365 Reflections

For a second time in the book of 1 Samuel and only 2 chapters removed from the first event, David is given the opportunity to take Saul's life. Yet for a second time, he will not take the bait and trust his life and times to the providential hand of God. 1 Samuel 26:8–11 (ESV) 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.” I don't know if I would have exercised the same self-control David does here. He is a man of the word. ...

David learns one of his most valuable lessons in 1 Samuel 25. Saul only gave him lip-service of peace. David has more worries now than before. So when the Nabal incident occurs, you can see why he's so angered. Abigail's words are pure poetry and heavenly wisdom to David: 1 Samuel 25:28–29 (ESV)   Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord , and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. David is assured that the Lord will repay his troubles on those who trouble him. David needs this reminder now more than ever. For the man who anointed him to be king in place of Saul is gone. He needs wisdom in these final days as Saul's...

Dear Readers, Sorry for the late post. Just returned from a Vision Trip to Uganda. Back to our walk through 1 Samuel. Everyone is a fool about something. The man Nabal is a fool about money in the 25th chapter of 1 Samuel.  He thinks his money is all about him and considers the resources in his care are for the sole purpose of pleasures of his life. After the death of Samuel, we are greeted with a man who expresses the exact opposite spirit of the great prophet. In this chapter David and his army protect and care for Nabal's possessions during the time the Philistines are regularly raiding Israel and causing havoc. Where David goes, however, there is peace and prosperity. Most notably here for a man named Nabal. Sadly, Nabal totally disrespects the work of David concerning his property. The key moment in the chapter is when Nabal pretends feigned ignorance of who David is when he's aware his father's name is Jesse. Then with thankless antagonism, he considers David a ...

When David confronts Saul after not taking his life, he says something quite interesting to the King. 1 Samuel 24:9–10 (ESV)   And David said to Saul, “ Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? 10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord ’s anointed.’ You only pick up this theme in 1 Samuel as you study through the book. David's condemnation of Saul's actions here are not simply, "Why do you try to take my life?" But rather, "Why do you listen to the words of men...?" That is an interesting way to put it and yet it lines up well with what we have read of the contrast between David and Saul thus far. The true king will learn to listen to the voice of God first and foremost. The false king will listen far too much to those he is called to lead...

1 Samuel 24:4–5 (ESV) And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’ ” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 And afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Saul is exposed to David's sword for the first time. He has gone into a cave to relieve himself unknowingly where David's men are hiding out. As soon as they see Saul, David's men offer their well-intentioned advice - take the shot God has given you, kill Saul and assume the throne. What a temptation for David. His life has been destroyed by this man. He has to hide where he's hiding because of Saul's petulant attitude and self-absorbed behaviors. Who wouldn't want to strike back? On top of this, David has the blessing of his followers. Any leader in this situation would be quick to follow thro...

1 Samuel 23:26–29 (ESV)   Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them, 27 a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” 28 So Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. 29 And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of Engedi. For a large portion of the book of 1 Samuel, we have Saul chasing down David. This should be bothersome to us. It should bother us that two men whom God used mightily in battles for the Lord's people - to deliver them and enlarge their territory - are preoccupied with a stupid spat between them! Instead of Saul fighting for the nation, he's fighting for his own glory. Instead of David going to war and expanding the map, he...