Summary: This is a masterpiece about the FATHER'S CHOICES OF COVERING'S FOR THE FAMILY. We look at Joseph's coat of many colors, Job's hedge, Samuel's mantle and how Saul's choices to force the mantle of God's protection to leave Saul's home. (Illustrated)

THE FATHER’S COVERING…

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I have a many colored piece of material to cover my shoulder. Joseph’s covering.

I have a purple piece of material to cover my shoulders. Samuel’s mantle.

I have a purple piece of material for Saul’s skirt.

I have a leather cruise of water, and a sword. Saul will lose these, and fall on his own sword.

BIBLICALLY WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL NEED OF A COVERING! GOD IS MY FATHER. JESUS IS MY SHEPHERD… WE ABSOLUTELY NEED GOD’S COVERING…

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

COVERING: to spread over, hid under the wings, to spread shelter, protection,

Covering has Biblical depth. Such as the “COVERING OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. (Mikhceh)

The sons of Kohath was assigned the task of caring for the furniture of the Tabernacle. They had material to cover and protect during the move of the sacred objects.

RUMINATE WITH ME: TODAY DOES A FAMILY AND CHURCH NEED SPIRITUAL COVERING? WE HAVE A FLAG TO HANG FROM THE CASTLLE OF OUR HEARTS…

Song of Songs 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

WHO OR WHAT IS THE COVERING OF YOUR FAMILY? Do we need to submit and be held accountable?

LOVE IS OUR COVERING!

Psalm 91:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

If there is an accident, some of the first words we hear: ARE WE COVERED? DOES THE INSURANCE COVER THIS?

We have a spiritual covering?

Remember the covering of the waters over the whole earth, and 8 people were under the covering of safety? Remember when NOAH removed the covering of the ark of protection and released life to start again?

Remember when the WATERS OF PROTECTION covered the chariots and horsemen of Egypt and they all died?

REMEMBER JOB HAD A COVERING OF PROTECTION… WE CALL HIS COVERING A HEDGE…

Job 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

THE BIBLE SPEAKS TO US MANY TIMES ABOUT COME UNDER THE COVERING, THE FATHER’S COVERING… THE FATHER WAS RESPONSIBLE TO KILL THE LAMB, SEE THAT IT WAS COOKED PROPERLY WITH BITTER SPICES AND NO LEAVEN IN THE BREAD, BUT THE FATHER’S JOB WAS TO KNOW THAT THE BLOOD WAS APPLIED… THIS BLOOD BECAME THE COVERING OF THE SURVIVAL OF THE ELDEST CHILD…

Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

This became a yearly function to SPEAK THAT THE BLOOD WAS APPLIED… FOR THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. THE COVERING OF THE SACRIFICAL LAMB.

I HAVE A PIECE OF MATERIAL OF MANY COLORS, I PUT AROUND MY SHOULDERS.

THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THE COVERING OF THE FATHER’S BLESSINGS COVERING THE CHILDREN.

RUMINATE JAOB THE CHEATER CHANGED TO ISRAEL, PRINCE WITH GOD… ISRAEL SPEAKS OF GOD’S FAVOR… WHEN HE MAKES A COAT OF MANY COLORS… COVERING OF THE FATHER’S BLESSINGS…

Genesis 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

EVEN WHEN THERE WAS HATRED AND FROZEN COMMUNICATION LINES THE COAT OF MANY COLORS WAS THERE.

In bitterness, meaness and hatred THE COVERING OF THE FATHER STEAL WORKED.

EVEN WHEN LIFE STOLE THE COVERING THE BLESSINGS WERE STILL THERE. JOSEPH NNEVER SOLD HIS COAT, LIFE STRIPPED HIM… BUT THE COVERING WAS STILL THERE.

Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

Genesis 37:32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

I HAVE A PURPLE CRUSH VELVET PIECE OF MATERIAL REPRESENTING GOD AND GOD’S CALL…

IN ANGER SAUL TEARS BY FORCE THE MANTLE OF GOD… OFF THE SHOULDERS OF THE FAITHFUL MAN OF GOD…

SAUL DID NOT LIKE WAITING ON THE PREACHER… SAUL DID NOT LIKE THE WAY THE OLD PREACHER WAS CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES…

In a gut wrenching, disruptive, wounding way by force Saul removes the MANTLE OF GOD. Saul was frustrated not only at the Preacher, but his family and God. Saul was rebellious and disobedient and he blamed everyone else as he sends the message… MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY. SAUL TEARS THE SKIRT, MANTLE OFF THE PREACHER…

SAUL FORCES A CHANGE THAT DAY, BAD CHANGE? WHAT CAN A CONFUSED MESSAGE COST ONE TEMPER FIT COST? SAUL’S MIXED MESSAGES RETURN TO A DAY WHEN IN DISRESPECT AAND REJECTION OF GOD CAN TO A HEAD WHEN HE REJECTED THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER. THE FOUNDATION HAD BEEN LAID IN ATTITUDES LONG BEFORE SAUL LOST HIS GARMENT, HIS CRUISE OF WATER, AND HIS SWORD…

1 Samuel 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upthe skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

SAUL WHAT IS YOUR TEMPER FIT AND YOUR TEARING THE MANTLE OF THE MAN OF GOD GOING TO COST YOU?

A SPEAR IN THE MUD? THERE IS A LESSON ABOUT HAVING A CLEAR MESSAGE OF A MIXED MESSAGE, AT HACHILAH AND AT ENGEDI. KING SAUL HAD SENT MIXED MESSAGES?

***ENGEDI--- foundation of life, fruit grew in the desert, wild life…

***HACHILAH --- means dark place, in a waste land…

COMING OUT FROM THE COVERING WILL COST AT ENGEDI SAUL LOSES SOMETHING… HE LOSES HIS SKIRT…

I had the great privilege of standing at the oasis at EnGedi. EnGedi belonged to the tribe of Judah. Right in the middle of the desert there is a small river and water fall coming out of the desert sand. This is not too far from THE DEAD SEA. While I was there a fallow deer came up and rubbed my shoulder. There is green trees and plants and life at EnGedi.

If you look over to the right above this amazing area of life in the middle of the hostile desert you can still see today several caves… DAVID WOULD OFTEN RUN TO ENGEDI when KING SAUL was searching to kill him. These caves on the hill side of this pool of water became a safe haven for R&R. (Rest and relaxation) David and his men would be safe here.

PERSPECTIVE? DAVID THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE YOU? DAVID REFUSES TO HARM SAUL, BUT HE TAKES SAUL’S SKIRT…

1 Samuel 24:4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

At Hachilah Saul camped out with his men. He was in hot pursuit to kill his loyal servant David.

1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai (David’s friend) came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

David could this be you opportunity for VICTORY?

1 Samuel 26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

IN ONE BLOW OF SAUL’S OWN SPEAR WE CAN KILL SAUL AND GET THIS OVER WITH…???

LET US TAKE SAUL’S SKIRT, HIS SPEAR (SWORD) AND HIS CRUISE OF WATER…

1 Samuel 26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

IT IS NOT OVER, SAUL LOST HIS SKIRT, SPEAR AND CRUISE OF WATER… THERE IS MORE…

I LOST IT…

SKIRT: COVERING, MANTLE OVER ME IS LOVE… PROTECTION… JOSEPH’S COAT OF MANY COLORS…

CRUISE OF WATER: ESSENTIALS, THINGS NEEDED, WATER OF LIFE.

SWORD: POWER,

CONCLUSION: DOES YOUR PERSPECTIVE ALIGN WITH GOD’S WORD? Do you refuse the Preacher’s message and steal the MANTLE? HAVE WE LOST THE WATER? THE SWORD? AND THE COVERING?

As the sun sets on sad day, Saul looks around to see WHAT NOT BEING UNDER THE COVERING COST.

Jonathan is dead, his sons are dead. Saul is wounded and instead of facing the consequences Saul falls on his own sword.

AT ALL COST STAY UNDER THE COVERING AND BLESSINGS OF GOD.

His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Pass this on? You have to move quickly on each point, or divide into 2 parts.