Week 21 Day 5 Share and Share Alike

I Samuel 30-31
As you remember in yesterday's reading, David was sent home after the other Philistine kings objected to him joining in the battle against his own people, the Israelites.

When David arrives home (3 days later), he finds that his own city Ziklag has been raided by the Amalekites.  Not just raided but all of the wives and children are gone.  Not killed, just taken.

I love that you have all of these tough warriors who find this scene and cry until they couldn't cry anymore. They weren't crying over the loss of their property, their valuables, their treasures. They were crying over the loss of their families.  This thought is just heartwarming to me.

Obviously, David is a little upset.  He starts out on the quest to find his wives.

And as always, God provides a way.

He provides an Egyptian servant who leads the men right to the Amalekites.

A little bit later, the families are reunited.

One other "neat" part of this story is that as David and his men were heading out to find their families, they came upon a ravine.  Two hundred of the men were just too tired to cross the ravine.  So David left them behind.  After defeating the Amalekites, David and his men returned home.  They came upon the 200 soldiers left behind.  Trouble makers in the group didn't want the men left behind to get any valuables beyond their wives and children since they had stayed behind.  David makes it clear that what they have, they have because of God.  They will ALL share alike.  End of story.

In the next chapter, the Philistines do attack the Israelites.  And just like Samuel (the spirit) had predicted, Saul's sons are killed in action.  That includes David's beloved friend Jonathan.  Saul is wounded and begs his servant to just end his life. The servant just can't do it so Saul does it to himself.

And just like that, Saul's reign is over.

Tomorrow's reading:
2 Samuel 1-3:5

Week 21 Day 4 Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo

And you are NOT it...

I Samuel 29
So the Philistines are ready to go to war.

Against the Israelites.

So David (who is still living among the Philistines) joins in.

Or at least tries to.

Achish doesn't think a thing of David joining in.

The other kings do.

"Um, why is he here?"

There is a little discussion about the faithfulness and loyalty of David, an Israelite, in fighting the Israelites.

In the end, David is sent home packing.

No war for him.

And no facing his own people.

Do you think God was in the middle of that situation?

Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 30-31

Reba

Week 21 Day 3 Calling on the Spirits

I Samuel 28

The fighting never ends.

The Philistines are ready to attack Israel.  Again.

But this time, they have David on their side.

And Saul knows.

He knows he is in trouble.

So he calls on God...the same God he has rejected over and over again.

The God who doesn't respond.

And Saul is desperate.

I am pretty sure it is safe to say he is not in his right mind.

In his moment of weakness, Saul seeks a medium to foresee the future for him.

The only problem is that he has forced all of the mediums and fortune-tellers from the land.

Ironically, in spite of that, Saul's men know where to find one.

Saul puts on a disguise and goes to visit her in the darkness of night.

The woman is suspicious but finally does what Saul asks.

She brings up the spirit of Samuel.

I find all of this interesting. I see "fortune teller" advertisements around town. I hear people say in astonishment, "That person really knew me and my past..."

And from what I read here, that is possible.

This story doesn't indicate that all fortune tellers or mediums are false.  Or that spirits can't be disturbed.  Samuel's was.

What it does indicate though is that it is not God-endorsed.  Not God-approved.  Not God-driven.

Our faith and hope should be in God.  Alone.

Not in people.

I like how Samuel asks, "Why have you disturbed me?"

Not, "Wow, Saul, so good to see you again!"

Saul and Samuel have an entire conversation.

And not a pretty one.

Saul and his sons are going to fall.

I will admit, I am a little confused by the statement "Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me."

Does that mean Samuel is not in heaven? Or that Saul (in spite of all of his errors) is? Or just that they would all be spirits (no longer alive)?

After reading a few different commentaries, there are no clear answers. Some say that Samuel is actually Samuel.  Some say he was an evil spirit conjured up by Satan. 

We just don't know. 

Either way, Saul learns his fate.

His time on earth is short.

And he knows it.

Reba

Tomorrow's reading:

I Samuel 29

Week 21 Day 2 Living with the Enemy

I Samuel 27

David has learned.

Saul has twice now promised to not pursue killing David.

But David is a little wiser these days.

He knows.

Saul will not give up.

So David escapes.

To the land of the Philistines. 

Am I the only one who finds this ironic?

The Philistines.

You know, as in Goliath the Philistine.

The one David killed.

The one that launched him into greatness.

The same greatness that caused Saul to start to resent him...

And now where is David?

Living in the land of the Philistines.

Now wouldn't you think the Philistines would have a little difficulty allowing David to live there?  You know, after the whole Goliath incident?

Apparently not.

In fact, the king of Gath just gave David the city of Ziklag. 

A whole city!

Meanwhile, David goes out and raids other people.

The king Achish asks him where.

David makes up places (in Israel...so not true).

And Achish believes him.

And the plot thickens...

Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 28

Reba

Week 21 Day 1 Broken Promises

I Samuel 25-26
In Chapter 25, David sends a request to a man named Nabal.  Nabal is a very rich man with a lot of sheep and goats.  He apparently is also a very cruel and mean guy.

Yet somehow he has a wise and beautiful wife named Abigail.  Go figure.

Anyway, David asks for some basic supplies for his men.  He appeals to Nabal, reminding Nabal that he has always been kind and peaceful with Nabal's shepherds.

Except Nabal of course is a cruel and mean guy. And he doesn't really care.  About anyone or anything other than himself.

So he rebuffs David.

Insults him.

And then turns around and walks away.

Obviously, David is not a happy camper to get such news.

And he goes into revenge mode.

He tells his men to get their swords to attack.

Meanwhile, Abigail hears about the situation and decides to remedy it.

She assembles a whole feast of bread, wine, cooked sheep, and cakes.  And she heads over to David's camp.

She humbly offers an apology for her husband's behavior and presents her gifts to David. Then she carefully reminds David that he doesn't need to shed innocent blood due to the foolishness of her husband. 

If you haven't read her speech, I HIGHLY recommend it.

It is dripping with wisdom and well said.

In the end, David calls off the attack, Nabal dies of natural causes (at the hand of God), and Abigail becomes David's wife.

Now, moving on to Chapter 26.

Again, Saul is pursuing David.

Guess that promise in the last reading didn't hold long.

One night, David sneaks into the camp and finds Saul asleep.

He takes Saul's spear and water jug and sneaks back out of the camp.

Then he calls to Abner (who should be guarding the camp) and lets him know that he is failing his job.

Saul wakes up, disoriented, but he knows that voice.  He recognizes it is David.

Again, David lets Saul know he could have killed him but he won't because Saul is God's appointed king for the people.

And again, Saul seems remorseful for chasing an innocent man.

And again, he promises not to harm David (or attempt to) any more.

Promises, promises...

Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 27

Reba

Week 20 Day 7 Hide and Seek

I Samuel 23-24

Sorry I have been MIA.

We were on vacation.

You would think that would be a great time for quiet reflection but instead we were either heading to the beach, coming back from the beach, or on the beach. I actually had little computer time...

So, now it is time to get back to my routine.

So, I Samuel 23-24.

Most of these chapters involve David running from Saul.  Saul is right on the heels of David but David gets away each time (undoubtedly due to the favor of God).

One neat part is that Saul's son (also David's good friend) Jonathan comes to David and encourages him. He reminds David that David WILL be the ruler one day.  No bitterness. No envy. No sorrow. He just knows what God's plans are and supports them (and David) completely.

Now that is a friend to have.

Anyway, the running, the hide and seek games, all of it continues.

The story ends with an odd situation.

Saul has some private business to attend to in a cave.

Meaning he is in quite a vulnerable position.

In fact, David's men are celebrating.

They believe this is how God will deliver David from Saul.

But David doesn't take advantage of the situation.

Well, not much.

He sneaks over and cuts a corner off Saul's robe.

And then he feels guilty.

Yes, guilty.

Even though this is the man who is trying to kill him.  The one who has completely disrupted his life by keeping him on the run.  The one who resents him for no logical reason.

So he stops his men.  No attack.  He lets Saul leave.

Then he confronts Saul (from afar).

He shares how close they were in the cave. He reminds Saul that he has never done anything against him.  

And Saul agrees.

He gets it.

And he promises to leave David alone.

Now the question is...will he stick with that?

I guess only time will tell...

Tomorrow's reading:
I Samuel 25-26

Reba