Date: 04-15-2021

Title: Loyalty

(S) cripture:
1 Samuel 26:6-11 (NLT2) “Who will volunteer to go in there with me?” David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother. “I’ll go with you,” Abishai replied. 7 So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. 8 “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” 9 “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD’s anointed one? 10 Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The LORD forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!”

(O) bservation:
On more than one occasion David has had the opportunity to kill Saul. David has already been anointed as king by Samuel, but Saul is still living and David respects and is loyal to “the Lord’s Anointed”. Even though Saul has sought to kill David to preserve his throne, David refuses to raise his hand against Saul. It is a demonstration of loyalty we do not see very often anymore.

(A) pplication:
Loyalty is a noble trait. We look for it in the people we associate with. One of the great gifts I have is some loyal friends. No matter the circumstance or inconvenience I can count on them. The loyalty goes both directions. Even when given reason not to be loyal, David was. I want to demonstrate that kind of loyalty to my friends.

(P) rayer:
Lord, for the gift of loyal friends, I thank you. Let me be loyal to them. Let us all be loyal to you. amen