1 Samuel 29-31
David Goes Up
and Saul Goes Down
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Psalm 45:1-7 What Do You Love?
Your Throne is Forever
1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
4 In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
Observation
Application
Since God blesses and rewards those who love righteousness and hate wickedness, it's probably a good idea to follow this example.
Prayer
My God and King, may I have grace to pursue truth, humility, and righteousness, and consequently experience true joy. Amen.
Proverbs 12:15-16 Ways of the Fool
but a wise man listens to advice. 16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
Observation
A wise person chooses the right objectives (what's right In God's sight), and the right way of attaining them. A fool does just the opposite. The wise man wants to be right, and will seek input and others' perspectives to make sure they're on the right path. The fool doesn't want to be proven wrong, particularly if it would hamper doing what they want, so they won't seek nor listen to any input or counsel. A fool's objective is just to express him/herself, without any governing objective other than vengeance; therefore they show their annoyance with sighs, glares, eyeball rolling, criticism, etc. A prudent person overlooks an insult because their objective is to win others to truth, not to win an argument.
Application
Seek what's right in God's sight, not your own, by seeking godly counsel.
Prayer
Lord, help me see things from Your perspective, embracing Your wise objectives for my aims and actions, so that I don't wind up being a fool. Amen.
1Samuel 29-31 David Goes Up and Saul Goes Down
God brings yet another problem into David's life to prosper him. By demonstrating a submissive spirit and embracing God's will, David gets delivered and delighted. The observations under chapter 30 contain an elaboration of the PRAY acrostic applied to events in David's life, yielding the secrets of strengthening yourself in the Lord. Your heart and soul would really appreciate it if you spent some extra time ingraining them into your consciousness through the lenses of Psalms 27 and Psalms 31. What else are you going to do with the 10,080 minutes God's given you this week? :)
1 Samuel 29 David Disqualified
The Philistines Reject David
1 Now the Philistines had gathered all their forces at Aphek. And the Israelites were encamped by the spring that is in Jezreel. 2 As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, 3 the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4 But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5 Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,‘Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands’”?
6 Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you. 7 So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 8 And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 9 And Achish answered David and said, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ 10 Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you, and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” 11 So David set out with his men early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Observation
The Philistine lords are concerned that they have a tiger like David in their midst who could turn on them, destroying ten thousand of them, as a possible way of getting reconciled with Saul. Achish defends David's integrity but reluctantly tells him to leave.
David protests his innocence but submits to Achish's counsel and the Philistine lords' demand and returns. He'll be glad he did in the next chapter. God was protecting him.
Application
God can use rejection as a means of blessing us, if we're doing what's right in His sight.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thanks that I can trust You to keep me from harm, and guide me toward good even by the rejection of others. Amen.
1 Samuel 30 David's Disaster Turns Into Blessing
The Amalekites Raid Ziklag
1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.David Destroys the Amalekites
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. 11 They found an Egyptian in the open country and brought him to David. And they gave him bread and he ate. They gave him water to drink, 12 and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. 13 And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. 14 We had made a raid against the Negeb of the Cherethites and against that which belongs to Judah and against the Negeb of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag with fire.” 15 And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.” 16 And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 17 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. 18 David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. 20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David's spoil.”David Divides the Spoil
21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day. 26 When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD.” 27 It was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, 28 in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, 29 in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, 30 in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach, 31 in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.Observation
Now you see how God used David's submission to bless him. Had he insisted on his own way with Achish and the Philistines, he would have been off fighting God's people and lost his own people. In the midst of tragedy, there are always some folks to make it worse, usually those who outwardly are God's people, but lack a real relationship with Him. David's own men rebel and talk of stoning him, like it's all his fault, forgetting the sovereignty of God.
At times like this one needs to know how to strengthen oneself in the Lord. Previously Jonathan had encouraged David in the Lord (23:16), but now David, following Joshua 1:9 caused himself to be strengthened. Psalms 27 and 31 are examples of how David would strengthen himself. Here are the highlights using the PRAY acrostic from Jesus in the garden:
Pour out your heart before God. When disaster strikes we usually go into panic and denial. Getting in touch with what's going on in our heart and thinking, and then expressing it to God is key to dealing with it. You can't toss what you can't touch.
Recognize that God is able to change the situation. In Psalm 27 and Psalm 31 (and most of this type) David recalls the Person (God is in control and can do anything.), Promises (God works all things together for good to those who love Him.), and Past acts of God (God has redeemed and protected us and delivered us when we call.) to gain Perspective (God has worked in our lives answering prayer, blessing us. and has brought us to this point for a purpose, as part of His plan to glorify us and Himself; He's not about to abandon us now.)
Align your will with God's. God invites us to call out to Him so He can answer us (Psalm 27:8). David not only prayed, but sought to know God's will.
Yield yourself to do God's will. Trusting God and hoping in His best, David goes out to do God's will, regardless of the consequences.
It was in battling the Amalekites that Saul lost the kingship by disobeying God's will. Here David seeks and does God's will, and lays the groundwork for gaining the kingship (next post). After using the ephod to inquire of God's will and getting an answer (contrast to Saul at Endor), David goes after the enemy. God uses an Egyptian, (former enemy) to whom David shows kindness, to guide them to success. They recover everything, and a whole lot more. This is similar to Abraham rescuing Lot (Genesis 14).
Recognizing that it was Yahweh that gave the victory, David shares the spoil with those who were physically unable to cross the river and continue the chase. This was in accord with God's instructions in Numbers 31:27. It was not that they were cowards, and they did serve a purpose in guarding the baggage. Some of the wicked worthless fellows object, thinking victory comes through their own strength, and what they get is theirs. The righteous know that God gives us what we have so we can bless others with it. This generosity built unity among David's men.
David then uses some of the spoil to thank the elders of the towns where he and his men stayed while being chased by Saul, another unity building use of God's resources.
Application
Read Psalms 27 and 31 and note aspects of the PRAY acrostic to strengthen yourself in the Lord. If you don't know how to strengthen yourself in the Lord, you are not prepared to be used by Him.
Prayer
Mighty God, You are a fountain of strength for Your servants; may I always find my encouragement in You and not in any created thing; may my trust and hope be in You alone as I do Your will, for Your glory. Amen.
1 Samuel 31 Prophesy Fulfilled
Saul's Overthrow and Death
1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.The Philistines Possess the Towns
7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.Jabesh-Gilead's Tribute to Saul
11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.Observation
Without God's protection and deliverer, Israel gets destroyed and flees, giving up the land God had given them. Saul's sons (except Ishbosheth who wasn't present) die as Samuel had promised after Agag (15:23) prophesied at Endor (28:19). This wipes out the major impediments to David's ascension to the throne, but God's will is never that easy (see next post).
So ends the sorry saga of Saul. He started in honor as the Lord's chosen, and ended in disgrace, impaling himself ingloriously on his sword in unassisted suicide. David had expected the Lord or his enemies to kill Saul, or for him to die of natural causes. But Saul, following his own will, always fearing people rather than God and defiant to the end, takes his own life. His disloyalty and lack of submission to God is mirrored in his armor-bearer's disobedience.
The Philistines do to Saul's body and armor as the Israelites did to Goliath. The men of Jabesh Gilead, whose city Saul had delivered in his first victory against the Ammonites, honored the body of Saul. 1 Chronicles 10 (a more white-washed review of Israel's history written after the exile to encourage the people) recounts that Saul's head was put in Dagon's temple, attributing the victory to their gods triumphing over the God of Israel. Thus Saul's disobedience brought dishonor not only upon himself, but also upon the God whom he was created to glorify. Chronicles summarizes: 1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, 14 and didn’t inquire of Yahweh: therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
Application
Although God's promises to bless or curse might take a while to come to fruition, God will fulfill them, despite any appearances to the contrary.
Prayer
God, You created me for Your glory, which I give You by obeying the commands You've given me to do. May my life bring You honor and never dishonor, as I daily do Your will. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God displays His glory by rescuing His servants and rebuking those who rebel against Him in disdaining His commands. His ability to bless us is limited by our disobedience, since He has sworn to bless obedience and curse disobedience. He lets those who rebel reap the consequences of their stupidity. He sustains and blesses those who faithfully follow His revelation as they await the fulfillment of His promises. He brings difficulty into His people's lives to give them opportunities to deepen their dependence upon Him, so He can further bless them for making the right choices. He brings down the strong and exalts those submissive to His will.
Us in a nutshell: Every day we have the choice to do things God's way or some other way. That choice gets highlighted when we face difficulties. God doesn't make it easy for us to attain His promises, because He is giving us opportunities to demonstrate faithful obedience. When we respond with trust in what He's revealed, life is good, regardless of the circumstances. When we don't serve God as He's specified, life is painful, regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes it takes a while for the pain to get through thick skulls.
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This Royal-Messianic psalm starts by praising the righteous rule of the king on his wedding day, and foreshadows the Messiah as The Righteous King in vv 6-7, in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7). The king is addressed as elohim (Mighty One, a name for both mighty men and God). These verses are quoted in Hebrews 1 in reference to why Jesus is superior to all, and therefore anointed with the oil of joy above, (yet with) His fellows (co-sharers in His rule). This is essential for understanding Jesus' motivation in Hebrews 12 “for the joy set before Him.” John also had this Psalm in mind when writing Revelations 19 about the marriage feast of the Faithful and True Lamb.