Psalm 122:6 encourages us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; ‘May those who love
you be secure.’” (NIV)
Deuteronomy 7:6 states about Israel
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The
LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples
on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured
possession.” (NIV)
After we saw the reports of the attack on Israel, Pastor Josiah and Joel Munoz directed us to
His Word and what He says about Israel, His chosen people. May His loving hand of protection be on Israel.
Last week we learned about the “dominant atmosphere" that overtook the three sets of soldiers Saul sent to kill David. David went to his spiritual authority Samuel, and the Spirit overtook the soldiers who began prophesying. Saul then decided to kill David himself, but as he approached David and Samuel, the Spirit overtook him too, and instead of killing David, he prophesied. Right living, leaning on the LORD, transformed David’s enemies and can do the same for us.
Saul became so unraveled that he even chucked a spear at his son Jonathon. As we learned
last week, he should not have been handling the spear because he was playing with temptation, but he persisted anyway.
When David was only twenty years old, he began his ten year run from his psychotic father-in-law Saul. What a disaster and yet the LORD was able to train and refine David into a man of God during this season. In 1 Samuel 21:1 David went to Nob (meaning “high place” in Hebrew) where he saw Ahimelech the priest, who asked David,”Why are you alone?” It was unusual for a high ranking person to be traveling without an escort.
David replied in 1 Samuel 21:2,”The king has sent me on a private matter…. He told me not
to tell anyone why I am here.” (NLT) David was not even communicating with Saul except to
avoid being killed. His lie showed up later in his life. Pastor Josiah reminded us to “stay fortified” and “Be steadfast” in intense times. It is important as the Beloved Identity to walk in character and integrity (which means to do the right thing when no one is watching.)
Because David and his men were starving, he came to Ahimelech and asked the priest if there was food. David asked for “five loaves of bread or anything else you have.” 1 Samuel 21:3 (NLT) Five loaves also relates to another situation in the New Testament when the LORD fed the crowd of five thousand men with five loaves and two fish in Luke 9. Jesus provided not only physical food for the people but also spiritual as He is the Bread of Life. When the Bread of Life asked His disciples,
“‘Who do the crowds say I am?’
They replied,’Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah,’
‘But what about you?’ he asked.’Who do you say I am?’
Peter answered,’God’s Messiah.’” Luke 9:18-20 (NIV)
That question is the most important question of our lives. We each need to ask ourselves who Jesus is. That answer can change your life for eternity. He provided eternal life for each of us that believe He is the Savior of the world.
Back in 1 Samuel 21:4 Ahimelech told David,”We don’t have any regular bread….But there is
holy bread.” Beloved David and his men were like the holy bread, set apart and uncommon.
When Jesus shows up, there is holiness just as when God appeared to Moses in the burning
bush. What was not holy became holy; God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was
standing on holy ground. When we surrender our hearts to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives. We become His Temple where He resides, and He commissions us to be holy.
However, the problem is that often we do not feel holy, and we act on our feelings, which
change as the wind does. Often our behavior dictates our current status instead of having our current status (our Beloved Identity) dictate our behavior. “You will never act right if you do not know who you are” and Whose you are. Let His righteousness permeate you and your
environment. You cannot do it alone but only through the Holy Spirit’s intercession and
guidance.
Ahimelech gave David and his men “the holy bread-the Bread of the Presence that was
placed before the LORD in the Tabernacle.” 1 Samuel 21:6 (NLT) This bread was special and
as in Leviticus 24:9 instructed the priests “The loaves of bread…were most holy. It is the
permanent right of the priests to claim this portion of the special gifts presented to the
LORD.” (NLT) This bread was an offering to the LORD, and David had the audacity to ask for it for his starving men. Was he out of line? “Beloved Identity provides for you unprecedented
access to His presence.” For us 1 Peter 2:9 states “But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (NKJV) All believers have access to Him because of His
crucifixion. The veil to the Holy of Holies was torn. “Understanding who you are as a believer
positions you to partake of His presence. Know who you are!” He is beckoning you into His
presence, and in His presence we can learn to be more like Him. What an incredible gift.
To access His presence, pray. He is as close as your acknowledgement. He is right here. Your
Maximum Identity is the Beloved Status. Previously only the high priest could enter that sacred place. But with the veil torn, all Christ followers have access to Him directly. David had access to the kingdom because of his beloved identity.
Finally, David asked Ahimelech if he had a weapon. The only weapon he had was Goliath’s
sword, the one David used to decapitate the giant. Ahimelech offered the sword to David who replied,“There is nothing like it….Give it to me.” 1 Samuel 21:9 (NLT) Goliath’s sword
represented the enemy but in David’s hands represented God’s victory! “God uses the weapon satan uses against His people to defeat satan.” Genesis 50:20 states, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” Perhaps the greatest challenges you have had to overcome are your greatest weapons of choice moving forward. “Make your mistake your mission.“ Strap that sword on to your hip. Receive who you are in Christ. Have authority over that area. God will set you free to have a testimony in that area of sin because the “cross is the revelation of His love and your worth,” Beloved!
Paramount Point:
“Maximum Identity: By faith, employ the fullness of who God says you are!” With your
identity secure in Him, may you be light and salt in this world.
Written by Annette Linthicum
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