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As the Feast approaches, many of God’s people face difficulties that challenge their determination to be there.
As the Feast approaches, many of God’s people face difficulties that challenge their determination to be there. Many times we are beset with work, school, money, mechanical, personal and other problems just before we set out. But invariably it is all worth it when we are finally joyfully streaming to the meeting facility under the full moon for the opening service. As we all know, the Feast is a type of God’s Kingdom, and our yearly pilgrimage to it is a type of our lifelong journey to be in God’s family.
Have you ever wondered why we have to struggle so much, not only for God’s Kingdom, but also at times just to get to the Feast?
The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that the lives and activities, both good and bad, of those in the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. are recorded for us as examples—examples to encourage and inspire us, as well as to warn and admonish us.
The life of King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. is one that gives me great inspiration, especially as the Feast approaches. There are many parallels between our daily lives and the life of this great man of God.
What was the difference between DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. and all the other kings of Israel and Judah? While a few of them were obedient to God, only DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. is called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Only DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. will be ruler over the 12 tribes in God’s Kingdom (Ezekiel 37:24). The obvious difference is that only DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. had to struggle for many years before receiving the throne. As so many later kings have proven, power corrupts. Can any of us say that we would not be corrupted by power? Just as DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.’s character and obedience to God were developed greatly by his years of trials and tribulations, so too are ours.
Fighting Saul and Satan
In his youth, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. served in King Saul’s court. Saul can be a type of Satan. Both Saul and Satan were anointed rulers (Ezekiel 28:14; John 14:30; 1 Samuel 10:1). Both exalted themselves and were guilty of rebellion (1 Samuel 15:23; Ezekiel 28:17) and the laments over their failures are similar (Isaiah 14:12; 2 Samuel 1:19). Before we are called by God, we have served in Satan’s court.
Just like DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., we each have our own personal Goliaths to slay. There can be no doubt that it was only by God’s mercy that DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. had the courage to face and overcome this giant, and we too only overcome trials and tribulations by God’s mercy extended to us.
Flush from this great victory, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. could do no wrong. Similarly, when we are first called into the faith, God often gives us great victories to encourage and inspire us and give us faith. Likewise, many times we are at our strongest right after the spiritual refreshing we find at the Feast. But just as Saul began in a jealous rage to try to kill DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., so Satan comes after us when we begin to live godly lives, and when we go back into the world after the Feast. That is when our character is really developed.
Never Give Up
In fear for his life and on the run, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. fell victim to fear, discouragement and even depression. But DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. never gave up, and neither must we.
DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. had two chances to kill Saul and end his persecution (1 Samuel 24 and 26), but instead relied on God. We are many times presented with chances to end our persecution from Satan by giving up. But we must rely on God to see us through, knowing that He has anointed each of us to be future kings in His Kingdom (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 5:10). And so we strive on through the long, dark months between Tabernacles and Passover, with the weekly Sabbath to strengthen and encourage us.
Hidden Danger
Interestingly, it was when DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. was king over Israel that he fell victim to the darkest time of his life by giving in to temptation and committing adultery and murder. At times when he was running for his life, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. prayed three times a day (Psalm 55:17), but he had drifted far from God at this time.
Some of the greatest trials we face as God’s people come when times are prosperous and our trials seem temporarily over. Then we, like DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., may not always feel we have the same need to cry out to God for help.
And it is often when we are at the Feast that we forget that Satan too attends the Feast. We get so caught up in all the godly activities surrounding us that we sometimes neglect our personal prayer and BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. study. We can, if we are not careful, have a more physical Feast than spiritual, resulting in the post-Feast blues and leaving ourselves vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
God is faithful to forgive every sin repented of (1 John 1:9). But if we persist in sin, it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2) and becomes a threat to our spiritual lives. Then we must, like DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., repent wholeheartedly and reestablish our covenant with God if we are to be a man or woman after God’s own heart.
We must ask God every day to lead us not into temptation (Matthew 6:8), and in faith ask Him for the wisdom we need to make righteous decisions in our quest for the Feast and the Kingdom.
So, as the Feast approaches, let us think of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.’s life and example, for we, too, have been anointed to be kings and priests in the coming Kingdom of God.
And we, too, will only take our crowns and thrones after a lifetime of being persecuted by the king of this present evil age if we, like DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., remain faithful to the living God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. UN
