Tuesday, April 5, 2011

1 Samuel 25
David and his men were traveling down into the Desert of Paran and heard that a wealthy man named Nabal lived nearby. David sent a few of his men to greet Nabal and ask for some provisions, but Nabal was "surly and mean in his dealings" and refused to share anything with David. When Nabal's wife, Abigail, heard about this, she took a large supply of bread, wine, grain, fruit, etc. and brought them to David personally in order to prevent any harm to her husband and their household from David. David was pleased and said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord who has sent you today to meet me.. may you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from avenging myself... otherwise, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." A few days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

Monday, April 4, 2011

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".

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.