Life Seasons (Seasons in David’s Life) - Autumn
Junior Level
This week we are continuing our study on the Seasons of Life. The past two lessons we learned about the Spring and Summer Seasons in the life of David and we learned how to identify those seasons for our own lives. This week we will look at Life Season Autumn.
Autumn is a season of change and I encourage each person reading, if you are in an autumn season to know that it is for a purpose in fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Let us go now and find out how to recognize the Autumn Season in life by taking a look at it in the life of David.
Handout: Life Seasons (Seasons in David’s Life) - Autumn
1 Samuel 16:21 “And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.”
In the previous two lessons, we saw that David has been in life seasons of Spring then Summer. In the spring season of David’s life he was a keeper of his father’s sheep and as he worked in those fields, God was drawing David close to Himself. Spring is and was a time of spiritual growth. The Lord was beginning to train David to be the kind of King He desired for Israel even though David didn’t realize this at the time. Next came Summer in David’s life and it was a time of new opportunity and greater responsibility. David had been brought to the palace to serve as the armor bearer to King Saul. We can see that God is slowly bringing David into his destiny as Israel’s King, and each season David goes through, God is teaching David and training him for this destiny. God is the same with you and I, every season that we go through, every thing that happens in those seasons, God is using for a purpose for our lives to bring glory to Him.
We will begin our study in God’s word in the book of 1 Samuel chapter 18. Let’s review what it says.
1 Samuel 18:5 “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.”
Notice David behaves himself wisely. I’m sure Satan tempted David to use this new found fame for his own personal gain. Don’t you think Satan tried to get David to over throw Saul and become King earlier than God’s timing? This would have been very foolish. David knew that obeying God was the most important and that is why he behaved himself in a wise manner. It is so important for us to live or lives wisely. I stress so much in lessons the importance of wisdom in the life of a believer. When we are wise, God can use our lives for a great purpose, just as He used David’s life.
1 Samuel 18:6 “ 6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.”
David is coming into the life season of Autumn and it is a turbulent time for him. He has been brought permanently to the palace and he has become a national war hero.
Our lives are every changing with each season, but this is how we grow. Never be afraid of the changes that God is bringing into your life even if those changes seem uncertain or if they are difficult dear one, it is necessary for the plan that God has for you and I.
1 Samuel 18:7-11 “ 7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 10And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 11And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.”
Saul now becomes insecure and very jealous of David, making him Saul’s number one enemy. This was so difficult and painful for David because before he had only known the love and friendship of Saul. David never expected this to happen, he loved Saul. We know from reading further that years passed and David had to run for his life from Saul. I believe in this time Satan tempted David to retreat and give up. I’m sure he tempted David in trying to get even with Saul but David never did evil in return to Saul, instead he continued to live wisely with integrity before the Lord. And God was with him. (We must remember we are not invincible.) Sometimes God will transplant us and we are often tempted to retreat and return to that which is familiar and comfortable. Sometimes we may be tempted to respond to situations in our own strength trying to “fix” things, but we must remember that in our own strength we are nothing and we will only make things worse if we do not rely on the strength and wisdom from the Lord. We must learn to wait on Him and His perfect timing.
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Psalm 25:21 “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.”
Palm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Are you going through things that you never expected to happen? Are you experiencing painful things that you don’t understand because you did nothing wrong to cause them? This is what was happening to David. David stayed firm in his faith in God and continued to obey His voice and God was with him. God is with you too Beloved. Stay strong in your faith through Christ Jesus and He will bring you through. Satan will try everything he can to bring God’s plans for us as God’s children to a halt. We may endure difficult and painful times, but if we stay in the will of God, if we continue to serve Him and trust Him, there aren’t enough devils of hell to stop us from living in the plans God has! Praise You LORD! God is our strength and our refuge Hallelujah, we can march on as good soldiers for our Father, God. Thank you Lord!
You may be wondering what life season you are in. The winds of change may have begun to blow in your life and you may just be in an Autumn life season. Here are some ways to understand and know when Autumn comes. We learn this from David’s Autumn life season.
Evidence of Autumn:
David made certain that his steps were ordered by God and that he was following closely.
Essentials for going through Autumn with integrity for God’s glory.
Ephesians 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbradeth not; and it shall be given him.”
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
2. Seek Godly Counsel
1 Samuel 19:18 “So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.”
In this season of uncertainty, David goes to Samuel and just tells him all the things that have happened. Samuel was the one that God had sent to anoint David as the King of Israel. In this time, they spent time together and I’m sure Samuel gave David Godly counsel in all the things that were taking place. I can just hear Samuel telling David to remember the time he was anointed, to remember the oil and to remember that what God says is true, that one day, he would be king, and God would bring it to pass. Remember like David did that God has a plan when these times come for you, and seek counsel that is of God.
3. Seek God with Full Submission and Surrender to Him.
Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
God is a stronghold and He will not forsake His children.
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
We can run to God in times of trouble. He is our safe haven. Be sure to run to God and not to retreat back to what is familiar and out of God’s will. God is our refuge in times of storm and when we run to Him, we can move on steady toward the plans He has in store. I’m reminded while writing this of a song I heard once. It says, sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He just calms me. There will be times God will calm the storms in our lives, but there are times when we must endure them, but in those times, God will give us peace and will lead us through it. Whatever life season we are in, when we trust and obey our Father, we can walk victorious regardless of any situation! Praise His holy name, it’s all in HIM!
Dear Righteous, Heavenly Father,
We come to You yet again in Praise and thanksgiving. Thank You for loving us and for being our refuge. Thank You for supplying all our need and for being our everything. Father we ask today that You help us to walk in Your ways all the days of our lives. We ask for wisdom to know the seasons that we are in and we ask that You help us to live in a way that is pleasing to You. Father we desire to serve You and to draw closer to You with each passing day that we live. We desire to know You more intimately with each passing second. Father, we know that You are life and we choose You this day. Help us to be servants that will bless Your heart and Help us to love and serve You as You would have us to because You alone are worthy of all praise and glory. Father we ask that You strengthen those that are in difficult times today, help them to know that You are God and that You are working behind the scenes to bring them into the plans You have made. Thank You Father for hearing and answering our cries to You, In the Lovely name of Jesus we pray always, Amen.
~*Cindygirl*~
April 3, 2022