1 Samuel 25-27 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness

From 1 Samuel 25-27

Overview

1 Sam 25.1; Story; The Death of Samuel
1 Sam 25.2-44; Story; David and Abigail
1 Sam 26.1-25; Story; David Spares Saul Again
1 Sam 27.1-12; Story; David Flees to the Philistines

Passage and Comments

Saul's pursuit of David continues. As Saul gets closer and closer to David, one night David finds Saul unawares sleeping in a cave. The LORD has put him in a position where he could do away with Saul. But the contrast between David and Saul again shows itself because David refuses to strike the LORD's anointed. Instead he gets evidence he was in the cave and later from hiding calls out to Saul describing the mercy he gave him. Saul recognises Davids righteousness and quits the pursuit (1 Sam 24.1-22).

Soon afterwards Samuel dies, but this will not be the last we hear from him (1 Sam 25.1; cf. 28.1-25).

During this time, David is still travelling comes across the land of a man named Nabal (which means 'fool'). David initially spends his time with his party on the outskirts of Nabal's property. He provides protection for Nabal and does not steal any of Nabal's livestock. David intends to pass through Naples property, so he sends some men to ask permission and perhaps seek some hospitality. Nabal treats David's messengers poorly and when they return to David, he prepares to destroy Nabal. Fortunately Nabal's wife is more diplomatic than her husband and she quickly reconciles with David. Nabal is told but does not care less, he feasts and drinks for a while, until the LORD strikes him dead. David finds out and takes Abigail as his wife (1 Sam 25.2-44).

Saul's peace with David is short lived and he resumes pursuing David so he can kill him. His jealousy it seems runs deep. I feel sorry for Saul. He seems to resist the most important thing, to repent and seek the LORD's mercy and forgiveness.

Once again the LORD presents David with an opportunity to remove Saul. The LORD has put Saul and his party in a deep slumber. David challenges his companions in a spirit of mad adventure to go down amongst the sleeping company.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. (1 Sam 26:7–12)

The LORD has provided David with a weapon. But still he refuses to strike the LORD's anointed. Once again David takes with him evidence of the encounter.

Interestingly David declines the most immediate means of disposing Saul, but leaves it to the LORD in a number of ways.
1) the LORD will strike him, or
2) his day will come to die, or
3) he will go down into battle and perish.
One of these will indeed be the LORD's plan as we will find out tomorrow.

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. 14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” (1 Sam 26:13–16)

David gets stuck into Abner, Saul's general, and puts him in a very awkward position.

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” (1 Sam 26:17–20)

Saul realises it is David. Since David has been found out he questions why Saul still pursues him. He now puts Saul on the spot with two options.
1) If the LORD has a grievance against David and that is why Saul pursues him, then the matter can be resolved if David makes an offering to the LORD thus appeasing Him, or
2) If men (i.e. Saul) have a grievance against David, and not the LORD, then they should be rebuked because they have chased David away from the 'heritage of the LORD'. This is a bit like kicking someone out of church, trying to prevent them from worshipping the LORD, so they instead serving other gods.

Finally David plays himself down, asking why the king hunts someone so insignificant like him.

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. (1 Sam 26:21–25)

Davids remark about the LORD rewarding righteousness and faithfulness is not uncommon in the Old Testament. It assumes some actions please the LORD and some displease him. An aspect of the LORD's role as king is to reward good behaviour as well as punish wickedness. David has a robust conscience and this is what David is hoping for here, that the LORD would save him out of tribulation just as David did Saul.

Story of Israel

More often than not, Israel was punished by the LORD because of her disobedience. David and a handful of other kings are exceptions and did things which pleased the LORD. Unfortunately the majority of Israel and Judah's kings following David kept doing evil in the sight of the LORD and it is safe to assume Israel remained under the judgment of the LORD for hundreds of years.

Story of Jesus

Jesus assumes that Israel is still under judgment. In fact all who do not know and submit to the LORD are under the his judgment. But this is why Jesus came to save them from judgment and bring them into life.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (Jn 5:24)

Once a person hear’s Jesus’ word and believes the Father their life does not end, rather it begins. There will still be a form of judgment where we see the LORD rewarding people for their righteousness and his faithfulness to him. In the scriptures people tended to believe that people could be and were righteous. Sometimes it was a reflection of pride (Lk 18.9-14), at other times its just what people thought (1 Thes 2.10).

Jesus continues;

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.  (Jn 5:25–29)

Jesus describes the way in which people will escape judgment and come into the resurrection of life. Those who will be given eternal life with God have heard Jesus voice, believed the Father who sent him and done good in response. Jesus is not trying to get people to feel good or bad about themselves, rather Jesus is describing the right response to the grace and kindness he has shown in bringing them to life in the first place.

1 Samuel 21-24 God did not give him into his hand

From 1 Samuel 21-24

Overview

1 Sam 21.1-9; Story; David and the Holy Bread
1 Sam 21.10-15; Story; David Flees to Gath
1 Sam 22.1-5; Story; David at the Cave of Adullam
1 Sam 22.6-23; Story; Saul Kills the Priests at Nob
1 Sam 23.1-14; Story; David Saves the City of Keilah
1 Sam 23.15-29; Story; Saul Pursues David
1 Sam 24.1-22; Story; David Spares Saul’s Life

Passage and Comments

David still continues to evade Saul. Perhaps we are meant to ask how long can he keep it up? During the pursuit Saul commands that the priests of the LORD who assisted David (1 Sam 21.1-9) be killed (1 Sam 22.6-23). At a later occasion David has opportunity to kill Saul and be done with it. But Saul is the anointed king, David has no right to strike the LORD's anointed (1 Sam 24.1-22). Here the contrast between David and Saul is apparent. David refuses to strike the LORD's anointed. One has respect for the LORD, the other doesn't.

Our passage describes David's heart for the people and again compares David and Saul. Even while David is being pursued by one who wants him dead, he is concerned for the welfare of others.

23 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the LORD again. And the LORD answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. (1 Sam 23:1–6)

David has a heart for his people. He is acting as king even though he is not yet the king. David relies on the LORD for guidance. Twice he went to the LORD for help. He listens to the concerns of his men. He cares for the well being of the people in Israel. David puts himself and his men in the line of fire for others. And the LORD is with him. The LORD gives the Philistines into his hand. Bear in mind, all this happens while he is being pursued by Saul.

7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. (1 Sam 23:6–8)

By way of comparison. Saul does not care about the people. He has not even heard of the plight of Keilah. He will destroy them to get to David. Saul presumes on the LORD's favour. He mistakenly thinks God has given him David, when in fact God has put David there to save others. Saul does not inquire of the LORD. Imagine the LORD's response if he did. Saul only motivation seems to be jealousy. He wants to kill David, the future king.

9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the LORD said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the LORD said, “They will surrender you.” 13 Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah, and they went wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition. 14 And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. (1 Sam 23:1–14)

David continues to rely on the LORD for guidance. The LORD is with him. Shamefully the people of Keilah would have surrendered David their saviour to Saul. But David's trust is not in men. David escapes because the LORD is with him. Its a difficult time for David, but he is showing every sign of living up to the reason why the LORD chose him.

And yet, David’s time to be king has not yet come.

Story of Israel

When his time does come the LORD makes him a promise that will be remembered for centuries. Nathan the prophet declares.

"Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever."  (2 Sam 7:11–13)

Story of Jesus

The king anticipated in this promise is Jesus. Like David there were times where he was pursued. But he was not caught because his time had not yet come.

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” (Jn 7:25–31)

When his time did come and he was ready to bring in his kingdom he did it in the most unexpected way. The cross.

23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (Jn 12:23–25)

When his time had come, Jesus the king ushered in his eternal kingdom by going to the cross. Its on the cross where Jesus reveals his glory as king.

Introduction to Bible in a year series

It is my pleasure to invite you to read through this coming series of blogs over the course of 2014.

The intention of this series of blogs is to encourage its readers to read the whole bible from cover to cover in a single year. I realise bible reading can be hard. This series will make it easier for you to read parts of the bible every day. The blog will also facilitate discussion on the passages I have selected amongst its readers by allowing its readers to make comments using the disqus system.

Format

The blogs will have slightly varying formats depending on the stage in the bible being commented on. The table below illustrates.

Old Testament	Gospels	Acts	Epistles
Blog Title - Heading	Blog Title - Heading	Blog Title - Heading	Blog Title - Heading
From - Passage	From - Passage	From - Passage	From - Passage
Introduction	Introduction	Introduction	Introduction
Question or Statement	Question or Statement	Question or Statement	Question or Statement
Overview	Overview	Overview	Overview
Passage and Comments	Passage and Comments	Passage and Comments	Passage and Comments
Story of Israel	About Jesus	About Mission	For Believers
Story of Jesus

Introduction

I modified an existing introduction to each book and inserted it at the start of each book to give a brief intro.

Overview

This section gives a brief overview of the whole passage covered. Each part is broken up into;

1) the reference to the passage

2) a category used to distinguish this passage

3) a description of what is in the passage

The main purpose of this section is to give people who do not read the whole set of chapters to get a brief overview of what happens. Its possible they will gain an understanding of the whole bible if they read this section alone. Of course this would be improved if they read all the chapters, but this is a help if they can’t. The whole premise of this is that there are sections of the bible that are difficult to get through. I recognise this, sections like Leviticus and Chronicles are at times a little slow.

At the end of an entire book I will post all the overviews together. Each overview is semi-comma ‘;’ delimited. This means the tech savvy can import it as a csv file into excel if they want.

Passage and Comments

I will select a passage to comment on in each and every blog post. I generally give a brief introduction and quote the passage. Then I will comment on it.

Story of Israel

Story of Jesus

With the Old Testament, I intend to preach the gospel in the same way the apostles do in Acts. Close examination of the apostles sermons in acts reveals that they tell the story of Israel and connect it to the story of Jesus when sharing about Jesus. See Preaching the Gospel with the OT for a better understanding of where I’m coming from. Every Old Testament blog will refer to Jesus in some manner.

About Jesus

This section is only in the Gospels. My opinion is that the Gospels are the gospel. So I don’t need to add anything extra other than quoting the passage itself. The passage is part of the gospel. So I generally summarise what the gospel says about Jesus.

About Mission

In Acts the apostles are engaged in evangelism and mission. It seems appropriate to discuss the things we can learn from their example in this section.

For Believers

The Epistles were written for existing believers in Jesus Christ. These are examples of how the apostles engage in pastoral care with their church audiences (mostly believers, possibly some unbelievers). So in this section I will comment on their practice.

Disclaimer

This is the first time I’ve run through the series. So its more of a draft run. With this in mind I encourage constructive comments. It will get better and better through the years.

I work full time as a technical officer in engineering. I create these blogs in my spare time. So I generally don’t have a lot of time to look at commentaries to compare different takes on the passages I choose or go into a huge amount of detail. I’ve studied a bit in the past and I’ve read the bible a few times. So, normally I write off the top of my head from my own knowledge of the scriptures, previous readings and bible software.

It is my intention to use previous years blogs in the next but also to keep adding to it.

God bless.

1 Samuel 18-20 Is Saul also among the prophets?

From 1 Samuel 18-20

Overview

1 Sam 18.1-5; Story; David and Jonathan’s Friendship
1 Sam 18.6-16; Story; Saul’s Jealousy of David
1 Sam 18.17-30; Story; David Marries Michal
1 Sam 19.1-24; Story; Saul Tries to Kill David
1 Sam 20.1-42; Story; Jonathan Warns David

Passage and Comments

Following the LORD's rejection of Saul, Samuel is told to go and anoint David as the next king. Saul is still in power, so we can expect increasing hostility between the two. Yet despite this initially David enters into Saul's service (1 Sam 16.1-23).

Israel continues to be plagued by the Philistines. During one such confrontation David wins a significant battle against Goliath the giant (1 Sam 17.1-58). Jonathan, another who the LORD has used to win battles against the Philistines, and David become loyal friends (1 Sam 18.1-5).

In an attempt to get rid of David, Saul offers to give him his daughter Michal as wife in return for one hundred Philistine foreskins. The Philistines are not likely to submit willingly to this so David is likely to get into a fight and probably die. But Sauls plan backfires and they get married when David happily obliges Saul killing many of Israels enemies (1 Sam 18.17-30).

Our passage picks up with increasing hostility between Saul and David. Saul wants to kill Davod because he is jealous, David cannot kill Saul because Saul is the LORD's anointed king.

8 And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. 9 Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. 10 And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. (1 Sam 19:8–10)

David has taken up the role of protecting Israle from the Philistines. These early battles give him valuable experience for a life of war. They also give him increasing amounts of credibility among the people of Israel. Unfortunately the more David serves, the more Saul gets jealous. With the increasing tension between Saul and David its apparent David will not be able to continue in Saul's service.

11 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, “If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. 13 Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. 14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’ ” (1 Sam 19:11-17)

The scene is almost comic. Michal sets up a dummy in David's bed, but as soon as they come in the gag is revealed.

18 Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. 19 And it was told Saul, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. (1 Sam 19:18-20)

David rejoins Samuel. Eventually Saul finds out where David is and he sends people to bring David back. But they meet a company of prophets. What do these prophets preach? Prophecy normally concerns the prediction of future events and the word of the LORD. The text does not tell us much about what they say, but it shouldn't be to too much of a stretch to assume they speak about what the LORD is doing in David, the kingdom and calling the people to remain faithful to the LORD. The Spirit is working in these prophets and the messengers are overcome. They too get caught up in prophesy.

21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. (1 Sam 19:21)

Notice a pattern here. Whatever the prophets are preaching overcomes everyone Saul sends. Saul's messengers may not even have come back. The more he sends, the more get caught up in prophesy.

22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Sam 19:22–24)

Until finally, Saul himself is overcome. Powerful words, powerful Spirit.

Story of Israel

This is not an isolated incident regarding the Spirits ability to get people to speak. The prophet Jeremiah once confessed what it was like to have the word of the LORD in him.

8 For whenever I speak, I cry out,
I shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For the word of the LORD has become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.
9 If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot. (Jer 20:8–9)

In his situation, he was pronouncing judgment on unfaithful Israel. Not easy words to share, but the Spirit burned within him. Forcing him to speak.

Story of Jesus

The same thing happens following Jesus death and resurrection. The apostles cannot but speak about Jesus.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
...
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:8-12,18–20)