By: Zach Collins Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.” – 1 Samuel 20:18-19 David has received acclaim and praise. Those women had sung his song, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” To David, though, this song became more than a mere song in his life. The praise would soon turn to pursuit. With time, David would be mistreated by the one who, above all, should have been his rescuer and not his persecutor, Saul. Now, David is trying to outrun the unrighteousness of Saul. In this pursuit, three of David’s friends will protect him from the envy of King Saul, Jonathan (Saul’s son), Michal (Saul’s daughter, David’s wife), and Samuel (God’s prophet). In his retreat, David was expected to appear at the feast of the New Moon, but for fear of his life, he asked Jonathan to intercede on his behalf. Jonathan told David, “…you will be missed because your seat is empty.” If David’s absence was seen, his presence would be missed. Did you know? When you choose to allow your seat to be empty in the assembly, you are missed. For a moment, let me provide you with a few reasons why your presence is missed. If your seat is empty today, you will be missed. Meditate on these things.

By: Zach Collins Let me tell you a story. A little lamb and his mother passed by the pig pen one day on their way to the pasture. The lamb looked longingly at the pigs who wallowed in the mire, and he asked his mother, “Can I go and play in the mud?” His mother responded, “No, sheep don’t wallow.”  The little lamb understood the sentiment of his mother’s statement, but as he looked at the pigs in the mud, it looked like so much fun! He thought the cool mud would be a relief on a hot day. One day, when the little lamb grew older, the mother allowed the little lamb to go ahead of her toward the sheepfold. But, in defiance, he chose to jump the fence into the pig pen. The cool mud began to cover his ankles and provide him with relief. So, he went a little deeper. Eventually, it reached his belly, and he was soaking in the pleasure of the mud.  But, as you know, wool and mud do not mix. The mud began to cake on his wool, and he got stuck. His pleasure had become his prison. So, he cried for help and the shepherd heard him, rescued him, and sent him back into the pasture. When he finally came to his mother, his mother said, “Sheep do not wallow.”  The little lamb sacrificed the blessings of being a sheep for a moment of pleasure and it led to a prison …