Two hundred of David's men didn't go all the way with David. Someone must care for the things at home _ what God has given us. I could not do half of what I do if I did not have the kind of wife that I have. She is the helpmate God gave me, and there is a reason for that. Not every wife could handle her husband being away so much. Pavia is also praying for me while I'm away; that's my reference point, my focus point. When I wake up in the morning I often don't know what country I'm in until I think about it. Not everybody can do what I do. Not everybody can do what Philip Powell or Trisha and Jon Tillin do. Not everybody can do what you do. But there are people who don't do with us what we do, yet are with us in spirit.

Someone has to stay behind to care for the things God has entrusted to us. These were people who rode with David, who had proven their loyalty, but simply did not go as far as others. David did not try to disenfranchise these people. He wanted them to get a piece of the pie.

Remember what Jesus said in His parable of Matthew 20:1-16? In verse 12 some of the labourers hired by the owner of the vineyard are complaining: "'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'" In the same way, you sometimes hear Christians complain, "I've been a Christian for 60 years, and now this guy who got saved six months ago is going to the same heaven I am?" God does not see things this way. God sees this: Whatever we have learned, we know He has given us the grace to learn. I learned what I learned in the same way David learned it, and if God uses you in the future, you will learn it that way too. I also know what I am in the process of learning, and God has given me the grace and strength to learn that also.Grieving for Saul
Blessed are they that mourn"Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, `Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.' But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him." _ 1 Samuel 31:1-5What is David's reaction to the death of Saul, who had been his enemy?"Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher" (Jasher in Hebrew means `straight'.) "'The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon _ Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. O mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For the shield of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return empty. Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. O daughters of Jerusalem, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, Surpassing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, And the weapons of war perished!'" _ 2 Samuel 1:17-27Only then did the tribes of Israel join themselves to David. I have learned by God's grace how to fight the Philistine. I know how to witness to non-Christians; the Lord taught me. I do not boast of it, but I know what He taught me. I know what it's like to be tested for taking a stand. I know what it's like to be rejected, even by my friends. I know what it's like to be betrayed by people who know I am right, but are looking out for themselves instead of for the sheep. I have learned most of those things the hard way. But what the Lord is teaching me now, and those like me, is how to be gracious; how to mourn.I need to come to a point where I can say, "Boy, the Assemblies of God had some mighty men of God in their day. Boy, you know, David Pawson was a mighty minister of the Word. Wow, but even Frank Houston was a man whom God used; what happened to him can happen to me if I'm not careful. "How the mighty have fallen'"_ I didn't want this to happen." I know how to be angry with Saul; but I am just learning how to grieve over what has become of him. Saul is going to fall; his days are numbered. Saul's house must fall _ they have gone into the occult, and there is no longer any way out or any hope for them. This story includes a very rare case of God allowing someone to come back from the dead; when Samuel does, he asks Saul, "Why do you ask me about it? The LORD has become your adversary." (1 Sam 28:16) God is their enemy; the question is when are they going to be hanging the dead from the walls of Mount Gilboa? When will the house of Saul fall? When will their corpses hang rotting on the walls of Beth Shan? (1 Sam 31:8-13 c/f 2 Samuel 1:21 & 21:12). When I can grieve over it.