Have you ever noticed that God often does some of His greatest Works in some of the darkest times?

For example, Adam and Eve have just sinned. Thereby plunging mankind into an abyss of iniquity. Fellowship with God … broken! What a dark time! But THEN God immediately steps in and announces the coming Birth (some day) of a Child Who would defeat the Devil!

God to Satan … Genesis 3:15 … “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Called the “protoevangelium,” the first mentioning of Messiah Jesus! (Who would, at Calvary, bruise or crush the head of the Devil, the Antichrist!)

Another example, the Flood, more dark days! But then God revealed His Sign in the heavens! Genesis 9:14-15 … “And it shall come to pass, when I (the Lord) bring a cloud over the earth, that the BOW shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” A rainbow of Grace! Revealed just after the dark storm!

A third instance, the Tower of Babel, dark days again! (Recorded in Genesis chapter 11.) And God’s miraculous Revelation? The beginning of the Hebrew Nation, the Israelites!

Genesis 12:1-3, right after the Tower of Babel rebellion … “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I WILL MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION (ISRAEL), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

But my real point today … the dark days of the Judges (extremely bleak) followed by the disastrous rule of Saul, left Israel very discouraged. Then God gave them David! Yes, at that dark time!

The David whose life we ae beginning to study. The David whom God gladly called … “a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.” Acts 13:22

God and David, here’s the young man’s anointing! “Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:12-13

Thus began an epoch of time in Isarel where God blessed mightily. The reign of the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel.” 2 Samuel 23:1

Do you see the principle?

Dark days, God’s opportunity … to display His Glory!

And He often did, He often does!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.