Week 78, Day 5: Saul spared…again
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David has a change of heart again. The Ziphites again come and tell Saul that David is in their region. Saul comes with 3000 men again to try to kill David. What is wrong with Saul? Has he already forgotten that David spared his life the last time he came down? Has he forgotten that David displayed clearly, without doubt his faithfulness to Saul. That any rumors of disloyalty were untrue. It is interesting that we are not told anything about rumors being circulated about David’s unfaithfulness. These things make me wonder about Saul’s motivations. He has displayed an arrogance and power hungry attitude. I wonder if David covered all aspects when he spoke to Saul. David repeated when he spoke to Saul the various things that might have brought Saul out against him. If God has directed him to come then David would offer sacrifice to the Lord to make amends for his sin. If men have incited Saul then let them be cursed for their lies. And he then speaks of himself as nothing to be worried about, a flea – which plays on Saul’s arrogance. A little buttering up maybe. David has not struck back against those who have sought to harm him. He has displayed his respect for God by not killing the Lord’s anointed. That punishment will be up to God to deliver.
Question: Was David wrong to not end his trials? What good do you think comes from when we persevere through suffering and troubles?
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Week 78, Day 4: The Fool Nabal
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 25:1-44
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are shone a glimpse of some of the things David and his men have been doing while in the region of Judah. His men have not been pilaging the country side. Rather, they have been aiding the people of Judah. Here they have been a wall between Nabal’s servants and those enemies that might try to steal from him. Abigail mentions that he has been fighting the battles of the Lord. Perhaps news had spread about David delivering Keilah from the Philistines. In such situations it might not take much effort for David to stand out from Saul as a person concerned about protecting Judah from harm.
Abigail shows a good deal of intellect by coming to head off David’s attack. She has saved all these people and helped stop David from doing something he might regret later.
Question: Who were Abigail’s children she bore with David?
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Week 78, Day 3: Evidence of faithfulness
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
So far we have seen several times where Saul was a man whom you could not reason with. Especially if he was in a mood you could not reason with him. Here we have Saul out hunting David. He has five times the number of men that David has. And yet David is able to show Saul that he is trying to harm an innocent man. While Saul is using the bathroom inside the cave David cuts off a piece of his garment. David was that close to Saul. I am so impressed with how stealthy David must have been. Saul did not apparently suspect a thing. After Saul leaves the cave David confronts him. He states very boldly his case before Saul. Showing physically that he honors Saul as the anointed by bowing to the ground first. He verbally confirms his faithfulness by calling Saul his lord. And then he gives the evidence of his faithfulness by displaying the piece of Saul’s garment. Saul knows without a doubt that David is more righteous than he. He knows that David will overcome him because God will judge between them and reward David’s faithful deeds.
Question: When we deal with someone who is aggressive towards us or actively persecuting us, how do we display to them our faithfulness to God? How can we treat them that could help them see what is the right things to do?
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Week 78, Day 2: Keilah
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 23:1-29
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
David displays a great regard for both following God and for protecting His people. The city of Keilah is in the northern part of Judah, not too far from Bethlehem and just a short distance from Gibeah, where Saul was. You can understand the hesitation of David’s men to go to deliver Keilah since it is so close to Saul. But God says go so David proceeds. I think that it is easy for us to say sure David should go, I would have done it, but we see many occasions today where people display what man’s tendancy is. How many times does God command something of us today and people try to reason out of doing it. Especially if the command requires sacrifice or persecution will result. It is easy to say we would go if we were in David’s shoes. David faced uncertainty about what exactly would happen if he went but he knew that God would take care of him. When we are faced with deciding whether to keep God’s commands I hope that we know that God will always be with us, no matter what comes afterwards. And I hope that our minds our made up before being faced by the challenges that there is no other option but to obey God. We need to have the mind set that we will serve God and not try to reason out of doing the command.
Question: What reasons do many people give for not heeding the command to withdraw from disorderly brethren? What about when that brother is a family member? Is their avoidance of keeping this command trying to reason a way out of doing what God commands?
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Week 78, Day 1: Saul kills the priests
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 22:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Saul hears that David received aid from the priest Ahimelech. He orders that Ahimelech and all of his household come before him. Ahimelech’s answers makes sense. He says that David is a faithful servant, well respected and this was not the first time that David came to inquire of God by him. He also asserts that he knows nothing of all the affairs the king speaks of. Saul will not be reasoned with. Saul was already in a foul mood when Doeg told him about seeing David with the priests. Now Saul is going to take out his venom on them. His guard will not strike the priests of the Lord but Doeg the Edomite is more than happy to help. Doeg kills everything and everyone. He kills even the women, children and infants. What a horrible thing Saul has done. His fear of a conspiracy has driven him to reckless carnage.
Question: When someone is angry about something, is this a good time for them to make sound decisions? What should a person do in such a situation?
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Week 77, Day 5: David Flees
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 21:1-15
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After Jonathan warned David to flee he goes to the tent of meeting. This passage has always been a bit of a mystery to me. Here David goes into the temple and request that bread be given him. The priest does not have anything except the showbread that was kept before the Lord and was only to be eaten by the priests (Lev 24:5-9). Why the priest went ahead and gave it to David is not clear. What David did in taking this bread broke God’s commands. This account is cited in the NT by Jesus when the Pharisees are attacking Him because His disciples were picking grain as they walked through a field (Matt 12:1-8). Here Jesus uses a person whom the Pharisees revere to make them think about their inconsistency. David clearly did something wrong by taking the consecrated bread and eating it and yet they esteemed him. Here Jesus and His disciples were not breaking the Sabbath by picking the grains as they walked and yet they condemned Him. The Pharisees refused to consider anything Jesus had to say.
Question: Why do you think David turned to the tent of meeting to seek out help?
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Week 77, Day 4: Jonathan’s aid
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 20:1-42
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Jonathan was not told about Saul’s attempts this time to kill David. David asserts to Jonathan that there is a death plot against him. Jonathan and David work out a plan to be able to gauge what is Saul’s intentions regarding David. Once this plan is executed there can be no doubt that Saul is past reasoning with and has set his mind on killing David.
At the feast Saul is so angry with Jonathan that he slings his spear at his own son. Saul has sunk to such a low. Going from a very lowly man who found it hard to believe that he was to be made king over Israel to this arrogant man consumed with maintaining his rule and the rule of his descendants. The phrase power corrupts absolutely seems to fit very well here.
Jonathan is true to his word and warns David to flee. Jonathan continues to prove to be a true friend to David.
Question: Why was there the need for Jonathan to come up with a hidden way to convey a message to David? Why could Jonathan not sneak away and just deliver a message?
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Week 77, Day 3: David’s escape
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 19:1-24
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Saul has decided to put David to death. It has now come to this. Saul views David with such suspicion and jealousy that he will now try to kill an innocent man. David is aided by both Jonathan and Michal. Jonathan tries directly to speak up on David’s behalf. Jonathan’s efforts suceed for a short time but then Saul again goes back to his plans to kill David. But Michal urges David to flee by night and escape the plans. She gives David time to get away by concealing his escape.
One thing in this account that is hard to understand is the household idol that is mentioned as being in David’s house. I wonder if this was David’s or perhaps was it someone else’s. In either case it was in his house. He was responsible for it. So this is a sad thing to find out about.
We are told of God’s protection over David while he is with Samuel. This protection would not be permanent. After this short period of time David would have to set out to flee. But God was always with David and helping him. The events that take place here with Samuel being made to prophecy are impressive. You would think that this wold cause Saul to reconsider his actions.
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Week 77, Day 2: The Rise of David
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-30
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
After David kills Goliath his fame begins to grow. But the attention that David gets is not just because David is so wonderful. It is as Saul notes, God is with David (vs. 14, 28). The life of David very quickly becomes complicated by Saul’s jealousy. Here David is trying to faithfully serve the king but Saul is secretly trying to kill him. Saul keeps sending David against the Philistines in hopes that they will kill David. Then you have the occasion where Saul tries to pin David to the wall with his spear. How David continued in his service after this is impressive.
David marries Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal. This could have been a very happy time for David but it only helps fuel the flames of jealousy in Saul. We are told that Saul became even more afraid of David after he married his daughter. It is impressive what jealousy can do for someone. Saul wanted to be the one receiving the honor from Israel and perceived David as a challenger to his throne. Had Saul been true to God he would have nothing to worry about.
Question: What kind of actions do you think of jealousy evoking in someone? How can we combat feelings of jealousy when they arise?
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Week 77, Day 1: Goliath
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-58
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
Chapter 17 records one of the things that David is best known for. In one of the many conflicts between the Philistines and Israel, a champion comes forth from the Philistines who would have been extremely intimidating. Goliath appears to be a descendant of the giants who were reported by the 12 spies to be in the promise land. Many of these giants had already been slain in the taking of the lands but at least a few remained in the lands that were not taken yet. Goliath was massive. He had a man by his side just to carry his enormous shield. It is no wonder that for 40 days his challenges to Israel went unanswered. And then here comes David who is still considered to be but a youth. The exact age of David is not given but certainly he was not considered to be of a fighting age yet.
When David approached Goliath it is funny to picture things. A huge man and a young man coming up to him with a stick and a sling in hand. Goliath regarded this as an insult. “Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks?” Such an array of things would be used to chase off some unwanted dog, not for normal combat. And yet because of his confidence in Jehovah, David was able to overcome his enemy. Impressive and encouraging.
Question: What lessons should we learn and keep from this account?
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