Monday, March 11, 2024

GOD'S PROVIDENCE ON DISPLAY - 1 SAMUEL 25 (ABIGAIL SAVES DAVID FROM HIMSELF)

 



David Seeks Food

25:1-8


After the confrontation with Saul, David went south into the wilderness of Paran. He became aware of a very rich man who was shearing sheep in the village of Carmel. His name was Nabal, but we are not told his name first. Instead, we are told of his possessions.  He had a large herd of sheep and goats. It is fitting to introduce him this way because he is all about his possessions. We meet him defending his possessions and he dies enjoying his possessions.  


In addition to being rich, he was a descendant of Caleb, one of the two spies who urged Israel to go into Canaan. Thus, he had a great family pedigree in addition to great wealth. 


The writer sets up the story by telling us that Nabal was harsh and badly behaved. His name means “foolish”. But his wife, Abigail, was discerning and beautiful. (3) She had good looks and good sense. 


David sent ten men to Nabal with a polite request for food. His request was based on the fact that his men had not bothered Nabal or his livestock and had provided security for them.  Normally, a person of wealth would express gratitude or such services with a gift. In addition, there was a feast scheduled, likely to celebrate the shearing of the sheep, which would lead to commerce in wool. 


Nabal Being Nabal

25:9-11


Nabal refused David’s request. In addition, he belittled David, saying he was a servant who broke away from his master and implying that David was insignificant by asking who he was. He said he would not take meat meant for his shearers and give it to men that he did not know. 


Notice the emphasis on ownership and possessiveness: Nabal says my water, my bread, my meat. 


David’s Rage

25:12-13


When David heard of Nabal’s refusal, he went into a rage. He received Nabal’s words as Nabal intended: they were insults and David was insulted. He ordered his men to put on their swords, as he did. As Nabal says “my” three times, David says “sword” three times. He took 400 men to go and attack Naval, meaning to wipe him out. 


In a way, David was on the verge of committing the same sin as Saul when he killed everyone in Nob for helping David. Now David means to kill everyone in Carmel because Nabal refused to help him. 


We also see a bit of irony here. David was willing to apply the principle of refraining from vengeance where Saul was concerned. Yet, he wanted to take vengeance on Nabal. Saul had sought David’s death. Nabal only refused to share his goods with David. 


A Wise And Helpful Servant

25:14-17


One of Nabal’s men went to Abigail and told her what Nabal did. He also vouched for the truth of David’s story, that his men had been protecting them. He advised Abigail to think this over and decide what to do, because David was coming to harm them and because no one could give advice to Nabal. 


Abigail Makes Amends

25:18-31


Abigail quickly put together a bunch of food and took it to David. She did not tell Nabal she was doing this. 


She presented the gifts and herself as Jacob had done with Esau. The gifts would appear first, then herself. It is a way to make the receiving person look at the giver more favorably. 


Much like David had done with Saul, Abigail paid respect to David by dismounting and bowing to the ground before him. She admitted Nabal’s folly, but said she did not see what happened, implying that she would have done it differently.


But Abigail also told David that God had restrained him from bloodguilt by denying his attack on the man and his family. She asked for forgiveness and appealed to David’s good character. She said God would protect him from his enemies. And, when he took office as king, he would have nothing bad on his conscience if he spared them. 


Finally she asked David to remember her when he received what the Lord had promised him and became king. (31) It sounds a bit like what the thief on the cross said to Jesus. 


David Responds Positively

25:32-35


David recognized the wisdom of Abigail’s words. He said she was sent by the Lord. He blessed the Lord and he blessed her and her discretion. He realized that the Lord had indeed kept him from bloodguilt by sending Abigail. 


We again see the principle David is operating under: he is not to avenge himself, but is to leave Saul to God. God has given him the kingdom, but not the right to take it by force. David is now reminded of that through God’s servant, Abigail. 


David accepted Abigail’s gifts and sent her home in peace. He acknowledged her wisdom, saying he had obeyed her voice. 


Nabal Dies

25:36-38


Abigail returned home to find Nabal partying and drunk. When he sobered up in the morning, she told him. He had some kind of catastrophic health event, went into a coma and died 10 days later. So, the Lord avenged David.


David blessed the Lord for avenging him, and for keeping him from doing wrong and avenging himself. He sent servants to Abigail with the message that he wanted to marry her. His wife, Saul’s daughter, had been given to someone else. 


Abigail again acted humbly, bowing and stating her insignificance (only being worth washing the feet of David’s servants). 


David also took another wife, technically his third, a woman named Ahinoam. 



Takeaways


The doctrine of Providence is on display here. Providence is God providing for the needs of his servants, often in mysterious and unexpected ways. David and is anger needed to be restrained. Here God used Abigail to provide this restraint. God’s restraining action is mentioned four times in the passage (verses 26, 33, 34, 39).


Since most Bible stories involve men, she is an unlikely hero. But, God can use anyone, from the least to the greatest, to accomplish his will. 


Sometimes God saves us from ourselves. He frustrates our plans.  Or he sends someone to tell us what we need to hear. 


Friday, March 08, 2024

VENGEANCE IS THE LORD'S: 1 SAMUEL 24



 1 Samuel 24


David Spares Saul

24:1-7


After Saul left to fight the Philistines, David and his men retreated to Engedi, an oasis on the shore of the Dead Sea. 


Having driven off the Philistines, Saul returned to the hunt for David. Again, people betrayed David by telling Saul where to find him. 


Saul took 3,000 men with him to pursue David. Since David had about 600 men, Saul’s force was 5 times as large. He apparently wanted to make sure he could capture and kill David. 


As Saul approached the area, he went into a cave to relieve himself and maybe to rest. The caves in the area may have been used to shelter sheep. What Saul did not know was that David and his men were hidden in the back of the cave.


David’s men wanted him to attack Saul, saying the Lord had said he would deliver him into his hand to do as he pleased. And it was indeed a great opportunity, making it easy to assume God wanted David to do it. 


David did not do it. But, he did cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Why is this significant? We can look back to chapter 15 for help. In 1 Samuel 15:27-28, we see that the tearing of the robe signified God’s tearing the kingdom away from Saul. 


When David cut off the corner of Saul’s royal robe, he was making a declaration of revolt against Saul, saying that he was taking Saul’s status away from him. 


Once he had done this, though, he was struck with remorse. Verse 5 says “David’s heart struck him”. So, he lectured his men that they would not harm Saul. 





He still saw Saul as the Lord’s anointed and would not harm him. Once anointed, a person was set apart to God (consecrated). To attack him would be to attack God. Although there is not a specific command to not touch God’s anointed, David might be extrapolating from Exodus 22:28, which says “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people”. If you cannot curse him, surely you cannot strike or kill him.


The gift of the kingdom was not an invitation from God to take it by force. It had to be done God’s way. We see this again in Matthew 4:8-9. Satan offered Jesus all of the kingdoms of earth in return for Jesus’ worship of him. To accept Satan’s offer would mean avoiding death on the cross. 


The Father had promised kinship to Jesus. Psalm 2:8-9 says: “Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession”. But, the Father’s plan for this included Jesus dying on the cross and being raised after three days. Jesus declined Satan’s offer and accepted God’s will and plan. 


David Confronts Saul

24:8-15


When Saul left the cave, David followed him out and called out to him. Then he bowed, actually putting his face to the ground. It was a sign of honor to Saul as the king. 


But David also questioned Saul’s determination to kill David. He showed the cloth to him to prove he could have killed Saul, but did not. He reiterated his belief that Saul was still God’s anointed. 


David also pointed out his insignificance compared to Saul, calling himself a dead dog and a flea. He means to show that he is too small and insignificant to be a threat to the king of Israel. That is true in human terms, but being anointed by God to be is significant. 


David did call on the Lord to avenge him against Saul, but pledged that any vengeance would not be by his hand.  That is a Biblical approach. Vengeance in the Old Testament usually referred to the re-establishment of justice. God is the rightful agent to bring justice.


In Deuteronomy 32:35, God said “vengeance is mine”. Romans 12:19 cites this verse, saying:


“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written - Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord”. 


David is truly acting as the “man after God’s own heart” by restraining himself and his men from harming Saul. 


Saul’s Moment of Clarity

24:16-19


Upon hearing David’s speech, Saul seems to have a moment of clarity when he understands. He wept. He proclaimed David more righteous than himself since he had done evil to David, but David repaid it with good. 


Saul was amazed that David did not kill him when the Lord put him into David’s hands, meaning he made Saul vulnerable to David. Saul knows he would not have spared David in similar circumstances. And so asked the Lord to bless David for this. 


Saul acknowledges David’s Anointing

24:20-22


Saul even acknowledged that David would be king. He seemed also to know he would be dead when that happened. So, he asked David to swear that he would not cut off his offspring, meaning not kill his children or grandchildren, wiping out his family line or house. 


We will see that Saul will not continue his benevolent attitude toward David. And we see that David is not lulled into trust. He took his men to the stronghold. 


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The Holiness Of God

 God is holy.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (Isaiah 6:3) This was sung by the angels at the throne of God.

"Moses said to Aaron, 'This is why the Lord has said: Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified." Leviticus 10:1-3

Jesus said the first thing we should ask for in prayer is that God's name be regarded as holy in the world. In Matthew 6:9, he said "Pray ten like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name." 

Monday, February 26, 2024

THE LORD DIRECTS DAVID'S PATH - 1 SAMUEL 23

 


David Saves A City

23:1-5


While David and his men were hiding out in the forest of Hereth in Judah, word came that the Philistines had attacked the city of Keilah, robbing the threshing floors. They must have waited for the harvest, then rushed in to steal the grain and feed their cattle. 







David had sympathy for them. But, before acting, he asked if the Lord if he should attack the Philistines. He asked twice because his men had doubts. The Lord told him to attack. He did and he defeated the Philistines. He took their livestock. With all of those men to feed, the livestock probably were a great benefit. 


David Flees the City

23:6-14


When Saul heard that David was in Keilah, he mustered the army to go after David. Oddly, he concluded that God had given David into his hand because David is enclosed behind the city walls. (7)


However, since God has rejected Saul and withdrawn his spirit from him, while anointing David, that could hardly be the case. Saul is deluded. 


Apparently both sides had spies. David hears that Saul was coming to Keilah, willing to destroy it because David was there. So, David sought God’s direction. That is a good thing.


David told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod so they could inquire of the Lord what to do. (9) The ephod is sort of an apron. Attached to the front is a cloth piece called the breastplate of judgment. It has little pockets for 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. It also has a pocket for the Urim and Thummin. They were used to answer inquiries of the Lord. The Lord instructed Joshua to ask the high priest questions for the Lord which are answered by the Urim and Thummin. (Exodus 28:28) 


So David asked if Saul would come down to Keilah to attack David. The Lord said he would. David then asked if the men of Keilah would surrender David to Saul. The Lord said they would. 


So, David took him men and left the city. He now had 600 men. They hid in various places in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul called off the expedition to catch David at Keilah. 


Jonathan Encourages David

23:15-18


Jonathan went to see David at Horesh. That is evidently a grove of trees in the wilderness of Ziph. He encouraged David not to fear, knowing David would be king and Jonathan would support him. He also said Saul actually knew this. So, they made a covenant and Jonathan went home.


The Ziphites Betray David

23:19-24





While David and his men were hiding out in the wilderness of Ziph, the people of the area went to Saul in Gibeah and told Saul where he was. They did this even though they were of the same tribe as David (Judah). They invited Saul to come down there and they would surrender David to him. (20)


Saul was encouraged. He blessed them in the name of the Lord. But, he asked them to make and make sure exactly where David was and tell him before he came there. So, they went to accomplish that.


David Escapes Again

23:24-29







So, Saul took his men and went to find David. David had move a few miles further south to the wilderness of Maon. Saul found out and went after him there. David was on a mountain, believed to be Mount Kholed. 








Saul split his force into two groups and charged up either side of the mountain to trap David and his men. As they closed in on David, a messenger came to tell Saul the Philistines were attacking. So, Saul abandoned the pursuit and went to fight the Philistines. The Lord saved David again.





After Saul left, David took his men to Engedi and stayed there. Engedi is east of Ziph on the shore of the Dead Sea. It is a large oasis. 





David wrote Psalm 54 when betrayed by the people of Ziph. He asked God to save him from his enemies. He trusted God to be his helper and to uphold his life. And he promised to make a freewill offering to thank the Lord for deliverance. A free will offering is one that is completely voluntary and not one of the required sacrifices. 


Takeaways


David was trusting the Lord to take care of him: he sought the Lord’s guidance.


The Lord took care of David. Sometimes by telling him what to do, sometimes by diverting Saul from the pursuit. 


David expressed his gratitude to the Lord, both by writing a psalm and by making an offering.