"Drawing Strength"

"Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt." (Psalms 35:4) If you know the story, then you must be aware of the result of David's boldness, because for the very first time Saul would acknowledge David should be king. Saul had pretty much known for quite some time that his days as king were numbered, Samuel had made that clear to him many years before, and Saul had felt threatened by David for quite some time also; however, for the very first time, Saul saw David's heart; a heart of a servant meant to be king. Doesn't that remind you of anyone? The KING OF KINGS, none other than Jesus Christ; who came first as a servant to lay down His life for our sins, and is to return as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Before you can be strengthened you must die to yourself, and more often than not, what that requires is to lay down our lives for someone else. Basically that is what David did, or should we say, was willing to do; as he took that leap of faith, and he rushed out of that cave, he was putting his life on the line for the sake of the king. Now if you think that God will protect you, then how is that laying down your life? Well, let's see; Jesus new that He would rise up on the third day, so actually He knew that His life would not be over; and more than that, He understood that His death would bring victory over both sin and death; so not only did He know that He was protected, but He understood that He would be victorious over death. Not only did Saul acknowledge David should be king, but he made a request of David, saying, "And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house." (1 Samuel 24:20 & 21) Because of the integrity of David's heart, Saul felt assured that he would be king, and that he would be just; making David have confirmation of not only his calling, but of the heart by which his kingdom should be governed. Whatever our calling is, we must surrender everything over to God; in other words, we can not claim anything for ourselves, because when we do, we will protect that which we think is ours, including our own lives; and we cannot easily lay down our lives for another if we are protecting it as if it's our own... "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:5-8)