps you're lonely or your husband isn't giving you enough attention. You too can get bored. So you naturally gravitate towards online friendships, because they're "safe.". Be very careful of the kinds of relationships you build online. If you think your husband might be jealous if he found out how much time you are "chatting" with a guy online, then it's probably not a good idea to pursue that relationship further.

So, men and women are tempted by our idleness in very different ways. We need to honestly examine these temptations and act accordingly.God will provide a way out but we have to acknowledge that before the fact.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

Up to this point, David had been heroic and victorious in battle. He was defeating his enemies left and right. It was the duty of kings to lead their men into battle. David didn't. We've read the story. We know what's coming ahead. David had a lot of idle time on his hands. His mind wandered; his eyes wandered.

Four thousand years later we're still talking about what happened next. In a nutshell, David fell because he apparently had neglected the little things: what would he do when his men were away and the wives were all alone? what would he do with his ample free time? The King of Israel could do what the wanted when he wanted, and besides who would stop him?

So I ask, what do you do in your free time when no one's watching? Where do your thoughts and mind roam? When there's no one around but you and God, what do you do?

D.L. Moody said it best, "Character is what you are in the dark." Ask God to help you "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth!"
 "Your servant," he replied. 2 Samuel 9:6

This is an interesting little story tucked away in the pages of 2 Samuel. David wanted to show kindness to someone in Jonathan's lineage because he had been good friends with Jonathan, despite his extremely rough relationship with Saul, Jonathan's father. The Scriptures pointed out twice that Jonathan's son Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. Mephibosheth knew royalty as the grandson of Saul. He had probably lived in the royal palace with his father. And David treated him like an old friend.

There's something warm and refreshing about that, especially considering all the heartache that Mephibosheth's grandfather had caused David. Mephibosheth wasn't forgotten, nor was his father or grandfather. In many countries, Mephibosheth would never be heard from again.

But God is merciful. We too are like Mephibosheth. We're broken down and worn. He treats us like his long lost children. Nothing but the best for his children. Take a few minutes to just praise the God of the Universe. Why, you ask? Because He's worthy. Because He deserves what we can give him a million times over.

Just because.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 2 Samuel 8:15

After an entire chapter of explaining David's military exploits, the Bible tells us that as David reigned over Israel he was "just and right for all his people." As we read in the chapter, David was quite brutal and unpredictable towards his enemies. Leaders and commanders from opposing armies came bearing gifts for this mighty warrior. They knew that they didn't stand a chance against their fiercest opponent.

As a military leader, David was the best. As a King over a nation, David was just and right. As the Sovereign in his country, he had power and authority like no other. At his command, people could be put to death. Also at his command, peasants could be elevated to authority. With that position came great moral responsibility.

You don't have to look far to see abuses of that power. Many leaders (in every level of government in many governments around the world) view their position as a personal playground to please their every hedonistic whim. Some view the power as a means to controlling the lives of countless thousands. It may not be as overt as that, but the end is the same: power for power's sake, and greed unlimited. Power is intoxicating.

Once again, pray for your leaders. Pray that they, like David, will be just and right for their people. Pray against abuses of power.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD...2 Samuel 7:18

What follows after this text is a great prayer, a prayer I've heard over the years. It's a prayer of praise and worship and gratefulness. But it came from a man who was desperately seeking God. He sat before the LORD. I'm not sure what that means precisely but it implies that he just waited. I can see in my mind's eye a man sitting in the presence of true greatness waiting to hear wisdom and truth.

It's a simple thing really, to wait for the LORD. Certainly David prayed, but I suspect that he did more waiting than praying. Of course I don't know that for a fact but based on his previous encounters in worship and dancing, he was giving it all he had. He seemed to be spiritually in tuned with God (remember he gave up the ark of the LORD for three months because someone in his party had touched the ark).

We all know that sitting in the LORD's presence is worthwhile. We know benefits us in ways we don't even know, and yet it's very difficult for us to do. Perhaps we're expecting too much of ourselves. Maybe we fail because we think that we could never sit in His presence for an hour or more. Who says we have to do that?

Try it for two minutes, then five minutes, then ten. The more we practice it, the easier it becomes.

He'll wait with us.

David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?" He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household. 2 Samuel 6:9-10

I read these verses and I am struck by one phrase: "David was afraid of the LORD." David had a sense of awe and fear of the Lord. It seems to be missing today in leadership and among the people. We don't fear consequences for our actions; we don't fear the wrath of God when we dishonor his name; we're not afraid of God anymore. Granted, we are in an age of Grace, and God's not One to "zap" us every time we sin. Still, though, the reverent fear we in the West once had seems to have departed. This should concern us, because we have to ask, "why don't we have that fear anymore?"

Many of our persecuted Brothers and Sisters seem to have that fear and reverence. They know that worshiping and meeting together is illegal in their nation, so the things they do ought to matter.

Praying matters. Meeting together matters. Reading Scripture matters. Worshiping and humbling yourself before Almighty God matters. We can certainly learn from their eagerness and desire to serve God. Likewise, we can help them with our prayers. Our prayers may make the difference between life and death. Literally.

David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. …David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 2 Samuel 6:1, 5

David loved to celebrate before the Lord! I don't even know what sistrums are, but he used them.

I can see it now, 30,000 men dancing and singing and playing all of those instruments. As a harpist himself, David probably led the entire worship team. He had wars to fight, enemies to conquer, an entire Kingdom to rule, but he took the time to worship. It's very clear how we can apply this to our frantic lives.

But there's another little phrase that we can't overlook: "with all their might." Sometimes we just need to get caught up into worship, just let it all go, forgetting that there are others around us, forgetting that you're dignified and proper. It may be in private or it may be when the church is full, but we need to do it. How often we do it is entirely up to you, but sometimes we just need to "let 'er rip."

so David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"
      The LORD answered him, "Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you."

So David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." So David did as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 2 Samuel 5:19, 23,25

'So David inquired of the LORD' is written twice, and 'David did as the LORD commanded him' is recorded once in 6 verses. David asked, then obeyed. It's a simple principle for us to learn but very difficult to put into motion. We ask and ask and ask, but when the Lord tells us something to do, we question and make up 1001 excuses why we should do it the way we think it should be done.

There's probably one thing now that each of us are inquiring of the Lord. We're asking and seeking and knocking. Actually, it's more like we're begging and pleading and cajoling. But we keep asking. You have probably heard it said, but "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it."

Our challenge is to obey even – no, especially – if we don't like what we hear. He's given us the means and the ability, we just need to do it.

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him. 2 Samuel 5:9-10

David had just conquered the fortress of Zion, where the Jebusites lived. He made it his base. Second Samuel tells us that David was becoming more and more powerful because the Lord was with him. It certainly is an important point to note because without the Lord, David was nothing. It would be very easy for King David to forget that. He had everything going for him as a king. And he was gaining power.

It's the same for us. Without the Lord, we are nothing. It's often difficult for us in the West to hear that because we like thinking that we can do things on our own. God gives us talents and gifts to do those things, but ultimately He gets the glory. We need to be reminded of this early and often.

Now Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah slipped away. 2 Samuel 4:5-6

Ish-Bosheth was a frightened man because of what had happened to Abner, his military commander. Two of his enemies knew that and devised a plan to kill him. Later they took Ish-Bosheth's head to King David expecting to be rewarded. Instead David killed them on the spot because they had killed an innocent man.

It's not often that we in the West see instant justice. It takes a long time for the justice system to work here. It works (some might take issue with that), but it's a long process. Victims and perpetrators must wait for months or years before their case comes to court.

Pray for the officials in the Department of Justice. Pray that what they do will be honorable and fair. Due process in our system works and is what separates our system with those of Banana Republics. Pray that the Attorney General and the people on his staff will uphold the law in every case they oversee. And of course, pray for their souls.

When Ish-Bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel became alarmed. 2 Samuel 4:1

Ish-Bosheth reigned over Israel for two years. Second Samuel tells that he lost his courage when he heard that his commander died. What happened next, even though only five words in English, should be a warning to all leaders: your people expect you to remain calm in the face of adversity. If a leader panics and the people see that, they become panicky as well. They figure, rightly or wrongly, if the leader is that concerned, so should we.

In the next few days, watch your leaders carefully. Most, if not all, are even keeled. When President George W. Bush was in office during the tragic events of 9-11, when you saw his face, you knew that something was very wrong. You didn't know exactly what happened, but you knew something was amiss. Leaders don't often show a lot of emotion, but when they do it has meaning. They like to give the perception that everything is fine.

Pray for the President and Congress that they will seek God now and when they are in the midst of crises.

So David went up [to Hebron] with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
      When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, he sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead to say to them, "The LORD bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. May the LORD now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them." 2 Samuel 1:2-7

Despite David's problems with Saul, he was grateful for those who actually buried Saul. David was clearly cut from a different cloth, so to speak. He took a strong stand against any who opposed the King, and brought blessing to those who honored the King. He could have just ignored the issue, but he made it a point to call out those who would normally never get the credit.

Being grateful for the little (and not so little) things is an important part of the Christian walk. Those reading this devotional are probably grateful men and women. You're grateful for the little things in life. But you don't get a lot of credit. Despite what the world says, you are doing what's right. You are walking step by step with Christ and He sees your faithfulness. The world will not recognize it as such and may mock you for it. Hang in there. Keep at it. Continue to show your gratitude and thankfulness for what you've been brought through. As the Scriptures say, "your labor is not in vain."

In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD answered. 2 Samuel 2:1

Wouldn't it be great if we were to seek God as David did and get answers right away like he did? Even though those were very different times and they used different means to "inquire of the Lord" (through the priests, ephods, Urim, Thummin, and personally), the principle is the same, they still had to humble themselves to ask. I'll take this passage at face value and understand it to mean that David heard from the Lord himself as to what he should do. The Lord answered and David obeyed.

Wise leaders pray. They realize that they don't have all the answers. David didn't have all the answers and he was the King over Judah. As leaders and followers, we can learn this simple lesson, the great men and women of the Bible prayed to God. Sounds simple but when you're in the thick of major issues and policies, prayer goes by the wayside. Prayer then may have looked different than what we know today, but the fact remains: they humbled themselves to ask God to give them wisdom and counsel.

If there's an issue that you're wrestling with, keep wrestling with God over it. I've said it before, the wrestling may be more important than the actual answer! Keep at it; you'll come through, and when you do, God will get the glory!

David said to the young man who brought him the report, "Where are you from?" "I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite," he answered.
David asked him, "Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?"
Then David called one of his men and said, "Go, strike him down!" So he struck him down, and he died. For David had said to him, "Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, 'I killed the LORD's anointed.' " 2 Samuel 1:13-16

Even though King Saul hated David and wanted him killed, David still respected the office he held. In fact, the Bible records at least twice where David himself could have killed the King, but he chose not to.

Throughout this series I have emphasized the need to pray for those and to submit to those in authority (Romans 13:1). Obviously leaders are not immune to doing wrong or evil, but be careful what you say against those in authority. In other words, don't let careless or hateful words detract from your overall message.

Here's why I say that. Know it or not, like it or not, we are being watched. Our co-workers and unbelieving friends are watching to see how we react. What sets you apart in this regard? Are you like they are? Are you praying for those leaders regularly? Are you pleading with God to change their hearts? Are you asking God to fill your heart with love towards those leaders you strongly disagree with?

As I write this, there is rioting in the streets over what many
perceive to be fraudulent elections. The former leader Ahmadinijab was
said to have lost 15 million to 8 million but he's already claimed
victory. Pray for what's happening there.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me."
      But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 1 Samuel 31:1-6

King Saul saw that there was no way out of a certain death, so rather than die at the hands of the enemies, he decides to take his life. First he implores his armor-bearer to run a sword through him. The sword-bearer refused. So, Saul fell on his own sword, and his armor-bearer did the same.

Leaders like King Saul are under pressures that you and I never have to face. Doing the right thing all the time can be burdensome, especially when it could easily affect thousands or millions of lives. In Saul's case, he knew that if he were captured, he might have been tortured or beaten.

I recall hearing stories of Sir Winston Churchill after many great political battles would go up against another difficult enemy: depression.

Pray for the leaders in your country. Pray that they will be able to bring many of their cares to God. Pray also that while they are under pressure, they will begin to seek God.

He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her."  "There is one in Endor," they said. 1 Samuel 28:6-7

This is certainly a troubling passage for Christians and rightly so. There's a lot we don't know in this passage. Did Saul actually hear Samuel and did the medium actually see Samuel? Was the voice of Samuel telling the truth about the kingdom being ripped out of Saul's hands and into David's?

Saul knew that he had turned his back on God; Samuel knew it; David and Jonathan knew it. And yet Saul tried to get answers from the Lord about what he should do next in battle against the Philistines. He got nothing, so he consulted a medium. Again, the voice of Samuel confirmed that he was turning away from the Lord.

I don't know a lot about the spirit realm, but I do know this: Christians ought not to be dabbling into divining the truth from someone other than God. If we don't get an answer from God on a matter, keep asking. Keep bugging God for your answers. You'll find that that's what He wanted you to do all along.

David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 1 Samuel 23:14

Again and again in the Bible, the theme is "man tries to do things on his own and is thwarted by God." Saul has a zeal to eliminate the person he thinks is his archenemy, David. King Saul's obsessed with finding David. But what does the Scriptures say? God did not give David into his hands. At any moment, God could have led Saul and his men in the general vicinity of David's hideout. He could have led Saul right to David, but he didn't.

God in control. He controls leaders; He controls followers. He's in control of politics and culture and society and conflicts and any number of things you can name. We need to hear that God is in control. We need to be told over and over again that we don't need to trust in our own resources or our military or our eloquent diplomacy. God is even in control of the ballot box, each one.

In the midst of a world gone crazy, God is in control. Repeat it often. Tell your friends. It doesn't matter what comes your way, God is in control.

The Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon? Now, O king, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for handing him over to the king."

Saul replied, "The LORD bless you for your concern for me. Go and make further preparation. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track him down among all the clans of Judah." 1 Samuel 23:19-23

King Saul was a man of many emotions and manners. He was certainly unpredictable in his dealings with others. He hated one day; love the next. He spoke well of David; but tried to kill him on a number of occasions.

The Ziphites came to Saul and informed on David. Saul thanked them–no, he blessed them–because they essentially turned David over to Saul. Here he is Saul the Diplomat. He wanted the Ziphites to find out more information so he spoke calmly to them. I'm sure Saul's aides couldn't even predict his actions.

Leaders are often forced to make alliances and agreements with people they would rather not do business with. Even the language they use when they're in these situations are unnatural and awkward.

Pray for the leaders of your country so that they will have wisdom when they make alliances with other leaders. Pray that they will know when to draw the line (i.e., cut off communication altogether) because of demands and threats the other party makes on the leader.

Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul, spear in hand, was seated under the tamarisk tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing around him. Saul said to them, "Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? Is that why you have all conspired against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is concerned about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today." 1 Samuel 22:6-8

Instead of fighting battles like kings often did, King Saul became paranoid about his power. He has power, obviously likes it, but is afraid of losing it.

Perhaps you've seen leaders like this (probably not to the extent that they'd carry a spear into a meeting). It's something about the lust for power that I don't quite understand myself, but our capitals are filled with power-hungry men and women. Often, when they are faced with the prospect of having to actually "work for a living," they become fearful and paranoid, as if someone was out to sabotage their career.

Saul felt that way about David and the priests of Nob. King Saul seemed especially threatened by David.

Pray today for those in power that they will govern fairly without fear of losing their jobs. Pray that they will make wise decisions.

Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD; he was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's head shepherd. 1 Samuel 21:7

Every wise leader needs to have an intelligence department. That department can be a few men or thousands upon thousands spread across the world. It can be human intelligence or it can be highly sophisticated electronic intelligence.

When you think of modern day intelligence, you think of U.S. CIA, (former) USSR KGB, Israeli Mossad, United Kingdom's MI-6, James Bond-type stuff. King Saul had the benefit of human intelligence. Doeg happened to be at the right place at the right time to overhear David conversing with the priest. Doeg, oddly enough, was a shepherd by trade, but was loyal to King Saul.

You don't normally think of praying for intelligence departments because they often do things, well, "off the record," so to speak. To what extent? No one really knows, and I'm not sure we'd approve if we did know. Of course they are heavily regulated about what can and can't be done but there are gray areas (such as waterboarding as a fresh example).

Pray for those overseeing the intelligence in the country you live in. Pray that they will make wise decisions, especially when lives are on the line.

Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!" 1 Samuel 20:30-31

Throughout 1 Samuel 19 and 20, David and Jonathan converse about Saul. Jonathan didn't believe that his father had ill will towards David, so they devised a plan to prove to Jonathan that King Saul was ready to kill David. As the above verses point out, Saul was enraged that his son had helped David escape, even to the point of insulting his own family members. Saul even hurled his spear at his son in anger! Soon afterwards, Jonathan warned David to flee.

King Saul was a man of very intense emotions, mainly that of anger as was evidence throughout these chapters. Angry men (and women) do not lead well, and they leave a trail of hurt and confused followers. Unfortunately this applies to those in leadership in the Church as well. Perhaps you know a leader with an anger problem. Take the time to pray by name for that person. Pray that he or she will firstly recognize the problem, and take steps to curb it. The change won't appear overnight but like any problem in life, recognition that you have a problem is a great first step in overcoming it.

Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

Saul sent men to David's house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't run for your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be killed." So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. Then Michal took an idol [b] and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats' hair at the head. 1 Samuel 19:8-13

Nothing speaks love and affection greater than your father-in-law throwing a spear at you while you're playing a harp! I am certainly glad I didn't live under that abusive man. You just never knew when his personality would change!

Entire books have been written about "How to Live with Impossible People." As a subject or servant, you need grace, plenty of grace. God will give you that Grace when you need it. Unfortunately, many need that kind of grace every day! He will give it Every Day. Thank the Lord for that!

Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"

So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before. 1 Samuel 19:4-7

Leaders need good advisers and counselors. The Book of Proverbs is full of verses that mention wisdom in counsel and insight. Leaders rarely get good counsel. The primary issue that prevents good advice from reaching the leader is self-interest of the counselor.

Think about it. You now believe a program is great but it just happens to go against what you originally proposed 2 weeks ago. What do you do? Do you make yourself look bad by advising against your previous program or do you stick with what you originally said? If your job is on the line, you will not make yourself look bad. Therefore, is your counsel worth anything? Probably not. On the other hand, if you give counsel and your advice is taken, you look like a genius.

Continue to pray that the leaders of the Free West get good counsel, and that the leaders of those nations choose them wisely.

Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out." 1 Samuel 19:1-3

Clearly Saul is out of line. And he makes it no secret about his hatred for his new son-in-law. Jonathan "gets" his father. He doesn't like it or approve of it so he informs David. David must not have believed Jonathan so Jonathan gives him proof.

It's a fact of life and none of us like to admit it, but there are people in this world who do not like us. There are managers and supervisors and business owners who do not like us. Sometimes the dislike is subtle; sometimes, however, it is very blatant and vocal. And often times it's nothing that we can change in our lives to modify their view of us. It may be our faith or our attitude or our language or it may just be our personalities clash.

So, pray for that person. Not that you would be liked but that their hearts will be softened. Similarly, we may not like someone for almost the same reasons described above. The important thing for us is to be able to recognize that dislike and ask God to reveal our hearts (because often we may not be able to pinpoint the reason). Then pray that God will help you to see redeeming qualities in that person. Pray that God will help you love that person.

Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"

The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, and his name became well known. 1 Samuel 18: 17-19, 26-30

Again we see the love/hate relationship that Saul has with David. He hates him and wants to kill him; then suggests that his daughter marry him! How would you like to have King Saul as your father-in-law? Holiday dinners would be interesting to say the least!

Finally, though, David married Michal, but was still a commander in Saul's army. Scripture also says that David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers. Showing up your fellow officers time and time again isn't a way to endear yourself towards them. But David knew the Lord was with him. More importantly, Saul knew that the Lord was with David (he still tried to kill him on occasion, but he knew that the Lord had watched over David).

Saul recognized that the Spirit of the Lord was on David. Pray, too, that the Spirit of the Lord will also guide our politicians and leaders. Pray that those who are vocal about their faith will continue to do so.

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul. So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns. 1 Samuel 18:10-16

Saul had a love/hate relationship with David. This is the textbook definition of an abusive relationship. Saud tried to pin David to the wall twice with his sword and yet he sent him to command thousands of his military men. Why didn't David run away from this madman? Well, when the King wants you in his presence, you will do it or you will probably die. David would know that kind of power all too well in a few years.

You have to think that maybe God was preparing David for when he took over the throne. God was showing David firsthand the abuse of power, the intoxicating power that the King possessed, and what it takes to please the King (among other things).

Power in positions of leadership is a very interesting thing. If you're not careful, you can let it dominate your leadership abilities.

Once again, we turn to our leaders. They have enormous amounts of power because they control a lot of money. Pray that our leaders will not be seduced by the allures of power and money. Pray that they won't let their power go to their heads.

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."

Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.  1 Samuel 18:6-9

Even though Saul liked David, he also infuriated the King. Essentially, David was moving in on Saul's popularity. Up to this point, David probably hadn't a clue of what kind of emotions he was bringing out in Saul.

Many leaders are very similar to Saul. They have expended a lot of time, money, and energy into achieving power, and they don't want a young boy to overshadow their spotlight. Even though Saul rose to power quite unexpectedly, now that he was in it, he liked it and wanted to keep it.

We hear stories about the behind-the-scenes tempers of some of our politicians. They want what they want, when they want it, and no little rule or regulation or secretary is going to stop them. I suspect that very very few of them have the humility and patience to deal with the public graciously.

Pray that these politicians won't let their emotions affect their decision-making abilities. Pray that they'll be able to recognize people for who they are, and not what they can do for the politician.