Good morning, 

Grace Gems is “A Treasury of Ageless, Sovereign Grace, Devotional Writings.” 
 
“Our Purpose is to humble the pride of man, to exalt the grace of God in salvation and to promote real holiness in heart and life.” (www.gracegems.org)  

Monday:  How may I attain great degrees of love to Christ? 

Tuesday: How do we deal with trouble? 

Wednesday: How do we avoid hell? 

Thursday: How cleansed is the believer in Christ? 

Friday: How sufficient is Christ? 

Undeserving, ill-deserving, Hell-deserving! 

(Thomas Vincent, “The True Christian’s Love to the Unseen Christ!“) 

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How may I attain great degrees of love to Christ? 

Be much in holy contemplation of Christ. Spend time in secret retirement, and there think and think again–of the superlative excellencies and perfections which are in Christ. Think how wonderful and matchless His love is: 
  what heights of His love, which cannot be reached; 
  what depths of His love, which cannot be fathomed; 
  what dimensions of His love, which cannot be comprehended! 
O the ravishments of love, O the transports of soul–which some believers have found in their retired thoughts and views of Christ! 

“O dear Jesus, how lovely You are in Yourself . . . 
  the darling of Heaven, 
  the delight of the Father, 
  the admiration of angels! 
O what brightness of glory–what shining luster are You arrayed with! 
You are clothed with most excellent majesty and honor! 
You are girded with infinite might and power! 
The beauty of Your face is most wonderful! 
The smiles of Your countenance are most sweet and delightful!” 

“And does this beauteous One, this fairest of ten thousand, this most excellent and altogether lovely One–bear a special love to me? 
  To such a vile worm as me! 
  To such a dead dog as me! 
  To such an undeserving, ill-deserving, Hell-deserving sinner as me! 
O what marvelous kindness is this! What infinite riches of free grace! 

Has He given Himself for me, and given Himself to me–and shall not I give Him my heart! I am . . . 
  written in His book, 
  redeemed with His blood, 
  clothed with His righteousness, 
  beautified with His image! 
Has He made me His child, and prepared a place in the Father’s house for me! 
O how wonderful! O how astonishing!” 

“What shall I render unto Him? What returns shall I make? Had I a thousand tongues, should I not employ them all in speaking His praise? Had I a thousand hearts, should I not present them all, as too poor for a thank-offering unto Him? And yet am I slow–slow of heart, to love this dear and sweet Jesus! Awake, O my soul! Awake from your dullness and stupidity! Shake out the dust of the earth which has gotten into your eyes, and keeps you from the view of your matchless Beloved! Arise, O my soul, unfetter yourself; take the wing, and mount up above the sky and visible heavens, to the place where my lovely and dear Jesus is! Bid farewell to . . . 
  the flattering honors, 
  the deceitful riches, 
  the glancing pleasures, 
which are here below! Bid adieu to them, and leave them to those who place their chief happiness in them!” 

“Why do you hang downwards, O my soul? Why do you bend so much to the earth and earthly things? Everything here below, is altogether unworthy of your love. How empty and vain and thorny–are these worldly things! Do not waste your time and weary yourself for every vanity! Do not sting and wound yourself with these things anymore!” 

“Come, O my soul! Ascend, and soar aloft–with your thoughts, and desires, and loves, and hopes, and joys, unto the Heavens! There you may see, and view, and admire, and embrace your dearest Lord Jesus!” 

Such retired contemplations of Christ, and soliloquies, and pleadings with your own souls, when alone by yourselves–will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ. 
 
   ~  ~  ~  ~ 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. It is a day that is set aside for our nation to give thanks for all God has given us. Most will be focused on football, turkey, and naps. As believers in Christ, God has blessed us abundantly. Maybe we should thank Him. 

Why are we thankful?  

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize our lives. What makes us thankful?  

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.  

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan. He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.  

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.   

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) God made accepting Jesus easy. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

If you are interested in knowing more about the Bible, Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection on your behalf, or how to make this happen in your life, call or email me.  

What are you thankful for?  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001  chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Ingrid Ling was the CEO of WASI and was diagnosed with cancer. Her words should be an encouragement to us all.

Good morning,

Today’s devotion is from Ingrid. Although this is an update written by Ingrid, it is inspirational, challenging, and heartfelt. Please continue to pray for her as she “Enjoys the journey”.

INGRID’S UPDATE

Count it all joy.

I have had perhaps the most trying yet incredibly wonderful couple weeks of my life.

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that presents in the bones in the form of lesions. It sometimes presents as soft tissue tumors as well.

After a short time getting used to the idea that I had cancer and making plans to treat my multiple myeloma which, although it has no cure, treatment options are improving. Giving patients great hopes for long term (up to 11 years) remission -I had my first oncologist visit at which I learned that the oncologist was no longer certain that I had multiple myeloma (mm). Instead he gave me a 20% chance of having mm and an 80% chance of having a different kind of cancer. He listed off five other cancers that are the likely culprit….which, again, I have an 80% chance of having. All of which have a life expectancy of less than one year.

I felt like I had the rug pulled out from under me. Like I had the wind knocked out of me. I admit joy and contentment we’re not the first attitudes that I chose to embrace.

I was scared (oh so very scared), confused and I thought that I had every right to embrace whatever attitude I to chose.

God had different plans. And I am so very thankful.

Over a rather short period of time God replaced my tears of grief and fear with tears
of thankfulness, humility, silliness and pure joy.

God has placed just the right people in my life to help me along the way. One individual who’s been through cancer herself said.,” enjoy the journey- regardless of what the doctors say, you don’t know how much time you have left. Only the Lord knows.”

Enjoy. the. journey. What a beautiful way to sum up this adventure. Not all journeys are easy. Some have bumpy roads along the way; flat tires; transmissions that go out; cracked windshields. Some journeys take you into the dark recesses of valleys. While others take you soaring high on the mountain top where you feel as though you can touch the sun…views so beautiful they put tears in your eyes; oh the smooth sailing.

But, I thank God for cracked windshields, bumpy roads and faulty transmissions, for without them, I would have never known the love and generosity of my family and friends.

My sweet family and friends have given of themselves in ways that I would have never dreamed. They’ve given money, resources, time, sweat, tears, and prayers.

I spend each day in a hospital room filled with family and friends. Smiling, giggling and joking. I sport polka-dot toenails lovingly applied by my best friend who flew from Virginia to be by my side.

And at night, my room is cram packed full of as many people as we can fit. My sweet girl, Emily or my sweet husband, Shane Ling, unusually sleeps with me in the hospital bed.

I may not know the type of cancer I am facing. I may not know how long I have on earth. But I know that God is with me on this journey. And He gives me the strength daily, to smile, to laugh and to enjoy this journey. A journey of joy and contentment that only God can help find the beauty in.

Thank you all for joining me on this beautiful journey.

******************************
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2-3
********************************
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Thanksgiving

Why are we thankful?

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:3-5)

Introduction

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

Free Will

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Bible

He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So, we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

God made us

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)

Jesus, Savior, Redeemer

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them..” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God made accepting Jesus easy.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sheep of Jesus pasture

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-9)

CONCLUSION

Be thankful

Why are you thankful today?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

David is on the run from King Saul. He decides to go over to the Philistines. We will look at what David did, his covert actions, and an incident that is eerily similar to an event happening today. 

God guides David to recover the families of his men, their possessions, and the spoil from their victory. David shares the spoil with some of his supporters. Twelve cities that would become key to him becoming king over a united Israel.

David gives gifts to his supporters (1 Samuel 30:26-31) 

And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord;²⁷ To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,²⁸ And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,²⁹ And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,³⁰ And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach, ³¹ And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt. 

30:26-31 “David’s sharing the spoils of the victory over the Amalekites not only assured them of his gratitude for their friendship and help during his days of flight from the presence of Saul, but would convince his allies of his loyalty, despite the time spent with Achish. Moreover, it would prepare their hearts for his soon-coming kingship. Hebron, mentioned last, stands in climactic position in the list, for David would make it his first capital city (cf. 2 Sam. 2:1-7) (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University, pg. 505) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

David is on the run from King Saul. He decides to go over to the Philistines. We will look at what David did, his covert actions, and an incident that is eerily similar to an event happening today. 

David returns to Ziklag. However, everything is gone, and the city burned. The families of all his followers have been taken captive. They weep and many seek to stone David. David prays for God’s guidance.

On 7 October 2023, a similar event happened in Israel. Hamas came across the border, murdered, raped, and took captives.

The Amalekites take Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1-5) 

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;² And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.³ So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.⁴ Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.⁵ And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 

David consults God (1 Samuel 30:6-8) 

⁶ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.⁸ And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 

David goes – Leaves 200 to faint to pursue (1 Samuel 30:9-10) 

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. 

Egyptian intel (1 Samuel 30:11-16) 

¹¹ And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.¹³ And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.¹⁴ We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. ¹⁵ And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. 

David smotes the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:17-20) 

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.¹⁹ And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.²⁰ And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil. 

Spoils shared with the faint (1 Samuel 30:21-24) 

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.²² Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.²⁴ For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. ²⁵ And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

David is on the run from King Saul. He decides to go over to the Philistines. We will look at what David did, his covert actions, and an incident that is eerily similar to an event happening today. 

David lives among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1-4) 

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.² And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.³ And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.⁴ And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 

Achish gives David Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:5-7) 

⁵ And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?⁶ Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.⁷ And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. 

David fights against the Philistines secretly (1 Samuel 27:8) 

⁸ And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.⁹ And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. 

David’s answers Achish’s question covertly (1 Samuel 27:9-12) 

¹⁰ And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.¹¹ And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.¹² And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever. 

27:12 “David pretended allegiance to Achish while fighting the enemies of Judah. The time spent in Ziklag would give him valuable military and diplomatic experience for the time when he would become king. It would also increase the numbers of his forces (cf. 1 Chr. 12:1-7) (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University, pg. 501) 

Philistines distrust David (1 Samuel 29:1-5) 

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.² And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.³ Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?⁴ And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?⁵ Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 

The Amalekites take Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1-5) 

And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;² And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.³ So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.⁴ Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.⁵ And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 

David consults God (1 Samuel 30:6-8) 

⁶ And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.⁸ And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 

David goes – Leaves 200 to faint to pursue (1 Samuel 30:9-10) 

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor. 

Egyptian intel (1 Samuel 30:11-16) 

¹¹ And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.¹³ And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.¹⁴ We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. ¹⁵ And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah. 

David smotes the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30:17-20) 

¹⁷ And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.¹⁹ And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.²⁰ And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David’s spoil. 

Spoils shared with the faint (1 Samuel 30:21-24) 

²¹ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.²² Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.²³ Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.²⁴ For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. ²⁵ And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day. 

David gives gifts to his supporters (1 Samuel 30:26-31) 

And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the Lord;²⁷ To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,²⁸ And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,²⁹ And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,³⁰ And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach, ³¹ And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt. 

30:26-31 “David’s sharing the spoils of the victory over the Amalekites not only assured them of his gratitude for their friendship and help during his days of flight from the presence of Saul, but would convince his allies of his loyalty, despite the time spent with Achish. Moreover, it would prepare their hearts for his soon-coming kingship. Hebron, mentioned last, stands in climactic position in the list, for David would make it his first capital city (cf. 2 Sam. 2:1-7) (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University, pg. 505) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

David is on the run from King Saul. He decides to go over to the Philistines. We will look at what David did, his covert actions, and an incident that is eerily similar to an event happening today. 

David has made an alliance with Achish, king of Gath. However, the Lords of the Philistines are not deceived. They believe that David is still the enemy of the Philistines. They are right!

Philistines distrust David (1 Samuel 29:1-5) 

Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.² And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.³ Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?⁴ And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?⁵ Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

David is on the run from King Saul. He decides to go over to the Philistines. We will look at what David did, his covert actions, and an incident that is eerily similar to an event happening today. 

David lives among the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1-4) 

And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.² And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.³ And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.⁴ And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 

Achish gives David Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:5-7) 

⁵ And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?⁶ Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.⁷ And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months. 

David fights against the Philistines secretly (1 Samuel 27:8) 

⁸ And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.⁹ And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish. 

David’s answers Achish’s question covertly (1 Samuel 27:9-12) 

¹⁰ And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.¹¹ And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.¹² And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever. 

27:12 “David pretended allegiance to Achish while fighting the enemies of Judah. The time spent in Ziklag would give him valuable military and diplomatic experience for the time when he would become king. It would also increase the numbers of his forces (cf. 1 Chr. 12:1-7) (Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988, Liberty University, pg. 501) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

VETERANS DAY 2023 

The Four Chaplains 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) 

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans; that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. 

This week we will explore the heroic actions of four Chaplains on the U.S.A.T. Dorchester. 

The Four Chaplains Scriptural Perspective 

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) 

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9) 

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) 

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) 

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com