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A Bible Teaching Ministry of Galyn Wiemers
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![Daily Devotions, Evening and Morning Devotional](../images/Reps&Sets-banner-815LG-devotionTitle.jpg)
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![Sunrise on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Back to Previous Devotion](../images/sunrise-previous.jpg)
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April 2 - Morning
“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, ‘Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn
what God will do for me?’
So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.
But the prophet Gad said to David, ‘Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.’
So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.”
- First Samuel 22:1-5 |
![Sunset on the Sea of Galilee; Click to go to next devotion](../images/sunset-previous.jpg) |
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David Takes Goliath's Sword Back to Gath, Fakes Insanity and Flees to a Cave |
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After leaving the priests at Nob, David fled with Goliath’s sword for refuge in the most unlikely place – to the Philistines in Goliath’s hometown of Gath!? David escaped this bad decision by faking insanity (No one wanted to kill an insane person because it was believed that the demon that caused the insanity would transfer themselves to the nearest person which would most likely be the murderer.)
David fled from the land of the Philistines back into the hill country of Judah to find refuge in a cave. (Cave of Adullam details, photos, map.) While hiding in this cave at Adullam David composed two psalms seeking refuge in the Lord, Psalm 57 and 142:
“I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me —
God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.” – Psalm 57:2-3
“In the path where I walk
people have hidden a snare for me.
Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.” – Psalm 142:3-5
People within David’s inner circle heard where he was and came to him there in the Cave of Adullam. Members of David’s family were then taken by David to the other side of the Dead Sea to Mizpah in Moab where the king agreed to give them refuge. Apparently the international concerns of the king of Moab focused on maintaining good relations with David instead of with the current ruler of Israel, King Saul, who called David an insurgent and an enemy of the state.
David’s statement to the king of Moab clearly indicates that David was again walking in faith and confidence, even though he did not see the future clearly nor did he know what his next move would be. David’s restored faith is recognizable when he says to the foreign king:
“Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?”
It is interesting that the Lord then sends the prophet Gad to David with directions.
David had most likely returned to the west side of the Dead Sea from Moab (on the east side) at the narrow ford in the Sea that comes out at Masada. (See map here) The stronghold where David took his men upon returning from Moab would appear to be Masada itself. Postsherds at Masada from this time period confirm that Masada was used in David’s day.
The prophet’s word to David at Masada is, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” David obeys and moves into the Forest of Hereth which is the area east of the Cave of Adullam (map). |
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![Christian Quote from Church History](../images/quote-box.jpg) |
“The new morality, makes it quite possible to be a passionate lover of humanity, like a…Marx or a Lenin, and to be a passionate hater of actual human beings.”
– William Stanmeyer |
![Something to Ponder??](../images/ponder-box.jpg) |
The first Crusade began in 1095. Pope Urban II had division in the Christendom in the West that included an ongoing feud with King Henry IV of Germany. When the Eastern church in Constantinople asked for help against the Muslim invaders Pope Urban saw this as an opportunity to united the Western Latin church while also regaining control of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Urban preached a message at the Council of Clermont in 1095 saying, “An accursed race utterly alienated from God…has invaded the lands of Christians…Tear that land from the wicked race and subject it to yourselves.” The people and their leaders responded by crying out, “God wills it! God wills it!” Knights were recruited to conquer the land of Palestine (Israel) who were promised wealth, plunder, lands, kingdoms and, assurance that this endeavor would give them direct access into heaven or reduced time in purgatory. |
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![Hebrew and Greek Word Study](../images/word-study-box-long.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/fact-box.jpg) |
Nagash (Hb) – Approach (Eng) – nagash is the Hebrew word meaning “to approach” and “to draw near.” Nagash is used 126x in 23 of the Old Testament books. Nagash can refer to “approaching” another person, to draw something near, to sexual intercourse. A few of the verses that use nagash are Genesis 18:23; Exodus 19:15; Leviticus 2:8; Numbers 8:19; Psalm 91:7; Malachi 3:3. |
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The city of Babylon where Belshazzar confidently hid in 539 BC while Persia raided
his land was a very impressive fortress city.
- The city covered 100’s of acres
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Outer wall was 70 feet wide
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Moats filled with water surrounded the walls
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There were 3 sets of walls inside the outer wall
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The palace had hundreds
of rooms
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A massive fortress sat next the palace and was
availableif the Persians
did enter the city
(Details here, here and here.
Photos here, here, here, here.) |
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![Confession to Action](../images/confession-box-long588.jpg) |
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![Facts and Information](../images/proverb-box.jpg) |
Do I take appropriate action and make wise decisions as I wait to see what the Lord will do?
I will trust God. I will make decisions that I know to be righteous and wise.
And, I will attentively wait upon the Lord for his will to unfold. |
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"For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul."
- Proverbs 2:10 |
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![Personal Prayer](../images/personal-prayer-box.jpg) |
![Church Prayer Item](../images/church-prayer-box.jpg) |
![National Prayer Concerns](../images/nation-prayer-box.jpg) |
![World Prayer Concerns](../images/world-prayer-box.jpg) |
Safety on roads |
Commitment to the truth of scripture |
Unions and workers |
Chad |
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Reps & Sets is a daily Bible devotional for Christians from Generation Word Bible Teaching used each morning and evening. |
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