By Lisa Wilmore
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. He is our Everlasting, Eternal, and Endless Protector, Deliverer and Redeemer. “Thank You, Father for such a beloved and adored gift.”
There is a passage of Scripture that comes to mind this morning, found in 1 Samuel chapter 19. This chapter recounts King Saul’s growing obsession with killing David, who had been anointed by God to be the next king of Israel. Saul’s pursuit of David stemmed from deep jealousy over David’s rising popularity and God’s favor upon his life.
Despite Saul’s hostility, David continued to honor and serve him. One way David did this was by playing the harp to soothe him when he was tormented by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:23).
The root of Saul’s jealousy can be found an earlier Scriptural Text found in 1 Samuel 18, when the people of Israel sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). This comparison angered Saul and made him view David as a threat to his throne. From that moment on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David and sought to kill him.
Although Saul was continually seeking to kill David, God’s protection was consistently evident in David’s life. We must understand that when God has a purpose for our lives, He will protect us without failure. Scripture reminds us of several instances in 1 Samuel 19 where God’s hand of protection over David is clear-Jonathan spoke up for David (1 Samuel 19:4), Michal helped him escape (19:11–17), Samuel provided him a place to hide (19:18), and the Spirit of God intervened, halting Saul’s pursuit (19:23). Each of these moments was more than a coincidence-they were divine interventions. God was at work. When you are spared from harm, take a moment to recognize that it is not by chance. God is protecting you because He has a purpose for you (LASB, 18-19).
So, when your enemy is in pursuit of you, God will establish avenues of protection. The lesson David teaches us is that we must remain humble and not take matters into our own hands. Let God deal with those who seek to harm you.
David never sought to retaliate or strike back at King Saul. Instead, he trusted God to be his defender-the only One who can truly protect his purpose and ours. Do not fret, but instead, delight in God’s protection, knowing that it is tied to your divine purpose.
