MONDAY July 15, 2019
Analytical Mind
Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.”
1 Samuel 20:24-26
King Saul was seated for the feast during the festival. He sat on his seat, a chair by the wall––perhaps to protect his back––while Abner, the captain of his army, sat by his side.
Saul noticed David was missing, but he quietly thought in his heart that there must be a good reason for David’s absence. He could be ceremonially unclean––through touching a dead body or through being with a woman. Saul analyzed the situation and thought it might be a possibility, and he tried to quiet his unsettled mind from thinking evil.
Think about it. People can make up all kinds of scenarios in their minds. They may over-analyze something that was innocently said. They think about what was said over and over in their minds, What did they mean by what they said? This can become a real problem in a person’s life. If insecure, they can become paranoid, suspicious and distrustful.
Although it is good to discern truth from lies so as not to become deceived by anyone, the Word of God teaches that love thinks no evil (1 Corinthians 13:5). Jesus taught about evil thoughts: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts…” Philippians 4:8 gives to us a good remedy:
…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
~Isaiah 26:3~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!