Join Jesus

Join Jesus

1 Samuel 22:1 – David left from there and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. His brothers and all his father’s family heard about this and went down to him there. 2 – Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was malcontent gathered around him, and he became their leader. There were about 400 men with him.

King Saul’s obsession with killing David was having a negative effect on the people. Their leader whom they had loved so much, had fallen away from God and was no longer concerned about what God wanted but was pouring every resource into keeping a kingdom and inheritance that was no longer his to possess. The Israelites could not trust Saul to be an impartial judge anymore. While he was spending the people’s resources tracking and chasing David, more and more people were leaving him and joining David because they were discontent with their king and found in David someone they could look up to; someone who was in the same boat they were; someone who still valued the words of God.

Saul knew that he was losing support and even accused those who remained with him of being disloyal. He said these words to his officials in 1 Samuel 22:7 – “Listen men of Benjamin! Will Jesse’s son also give fields and vineyards to all of you? Will he make all of you officers over thousands and officers over hundreds? 8 – But all of you have conspired against me, and no one tells me about my son’s covenant with Jesse’s son. None of you feels sorry for me and tells me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait, as he’s doing this day.”

Saul was misusing the resources of the people in the hopes of holding on to power. Any viewpoint that supported David and Jonathan was deemed a conspiracy. And Saul was seeking to buy the loyalty and sympathy of the people by offering them perks and positions of responsibility. The only option left to those hurt by King Saul’s abusive governance was to join David.

Leaders like King Saul are in our midst today. Truth is seen as lies. Lies are believed as true. The official points of view are the only ones acceptable with all opposing views censured. People in positions of power are offering gifts of freedom in exchange for compliance. What option is left to those being hurt and silenced by this abusive governance? Join Jesus!!

It is Jesus who said in Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest.

It is Jesus who said in Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free, 19 – and to announce the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Let us join Jesus and follow Him today!