1 Samuel

(100) April 10: 1 Samuel 1-3 & Luke 12:1-34

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read note what we learn about Samuel and his family.

To ponder:
Like Boaz and Ruth, Samuel’s parents are not just loving (1v4-8), but righteous, travelling to the place of God’s presence every year with a gift (Deut 16v16-17). Nevertheless, Elkanah’s second wife Peninnah would “provoke” and “irritate” Hannah because “the LORD had closed her womb,” causing Hannah to weep before the LORD, unable to eat. Hannah therefore represents the righteous person who suffers whilst the wicked prosper - an encouragement to all who have done so since.
             On one visit, Hannah wept and prayed in “bitterness of soul” for a child at the tabernacle, vowing that any son the LORD gave would be given to his service for life, not shaving like the Nazarite. One wonders whether another judge like Samson is on his way. Hannah’s manner encourages us to fervent prayer (1v14). However Eli assumes she is drunk. But after Hannah explains and stresses her “anguish and grief,” he blesses her, and “no longer” being “downcast” we see she must have believed God would then grant her prayer.
The phrase “the LORD remembered her” is that used when he comes to deliver his people (Deut 9v27). The name “Samuel” emphasises the answered prayer. So Hannah’s cries to God are a model of what the nation should be doing in affliction. And Hannah’s subsequent praise reflects this. After weaning Samuel, she fulfils her vow by giving him to God’s service, to live and worship at the tabernacle. Her righteousness is seen in giving a greater sacrifice than required (Lev 12v6). She then rejoices in God’s deliverance over her enemies, in how he feeds the hungry, exalts the poor and needy, “guards the feet of his saints” and shatters “those who oppose him.” She even looks to the special king Israel were already awaiting (Gen 49v8-12. Num 24v17-19, Deut 17v14-20). Hannah therefore encourages us all in our sufferings, to rejoice in the coming of Christ who will deliver us from all hardship and injustice when he raises us from the dead. 
            We read then how God graciously blessed Hannah with more children, and Samuel “grew up in the presence of the LORD,” wearing an ephod like the priest and growing “in stature and in favour with the LORD and with men.” He is destined to be far fitter a leader than Samson. But contrast Eli’s sons. They had “no regard for the LORD,” taking the fat from offerings that belonged to the LORD for themselves, sleeping with women serving at the tabernacle, and ignoring their father’s rebuke - for the LORD intended “to put them to death.”
            And so a “man of God” (ie. prophet) declares that Eli’s descendents would die in the “prime of life” and his sons die on the same day. Moreover, he prophesies a “faithful priest” who will “minister before my anointed one (ie. Messiah) always,” and who Eli’s descendents will come to for provision. This was fulfilled in Zadok ministering before David, but ultimately in the church as the priesthood of all believers serving Christ.  
            The second prophet and witness against Eli and sons is Samuel himself. Asleep in the room adjacent to that containing the ark, God “stands” and calls to him. This is a “vision” in which Samuel seems to see God’s form. God reiterates that he will punish Eli’s family because he “failed to restrain” his sons. Samuel eventually tells Eli who submits to God’s will. However, the point is that Samuel is then recognized as a prophet to whom God “appeared” continually, “revealed his word” and let none of his words “fall to the ground” and so fail.
After Israel’s so fallible leaders, God is therefore raising up an exemplary judge like Moses, who will fulfil the role of both priest and prophet. And in this, he is a pattern of Christ. Indeed, Mary’s payer is patterned on Hannah’s, and Jesus’ growth described like Samuel’s (Lk 1v46-55, 2v52).

Praying it home:
Praise God for his readiness to hear our prayers. Pray that you and others would not despair in suffering, but bring it to God in prayer and rejoice in the deliverance that is the believer’s in Christ.

Thinking further:
Congratulations on completing 100 days! Keep going. To read the NIV introduction to 1 Samuel click here.

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(101) April 11: 1 Samuel 4-6 & Luke 12:35-59

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read note what we are reminded about God here.

To ponder:
We see why Samuel is so needed. Although his “word came to all Israel” they did not consult the LORD through him in their actions. No doubt if they had asked Samuel “why” the LORD brought defeat on them (4v3), they would have learnt it was because of their faithlessness (see Ps 78v56-64). It’s a reminder we should not act without first consulting God’s word and seeking him in prayer.
            Instead, Israel bring the ark into their camp, presuming on God to give them victory without considering their prior need of obedience. So they are defeated again, the ark is captured, and Eli’s sons killed. Eli, however, displays greater concern for the ark, which is probably to be seen as commendable, just as Christ calls us to love him more than our family (Lk 14v26). The ark’s capture leads Eli to fall off his chair and die, and his daughter-in-law, hearing about him and Phinehas, to die in premature child-birth. 4v21-22 are key. Her heir to Eli’s priesthood is ironically named “the glory has departed from Israel,” in the sense that the ark of his presence is in exile. Ichabod therefore effectively has no role. These events show God’s word of judgement will always come to pass. But they would have spoken acutely to later Israel when exiled from the land because God removed his protecting presence. Only God could rectify such a situation, as he now does.
            The Philistines put the ark in Dagon’s temple and the LORD twice displays his supremacy as they find Dagon on his face before the ark, and even broken. Repeatedly we also read “the LORD’s hand was heavy” on those in the three places the ark was then situated, afflicting them with tumours. Without godliness and a priesthood, his holy presence must break out at sin, and here at that of the Philistines. Intriguingly however, we read their “outcry…went up to heaven.” Through this, it seems, they started to acknowledge the LORD.
So it is that after seven months the Philistines consult their “diviners” who instruct them to return the ark with a “guilt offering” of five gold rats and tumours, and “pay honour to Israel’s god.” By leading to their healing, they say this will also reveal “why” God’s hand has not been lifted from you. It will prove that it was because of the Philistine’s guilt. So they are more perceptive to the question in 4v3 than Israel are! Despite the clarity of scripture, Christians also persist in sin without realising this will mean God leaves them. And so they never come to repentance.
A striking theme is the remembrance of the Exodus by the Philistines (4v8), and the diviners’ encouragement they do not “harden” their “hearts” as “the Egyptians and Pharoah did.” This is not only another rebuke of Israel’s hardness, but also shows God’s purpose of the nations knowing he is the LORD continues to be fulfilled, even in the midst of his judgement against them (Ex 15v14-16).
 That everything the Philistines suffered was from the LORD was seen by the cart going the way it did, not turning “to the right or to the left.” The Israelites who received the ark with joy, dealt with it appropriately, offering sacrifices and getting Levites to handle it. However seventy were struck down for looking into it – a shocking sign that they had no fear of God’s holiness. Indeed, the whole story brings home the conclusion: “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?” (6v20). So Abinadab’s son Eleazar (possibly from the priestly line) is “consecrated” to “guard” the ark at his house (7v1-2). After the end of Eli’s priestly line, we’re learning a faithful priesthood is needed to ensure Israel are not struck down by God’s presence, looking us again to Christ.

Praying it home:
Praise God for his patience with us and his provision of Christ who ensures it. Pray that you and other Christians would live in reverent fear of God’s holiness.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(102) April 12: 1 Samuel 7-9 & Luke 13:1-21

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider Israel’s motives in wanting a king.

To ponder:
The ark is taken to Kiriath Jearim where it remains for twenty years. The people “mourn” and “seek” the LORD. But true repentance is proved by deeds (Acts 26v20). So Samuel says “if” they are returning to God “with all their heart” then they must rid themselves of their foreign gods and serve God “only.” Then he promises, God will deliver them from the Philistines. Well they do, and God does. They assemble at Mizpah where Samuel promises to intercede for them. They fast, confess their sin, and “pour out water before the LORD” – possibly symbolising the washing away of guilt (Lam 2v19).
            Perhaps assuming they have assembled for battle, the Philistines come against them. They ask Samuel to continue interceding with God for their rescue. He also offers a burnt offering, stressing their renewed devotion to the LORD, and God throws the Philistines into a panic with mere thunder so Israel can “slaughter” and so “subdue” them.
            Until Christ returns there is always the possibility of restoration and deliverance when Christians sin and find themselves then ruled by evil. The pattern is astonishingly similar: They must rid themselves of their sin, commit themselves to serving God alone, confess their wrongdoing, perhaps fast, be baptised as a sign of their guilt being washed away, and look to Christ to intercede with the Father for their salvation (Heb 7v25), and to his sacrifice for atonement.
            We read then of the peace that was maintained during Samuel’s lifetime, the restoration of land from the Philistines, and how Samuel travelled Israel judging the people. However, when old he appointed his sons as judges, yet they proved corrupt. So the elders asked him to appoint a king. We have already seen that God always intended Israel to have a king, and that this was necessary if she were to remain faithful. However Samuel is provoked, perhaps because this was a slight on his leadership. And the LORD is provoked too, because it was a rejection of his. The reason is that Israel wanted a king “like other nations,” when she were supposed to be “set-apart” from those nations. The people did not want a spiritual leader to administer the reign of God and point them to him as the one to fight for them. They wanted a merely political leader to reign and fight for them himself (8v20).
            God tells Samuel to “listen to them” but “warn them” too. He therefore explains how such a king will take their children, crops and servants to serve him, and even enslave them in the end. But the people repeat their request, and so the LORD tells Samuel to “give them a king.”
            It’s an example of how we can desire right things for the wrong reasons. We revere church leaders who are dynamic, telegenic and able to draw a crowd, rather than those that are godly, prayerful and able to teach the scriptures. We can even seek Christ because we want to be religious like others, without actually wanting him to bring us under God’s rule.
            Saul is therefore just the man Israel wants: An “impressive” man, “without equal” and “a head taller” than any others. It’s all about appearance. The story of how he is led to Samuel, affirms God’s guidance of events by providence and prophecy. His appointment is God’s doing in response to the “cry” of his people. Saul will therefore “deliver” Israel from the Philistines and “govern” them. And he is not without character. When Samuel affirms “all the desire of Israel” has turned to him and his family, Saul, no doubt unaware quite what was meant, responds with humility (9v21). However hearing he is from Benjamin, we might wonder if he is the sort of king Israel need, as it is from Judah that her kings were due to come (Gen 49v10).

Praying it home:
Praise God that he is so persistently ready for sinners to return to him. Pray our motives in seeking Christ and good church leaders would be in order to be brought more fully under God’s rule.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(103) April 13: 1 Samuel 10-12 & Luke 13:22-35

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider the ways Saul is affirmed as king.

To ponder:
Saul is affirmed as king with a kiss from Samuel as prophet and anointing with oil – signifying that he is chosen and set-apart by God for his service (Ex 30v29-30). Three “signs” follow to prove Samuel is a true prophet and so to be trusted (Deut 18v22), and that Saul has therefore truly been made king. Most significant is when Saul prophesizes. The prophets he joined were probably declaring God’s deeds to music as moved by the Holy Spirit (Ex 15v20-21). This signified the spiritual nature of kingship in Israel, but also the empowering of God’s Spirit for the task. So we read that God “changed” Saul into a “different person” by changing his “heart.” With the signs completed he could do “whatever his hand finds to do” as God would be “with him.” The instructions that immediately follow (10v8) suggest this simply means Saul was to do whatever God entrusted into his hands. The point is that Saul is not his own boss. He is still to obey the LORD as his king.
            As a royal priesthood, we reign with Christ as we govern our lives, families, churches and even wider society to some degree. And we too are anointed and changed by the Holy Spirit to this end. Because God is with us, we are able to exercise our responsibilities. But we must do these things in obedience to our divine sovereign.
            Saul seems reluctant. He holds what happened back from his uncle and even hides in the baggage when Samuel wants to present him to the people. This contrasts the attitude of the people who cry “long live the king” because of how outwardly imposing he is. Like a good prophet however, Samuel does not hold back the uncomfortable truth at such a happy time. He is clear their desire for a king reflects their rejection of God. He also ensures they are aware of the “regulations of the kingship” (possibly Deut 17v14-20) which are written down and placed within the sanctuary. God’s word is an ever-present reminder to us of the terms of our rule.
            Valiant men then group around Saul. Although there are some detractors, Saul is soon proved. Hearing of the Ammonite siege of Jabesh Gilead, the Spirit comes upon him in power, he burns with anger, summons Israel with a threat against those who don’t help, musters 330,000 men, and defeats the Ammonites. He also shows restraint and mercy to those who at first rejected his rule. After this divine demonstration that God was with Saul, he is then “confirmed” king with great celebration. There’s an interesting parallel with Christ. He too was anointed by the Spirit in his baptism, then proclaimed as king in his ministry, proved king by his resurrection and so defeat of death, and then confirmed king by his ascension to God’s right hand.
With Saul now leader, Samuel withdraws from his role. His speech stresses that Israel’s preference for a king over a judge like Samuel is culpable, as the people can bear witness that from his youth to his old age, he had always acted justly and honestly. He then recounts how God had delivered Israel in the past when she cried to him, yet still asked for a king. The point is that this request was an “evil” rejection of God’s perfectly sufficient means of governing them.
Samuel called on God to send thunder and rain to prove just this, and in response, the people ask Samuel to pray for them so they do not die. He promises to do so, and teach them “what is just and right.” And he stresses too, that although they have their king, they and Saul must obey and follow the LORD, and not turn to idols who “cannot rescue.” Having their king doesn’t guarantee their security. It still depends on God’s covenant promises. So Samuel warns, if they continue in evil, they and the king “will be swept away.”
           
Praying it home:
Praise God for proving Christ’s sufficiency as our king by raising him from the dead. Pray that we would seek to reign over the responsibilities he has given us in obedience to his word.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(104) April 14: 1 Samuel 13-14 & Luke 14:1-24

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider how Saul’s fallibility is seen.

To ponder:
Humanly speaking there is so much promise in Saul and his heir, Jonathan. Both are courageous. Indeed, like Gideon, Saul sends soldiers home keeping just three thousand to tackle the Philistines (Jud 7v1-6). Like Joshua he is prepared to face an enemy as numerous as “the sand on the seashore” (Jos 10v4). But however fit as a military leader, he proves unfit as a spiritual one, throwing away all the promise bound up with him and Jonathan.
            First, seeing his men scattering through fear at Gilgal, he disobeys Samuel’s explicit instructions (10v8) by failing to wait for him. His motives seem right in making the offerings himself to gain “the LORD’s favour” in case the Philistine’s attacked. However they displayed a lack of faith in God’s word mediated by Samuel, and so in God’s ability to protect Saul and his men until Samuel arrived. Samuel’s instructions were a test of whether Saul was prepared to obey God’s law which required absolute obedience to his prophet (Deut 18v19), and so whether as king he was prepared to be subject to God himself. Indeed, the event establishes the truth that Israel’s kings were always to be under God’s law and so under the authority of the prophets who often rebuked them.
            Once more then, we see the absolute authority of God and his word over all other authorities, including our own. Christians can easily veer towards pragmatism in organising church life, dealing with difficulty or doing evangelism. But furthering God’s purposes never justifies disobeying his word.
Samuel’s rebuke here is clear: Saul acted “foolishly,” disobeying God’s “command,” and so forfeited having his line rule Israel “for all time.” Rather, he is told the LORD had found “a man after his own heart and appointed him leader.” This phrase highlights that Saul was the sort of leader the people desired rather than that God did.   
At this point Saul and Jonathan are left with just 600 men and no weapons but their own, because the Philistines had banned blacksmiths from making them. Despite this, while Saul and the army rest (idly?) under a pomegranate tree, Jonathan displays glorious faith in attacking an outpost with just his armour bearer, convinced that “nothing can hinder the LORD from saving.” He displays humility too, recognising he might have read the situation wrongly. So, trusting God’s governance even of the Philistines' decisions, he decides to take it the LORD had given them into his hands only if they respond in a certain way. Because of Jonathan’s actions, panic strikes the “whole” Philistine army, exacerbated by an earthquake. Saul then brings the ark and enters the fray, Hebrews that deserted to the enemy rejoin him, as do those who had hidden in fear; and so “the LORD rescued Israel.”
But it is just at this high point, with so much potential in his dynasty, that Saul blew it. We see the oath he forced the people to take was wrong by its consequences: It meant that the army could not be refreshed by the honey the LORD provided in the woods, which in turn led them to eat the plunder with such hunger that they didn’t first drain the blood, directly contravening God’s law (Deut 12v23). Jonathan’s comment affirms Saul should have at least let his men eat the plunder during the day (14v29-30). Because even hasty oaths before a holy God are binding, it also brought risk to Jonathan because he ate honey unaware of the ban. The fact that God didn’t answer Saul because of this and caused the lot to show Jonathan as the reason, means Jonathan had sinned unintentionally – but only because of Saul’s foolishness. This in turn lead to disunity in the ranks as Saul vowed to kill Jonathan but the men vowed to resist him, because Jonathan won his victory with God’s help. It warns us of how thoughtless action even in God’s name, can have devastating consequences, and often for those we love.
           
Praying it home:
Praise God for his word in scripture, through which Christ governs us. Pray that you would not just act according to its commands but according to its wisdom.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(105) April 15: 1 Samuel 15-16 & Luke 14:25-35

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider what God desires from his kings.

To ponder:
With chapter 13, chapter 15 acts as a second witness to Saul’s disobedience of God, with the general unfitness of his character displayed in-between. The war against the Amalekites is one of divine judgement for standing against Israel after she left Egypt (Ex 17v8-16). Indeed, Saul’s warning of the Kenites shows it was specific to the Amalekites, and Agag’s death, a just punishment of a violent man (15v2, 33). The event fulfils God’s word to Moses (Ex 17v14), his promise to curse those who curse (ie. are against) Abraham’s descendents (Gen 12v1-3), and his prophecy through Balaam that an Israelite king would destroy Amalek (Num 24v27-20). The very act therefore showed the authority and certainity of God’s word. However, Saul, again, disobeyed it, taking Agag alive and keeping the best of the plunder.
            So the LORD is “grieved” that he made Saul king, describing his disobedience as “turning away” from him as God. Samuel’s night in prayer probably reflects his confusion, having previously been told to make Saul king. The fitness of God’s decision however is proved the next morning when it is reported Saul has made “a monument in his own honour" like those at Babel, seeking glory for himself not God. And Saul just doesn’t get the seriousness of disobedience. When confronted, he first claims to have carried out Samuel’s instructions, then that the animals were spared to be sacrificed. He goes on to assert again that he “did” obey, before admitting his disobedience but blaming it on peer pressure! The conversation sounds much like that between a parent and a child refusing to admit their fault. It is a terrible thing to deny or excuse our disobedience before God who sees all. Rather we should confess and repent of it.
Samuel is clear: The LORD delights in obedience far more than the worship of offerings and sacrifices. The latter shows little of the heart, whereas rejecting God’s word is to reject him. And so in response, God rejects Saul. Indeed, Samuel promises God will tear the kingdom from him and give it to a “better” neighbour. And this is certain, because (contrasting Saul) God does not lie or change his mind. With a hint of compassion Samuel then changes his mind about not going back with Saul, and goes with him to worship. He then executes Agag and never sees Saul again. So there is a rebuke here for those who go through the motions of worship but are not prepared to accept and obey God’s word. However we’re also reminded that with repentance, there is always the possibility of restoration as a worshipper of God.
One detects something of the frankness of Jesus in God’s rebuke of Samuel for wallowing in his grief over Saul (16v1). Being sent to Jesse with the anointing oil, Samuel calls the Bethlehemites to a sacrifice. In being “consecrated” for this, the people would have ensured they were clean, perhaps by offering sacrifices for personal sin, or by various washings for other uncleanness (Num 19). Thinking as a mere man Samuel assumes Eliab would be king because of his stature. But God stresses whereas “man looks at the outward appearance, he looks on the heart.” Emphasizing the point, the youngest and so least humanely suitable is therefore chosen and brought in from tending sheep. The LORD declares “he is the one,” David is anointed (showing he is chosen and set-apart by God) with his brothers and probably other Benjamites as witnesses, and from that day “the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.” The final event sees him introduced to Saul, patient in not asserting his right to rule, tender in ministering to Saul's torment, and supreme in being a means of being able to relieve Saul from the evil spirits. In each sense he is a pattern of Christ.

Praying it home:
Praise God for the perfect obedience and character of Christ as his king. Pray for conviction of where you might be excusing sin, and repent of it before God.

Thinking further: Does God change his mind?
Today’s passage helps us resolve an apparent contradiction in God’s word. 15v11 tells us how God changes his mind over having Saul as king. But 15v29 tells us God does not change his mind! The wider narrative helps us understand. God had always been using Saul to teach the people a lesson about their motives in wanting a king, and about the sort of king they really need. In other words, it had always been in God’s purpose that Saul would fail and be replaced by David. The times when we read of God changing his mind therefore describe the working out of what he has always intended, but from the human perspective. God genuinely acts in one way, and then because of human decision, changes to act another. In describing this in human language it is therefore entirely right to say God changes his mind or relents. However, we should know that behind the scenes this is all as God always intended, for he “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Eph 1v11). Indeed, David can declare that “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139v16). So it was never the case within God’s eternal purpose that Saul might have obeyed, his kingdom endure and David never come to rule. However, as our passage shows, God so governs everything that he ensures Saul still acts willingly and so is rightly held to account for his disobedience.

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(106) April 16: 1 Samuel 17-18 & Luke 15:1-10

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read note how David’s greatness is displayed.

To ponder:
With the Israelites and Philistines facing one-another across the Valley of Elah, the Philistine Goliath challenges the Israelites. His size (which has been known in the modern day), armour and weaponry stress how undefeatable he should be, especially when reading David comes as a boy, without armour and armed only with a sling! So the battle is to be decided by two champions. Goliath shouts out the terms. Israel’s champion will represent Israel as Adam did humanity and Christ does us. Defeat would mean slavery for all the people, and victory, their supremacy. What follows points to Christ’s deliverance of his people from sin, death and the devil.
The forty days Goliath offers his challenge is the time often equated with potential deliverance, but one can imagine how demoralising it was for Israel. David hears only because he is sent with provisions to his brothers in Saul’s army. Saul has promised wealth and a daughter in marriage to whoever kills the Philistine. But David acts out of concern for God’s glory: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God.” Eliab’s rebuke of his little brother’s enquiries about what is going on stresses David’s meek position. However, whereas Eliab claims David has a wicked “heart” and is only there to watch, we know he has a “heart” God esteems and is there for another reason.
It seems strange for Saul to send for a young lad asking these questions; but not if David is pretty much the only person in forty days who has. Moreover, as Saul was already aware of David, this would have intrigued him. David’s courage is undeniable: “Let no-one lose heart…your servant will go and fight.” We then learn the reason for the courage. Through faith David sees his deliverance from bears and lions when protecting his sheep as from “the LORD.” So he naturally assumes through that same faith that God could deliver him here too. Whereas Goliath despises David, cursing him by his gods, David is therefore unphased, responding that he comes “in the name of the LORD Almighty” who will hand Goliath over to him so David can cut off his head and everyone “know…that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s.” David then defeats Goliath with his sling and stones, cuts off his head, causing Israel to surge forward, striking down and plundering the Philistines.
This would all have been a huge encouragement to future generations to trust the LORD as they did battle. It displays the nature of the godly king as a man of faith, who shepherds God’s people, defeating their enemies out of care for them as David in caring for his sheep. With this shepherd-like courage Christ faced the cross, and ministers must tackle false teachers. And with it, any can boldly take on areas of service, confident that God can do “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine” (Eph 3v20).
The depth of David’s friendship that ensued with Jonathan is one of one spirit, loving as one loves self. And David remained with Saul. However, David was successful in all he did as the LORD was with him. When this gained him praise, Saul got increasingly jealous, first throwing his spear at David, and then offering his daughters in marriage on the condition that David fights the Philistines. By this means, Saul hoped David would be killed. Instead, Michal loved David too. So chapter 18 begins and ends with love. The sense is that even those closest to Saul are devoting themselves to God’s true king, as we should to Christ.

Praying it home:
Thank God for Christ’s victory over all our enemies that delivers us from their power. Pray that he would increase your love of Christ, that you would be one in spirit with him, loving him even more than you love yourself.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(107) April 17: 1 Samuel 19-21 & Luke 15:11-32

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider the traits that show Saul unfit to rule.

To ponder:
Danger intensifies for David, whilst Saul’s erratic behaviour shows he is unfit to rule. He tells his son and attendants to kill David. But Jonathan warns David, urging him into hiding whilst he intercedes with his father. Jonathan’s case to Saul stresses the “wrong” in killing David, because he is innocent. On oath Saul promises not to harm David, so David is with him once more. When war breaks out with the Philistines again however, an “evil spirit from the LORD” again comes upon Saul, so he tries to pin David to the wall with his spear, and then sends men to kill him. But David’s wife (Saul’s daughter) Michal enables him to escape and fakes his being ill in bed. It is no surprise David then went to Samuel. And when Saul’s men and Saul himself tried to reach him, they were hindered by the Spirit of the LORD, who made them prophesy. In reading that Saul “stripped off” and “lay” prophesying for 24 hours, the sense is that these men were in some way incapacitated through being caught up in the Spirit, perhaps in an ecstatic trance-like state.
            In some sense then, the LORD lay behind both Saul’s hostility to David and David’s protection from Saul. There is mystery here, and Saul is certainly responsible for his actions. But it all shows God is also at work in these events, and pictures Satan inciting opposition to Christ.
            Again Jonathan seeks to protect David. No doubt for the sake of future descendents (20v42), space is given to record how Jonathan gains David’s formal agreement by covenant to show “unfailing kindness like that of the LORD” to him and his family, even when the LORD has “cut off” all David’s enemies. So Jonathan clearly sees David is God’s choice as king. Yet there is more here. Throughout Jonathan and David’s love for one-another is stressed. This is a remarkable friendship that should be a model for our own, and especially for the love that should exist between God’s people. But as mentioned previously, it particularly models the devotion that should be expressed to God’s anointed. And it is so intense, that Jonathan is prepared to give him his allegiance over his father, and above concern for his own succession to the throne. Likewise, no matter how our family members might view it, and no matter what other implications it has for our future, career or rule of our own lives, we are to give Christ not only our allegiance, but our love.
            Saul’s paranoid anger flares up again on hearing David is not coming to the New Moon festival. He accuses Jonathan of siding with David and even throws his spear at him. Jonathan therefore tells David to flee through their agreed means.
            David’s desperation is seen in the fact that he is now alone and unarmed as he visits the priest in Nob. Rightly or wrongly, this causes David to lie as to why he is there, take the consecrated “bread of the presence” that had recently been replaced in the holy place, and take Goliath’s sword too. The loaves should have been eaten by the priests. In rebuking Pharisaic legalism by referring to David eating them (Matt 12v4), Jesus therefore teaches that showing mercy to the needy takes precedence over non-moral laws or requirements.
            The greatest shock, however, is that Saul ends up driving David away from the people of Israel and to a Philistine king, who he also deceives by feigning insanity to ensure his own safety! This is surely David’s lowest point. Like Christ having to escape to Egypt from Herod (Matt 2v13), God uses a means to protect his special king that only highlights how serious his rejection by his own people is.
  
Praying it home:
Thank God that he governs even the most desperate circumstances. Pray today for David-Jonathan type love between believers.

Thinking further: Abstaining from sex
In Exodus 19v15 the people had to abstain from sex before hearing God speak the Ten Commandments. This was not because sex was wrong, but stressed the people’s devotion to God, and perhaps that nothing unfitting or implicated in the fall should be in God’s holy presence. It would seem for this reason that Ahimelech would only give consecrated bread that had been in the room next to the holy of holies to men who had “kept themselves from women.” The aspect of devotion to God may also be why David required his men not to be with women when on missions.

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(108) April 18: 1 Samuel 22-24 & Luke 16:1-18

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider how David’s actions contrast those of Saul.

To ponder:
David now escapes the Philistines to a cave in Judah. His family join him, and once more he looks to a foreign king, probably to give them protection from Saul. (Mizpah here is in Moab, so different from the Israelite city of that name). We see a group of needy people form around David too, no doubt hoping for something better with him. More significant is the prophet, Gad, who brings God’s instruction that David go into Judah.
David even gains his own priest. Paranoid about losing his men, Saul accuses his Benjamite officials of conspiring against him. Doeg the Edomite, who was present when David was in Nob, then takes his opportunity to ingratiate himself with Saul by recounting what happened there. Apparently in some bewilderment, Ahimelech asks why he shouldn’t have acted for David, Saul’s loyal son-in-law. But Saul commands his guards to kill Ahimelech and his family. To kill priests is serious indeed, so they refuse. But Doeg murders 85 of them and everyone else in their town. This is one of Saul’s most wicked acts. But it is foolish too, ridding him of a priesthood he could consult. And consider the contrast. Saul shows no concern for the priests, whereas David wants to take responsibility for their death and shelters the one who survives - Abiathar.
When the Philistines attack again, David is therefore able to “enquire of the LORD” via the Urim and Thummim contained in the ephod Abiathar bought with him. He learns that God would give the Philistines into his hand so he could deliver the town of Keilah, and then that the inhabitants would in turn hand him over to Saul. So David keeps moving, Saul keeps searching for him, and God does not “give him into” Saul’s hands.
Jonathan then comes and helps his friend find strength in God. By contrast the people of Ziph tell Saul David is hiding amongst them, and obey his instructions to find him. The tension mounts as Saul closes in on David, and we can see only the LORD’s hand in the fact that at the critical moment Saul is called away to fight Philistines. The lesson throughout is that God will not allow his purposes to be thwarted, just as he kept Christ safe until his chosen “hour” to die. We also see the sort of division Christ would bring within Israel, as he does even in families.
After this Saul chases David into the En Gedi, and goes to relieve himself in the very cave David and his men are hiding in. So God gives Saul into David’s hands (24v10). But David refuses to see this as validating violence against Saul, rejecting the urging of his men to kill him. Instead, he cuts a corner off Saul’s robe, and is even conscience stricken over this because Saul is God’s anointed. Again, this contrasts Saul’s attitude, displays David’s godliness, and reminds us that opportunity never sanctions doing wrong. It also affirms the far greater reverence with which we should treat Christ, and the respect we should have for all who reign with him.
David shows himself to Saul, bows low in respect, and tells what he has done as proof he is “not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion,” twice appealing to God to judge between them. This displays astonishing faith, grace and Christ-likeness. David commits the injustice done him and the timing of his becoming king to God, and so is able to do good to his enemy. By this means, we are called to also (Rom 12v17-21).
The point of these chapters is to show David’s suitability as king. 24v16-27 is a fitting conclusion: Displaying his fickle nature, Saul declares that David is “more righteous,” and prays that the LORD “reward” David for how he treated Saul. He himself then acknowledges that David will be king, gaining the oath David had already given Jonathan, to protect his descendents.

Praying it home:
Praise God that nothing, even what is most evil, can thwart his purposes in Christ. Pray that you would be able to entrust injustice and the outcome of hostile situations to God, and so respond with grace to any who frustrate or oppose you.

Thinking further:
None today.

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(109) April 19: 1 Samuel 25-26 & Luke 16:19-31

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read consider how David’s treatment of Nabal differs from his treatment of Saul.

To ponder:
Samuel’s death marks the transition to God’s chosen king and his line. However cracks start to show in David’s righteousness. Having protected and done good to Nabal’s shepherds, he quite reasonably requests only “whatever” provisions the wealthy Nabal might give him and his men. But Nabal refuses, saying David is just a wayward servant rather than God’s anointed. However, rather than showing the grace he showed Saul, David rallies his men and makes a hasty oath to kill every male in Nabal’s household. He is saved from this sin only by the intervention of Nabal’s “intelligent” and “beautiful” wife Abigail. A servant tells her what his “wicked” master has done, and she intercedes with David, bringing provision, bowing in respect, and acting wisely in affirming his kingship, just as the wise men did Christ (25v26-31). She’s a model of the godly wife, who is strong enough in God not to be infected by the ungodliness of her husband. (David himself is wise to later marry her!)
            Abigail is clear that to this point God had “kept” David from “avenging himself,” urging him not to have this “burden of needless bloodshed” on his conscience when king. In response, David displays the humility we should when challenged about our sin. He accepts his fault, seeing Abigail as being sent by God to keep him from doing “wrong.”
When Abigal tells Nabal, he dies. David’s praise in 25v39 is key. He acknowledges God has “upheld” his “cause” by bringing “Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.” Contrasting Abigail’s wisdom, throughout Nabal’s actions have been regarded as “foolish,” patterning Saul’s foolishness in standing against David (see 26v21), and challenging the reader to respond more wisely to God’s king. As with Saul however, David should have left vengeance against Nabal to God, knowing that by God’s hand the fool will end up bringing destruction on himself.
This theme is stressed by these events being sandwiched between two in which David restrains himself from killing Saul. So with Saul after him again, in chapter 26 David displays huge courage by sneaking right up to Saul in his own camp. But whereas Abishai sees this as a God given opportunity (as in 24v4), offering to kill Saul, David commands him not to as Saul is God’s anointed. Instead, having learnt his lesson, he is confident that “the LORD will strike him down” whether by old age or in battle. This displays astonishing patience in the ultimate justice of God. And every evil done against us will be revealed and punished after death, whether in the individual themselves, or in Christ if they are a believer. So we can be restrained too.
            Instead of attacking Saul, David has Abishai take Saul’s spear and water jug. He then mocks Saul’s commander Abner, shouting of how he didn’t guard Saul sufficiently to prevent the theft. Saul however, displays his fickleness in calling David his “son.” David then declares his innocence again, stating that if Saul is against him as God’s punishment for a sin David may have committed, “may he (God) accept an offering,” but if because of the encouragement of men, then they should be “cursed,” not least because by driving him to the Philistines, they are effectively encouraging him to worship foreign gods. This declaration reminds us of the seriousness of rejecting Christ because of the pressure of others, or of influencing others to do so.
            David concludes by declaring he is harmless (the “flea”?) and not worth hunting (the “partridge”?). Again Saul voices a commitment not to harm David, even describing himself as a “fool,” and affirming David will “surely triumph.” David returns Saul’s spear and prays that because he has spared Saul’s life and God “rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness,” may he therefore “deliver” him (David) from “all” his trouble. Whether we experience earthly deliverances or not, Jesus teaches our final deliverance is our reward for acting righteously when faced with hostility (Matt 5v11-12).

Praying it home:
Praise God for that he will call all things to account and reward all who have done good through faith. Pray that you would be able to accept the rebukes of friends over your sin, rather than resent them.

Thinking further: Applying the life of David
We have to be careful about applying the life of Old Testament “heroes” because often they are not quite as heroic as we assume. We’ve seen this many times, and even David doesn’t always do the right thing. We must therefore look for clues in the text as to how we should view any individual’s actions and weigh what we read through the wider scriptures. Another issue with David and the kings in particular is that they are an imperfect pattern of the perfect King Jesus. So even their righteous actions and God’s interaction with them are not necessarily a model for us, but a picture of what would be for God’s anointed Christ. Having said that, we reign in Christ, so there may be aspects of their rule that do apply. Moreover, they are also members of God’s people, meaning that there may be lessons to be drawn from their lives nevertheless. In short, we must be thoughtful in our application, asking questions on these three levels: How does this look to Christ and responses to him? What aspects apply to us as those who reign with Christ? And what valid lessons are there for us as everyday believers?

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(110) April 20: 1 Samuel 27-29 & Luke 17:1-19

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read note the differing attitudes of David and Saul.

To ponder:
Once more we see a chapter (Saul and the witch) sandwiched between two others (on David with the Philistines). This contrasts David with Saul. David is amongst the Philistines, but still committed to God and Israel, whereas Saul is in Israel, but rejecting God for Philistine practices.
            In escaping to the Philistines under the assumption that he will be destroyed by Saul, David may be displaying a lack of faith in God’s promise to him. Alternatively, he may just be recognising that God’s protection will be worked out through his wise actions. Whatever the case, he returns to King Achish (of 21v10-15), this time with 600 men and their families, and God’s protection is seen as Achish gives David (and future kings) Ziklag. This hints to God’s promise that his people will one day inherit the earth from the nations.
Settled in Ziklag for almost a year and a half, David might be understandably tempted to be disloyal to his people in their failure to stand with him, and even serve the Philistine gods (as suggested in 26v19). Instead, he continues to battle Israel’s enemies, and mislead Achish into thinking he was attacking Judean territory and allies, so gaining his trust. When Christians are treated badly by other Christians it is all too easy to bitterly reject them and even God. But even when rejected by his own, Christ went to the cross in obedience to his Father, so that they might be saved. Likewise, we should never turn from our commitment to God and his people.
As the Philistines then seek battle with Israel, a crisis looms. Achish expects David to fight for him. David’s answer could be taken two ways (28v2), but Achish assumes he is an ally and makes him his bodyguard. It is here we turn to Saul. Facing the Philistines he is filled with fear, unable to gain direction from God by the three possible means of personal dreams, the Urim in the priest’s ephod or a prophetic vision. This is a sign the LORD is not with him. However, rather than repent of his sin and begin obeying God’s commands, Saul once more does things his way by seeking out a medium (having previously expelled them, 28v3), and even making an oath before God not to punish her. This is to explicitly disobey God’s law and engage in a practice he described as particular to the Canaanite nations (Deut 8v9-14). So often those who confess Christ obey only until it doesn’t suit, and then opt for the things God forbids.
The shock when Samuel appears suggests the medium may not have actually expected results! Ironically, now Saul does get a word from a prophet, and it is one of judgement: Samuel reiterates that God has become Saul’s “enemy,” doing only what he predicted in 15v18-29. So, with a striking contrast to God’s protection of David and his men amongst the Philistines, Israel will be handed over to the Philistines, and Saul and sons will “be with” Samuel in the place of the dead. Contrasting David’s courage amongst the Philistines, Saul is then paralysed with fear, and ends up comforted not by God, but by the forbidden medium. So it is that those who turn from the LORD fall further and further.
As the Philistines and Israelites now face each other, we see David being led against his own people. However, his previous behaviour (27v8-12) suggests he intended to turn on his hosts. Providentially, the Philistine commanders suspect this and persuade Achish to send David home. As the book draws towards a close we therefore find the Philistines in Israel’s land and Israel’s king in waiting, in the Philistine’s! Could such a situation be rectified?

Praying it home:
Praise God that he protects his people even amidst all the evils of the world. Pray for repentance in those you know who have turned from Christ.

Thinking further: Saul and the witch of Ednor
The appearance of Samuel through the activity of the medium has caused much debate. It doesn’t tell us what mediums do actually engage in. The woman’s surprise when she sees Samuel hints that she may not have expected anything to occur and was a charlatan, or that she would not usually see someone, but only hear a voice that may or may not be the person sought. The possibility that those mediums contact are not the people they portray themselves to be may be hinted at by the stress on Saul confirming the person appearing was actually Samuel.
Whatever the case, as Samuel directly addresses Saul, we see this is an exceptional situation permitted by God, not an affirmation that mediums do actually contact the dead. Although our resurrection bodies will be given us at the return of Christ, it seems that as with Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration, God had Samuel return from heaven for this particular purpose, and gave his spirit a body and clothes (or at least the appearance of these), perhaps as he does for angels when they appear.
By saying he has been “disturbed,” Samuel implies after death he was at rest, enjoying a better reality than this one. However, we should not assume Saul would share this reality. The fact that we are told God had become his “enemy” suggests he would not. So when Samuel says after death Saul would be “with him,” he probably just means Saul would be in the realm of the dead, whatever that would mean for Saul.

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(111) April 21: 1 Samuel 30-31 & Luke 17:20-37

Ask God to open your mind, heart and will to understand, delight in and obey what you read.


To discover:­­
As you read note how David is proved able to lead Israel.

To ponder:
Returning to Ziklag David finds the Amalekites have burned it, taking the families of him and his men captive. Their grief is understandable. However, the men consider stoning David, probably because they blamed him for taking them away. It’s a hint at how readily people can blame and turn from Christ when their allegiance means hardship.
            Like Christ in Gethsemane, David found strength in God. This is how one copes with grief and suffering. Where Saul had been unable to gain a word from the LORD (see 28v6), David then consults God and is told to pursue the Amalekites with the certainty that he will be able to rescue the people. So God is with David. Only 400 of the 600 men actually do battle however, as 200 hold back from exhaustion. Treating a wandering Egyptian kindly, the 400 find out he is an abandoned slave. He gains a commitment from David not to kill him and then leads him to the Amalekite camp. After a long battle David is victorious, although 400 Amalekites escape on camels, which David’s men were not equipped to chase. It is stressed that “nothing” that had been taken was missing. David recovered it all, and took the Amalekite livestock as plunder too.
In this victory David therefore proves himself able to fully deliver God’s people, and so hope builds that he might deliver the wider nation from her oppression by the Philistines. This hope builds further when David shares the plunder with the friendly elders of the Judean towns where he had been. He is acting for the nation at large. He also proves himself one who can do this because he relies on God and acts justly, rejecting his men’s request not to share the plunder with those who were too exhausted to fight because their victory was only because the LORD “protected” them and “handed” their enemies over to them. This breeds thankfulness for Christ’s sufficiency as deliverer and the righteousness of his rule. Indeed, he grants all his people an equal share of the eternal inheritance like the landowner who pays those who work all day the same as those who work just the last hour (Matt 20v1-16). Those converted later in life and those less able will not miss out.
            Once more David contrasts Saul. Where the former is victorious the latter is now defeated. Fulfilling God’s word through Samuel (28v18-19), the Philistines kill Saul’s sons and wound him critically. His armour bearer did right by refusing Saul’s command to finish him off, as this would be to act against the LORD’s anointed. So to stop the Philistines from abusing him (as they did Samson), Saul kills himself, and seeing this, the Israelites flee. All seems lost as we read the Philistines “occupied” the Israelite towns, decapitate Saul, proclaim their victory and display his armour in the temples of their false gods. They assumed this victory was because their gods were supreme. But we know better. We know God may well restore the kingdom through the able and righteous king he already has in the wings. Indeed, as “valiant men” steal the bodies of Saul and his sons from under the Philistine’s noses, we see there are those David can use if he can gain their allegiance.
            These final episodes would have given huge encouragement to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah hundreds of years after David, when they lost their land to the Babylonians and many were exiled from the country. They too wept over what had happened, and would have been told by the Babylonians it was due to the supremacy of their gods. But here too, it was actually due to the sin of God’s people and their kings. And to see the kingdom restored, the people needed to look again to the LORD, to provide the Christ, the son of David, to rescue and restore them - just as he did.

Praying it home:
Praise God for the sufficiency and righteousness of Christ. Pray for those you know that are suffering, that they would stick with him in hardship looking to the deliverance and inheritance he gives all who follow him.

Thinking further:
None today.


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