Keep on the Alert!
1 Samuel 26
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, April 22.
I have an embarrassing military story to share from my time at the US Army Ranger School. I fell asleep on guard duty. I was laying in the prone position watching my sector of fire one moment and the next I was being asked by a Ranger Instructor where my weapon was. I replied, oblivious to my own failure, that it was in my hands, and then he looked down. As my eyes followed his, there was my weapon disassembled in front of me. I failed to keep on the alert and the consequences were grave.
King Saul’s men failed to keep on the alert, allowing David to infiltrate their camp. As Abishai wanted him to, David could have killed the king, but would not raise his hand against God’s anointed, but instead took his jug of water and his spear. In 1 Samuel 26:15-16, David confronted Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, about his failure:
“This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”
In Matthew 26:40-41, like David to Abner, Jesus rebuked his closest friends for not being able to watch over Him while He prayed:
“And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’”
Seize the moment and keep on the alert in prayer by learning to trust in the strength of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus commanded in Mark 13:33, “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.” Keep watch for Jesus!
God bless you!
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