April 18, 2021

The Shepherd's Corner

We will never understand the complete plan of God.  We may not even live long enough to see the good purpose of His plan.  But there is always a plan, and that plan is good. We can read in 1 Samuel 22:3-4 that David went to King of Moab and asked the king to take in David’s parents.  Apparently, it was not only David, but his parents had also been on the run from King Saul.  So, David thought it would be best for his parents to settle down.  The Bible tells us that in the end David and his parents found refuge in Moab.  

Perhaps you are wondering, why Moab?  And why King of Moab was so nice to David?  What was the reason and what was David’s connection to King of Moab?  More importantly, why did David take his parents to Moab, and not to other places?  Well, the answer is found in the Book of Ruth.  David’s father, Jesse was the son of Obed, and Obed was the son of Boaz and Ruth, and Ruth was from Moab.  In other words, David’s great grandmother was a Moabite; his father’s grandmother was a Moabite.  That is the connection!  

I always say that the reason Ruth, a Moabite, must be in the genealogy of Jesus is to show that Jesus is the Savior of the world, not only the Savior of Israel.  God’s plan of salvation is not only for Israel but also for all nations. However, tucked in the grand plan of spiritual salvation there is another plan of God: the plan of physical salvation for David, the earthly ancestor of Jesus.  God used Moab to save David to preserve the lineage of Jesus as the Son of David, the promised Messiah.  There is a plan of God and the plan is good.

2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  By faith we see the plan of God and by faith we know that it is good. So, when God takes us to our Moab, do not worry, do not complain.

Pastor Paul

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