GOD IS WITH US ON THE PLANE 

Some background from First Samuel 16 will bring you up to speed with our passage for today’s devotion. King Saul had recently disobeyed God’s command resulting in God taking away his anointing as King of Israel. Samuel was still mourning this loss when God came to him and said, “Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” 1 Samuel 1:1. Samuel arrives in Bethlehem in the presence of Jesse’s family. We pick up the scripture reading from here: 

“Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” So, he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have? “There is still the youngest, “Jesse answered, “but he is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” So, he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” So, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power…” 1 Samuel 16:10-13 

The story of John Jones who was traveling by plane from New York City to Boston on the 2:20 flight.  

Many of us, if not most of us, have missed our 2:20 flight to Boston. We missed it not because we were curious about our weight and fortune but because of an unseen life-threatening virus. Our normal way of life has been hi-jacked by COVID-19. Not only has our normal way of life been hi-jacked but we have no clue as to when and where this plane is going to land!   

As Christians, do we have any bases for hope during this Coronavirus hi-jacking of our normal way of life? Yes, as a matter of fact, we do! Paul says as Christians we have hope living in us. Colossians 1:27b…” Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Another way of saying the same thing is this: Wherever this plane takes us as Christians, we have Heaven in us!  

When we are introduced to the story of David, as it is found in First Samuel 16, we discover, at least, two things about David. First, we learn that he is a shepherd boy, 15 years of age or younger. Up to this point in David’s life, life was normal. You know things like routines – feeding and watering the sheep, walking the sheep from pasture to pasture, school bells, and Taco Tuesday at Rosas’!  It’s this second thing, that hi-jacks his normal way of life: he was chosen by God through the prophet Samuel to be Israel’s new king. You say, well that’s a good thing isn’t it. Yes, but this is where our lives and David’s intersect.  

The day Samuel anointed David to be king of Israel until the day he reigned in Israel as king was about 13 years.  During these 13 long years, the Bible tells us that David’s life was literally spent running for his life from King Saul who was trying to kill him! What David did not know at the time was that God was preparing him to rule, to lead, and to defend His People, Israel! God was preparing David to be a King. 

During this pandemic, you and I should know with absolute confidence that God is wanting to show His Kingdom both to us and through us!  Remember this verse, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ( Matthew 6:33-34) Or, how about this scripture, “… Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”( Matthew 6:9-10) The stories of the Bible are there to encourage us to believe that God indeed has a plan! He had a plan for King David’s life, and He has a plan for each of our lives. CHRIST in us the HOPE of Glory reminds us that our Heavenly Father is on the plane with us, hi-jacked or not.  

During this pandemic, let us hold up high the banner of Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ.”  

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father be our shepherd, our protector, our strength, our peace and our comforter until you come and rescue and redeem us from this time, we find ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Until we see each other again, face to face, may the Lord bless you!  

Brother Wade