From the Heart by B.Demaere

‘One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him.  Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.  “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him, “My father will never find you!  You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.”  So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord.  Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.’ (1 Samuel 23:15-18) David was near Horesh.   Horesh means ‘forest” which denotes a place of protection.   David was protected by God from Saul who wanted to kill him.   Jonathan had a holy friendship with David under God.   He was David’s confidant.   A very rare friendship between two young men. Jonathan was so close to David that he knew God’s mind concerning them and he knew David was going to be the next king after Saul who was Jonathan’s father.   Jonathan did not mind that David was the

  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) (1Samuel 9-10) In this process God had chosen and called Saul to be king of Israel.   At first, he was timid and fearful and hid among the luggage.   As a consequence, he lost the respect of some of his people.   He lost his footing as a king soon after his calling.   Fear and timidity were not a substitute for humility in God’s sight.   God had given him a chance to be king.   Had he blown it? Maybe you have had a leader over you who was anointed of the Lord but showed a timid spirit and did not really fit in as a leader.   Nevertheless, as we look deeper in the story, we find that Saul’s shyness caused him trouble and worked against him. As God became sorry that he ever called Saul because of a disobedient step he gave him many opportunities to repent of his wrongs.   He placed a truly assistant on his path and David the next to be king was first used through the medium

 In truth, God loves you always even when you do not feel it inside.  Even when you feel all alone and abandoned, do not fear but always press into his love in complete trust. Are you in the depth of your soul crying for help?   Help is on the way in a new way.   Be ready to listen to God’s prompting. Go wherever he leads you he will give you an answer. He did give an answer to Hannah in (1 Samuel 1:9-20) when she was praying quietly for a son.   It was between her and her God and out of great sadness she trusted God. After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose.   Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord.   She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.   And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no