E-pistle for January 11, 2016
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E-Pistle
FreeWay Foundation January 11, 2016
Scratching and Drooling
(I Samuel 21:1-15)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. David fled to Nob where he told the high priest, Ahimelech, that he
was not on a secret mission for King Saul; the priest gave David
and his men the showbread which had been presented to the Lord,
vv. 1-6.
2. Ahimelech also gave David Goliath's sword, but these events were
observed by Doeg, one of Saul's herdsmen, vv. 7-9.
3. David then fled to the Philistine city of Gath for refuge, but King
Achish did not trust this famous and powerful enemy of his nation,
vv. 10-11.
4. To save his life, David pretended insanity (scratching at the gate
and drooling on his beard); Achish gave orders not to harm him,
because pagans considered insanity to be a curse from the gods,
vv. 12-15.
II. Meditation: on the spiritual lessons seen in this chapter
1. David lied to Ahimelech and deceived Achish. Are lying and
deception ever right in God's eyes? Perhaps such "cover stories"
are acceptable and/or understandable as the only way to save
innocent lives.
2. Sometimes the wisest choice is retreat. Fear is not the opposite of
courage; it is an element of it; neither is foolhardiness the same as
faith!
3. No matter where a believer goes, it is likely he or she will be recognized
by someone. This is a secondary reason to act always with integrity;
the mail reason is that God commands it.
4. Sometimes the actions of God's people appear to be madness to
ungodly observers, but the Lord often moves in mysterious ways.
David was protected from harm, not by a legion of angels, but by his
scratching and drooling. (See Psalm 34 which deals with this incident.)
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications of the showbread given to David
1. The showbread (12 loaves placed in the tabernacle each Sabbath day)
represented God's provision for His chosen people. The high priest
did not violate the spirit of the tabernacle regulations, because the
bread became the necessary food to sustain life of God's chosen
and anointed leader, David.
2. Jesus taught that He, as God's Anointed One, was Lord of the Sabbath;
His ancestor, David, also pictured this authority which superseded
religious ritual regulations, Matthew 12:3-4.
3. Jesus used this incident to teach that human need always is more
important than legalism . . . strict enforcement of the law's details.
4. Although the above principles are true and valid, David and his men
still were subject to God's regulations of personal holiness as they ate
the showbread, vv. 4-5.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
Examine everything I say and do in the light of the spiritual principles
taught in God's holy word.
how to minister divine healing
(James 5:13-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the personal, human situations under discussion
1. Suffering? . . . PRAY, v. 13
2. Cheerful? . . . SING, v. 13.
3. Sick? . . . CALL FOR ELDERS TO PRAY, v. 14.
4. Sinful? . . . CONFESS SINS TO ONE ANOTHER (ACCOUNTABILITY
GROUP), AND TO GOD, AND BE FORGIVEN, vv. 15-16.
II. Meditation: on the proper exercise of prayer
1. The person who is suffering (physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or
spiritually) should pray for himself, v. 13.
2. The person who is sick (physically) should call for the elders of the
church; the elders should pray over the sick person, anointing him
with oil (symbolizing the Holy Spirit) in the name of the Lord, v. 14.
3. The elders should have faith that the Lord can and will heal the person
who is sick . . . that "the Lord will raise him up," v. 15.
4. The entire group of believers should confess their sins to one another
(and to God), so that their prayers may be heard and answered by God.
III. Revelation: on the benefits to be received from praying in faith
1. The divine healing of persons who are physically ill.
2. An increasing faith, as God miraculously manifests His power.
3. A moving of focus from the physical realm to the spiritual realm . . .
from healing of the body to healing of the soul (forgiveness and
cleansing).
4. Encouragement to live a righteous life, so that our prayers might be
fervent and effective in all areas of daily living . . . even for rain to
break a drought, vv. 16-18.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Pray for my own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.
2. Take the initiative, when I become ill, to call the elders of the church,
even before I call the doctor.
3. Function as an elder; when requested to do so, anoint the sick with
oil and pray with faith for their recover.
4. Always pray fervently (with my sins confessed and forgiven), believing
that God will answer miraculously . . . according to His sovereign will
and for His own glory.
Mark Twain said: "It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than
to open it and remove all doubt."
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