1 Samuel 23-24
Saul continued to persue David from Keilah to Horesh to Ziph and finally to the wilderness of Engedi. Saul went into a cave and was in a vulnerable situation where David had the opportunity to kill him, but David restrained his men and spared Saul's life saying, "The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord's annointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him." Saul then began to cry and said, "you are a better man that I am, for you have repaid me good for evil... you have been amazingly kind to me today... may the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me and now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule".
Humble thoughts, reflections, and/or summaries from readings of God's word. "For if any one is desirous simply to know those things which it has pleased God to reveal, that is the man who accurately knows what it is to be truly wise. " Calvin
Friday, April 1, 2011
1 Samuel 22
After David escaped Saul and fled from Gath, he was told by the prophet Gad to return to Judah. When Saul heard of his arrival, he accused his officers of conspiring against him. Doeg was among Saul's men and told him that Ahimelech the priest had provided David with food and the sword of Goliath. Saul ordered the death of Ahimelech and all the priests with him and their families. Saul's men refused, but "Doeg the edomite turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.. and killed the priests' families--men, women, children, babies, and cattle, donkey, sheep, and goats." Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech escaped and told David what had happened.
After David escaped Saul and fled from Gath, he was told by the prophet Gad to return to Judah. When Saul heard of his arrival, he accused his officers of conspiring against him. Doeg was among Saul's men and told him that Ahimelech the priest had provided David with food and the sword of Goliath. Saul ordered the death of Ahimelech and all the priests with him and their families. Saul's men refused, but "Doeg the edomite turned on them and killed them, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.. and killed the priests' families--men, women, children, babies, and cattle, donkey, sheep, and goats." Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech escaped and told David what had happened.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
1 Samuel 21
David was still on the run from Saul when he came to Nob, where he met Ahimelech the priest. When confronted by Ahimelech about traveling alone, it seems that David panicked and lied about his "mission" so as not to alarm anyone. He explains that he was secretly sent by the King. David asks for food and a weapon, which didn't really go well with his story that he was to meet soon with his men. When he was discovered by the servants of Achish, they said "Can this be the famous Daivd?... the one they sing 'Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!'" David feared the worst and pretended to go crazy and so Achish sent him away.
David was still on the run from Saul when he came to Nob, where he met Ahimelech the priest. When confronted by Ahimelech about traveling alone, it seems that David panicked and lied about his "mission" so as not to alarm anyone. He explains that he was secretly sent by the King. David asks for food and a weapon, which didn't really go well with his story that he was to meet soon with his men. When he was discovered by the servants of Achish, they said "Can this be the famous Daivd?... the one they sing 'Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!'" David feared the worst and pretended to go crazy and so Achish sent him away.
Monday, March 28, 2011
1 Samuel 20
In this chapter, David asks Jonathan for help in verifying whether Saul was planning to kill David. Jonathan and David were very good friends and Jonathan remained loyal to David, agreeing to help find out Saul's intentions. When Jonathan learned that Saul wanted to kill David, he asked Saul " why should he be put to death.. what has he done?" Saul said to Jonathan, " As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king." Jonathan was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David. Jonathan secretly warned David, sending him off " go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord's name.. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us."
In this chapter, David asks Jonathan for help in verifying whether Saul was planning to kill David. Jonathan and David were very good friends and Jonathan remained loyal to David, agreeing to help find out Saul's intentions. When Jonathan learned that Saul wanted to kill David, he asked Saul " why should he be put to death.. what has he done?" Saul said to Jonathan, " As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king." Jonathan was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David. Jonathan secretly warned David, sending him off " go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord's name.. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us."
Sunday, March 27, 2011
1 Samuel 19
Saul ordered David's death, but Jonathan warned David that he should be on guard and hide himself. Jonathan spoke with Saul, "Do not sin against your servant David... since his deeds have been very beneficial to you...he struck down the Philistine and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel". Then Saul vowed not to harm David, but later he tried unsuccessfully to spear David. David escaped and fled to meet with Samuel in Ramah. Saul sent men several times to capture him there, but each time the Spirit of God came upon the men and they instead prophesied. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah to capture David, but he also went along prophesying after the Spirit of God came upon him.
Saul ordered David's death, but Jonathan warned David that he should be on guard and hide himself. Jonathan spoke with Saul, "Do not sin against your servant David... since his deeds have been very beneficial to you...he struck down the Philistine and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel". Then Saul vowed not to harm David, but later he tried unsuccessfully to spear David. David escaped and fled to meet with Samuel in Ramah. Saul sent men several times to capture him there, but each time the Spirit of God came upon the men and they instead prophesied. Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah to capture David, but he also went along prophesying after the Spirit of God came upon him.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
1 Samuel 18
The Lord was with David and he continued in his success in all that Saul asked of him. "Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's oficers." David became famous and people sang, " Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" and this made Saul very angry and he "kept a jealous eye on David". All Israel loved David because he was so successful, but Saul became afraid of David when he continually saw that the Lord was with him.
The Lord was with David and he continued in his success in all that Saul asked of him. "Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's oficers." David became famous and people sang, " Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!" and this made Saul very angry and he "kept a jealous eye on David". All Israel loved David because he was so successful, but Saul became afraid of David when he continually saw that the Lord was with him.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
1 Samuel 17
On opposite sides of the vally of Elah, the Philistine and the Israilite armies gathered and prepared battle lines. A standout champion warrior in the Philistine camp, Goliath, shouted words of defiance against the army of Israel, which caused the Israelites to be "terrified and deeply shaken". For forty days, Goliath continued his defiance and offered a challenge to fight anyone from the Israelite army, but each time "as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright". One day, David was visiting his older brothers on the Israelite battle line and observed Goliath's threats. David asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the Living God?" Later, David reported to King Saul, "Don't worry about a thing. I'll go fight this Philistine.. the Lord who has saved me from the claws of lions and bears will save me from this Philistine". Goliath sneered at David in comtempt and cursed him by the names of his pagan Gods, but David replied, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty... Today, the Lord with conquer you...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel .. and that He does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle, not ours." Using a simple stone hurled at his forehead, David killed Goliath.
On opposite sides of the vally of Elah, the Philistine and the Israilite armies gathered and prepared battle lines. A standout champion warrior in the Philistine camp, Goliath, shouted words of defiance against the army of Israel, which caused the Israelites to be "terrified and deeply shaken". For forty days, Goliath continued his defiance and offered a challenge to fight anyone from the Israelite army, but each time "as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright". One day, David was visiting his older brothers on the Israelite battle line and observed Goliath's threats. David asked, "Who is this pagan Philistine, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the Living God?" Later, David reported to King Saul, "Don't worry about a thing. I'll go fight this Philistine.. the Lord who has saved me from the claws of lions and bears will save me from this Philistine". Goliath sneered at David in comtempt and cursed him by the names of his pagan Gods, but David replied, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty... Today, the Lord with conquer you...and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel .. and that He does not need weapons to rescue His people. It is His battle, not ours." Using a simple stone hurled at his forehead, David killed Goliath.
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