Devotional writing from 1Samuel from The Message

December 31, 2005

1Sam. 1: Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried -- inconsolably.

We begin the books of Samuel hearing the prayer of a broken hearted woman, Hannah.  Young women across the ages have longed for children, and that desire was especially true in this age, 3000 years ago.  In her society much of Hannah's worth as a human being was dependent on her ability to have offspring.  Even her good husband's efforts to make her feel better about herself failed.  On a trip to Shiloh everything comes to a head.  In her misery Hannah pours out her heart to God at the place of worship.  The Lord hears her prayer and answers, bringing not only relief to this good woman, but the beginning of restoration to Israel which has fallen far from God.  I wish I understood why God heard and responded to Hannah's prayer and not similar prayers prayed by people just as good and just as miserable as she was.  I know that God cares for hurting people and provides strength and comfort for them, and, sometimes he says "yes."  The rest of the time, we do the only thing we know to do: we trust him with that which we don't understand.

January 2, 2006

1Sam. 3: This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen.

The negative momentum of the book of Judges reaches beyond its pages to the books of Samuel.  Although there are a few positive pictures: Ruth and Boaz and now Hannah, the general nature of spiritual life is in terrible condition.  There is a central place of worship, Shiloh, but the way in which things are done there is more discouraging than encouraging.  Eli is the priest, assisted by his two sons.  Eli is permissive and disconnected.  His sons are dishonest and immoral.  The fact that the people of Israel have a place of worship and that people are coming to worship there is somewhat positive.  The fact that worship is lead by the likes of these men tells us that things are still in a pitiful condition.  But that is about to change.  The change is not coming because key people are deciding to seek and find God.  It isn't coming because someone is pushing the right religious buttons to bring fresh life to a dead worship experience.  The reason that the spiritual sun is about to rise is because God is about to move.  God is always the First Mover.  He doesn't respond to what we do, we respond to what he does.  Revival will come to Israel because God is going to bring it, and then, Samuel and others will respond in obedience. 

January 3, 2006

1Sam 3: Then God came and stood before him exactly as before calling out, "Samuel, Samuel!"

It is as he sleeps that God first calls out to young Samuel.  He hears the Voice of God, but he doesn't recognize it as the Lord's call.  The old priest, Eli, (in spite of his failings) solves the riddle.  Something unexpected is happening.  God is calling.  I wonder how often God speaks to me and I mistake his Voice for something else?   "Now, there's an unusual idea" or "Where did that come from?"    Samuel mistook the call of God to be the call of Eli.  Have I misidentified his voice to be my own rambling thoughts?  I have learned something about God's Voice in my own life.  God speaks fairly often -- the problem is that I don't listen very often.  It was as he slept, unencumbered with all the thoughts of everyday life that God called out to Samuel.  Could it be that my prayers are so full of my own wants and wishes that I drown out God's Voice?  It is as I pray with a listening heart that I am most likely to hear the Divine Voice in my own life.

January 4, 2006

1Sam 3: God continued to show up at Shiloh.

God's presence had been rare and, as a result, even those who desired righteousness had blindly stumbled through life.  At our best we are still pretty pitiful, and most people had no interest in striving for anything close to "the best" anyway.  Because of that, spiritual darkness descended.  Then, in the figurative and literal night God spoke to young Samuel.  No -- better than that: God spoke and then continued speaking to him.  There is something wonderful about the phrase, "God continued to show up at Shiloh."  It has the feel of spring to it.  After the long, cold winter, the sun is shining and new life is breaking out everywhere.  I have journeyed through spiritual winters.  Times when God seemed far away, unreachable.  But I have also enjoyed spiritual springtime.  Frankly, my experience was more like Samuel's than I care to admit, because in my case, like his, I didn't have much to do with the dawning of the new day in my heart.  All I know is that, after the night, God showed up and then continued to show up.  By his grace, I will be faithful when spiritual winter comes, but, oh, how I love the spiritual springtime!

January 5, 2006

1Sam 5: They were shocked to find Dagon toppled from his place, flat on his face before the Chest of God.

The people of Israel weren't much more spiritually aware than the Philistines were.  When they got into a difficult battle they thought that bringing out the Ark of the Covenant would bring them "luck" and they would win.  However, it didn't work out that way.  They were defeated and their enemies took the Ark, their most holy relic.  Now, the story shifts to the Philistine city of Ashdod, the shrine of the idol Dagon.  Someone had the bright idea to put their new religious prize there with their idol.  They re-arrange things a bit and put the Ark in it's new place.  To their surprise, when they visit the shrine the next morning their Dagon idol has toppled face down before the Ark.  "I wonder how that happened?" someone asks in an unsteady voice, as they put Dagon back upright.  The following morning the priest of Dagon peeks around the corner and it has happened again, only this time poor old Dagon is in bad shape, head and arms broken off, torso back to bowing before the Ark.  Something has to be done and the decision is made, not to start worshipping the God of the Ark, but to get rid of it so that they can patch up poor old Dagon and stand him back in his place again.  I know, I know, it sounds dumb, and in a sense it is.  Still, they believe in national gods, and the God of Israel, in their thinking, can never be theirs, so the Chest has to go.  Well, this is what can be called a "target rich environment" for a preacher.  There is the "all our gods will yield to God Almighty sooner or later" approach.  Also, I think of "God isn't a good luck charm and insists that we live in a relationship with him."  There is probably more if I put my mind to it.  Pretty neat story, isn't it.

January 7, 2006

1Sam 7: Throughout Israel there was a widespread, fearful movement toward God.

The enemies of Israel, the Philistines, have had enough of the Ark of the Covenant.  Not only had the idol Dagon been destroyed, things are not going well at all throughout their territory.  There is general sickness and death and they know that it is related to the captured Chest.  They decide to send it back and be rid of it once and for all.  It ends up at the town of Beth Shemesh, but not without incident.  Some of the locals look inside this holy relic and are struck dead for this act if irreverence.  That causes the fear of the Lord to fall on that place.  It also reminds them that God is real and not just the product of old stories.  The Ark is moved to Kiriath Jearim, where it remains for 20 years.  It is during that time that people become more and more "God aware."  It has been a long journey from the dark ages of the book of Judges to this point, but, once again, these people are becoming a people of God.  The words, "there was a widespread, fearful movement toward God" are the result of God's faithfulness to a people who don't deserve it.  Even though they are far from God, he is at work in the boy Samuel's part of his plan.  When they use the Ark as a good luck charm, and thus lose it, God is working.  Even when the men at Beth Shemesh treat the Ark in an inappropriate way and lose their lives, God is working, setting things in motion to change the attitude of the nation.  I pray that God is working in my nation too.  I pray that he is doing things in places and in ways that I do not even see, changing attitudes, preparing the way for a "widespread, fearful movement toward" himself.  And, if he can use me in any of that, I want to be available to him, a willing partner in his gracious work in my society.

January 9, 2006

1Sam 7 They ordained his son, Eleazar, to take responsibility for the Chest of God.

The Ark of the Covenant ends up in Kiriath Jearim, the house of Abinadab.  Someone needs to be responsible for the Ark. After all, during the seven years that it was in the hands of the Philistines tumors broke out among the population, and when the men of Beth Shemesh treated it in an irreverent way they were struck dead.  They can't have the Ark just sitting around. Someone has to care for it.  So they pick Abinadab's son, Eleazar for the job.  Then, for the next twenty years, he takes care of the Chest of God.  We know nothing else about him.  Not a single word from him is recorded in Scripture and he is associated with none of the adventures of the Bible.  He just took care of the Ark.  During that time a spiritual change for the better is taking place.  Samuel is growing too -- in spirit and in body.  Soon, this spiritual giant will take center stage and will be the spiritual leader of Israel for decades to come.  But, for now, God just needs someone to look after the Ark, to be a "place holder" for Samuel until he is ready to assume leadership.  Not many of us are "Samuels."  No doubt, God calls some to do the big stuff, and I thank God for them.  Most of us are called to simply be faithful, serving the Lord every day, doing what he has placed before us.  It is nice to be reminded though, that in his own small way Eleazar kept things going for the good.  His faithfulness held things together while God prepared the "big player" to come on the scene.  I think that is pretty impressive.

January 10, 2006

1Sam 7: If you are truly serious about coming back to God, clean house…they did it.

A slow but sure movement of God has been taking place for over 20 years.  People are more reverent concerning spiritual things, worship of the Lord God has become more and more common.  Now, through the ministry of God's man, Samuel, they have arrived at a crossroads.  It is time for a clean break with the gods of Canaan and to surrender to the true God.  They have come a long way during the 20 years, but it is now time to close the deal, time to decide, time to commit.  The three-word sentence is a powerful one: "They did it."  Reading these words reminds me of watching the eastern horizon at the dawning of a new day.  The sky slowly becomes brighter, a hint of things to come.  Then, at just the right moment, the sun slips into view, flooding the earth with the light of a new day.  In the book of 1 Samuel we can watch the process with spiritual eyes.  A childless woman prays and a son is given.  The boy hears the Voice of God calling him in the night.  The adventures of the Ark of God begin to transform the thinking of the people.  Samuel inaugurates his ministry by calling for a decision.  "They did it."  A new day dawns for Israel!  Remember that spiritual awakenings call for decision and commitment. 

January 11, 2006

1Sam. 7: Samuel took a single rock and set it upright...He named it "Ebenezer" (Rock of Help), saying, "This marks the place where God helped us."

Samuel's first test of leadership comes about because of a revival.  He calls the people to make a real commitment to God and they gather at Mizpah to do just that.  As they are praying and fasting their enemies, the Philistines hear about the meeting but probably mistake it for preparation for war.  They decide to take the initiative and attack first.  When word reaches the prayer meeting the people turn to Samuel for leadership.  A wonderful indication of the genuineness of their new commitment to God is that they call on Samuel, not to rally troops for battle but...to pray!  He prays and they pray, and God answers.  As the Philistine force moves in for the fight God moves in their behalf.  Thunder explodes in their midst and the result is panic.  As the Philistine forces break ranks and run, Israel pursues, winning a great victory.  They chase their enemies all the way past Beth Car.  Here Samuel stands a rock as a monument to God's help, naming it " Ebenezer " or "Rock of Help."  Every follower of God has some "Ebenezars" in his or her life.  Momentous victories, turning points.  Samuel thought such places are worth marking and remembering.  What monuments to God's help should I have standing in my life?

January 12, 2006

1Sam. 7: Samuel gave solid leadership to Israel his entire life.

This is a powerful and important statement about Samuel.  Only rarely do we encounter such high credentials, even in the Bible.  Abraham messed up by trying to "help" God in his relationship with Hagar.  Moses had a failure at the Waters of Meribah Kadesh.  Just about all the heroes of the Bible have blots on their records.  But it is not so with Samuel.  From the time he heard God's Voice as a lad serving at the house of God at Shiloh to the end of his life Samuel was faithful.  As a result, some of the golden days of the Old Testament are before us in our Scripture reading.  Of course, this is really a God-story more than it is a Samuel-story.  It was God who answered Hannah's prayer that brought Samuel into the world in the first place.  It was God who initiated contact with Samuel as a boy.  And it is God who continues to lead Samuel even as Samuel leads Israel.  It is good to be reminded today that spiritual failure does not have to be part of anyone's story. I know it is true that just about everyone has stories of spiritual breakdown, but here we see that God is able to keep us as we allow him to work freely in our lives.  This is possible only because of the grace of the Lord made freely available to us.

January 14, 2006

1Sam. 8: They are not rejecting you.  They've rejected me as their King.

Samuel has been a faithful, capable, Spirit-filled leader of Israel for decades.  Now he is getting old and some of his responsibilities are falling on his sons.  But they aren't up to it.  They have the authority of their father but lack his relationship with God.  Ever since the great revival and victory over the Philistines many years earlier, Israel has served God under the faithful guidance of Samuel, but now people are wondering what is coming next.  Clearly, Samuel can't continue forever and his sons are miserable spiritual leaders.  So what will they do?  The decision is to ask for a king.  Samuel is heart broken but takes their request to the Lord.  God says, "Samuel, don't take it personally -- this is about my relationship with them and not about yours."  What is going on here?  We have before us a failure to trust God.  They are correct in recognizing the leadership problem.  However, they are mistaken when, instead of going to the Lord and asking his direction, they come telling him what they want done.  As we turn the pages of Scripture to look into their future we see that there are some good kings coming.  However, by and large their kings fail them, leading to their destruction.  How different the story might have been had they come to Samuel and said, "You are getting old and your sons aren't the spiritual leaders that you have been...pray to the Lord and ask him to send the leader he wants us to have."  How often do I limit what God can do in my life by telling him what I want him to do rather than asking him what he wants me to do?

January 16, 2006

1Sam. 10: The Spirit of God will come on you...and you'll be transformed.  You'll be a new person.

It is hard to read the early part of King Saul's story in an unprejudiced way because we know where it is going.  This bright beginning will end in dismal failure.  If I have never read this before, at this point I am ready for a great story of victory.  And I should be.  God has every intention of making Saul into one of the heroes of the Bible.  This big man is humble and practical, someone God can use in wonderful ways.  He is also shy, not a likely leader, and surely not a spiritual leader.  Right off the Lord goes to work there.  Before the day is out Saul will be transformed into a man who openly worships God, one who can be numbered among the prophets.  Failure is coming to Saul, but it won't be because God just tossed him into a role that was beyond him.  What the Lord calls me to he enables me for.  There is clearly more to be said about that, but this is a truth that is made real in the lives of all that hear God's call.

 January 17, 2006

1Sam. 10: Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed?!

The young man Saul is not a leader and he isn't especially known for his spirituality.  On this day, after his meeting with Samuel, Saul is headed home when he encounters a group of prophets on their way to worship.  Before he knows it, Saul falls in with them, and then, to everyone's surprise he joins them in their religious expression.  This is an unlikely event, and word spreads throughout his family and friends that Saul has done this.  People are surprised at "Saul among the prophets."  After he becomes king, a saying based on this incident becomes part of the vocabulary.  Anytime a person is surprised at something they shake their heads in wonder and say, "Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed!"  I've seen God do some surprising things in people's lives.  When I was a kid I knew a man who had been the town drunk.  He was wonderfully converted and became the Sunday School Superintendent in the church where I grew up.  "Saul among the prophets!  Who would have guessed!"  Another man, who was raised in the church got away from God.  His mother never stopped praying for him, but for years he seemed distant.  One night he came to revival and responded to the invitation.  A few years later he was a terrific youth leader in the church.  "Saul among the prophets!"  I love it when God does stuff like that and look forward to more "Saul among the prophets!" events in the days to come.

January 18, 2006

1Sam. 10: He's right over there -- hidden in that pile of baggage.

Things are moving too fast for this young man.  Not long ago the old man of God, Samuel, floored him with the announcement that he has been picked by God to be the first king of Israel.  Then there was the surprising episode with the prophets; he still hasn't figured that one out.  Now, he finds himself at the big gathering to announce the new king.  He already knows the outcome; Samuel let him in on God's plan and the prospect of being king both terrifies and thrills him.  This big man dislikes being noticed -- something that can hardly be avoided.  Just standing up gets him plenty of attention.  Almost by instinct he slips out of the main gathering to find a comfortable, out of sight place among the baggage.  Here he sits, wondering what he will do when his name is announced.  The answer to the question is known soon enough: he does nothing.  Frozen in fear and indecision he sits there until someone finds him.  Like it or not, he is the man picked by God to be king and the Lord won't take "no" for an answer.  I feel kind of sorry for Saul in this incident.  In fact, I identify with both his hesitation and thrill at what God is doing in his life.  Often I find myself feeling unworthy and incapable of doing what the Lord places before me.  The greatest source of hope in such times is that when God calls to some task he also provides the strength necessary to that task.  Still, it would sometimes be easier to hide among the baggage.

January 19, 2006

1Sam11: The Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard the report and he flew into a rage.

Later on, Saul's "rages" will be anything but godly, but in this case it is the direct result of the Spirit of God moving on him. The circumstances are as ugly as anything one might read in the book of Judges. Enemies have captured the Israelite town of Jabesh. They make a horribly cruel offer. The lives of the people of Jabesh will be spared and they will "only" be placed into slavery if they will submit to having their right eyes gouged out. When word of this comes to Saul, who has not yet fully claimed his position of King, the Spirit of God moves him to rage. He unites the men of Israel to fight for their brothers and sisters. The result is not only a great military victory, but, in having provided kingly leadership, Saul secures his kingship as well. I am reminded by this incident that there is a time and place for burning, empowering anger. No doubt we Christians should be known first of all for our love, gentleness, and kindness. But when there is injustice, when the strong take advantage of the weak -- at such times, God is angry and we ought to be angry enough to act in direct and redemptive ways.

January 21, 2006

1Sam. 12: ...you find nothing against me -- no faults, no complaints.

As Moses concluded his ministry he brought a final message that is most of the book of Deuteronomy.  Later on Joshua concluded his leadership with his "as for me and my house" sermon.  Now we find Samuel bringing his concluding sermon.  However, the situation is very different.  Both Moses and Joshua were signing off because the end of life was near.  Samuel, though old and gray, has several years left.  He will be God's man, bringing his message, for years to come.  In fact, he will even make a "post-death" appearance!  So why is he preaching a farewell message now?  It is because the people want a king instead of a prophet to lead them.  Samuel's leadership is being cut short by that decision.  As he delivers this farewell, Samuel doesn't pull any punches.  Even as their ancestors of the book of Judges forgot God, they are walking dangerously close to the edge of that same cliff in preferring the leadership model of the nations of Canaan rather than God's.  This farewell sermon proves to be a memorable one -- complete with special effects -- but for now, I find myself thinking of how different it could have been for these people had they not been insistent on this common sense solution to their leadership concerns.  God's way is always the best way and I want to live close enough to him that I can clearly hear his Voice providing direction in my life.

January 23, 2006

1Sam 12: God, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people.

Talk about "multi-media!"  As Samuel brings his farewell sermon, he tells them how displeased the Lord is with them over their insistence on having a king.  Then, to illustrate that displeasure, Samuel prays up a thunderstorm!  Now, that is an "attention-getter!"  The storm scares them to repentance and they plead with Samuel to pray for them.  He promises his prayers and also assures them that God can work through a king arrangement.  It may not be God's first choice, but he can handle it so long as king and people cooperate with him.  And, even though the Lord is disappointed in their poor choices, he isn't giving up on them.  How does Samuel know this?  He knows it because his knows God.  "Because of who he is, he will be faithful to you."  It is great to know that my relationship with God is not performance- based.  That doesn't give me license to ignore God and do my own thing, but it does encourage me today.  Even when I am functioning at peek capacity I tend to mess up.  I am so glad that, based on his very character, I know that God isn't going to walk out on me.

January 24, 2006

1Sam. 12: And neither will I walk off and leave you. That would be a sin against God! I'm staying right here at my post....

Samuel is an old man but he has a lot of life left.  If these people had trusted God with the future Samuel would have kept them on the right track for years to come.  When the time was right God would have raised up another national and spiritual leader to guide them even as he had given them Samuel.  It isn't going to be that way though.  They insisted on having a king and God has given them one.  Still, there is news of God's grace here.  God will not forsake them, and if they and their king cooperate, all will be well.  Now, Samuel adds a personal note.  Even as God promises to remain faithful, so does he.  Really, Samuel can do nothing else.  As God's man his actions must reflect God's character.  It would be unthinkable for him to say, "I represent God, and God is going to stand by you -- but as for me, I am out of here!"  People who represent God, those who claim to be his people, reflect God in all their lives.  Samuel could have gotten his feelings hurt and just "handed them over to God" but he doesn't do that.  As a follower of God I must allow my life to reflect the character of God even when people treat me unfairly or misunderstand me or hurt my feelings.  It is simply a part of being a man of God.

January 26, 2006

1Sam. 13: So I took things into my own hands.

As we leave Samuel's sermon in chapter 12 and move to chapter 13 there is a leap of several years.  In fact, the first words of the next chapter tell us that Saul has now reigned for many years.  Apparently, he is doing a good job. For decades there have been no stories of failure -- life continues, securely and at peacefully. Also, we see that Samuel is doing what he said he would do, continuing to pray for them and providing spiritual guidance.  Saul handles the day to day running of the country and Samuel is the spiritual leader. Then historic things begin to happen.  Saul's son, Jonathan, attacks the Philistines at Gibeah and there is war.  Outnumbered, Saul's army flees and things are unraveling for Israel.  The call goes out to aged Samuel to come and offer a sacrifice -- God's help is needed here!  As Saul waits on Samuel his men continue slipping away, one after another.  Finally, Saul decides he can wait no longer.  Crossing the line between handling affairs of state to the spiritual, he offers his own sacrifice.  Of course, it is all a test.  Will Saul follow God's plan for how Israel is to function or will he abandon God's approach when it seems necessary?  His failure is obvious.  I can be pretty hard on Saul if I want to. God has been with him, always on his side, now he has messed up (royally!).  The trouble is that I have to admit that I can identify with Saul here.  How good am I at waiting for God to move when I am under pressure?  Do I tend to take matters into my own hands?  Since this was a spectacular failure for Saul, is it anything less when I fail in the same way?

January 30, 2006

1Sam. 13: God is out looking for your replacement right now.

On the surface, Saul's failure seems minor.  All he is doing is offering his own sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel to do it for him.  Beneath that, though, is a fault line that means catastrophe.  Any king of Israel must rule only as a servant of God.  Things are to be done God's way.  From the beginning of Saul's story his position has been clearly defined.  Samuel is the man chosen by God to provide spiritual leadership, and that includes making ritual sacrifices.  Saul has crossed that line, claiming authority that is not his.  Because of that God is rejecting him as king.  Since he does not accept God's way of doing things, another king will be found.  I need to remember here that Saul isn't making a mistake in this incident -- he is acting with full knowledge of what he is doing.  Simply put, he is pushing God's will to the side and taking what he thinks is a better course of action.  While it is true that God is testing him with the circumstance of Samuel's late arrival it is also true that he is miserably failing the test.  The Lord seeks another king because Saul, by his own decision, is making himself unworthy to be king.  As I apply this to my life, I see that I must never forget that he is Lord.  I am not free to do whatever I want to do.  While I know that God is gracious and merciful, I also know that, in my own free will, I can push God too far.  It doesn’t have to be that way, but I know that it remains a tragic possibility.

January 31, 2006

1Sam. 14: Saul did something really foolish that day.

It is war.  Saul's army is in battle with the hated Philistines.  Saul's son Jonathan leads the way.  Single handedly he has killed about 20 of the enemy.  God is working here, bringing confusion to the enemy army.  In addition to the damage Saul's army is doing them they seem to be at war with one another.  It is now that Saul does a "really foolish" thing.  He commands his army to fast while they fight.  His men are in hand-to-hand combat all day but eating nothing.  When the battle ends at the end of the day they are so hungry that they are eating raw meat -- meat with the blood still in it, which is contrary to God's Law.  The writer tells us that it is all Saul's fault.  He is in charge and they depend on his leadership.  He has let them down by adding to their burden in an attempt to make their effort seem "more spiritual."  It is important that leaders be spiritually sensitive.  We are not to dress things up to make them seem more spiritual than they already are, but at the same time, we are to take the lead in recognizing God's work in even supposed "non-spiritual" efforts.  Saul overplayed his hand here and the result was near disaster.  I pray that God will help me to be truly sensitive to spiritual things and to be a leader who "is" spiritually minded rather than a person who foolishly, like Saul, merely "acts" spiritually minded.

February 1, 2006

1Sam. 14: Wherever he turned, he came up with a victory.  He became invincible!

Saul was a terrific military leader, brave, capable, and resourceful. My first instinct upon reading Samuel's pronouncement of God's rejection of Saul as king is to think that everything is going to fall apart. It simply doesn't happen. Saul builds a great army, extends his rule by taking more territory, and keeps the hated Philistines on the defense. For decades he successfully leads Israel. Whether I like it or not, sometimes godless people are very capable people. For instance, all it takes is watching the innovative, yet profane commercials during a Super Bowl to see that some of the brightest most outstanding people in advertising are those who have anything but Christian values. So, as I read his story, I see that at on least the public level, Saul has it all together. It is at the private level that things are, indeed, falling apart. Without doubt, living for the Lord is the best way to live. Still, being a follower of Jesus doesn't make one smarter or more capable. That ought to at least humble me and make me more dependent on the Lord. It may also make me think twice when I am picking a professional to help me with my business or getting ready to pull the lever to vote in an important election.

February 2, 2006

1Sam. 15: Then God spoke to Samuel: "I’m sorry I ever made Saul king.  He's turned his back on me.  He refuses to do what I tell him."

God has given Saul explicit orders.  He is to attack Amalek and utterly destroy all life.  Saul leads his army into the battle and follows God's command.  Well, not quite.  Agag, king of Amalek is captured, rather than killed.  Also, some of the choice animals are brought back alive.  Now, I am troubled by all this killing.  In fact, I wrote about it http://pastorscott.blogspot.com/2005/11/joshua-11-it-was-gods-idea-that-they.html here, so I am going to move on to another important feature of this passage.  God says he is "sorry" he made Saul king in the first place.  Some say that this is just God speaking in human terms, that he isn't "sorry" in the sense that he regrets having made Saul king.  The reason that they want this is because taking this statement at face value doesn't fit their theology.  They see time as somehow pre-existent and that God can see into the future.  "God knows everything," they say, "so he has to know the future."  I think that such logic contains a fatal error: that the future already exists as something to be known.  If time is a "thing" then, no doubt, God knows all about it.  But if time is simply a measure of the flow of events, and if human beings truly have free will, then God don't know the future.  Two things must be added.  First, God knows what he is going to do.  Throughout the Bible he says, "If you do this, I will do that -- if you do that I will do this."  God knows, because he is going to act, not because he has looked into the future and seen what he is going to do.  Second, God could know the exact future if he wanted to.  I am not saying that he somehow "limits his vision" -- I am saying that if God wanted to force events to flow in a specific way that he has the power to do so.  However, doing that would violate the free will he granted human beings.  If you are still with me, let me conclude by saying that God had every reason to believe Saul would be a terrific leader of Israel and to be disappointed that he was not.  In fact, that is what God believed would (or at least "could") happen.  Saul's failure disappointed the Almighty, but it didn't ruin his plan.  God went about replacing Saul with another king, giving Israel a second chance.

February 4, 2006

1Sam. 15: Do you think all God wants are sacrifices -- empty rituals just for show?  He wants you to listen to him!

Saul is a failure in the eyes of God.  His large army and military victories don't impress him.  Now Saul blames the soldiers -- something that does not wash with the Lord.  Then, he says he is going to sacrifice the animals God. Pitiful!  Samuel has a word from the Lord for Saul.  God isn't interested in how many sacrifices Saul might make; he is interested in obedience.  Saul said, "no" to God, now God is saying "no" to him.  Saul will continue in power for some time to come, but, in reality, his leadership has come to a whimpering end.  Oswald Chambers says that the greatest hindrance to our relationship to the Lord is the service we do for him.  "Look at all I am doing for God, surely he can't ask more than that."  He can and he does.  Listening, obedience, and relationship -- these things define God's intentions for me.  The Lord does not put out a call for volunteer martyrs.  He simply calls us to hear and obey.  If that means sacrifice, fine.  Otherwise, I listen to his voice and live my life in a relationship with the Lord.

February 6, 2006

1Sam. 16: God judges persons differently than humans do...God looks into the heart.

Saul's failure weighs on Samuel.  However, God says it is time to get on with selecting Saul's successor.  This is potentially dangerous, because Saul is still in power and certainly doesn't want Samuel anointing someone else as king.  Still, Samuel obeys the Lord and heads out to the town of Bethlehem to find God's choice for second king of Israel.  There he finds the young man he is sure is the right one.  It is Eliab, son of Jesse.  Tall and good-looking, in fact, you might say "regal" in appearance.  But Samuel is mistaken.  God reminds Samuel that this isn't a beauty contest, and that God is more interested in what is in the heart than he is in outward appearance.  Eliab might be a fine fellow, but he isn't to be the next king of Israel.  So it continues as Jessie brings one son after another before the revered man of God.  Finally, all but one has been interviewed.  Youngest son David is all that is left.  When Saul was chosen we were told that he stood a head and shoulders above the other men.  Now, as David is picked, he is called the "runt" of the family.  Thus we gain an insight into how God works.  He uses big, nice looking people, but he also uses those that others overlook.  Why?  It is because God looks on the heart.  I pray that the Lord will find in me a person he can use for his purposes.

February 7, 2006

1Sam. 16: At that very moment the Spirit of God left Saul.

Over in Bethlehem a secret meeting between Samuel and David is taking place.  With his brothers as witnesses, David is anointed king of Israel.  This young man is God's pick to replace Saul.  Of course, Saul is unaware of all this.  If he knew...well, David wouldn't survive the day.  However, in a strange way Saul knows something has happened.  A spiritual light in his life is suddenly gone. In its place is a darkness that frightens him.  It has been some time since Saul's failure with the Amalekites.  It was back then that God rejected Saul as king of Israel.  The interesting thing is that, according to this scripture, God's Spirit has remained in Saul, even though God was already moving to replace him.  I can't help but wonder why that was.  Here are my two possible answers, and it really isn't an "either/or" proposition.  First, it might be that, in spite of the absolute language about Saul that God is willing to give him time and help to turn it around.  The scripture tells us that Samuel grieved Saul's failure.  I can't help but think that God did too.  Maybe the Spirit of God has continued to tug at his heart even when it is almost certain that it is too late.  Second, it could be that God has continued to bless Saul for the sake of Israel. Failure or not, Saul has the power and authority of king.  His days are numbered, but so long as he remains in office, God will help him -- not for his sake, but for the sake of Israel.  I have heard stories of ministers who had some secret, devastating sin going on.  When it was made public people were amazed because of the power of his ministry -- the many lives that were being changed.  It seems that we might have a similar situation with Saul.  God continues to bless his leadership and even provide personal strength for his own purposes.  The sun is quickly setting, and a new leader will take his place, but for now, the Spirit of God has remained with Saul.  I like both scenarios.  I like the idea that God gave Saul a "second chance" and I also like the idea that God took care of his people even through such an imperfect leader as Saul.  In either (or both) case(s), I see the grace of God at work.

February 8, 2006

1Sam. 17: I'm ready to go and fight this Philistine.

David and Goliath -- now this is a good story!  It is a story we have heard all our lives.  It is part of our shorthand vocabulary.   When we want to describe the little guy taking on something big and threatening we just say, "its David verses Goliath" and everyone nods understandingly.  David is very likely a young man rather than a little boy.  Most Bible scholars say he is in his 20's when this takes place.  The story is rich in devotional material.  However, before I get into the story, I would like to look at the big picture for a moment.  Saul, rejected by God, is on his way out.  David has been secretly anointed as his replacement.  The people love Saul and are faithful to him.  He has proven to be a solid and fearless military leader.  David is best known as a musician and shepherd.   These things hardly qualify him to be king of Israel.  Everyone assumes that Saul's son will succeed him as king, but even if they thought otherwise, a shepherd like David wouldn't be a likely candidate in anyone's mind.  Thus we come to the confrontation at Oak Valley, where the Philistines and the Israelites are having a tense stand off.  David's victory over Goliath is the perfect way for God to introduce their future king to the people of Israel.  Never again will David be considered to be a nice young man who plays the harp.  I don’t think David is thinking about any of this, but I believe that God is.  There is lots of other good stuff in this story, but right off I see that God is not only working in the details of slings and stones, but he sees the big picture too.  Today he is helping me with the slings and stones details of my life, but he never loses sight of his own over all goals and how my life fits into them.

February 9, 2006

1Sam. 17: God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine.

Saul, not to mention Goliath, towers over David.  We are told that his family calls David the "runt" and that Saul is head and shoulders taller than the average man is.  When word comes to Saul that he has a volunteer to fight nine-foot-tall Goliath he is pleased, but when he sees David -- well, let's just say David is a surprise to him.  Saul rejects David as too young and inexperienced but David immediately states his credentials.  Apparently, shepherding isn't all about sitting around watching sheep and playing the harp.  David has some war stories of his own, stories that include hand-to-hand (or better hand-to-claw or hand-to-teeth) combat with some pretty impressive adversaries.  He didn't just run the wild animals off -- he grabbed them by the throat, wrung their necks, and killed them!  Have you grabbed a bear by the neck lately?  It is my understanding that this is not considered a wise thing to do!  Seriously, it seems that David knows that his ability to kill a lion or bear with his own hands is an extraordinary thing.  In other words, he knows that he would be a dead man had it not been for God's help, enabling him to be a lion killer even as Samson had done generations earlier.  It is because of these victories that David is ready to take on the big guy here.   Application?  How's this?  It is when I have gone through smaller battles (although I am not sure how "small" fighting lions should be considered) and won by God's help that I can take on giant issues with confidence.  The same God who brings me though smaller fights is well able to deliver me when I am in the fight of my life.

February 13, 2006

1Sam. 17: Go.  And God help you!

I've been thinking about why Saul, himself, didn't fight Goliath.  After all, Saul is the king, leader of the army.  He has never been afraid in previous battles and has a reputation for being a fierce fighter.  Goliath stands over nine feet tall, but Saul towers a head and shoulders above all the other men of Israel.  Yet day after day, he allows his army to cower before Goliath's challenge.  I think the last part is the key.  Saul is used to being the biggest.  David isn't a big man in the first place, but Saul is. In fact, and I am just guessing here, it may be that Saul has never in his adult life seen another human being who is taller than himself.  Think of the psychological impact of that.  Saul sees in Goliath not only a man bigger than he is, but also a man who is clearly more skilled at hand-to-hand combat.  This frightens Saul in a way that he has never imagined.  In fact, it has frozen him to the point that he is ready to send young David, with all the confidence of his youth, to battle the giant in his stead.  I think that it is possible for our advantages to become our disadvantages.   Natural attributes can blind us to our own weaknesses.  Gifts can hinder the development of abilities.  For instance, a person who is naturally a good speaker or singer may rely on that gift, but ultimately will be less useful to God than a person who had to early on learn to rely on God if they were to effectively minister.  Sooner or later life sends us a Goliath, a circumstance in which our natural gifts, as great as they are, aren't enough.  Even gifted people must learn to rely on God, or they risk becoming Saul, hiding in his tent instead of battling Goliath.

February 14, 2006

1Sam. 17: Then Saul outfitted David as a soldier in armor.

Since David is going to fight Goliath, Saul is preparing him for battle.  Being given the king's own helmet and sword is an honor for David.  However, in spite of the seriousness of the situation, the result is comical.  The helmet is way too big, the sword, when strapped around his waist, drags the ground.   The oversized armor weighs David down to the point that he can hardly move much less fight.  Thus we come to the truism that we each must wear our own armor.  We individualist Westerners can really get off on this one!  "I have to do this my way...what works for you won't necessarily work for me...after all, I can't wear someone else's armor."  Let's step back for a minute and look at this situation again.  Saul's armor, including his weapons of war are not suitable for David so David simply picks another approach that already belongs to someone else.  We don't know who invented the sling, but it certainly wasn't David.  Probably way back in the first pages of Genesis there is an untold story about how some enterprising fellow came up with the sling as a way to hunt.  When wars came along the sling became one of the weapons every soldier attempted to master.  So, when David rejects Saul's "armor" he is actually accepting that of someone else.  I think that it is pretty rare for God to call us to be totally original.  After all, "there is nothing new under the sun."  The Bible is full of principles that can be applied to the issues of life.  Someone has already thought through ways to deal with most issues.  David didn't go out and invent the sling so he could fight Goliath; he simply picked it as the method for accomplishing his purpose -- a method pioneered by someone else.  The fact that David couldn't fight in Saul's armor does not give me permission to go around acting like the Lone Ranger doing everything my own way.   It just reminds me that there is more than one way to accomplish things, and I need to know enough about the issue at hand, and to listen carefully enough to the voice of the Lord in my life, to pick the right one.

February 15, 2006

1Sam. 17: Everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear.  The battle belongs to God.

"This very day God is handing you over to me." So says David as he prepares for battle with Goliath.  For us this is a nifty story, one of the most memorable in the entire Bible.  For David, well, this was the real deal.  Before him stands a giant of a man who fully intends to disembowel him.  David has chosen a sling and some stones as his weapon of choice, but he knows this fight isn't really about weapons at all. This is a spiritual event, and he correctly identifies it as such: "I come to you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies."  In spite of the very real and material threat, David correctly classifies it as a very real and spiritual one.  As much as I like this story, do I really apply it to my own "very real and material" life?  Am I good at praying and trusting God only in theory or do I do it in practice, where the "rubber meets the road"?  Instead of viewing conflicts as spiritual events, do I rush to defend myself - or call a meeting to plot a strategy for getting my way - or throw my weight around - or manipulate the people involved?  To do so is to view the issue at hand as one of "swords and spears" rather than as a spiritual battle that belongs to God.  When I do that kind of stuff, I may get my way in the short run, but it will always come at a price -- to me and to others.  Then again, I may not get my way at all -- the giant may just win, leaving me fatally wounded.

February 17, 2006

1Sam. 17: David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine.

I am not sure why this phrase stands out to me, so me think about it for a few minutes.  It has to do with David's confidence, his rushing to, in the eyes of common sense, absolute disaster.   There is no trace of hesitancy here.  This isn't one of those reluctant "well, someone has to do it, it might as well be me" situations.  David is eager for this fight.  The mental picture is powerful.  On one hand, big old Goliath, armed to the teeth, stands there spewing out promises of death.  On the other, young David armed only with a sling, proclaiming God's authority, running toward the giant of a man.  Within seconds Goliath lies face down in the dirt and David stands over him, with Goliath's own sword in hand, preparing to chop off his head.  It was never about the brashness of youth, or David's "secret weapon."  Everything here clearly carries the mark of God at work.  David acted with confidence because he had heard the voice of God in his life.  Not only had he heard, he had believed.   A realization of this truth is not only good for combat with giants, it is good for everyday life too.  I need to spend enough time with God that I can hear him clearly, and then, having heard, to believe, and having believed, to act with confidence.

February 20, 2006

1Sam. 18: Jonathan was deeply impressed with David - an immediate bond was forged between them.

The connection between Jonathan and David is a surprising one.  Aside from some forced, perverted effort to make this into something it is not, we still see here that Jonathan, who should be the next king of Israel, becomes a fully committed friend of David who is God's obvious choice for king.  We find no finer picture of friendship than we find here.  Jonathan and David stand together no matter what.  I guess this is not especially profound, but when I read of their friendship I am reminded of those who are friends to me.  I could name names but I won't.  Let it simply be said that across the years the Lord has graciously sent me some precious friends - men who have prayed for and with me, who have been willing to let me, the pastor, be "one of the guys."  Truthfully, just writing about them, even in as general a way as this warms my heart. 

February 21, 2006

1Sam. 18: Saul hated David

Saul has never forgotten the words of God's man, Samuel: "God has rejected you as king over Israel."  Still, long after that word of rejection Saul continues in power, enjoying considerable military success.  Then there is that Goliath incident.  He should have never let David fight Goliath.  As King, the General of the Army, it was his battle, not David's.  But David did fight, winning not only the battle, but also the hearts of the people of Israel.  Now it seems David can do no wrong.  He never acts in a way that speaks of betrayal, but faithfully and with frustrating success carries out every command.  The people are falling in love with David and because of that Saul hates him.  There is a lot going on here.  For instance, it seems Saul is in deep depression.  At first, it almost appeared that Saul didn't really need God after all, but now his life apart from God is taking a terrible toll on his mind and spirit.  We know that it will only go downhill from here.  Then there is David, who simply keeps doing the right thing -- even when Saul tries to pin him to the wall with a spear!  I even see an unattractive "but what have you done for us lately" element in the changing loyalties of the people.  I don't guess the writer of this portion of Scripture is teaching any particular lesson in this passage.  Rather, he is just telling the story.  Still, there are several things to think about here.

February 22, 2006

1Sam. 19: I'll go out and talk about you with my father and we'll see what he says.

Saul has a haunted look about him these days.  There is no peace for him, but instead a constant, nagging fear.  He has power and authority and a certain kind of cunning, but things are going downhill for him.  David is his greatest irritant.  David is everything Saul could have been.  No one has to tell Saul this, but in his heart he knows that David is the next king of Israel.  Of all people who should side with him in opposition to David, his son Jonathan should be first.  In this age, when the throne is at stake, there is generally a bloody coop.  Jonathan should realize that, not only is his future position at stake, but his very life depends on dealing with David.  Jonathan, though, will have none of it.  He is the president of David's fan club.  When Saul signs a death warrant for David, it is Jonathan who talks his father out of it.  Every time Jonathan appears in this story he is doing the right thing.  He fights the enemies of God with skill, bravery, and resourcefulness.  He is a friend to David without thought to himself.  He stands up to his father even when doing so can easily bring himself under his father's murderous rage.  It occurs to me that Jonathan reminds me of one of my favorite people in the book of Acts, the Son of Encouragement, Barnabus.  I thank God for people who simply do the right thing.  Often they aren't the ones with the staring roles in life's stories but they support the stars, like David or Paul.  Jonathan, like Barnabus, is a good role model for me.

February 23, 2006

1Sam. 20: God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!

There is a lot of tension around the palace these days.  King Saul is unpredictable and on the verge of losing it all together.  He has the habit of sitting on his throne holding his spear.  If anyone displeases him in the slightest his glare tells him or her that the spear is not just for appearances.  Even his own son, Jonathan or the hero of the land, David is exempt.  In fact, both of these good men have barely escaped with their lives when Saul made use of the spear.  Jonathan still thinks he can handle his father, but David is unconvinced and urges his best friend to test things for him.  David's concerns are justified.  Saul is a danger to anyone who is in his vicinity, but especially to David.  If he is to survive, it is time for David to run.  As he and Jonathan meet in preparation for David's departure we get a glimpse into the heart of their deep friendship.  The bond is God.  They both love God with all their hearts, they live and are willing to die for the Lord.  It is their relationships to God that has cemented their friendship with one another.  The best, lasting, healthiest, most satisfying relationships have, at their core, God.  This is beautifully illustrated in this passage.

February 25, 2006

1Sam. 21: He pretended to go crazy.

It has been confirmed that Saul intends to kill David, so David is desperately on the run.  He doesn't even have so much as a sword and has no provisions.  He temporarily remedies that by stopping at the place of worship at Nob where he is given bread and the sword of Goliath that has been stored there.  Now what?  He decides to seek refuge at Gath.  His intention is to go there incognito, but he is immediately recognized.  King Achish will almost certainly turn him over to Saul.  So, what can he do?  The report is that he pretended to go crazy.  Apparently, he put on a pretty good act; good enough that Achish wants nothing to do with him and sends him on his way.  Now David is a skilled fighter and he has an excellent weapon, so maybe he could have fought his way out.   Or, he might have been able to play "let's make a deal" with old king Achish.  In fact, he does that with the king of Moab in providing protection from Saul for his family.  Instead, he fakes insanity.  I wonder why he did that.  Maybe, as he has entered Gath he has seen a number of poor, demented people, so insanity is on his mind.  King Achish alludes to that when he says, "Don't you think I have enough crazy people to put up with as it is without adding another?"  Anyway, I am thinking about the value of "strategic insanity" here.  Sometimes it is better to simply not notice an offense than it is to force a confrontation.  It can be better to be blissfully ignorant of what people are saying or thinking and using "strategic insanity" to just go on loving them as though they have never said or done anything negative about us.   I know that this is not always true, but on this day David saved himself a fight and walked away because the king thought he was so crazy that he wouldn't be of any use to him.  There are probably situations in my life in which "strategic insanity" is the best response too.

February 27, 2006

1Sam. 22: All who were down on their luck came around - losers and vagrants and misfits...David became their leader.

As David hides out at the Cave of Adullam, people begin come to him.  These aren't the influential, the comfortable in life, but instead those who have nothing left to lose.  Seeing that David has been kicked out they identify with him and become his followers.  Hundreds of years later there will be another man who will be unfairly mistreated and abused, kicked out by those who are in power, those in respectable positions.  He too will draw "losers and vagrants and misfits" to himself.  In him they will find acceptance, transformation, and purpose.  And, thousands of years later I can report to you that I am one of those "losers" who has come to Jesus.   Those who came to David, that original 400, became so devoted to him that they would follow him anywhere.  That's how I feel about my Lord too.

February 28, 2006

1Sam. 22: I'm to blame for the death of everyone in your father's family.

One the day that David flees for his life from Saul he stops at the place of worship at Nob.  In his desperation David lies to the priest there, Ahitub, and tells him he is on a mission for the king.  He asks for provisions and a weapon.   Since David is highly respected the priest gives him holy bread to eat and the prized sword of Goliath that is stored there.  As David is leaving he sees one of Saul's men, Doeg the Edomite who is also at Nob and has seen what has happened.  However, David is so afraid for his own life that he hurries on, escaping from Saul.  Now we see the consequences of David's dishonesty and failure to consider the danger in which he placed Ahitub and all those in Nob.  Saul's man, Doeg, reports the incident and Saul takes revenge on all those at Nob: men, women, children, even the livestock.  All are killed except the son of the priest, Ahimelech who escapes to join David.  When he hears what has happened David says, "I'm to blame."  This is more than a gracious admission; it is the terrible truth.  In his fear David thought only of himself and in doing so, brought destruction to many innocent people.  Fear is an awful thing.  It causes us to shrink our world to only ourselves.  Fear loses sight of God and causes us to ignore the consequences of our words and deeds.   David's admission and his taking Ahimelech in and under his protection is commendable, but it doesn't undo the damage that was done in his fear-generated failure.

March 1, 2006

1Sam. 23: Saul was on one side of the mountain, David and his men on the other.

Saul and David are playing a deadly game of hide and seek.  In spite of David's continuing to be a defender of Israel, Saul has made him public enemy number one.  David's band is growing, now numbering over 600, but Saul's army vastly outnumbers them.  Beyond that, David doesn't want to fight Saul or any of his countrymen.  Israel, the nation, is divided.  Some are loyal to Saul and others to David.  In fact, one group, the Ziphites, betrays David to Saul.  They report David's whereabouts to Saul and help set up an ambush.  It is nearly successful.  At one point Saul almost has David and his men cornered.  If not for word of an attack from a real enemy that forces Saul's attention elsewhere, David's story would have ended right here.  Because of this, the area of this almost encounter is called "Narrow Escape."  So, was the attack by the Philistines at such a critical moment just good fortune for David?  I think not.  God's fingerprints are all over this.  Still, it is interesting that God used the enemies of Israel, the heathens of the land, to deliver David.  The lesson for me is that this is a reminder that God is truly Sovereign.  Even when godless people act in ways intended to destroy, God can give a gentle push in some particular direction and use their sinful act to accomplish good rather than evil.  Even when it seems evil has won the day, God is still God, and is working in surprising ways in and through it all.

March 2, 2006

1Sam. 24: There was a cave there and Saul went in to relieve himself.

I know this is not the most inspiring statement in this story, but it is attention getting.  David and his men have retreated to En Gedi, and area with lots of good places in which to hide.  Saul has received a tip concerning David's location, so he and his army are working through the region, searching for David.  Saul knows he is closing in on David, but has no idea of how close he actually is.  Then, as happens at inopportune times, nature calls.  There are no rest stops in the area, so Saul picks a convenient cave for privacy, dismisses his aids, and enters by himself, never knowing that David and his men (probably not the whole 600, more than likely a patrol) are hidden farther back in the cave.  Talk about catching a man with his pants down!  This is the real deal and it will be very easy for David to strike Saul down.  His men see this as a golden opportunity to kill Saul, but David sees it as a chance to show mercy and to prove his respect for the person God placed at the head of the nation of Israel.  David cuts off a piece of Saul's laid aside robe.  Then, as Saul rejoins his troops, David appears at the mouth of the cave Saul has just departed.  The fringe of the robe proves that David has spared Saul's life and, temporarily at least, Saul's heart melts.  Centuries later one of David's descendants will declare the principle that directed David's action that day.  He said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you."  Before the Sermon on the Mount was ever preached David illustrated it at the cave in En Gedi.

March 4, 2006

1Sam. 25: Blessed be your good sense!

The encounter between David and Saul at En Gedi resulted in a sort of peace between the two.  David wasn't ready to return home, but Saul wasn't pursuing him for the time being.  Under the cease-fire David is thinking about more pressing needs, like food!  In the vicinity there is a successful farmer who is shearing his sheep.  This is more than just a farm chore.  It is a big feast, a celebration of the success of the farm.  David sends a few men to humbly ask if he might make a donation to his troops.  The result is insult and denial.  This infuriates David.  There have been many times when he could have just taken some of Nabal's sheep.  Instead, his men have treated his shepherds with respect and kept their hands off of Nabal's property.  In his anger, David is on his way to raid Nabal's farm and take revenge by taking his life.  Meanwhile, Nabal's wife, Abigail, hears what has happened.  She leaps to action by gathering a huge load of supplies and going out to meet David and his men.  She humbly greets David and then presents a three-part argument as to why David should not do what he intends to do.  First, she is giving him a gift of many supplies.  Second, her husband is a fool who is not worth his effort.  (By the way, what kind of a parent names his son, "Fool" anyway.  No doubt, Nabal was in great need of counseling!)  Third and most importantly, she tells David that taking revenge is beneath him as a man of God.  I find it interesting that David wouldn't kill Saul, who was seeking his life, but that, because he was insulted that he was about to kill the fool, Nabal.  Which is worse, having a powerful person try to put a spear through you or having a stupid person say a stupid thing to you?  The trouble is that we are often like David here.  The things that get us off track are not dealing with some major, obvious issue -- when that happens we turn to God for his help, trusting in him.  However, when it is a small thing, just an insult or a thoughtless driver who cuts us off in traffic -- well, we will just handle that ourselves; maybe teach them a lesson or two.  We need people like Abigail around who can remind us to show some good sense in those "little things" that are such a danger for us.

March 6, 2006

1Sam. 26: God forbid that I should lay a finger on God's anointed.

Saul can't seem to help himself.  In spite of the fact that David has already spared his life once, at the cave in En Gedi, when he receives word that David is at Hakilah Hill he gathers 3000 of his best soldiers and goes out to get him.  David's sentries spot this large unit as they enter the area, so he and his men are tracking their every movement.  As night falls, Saul sets up camp.  Once more David decides on dramatic action to prove to Saul that he is not a threat to his kingdom.  Accompanied by brave Abishai David slips into the camp and takes the spear from beside where Saul is sleeping.  Abishai sees this as the opportunity to pin Saul to the ground with his own spear, but David refuses, saying he won't lay a finger on God's anointed.  David believes that God put Saul in office and, even though Saul is a shadow of the man he was then, that God will deal with removing him from office.  So what do I learn from this?  It would be easy to talk about pastor/congregation relationships here, and I know that the primary issue in such relationships is spiritual.  However, I think it goes beyond that.  To a great extent all of God's people are his "anointed."  God has chosen each of us to be his very own.   I had better be careful that my words don't wound one of God's people.  He calls each one his very own and anoints them with his presence.  I don't have to always like what they say or do, but I had better treat them with respect due to God's servants.  Otherwise, I risk following Abishai's route rather than David's.

March 7, 2006

1Sam. 27: The best thing I can do is escape to Philistine country.

One thing about the narrative of the Bible, we are told the whole story, both good and bad.  I think that David's time in Philistine country is, for him, what the book of Judges is for the Israelite people as a whole.  David does it, and we are told about it, but none of it is to his credit.  Right off, David says that he thinks sooner or later that Saul is going to capture him, so he needs to escape the country.   Where is his faith in God who has proven faithful to him across the years?   Has he forgotten the incidents at the cave in En Gedi and at Hakilah Hill?  Then, we see where he goes for refuge, to the enemies of Israel and God.  King Achish foolishly thinks, "An enemy of Saul is a friend of mine."  That is a major mistake on his part, but David's decision stinks to high heaven.  It is unworthy of one anointed of God.  Once he settles in Ziklag, David starts raiding small towns.  His approach for hiding it is twofold.  First, when Achish asks him where he has been he lies and says he has been raiding his own people, Judah.  Second, when he raids these towns he simply kills everyone in the town.  I wrote about my feelings about the mass killing in the book of Judges here: http://pastorscott.blogspot.com/2005/11/joshua-11-it-was-gods-idea-that-they.html.  There, at least, I see that they felt they were doing God's will (I am not ready to take that topic on again here.)  In David's case, he seems to just be making a living off of raiding villages and killing people.  The writer of the Scripture just tells us what happened, but I come away from this passage thinking that this is not of David's proudest moment.  I understand that he was living in different times and that beyond that I am not David's judge.  I also remember here that even biblical heroes (not to mention me) stand in great need of God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

March 8, 2006

1Sam. 28: There's a witch at Endor.

Life is terribly dark for Saul.  When he failed God at <a href=" http://pastorscott.blogspot.com/2006/01/1sam-13-god-is-out-looking-for-your.html">Gilgal</a> Samuel told him that God was finished with him.  However, for years, it looked as though Saul could handle things on his own.  He built a strong army and successfully led the people of Israel. However, through those years things were always going down hill for Saul.  As we near the end of his story, we see a fear-filled, pitiful man.  Thus we come to this strange incident at Endor.  Saul is afraid of his enemies and with good reason.  His past successes against the Philistines are forgotten as a coalition of forces is massing for the biggest battle yet.  Saul's only connection with God has been through old Samuel, but now Samuel is dead.  Prayer is an unknown thing for Saul, but in fear, he prays.  There is no answer.  Then, with the same denial of God's authority that was evident many years earlier when he decided to offer his own sacrifices rather than wait for Samuel at Gilgal, he again takes things into his own hands.  If God won't answer, he will turn to witchcraft for answers.  He knows God strictly forbids this, in fact, as king he has enforced the abolition of witchcraft in Israel.  Now, he goes looking for someone who can contact the dead for him, specifically Samuel.  I know some view this as confirmation that witchcraft, mediums, seances, and the like can be genuine.  However, I am not ready to go there based on this passage.  The "witch at Endor" was probably an old faker who has told fortunes for years.  Now, when she starts her act and Samuel appears she is more surprised than anyone else is: "When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out...."  It appears to me that she dropped out of her mystic trance in a hurry when this unexpected thing happened.  I think that Saul tried to bypass God by moving as far from God's "territory" as possible, but ran headlong into God even there.  The reminder is that even when a person intentionally tries to move out of the light of God into areas where no one is to go, that God is God even over that.  This passage is really a confirmation of His absolute sovereignty. 

March 9, 2006

1Sam. 29: He's not going into battle with us.

How about that, wisdom from the Philistines!  Fleeing from Saul (maybe said better: "getting away from Saul so he won't have to kill him") David is living in Philistine territory, the town of Ziklag.  Now the Philistines are uniting to take on Saul and the army of Israel in a major, decisive battle.  And David is with the Philistines!  King Achish, who mistakenly thinks that David has already been attacking his fellow countrymen in Judah, is confident that David has completely betrayed Israel.  However, the other warlords of the Philistines are not convinced.  They don't know David, but they know his reputation.  They think that in the heat of the battle he will turn on them.  Achish reluctantly sends David and his men home.  Are the other warlords right?  I hope so. David has no business living in the land of the Philistines in the first place much less fighting on their side.  I think this event is crucial to David's future as king of Israel.  In the story of Abraham and Lot, it is Lot who mistakenly decides to live in the wicked city of Sodom -- that decision changes his life.  He might have gone down in history as a great man who walked in faith with his uncle, Abraham.  Instead, his story is a mere footnote in the history of God's people.  In this incident, David is at a similar crossroads.  If he joins the Philistines in this battle he will never lead Israel.  Instead, he will only be a minor player in the story of redemption.  David does so many terrific things and is such a great hero that I find myself hoping that the warlords are right, that David will turn on them.  If not that, I wish that it had been David, himself who decided to leave the battlefield.  Instead, it is the enemies of God and his people who wisely send him away.  Is it possible that we can see the hand of God in this decision of the Philistine warlords?

March 11, 2006

1Sam. 30: A gift from the plunder of God's enemies!

The story of David's rescue of the women and children of Ziklag is, I think, a companion to the events of the previous chapter in which David is not allowed to join the battle against Saul and the army of Israel.  It takes him and his men three days to return to their base camp of Ziklag.  When they arrive there, all that is left is smoldering ruins.  Amalekite raiders have taken advantage of the fact that all warriors throughout the territory are massed at Aphek is preparation for a major battle.  Ziklag and other area towns have been attacked and ransacked.  The women and children have been carried away to be used as slaves or worse.  David pursues them, driving his men to exhaustion and by the time he catches up to the Amalekites his forces are severely depleted with only 200 of the original 600 warriors still at his side.  With God's help, his band of 200 routes the much larger Amalekite force.  They recover all those who had been taken captive and a large bounty of goods that had been taken, not only from Ziklag but from the other towns as well.   David insists that the spoils be equally shared with all, including those who were unable to fight.  He also sends portions of the plunder to the towns of Judah, "A gift from the plunder of God's enemies."  The coupled events of David being turned back from the battle at Aphek and his success against the Amalekites rescue David from the brink of personal destruction.  In one case, he was stopped from becoming an enemy of Israel.  In the other, he turns his trust back to God, and then acts in a wonderfully honorable way in how he deals with the plunder.  In these events we see that God puts David back on track to lead Israel.  Oh, the mighty hand of God -- working through our stubbornness and human weakness.  God at work through a million and one circumstances to bring about his good purpose.  It was so with David, and it is so of us too.

March 13, 2006

1Sam. 31: Saul...died...that day.

He came to a pitiful end.  Saul, the young man God chose to lead Israel.  His very stature dominated a room.  Even strong warriors were willing to follow his leadership.  This capable man could bring order, peace, and safety to those under his command.  But he was also a deeply flawed man, a person who could hear the direction of God and then ignore it to do what seemed best to him at the time.  Also, he was an empty man.  When he rejected God's authority in his life, God rejected him.  From that day onward, life drained out of Saul, leaving him just a shell of what he could have been.  Now, pursued by his enemies and fleeing in defeat, he meets his end on Mount Gilboa, wounded and then falling on his own sword.  Saul's story is one of unfulfilled possibilities.  He had every reason to go down in history as Israel's first and greatest king.  Instead, he died without God and without hope.  He arrived there because of his own decisions.  His epitaph could simply read, "A disappointment."