I Samuel 17:55-19:24

Dear RTB’ers,

Saul becomes deranged! In earlier chapters we saw Saul making mistake after mistake, particularly in reference to his relationship with Samuel. Now he has a new relationship, sadly adversarial, against David, the hero of the battle with Goliath. Instead of celebrating David’s victories over the Philistines, Saul becomes intensely jealous of David’s success. By contrast, Saul’s son, Jonathan becomes David’s friend and protector; also, Saul’s daughter, Michal becomes David’s wife and also his protector, at least on one occasion.

Today we see the beginning of David’s running from Saul’s danger: Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. (v. 19:18) Samuel had earlier anointed David as king, so he knew that God was with him. Saul is now up against two mighty adversaries. There’s no way he can win!

Blessings!

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See also: March 27 (2023) / I Samuel 18-19; Psalm 59.

I Samuel 17:1-54

Dear RTB’ers,

I said yesterday that God choosing David over his seven brothers was a great Sunday School story. However, I don’t think there are any Old Testament stories that can beat today’s reading. When our son was just learning to read (well enough!) he was fidgeting badly in church one Sunday, so I opened the pew bible to I Samuel 17 and had him read that story. He loved it! The next week he asked me for that same chapter, and the next week, and after that he would find it on his own without asking. He then continued reading further in I and II Samuel until he became a “David scholar”. He even joined me one Sunday in helping me to lead our Adult Forum group when the topic was David. Sweet memories!

The story is what it is for children. But it also has a message for us adults. A couple of verses stand out. First, And David said to the men who stood by him, “ … For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (v. 26) The Israeli soldiers were looking only from their own perspective, not at all looking to God for deliverance. Sadly, his words of encouragement fell flat, especially with his older brother. But David has confidence in his Deliverer: And David said, “The LORD Who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (v. 37) Finally, David speaks his most famous words directly to Goliath: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and … all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and … that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hand.” (vv. 45-47)

So, the question adults typically ask when we discuss this chapter: “Why did David take five stones?” I’ll leave you with that!

Blessings!

I Samuel 16

Dear RTB’ers,

David anointed king, a great Sunday School story, with an oft-quoted memory verse: For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. (v. 7b)

Saul brings a musician to court, not knowing that he is bringing the young man who will replace him as king, who has already been anointed. But it will take the rest of this book (I Samuel) before we see that outcome.

Blessings!

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See also: March 26 / I Samuel 16-17; Psalm 23.

I Samuel 15

Dear RTB’ers,

Happy Father’s Day – to the few fathers on this list! Sorry about yesterday’s post; I was using my phone instead of my computer, with spotty signal all along our travel route. Today I’m home-based, a much better situation!

Continuing with Saul (and Samuel)… Today we have Saul’s third misdeed. God had required complete destruction of the Amalekites: Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. (v. 3b) Instead, in verses 15 and 21 Saul let himself be swayed by his followers, But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. (v. 9) Saul and his followers held back the sacrificial animals, in full disobedience to the Lord’s command. And even after being chastised by Samuel, Saul continued to argue that what he did was reasonable. (v. 20)

A quote for all time: And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (v. 22) Similar verses are written in Proverbs 21:3 and Hosea 6:6. I have a friend who used to say, “When you get to the Pearly Gates, God is going to ask you one question: ‘Did you do what I asked you to do?’”

A sad ending to the Saul-Samuel relationship: And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. (v. 35a)

Blessings!

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See also: March 25 (2023) / I Samuel 14-15.

I Samuel 14

Dear RTB’ers,

 Travel day, delayed post… 

Yes, travel, with very little signal along the way. Headed to Outer Banks, NC for some family time with our kids and grandkids. 

Not much to say today, the text is pretty straightforward: Saul makes a rash vow, his second major mistake. Did he not learn anything from Jephthah’s experience? (Judges 11:30-38) Thankfully, Jonathan lives on and becomes like a brother to David. But I’m getting ahead…! Time to quit for today. 

Blessings!

I Samuel 13

Dear RTB’ers,

It seems that a fair amount of time has passed since we first met Saul. A few chapters back he was tending his father’s livestock, even going off with a servant searching for some donkeys. Now he has a son, Jonathan, who is old enough to lead an army (vv. 2-3). He has brought three thousand Israelites to do battle, although their courage is suspect! (See vv. 6-7). He has explicit instructions from Samuel: Then go down before me to Gilgal. And behold, I am coming down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do. (v. 10:8) However, seeking to encourage the people, Saul disobeys Samuel’s instructions and offers the burnt offering himself. It’s the first of Saul’s many misdeeds.

So the battle is staged, with the advantage clearly favoring the Philistines. We understand if you want to read ahead…

Blessings!

I Samuel 12

Dear RTB’ers,

Samuel spends five verses defending himself in today’s reading, then seven verses reflecting the Lord’s deliverance of His people – all of this leading up to his condemnation of the people in asking for a king. All is not lost, however: And now … behold, the LORD has set a king over you. If you will fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice … and if both you and the king … will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. (vv. 13-14) Samuel is telling the people that the Lord their God is still their King, that their earthly king, Saul, is not to be like the kings of the nations around them. In spite of all that, he reminds them that what they did was fundamentally wrong: And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king. (v. 17b)

Samuel leaves us with good advice, good wisdom for our own lives: And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake His people… (vv. 21-22a) The Lord will not forsake His people – not then, not now!

Blessings!

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See also: March 24 (2023) / I Samuel 11-13.

I Samuel 10:17-11:15

Dear RTB’ers,

First, a couple of small items… Today we have the first mention of Saul being named “king”: And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen?…” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!” (v. 10:24) Earlier the title had been only prince or ruler or leader. Second, as Saul gathered an army, …the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. (v. 11:8) This is the first place that I recall a mention of the distinction between Israel (later, the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (later, the Southern Kingdom).

Today Saul looks good! He’s humble (shy, even!): and the LORD said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (v. 10:22b) He goes back to work until he feels the Lord calling: Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. (v. 11:5a) He shows himself to be a leader (also recognizing Samuel’s position as judge and prophet): He took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hand of the messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!” (v. 11:7a) And finally, he dismisses revenge against those who were against his kingship: Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.” (vv. 11:12-13) In this last quote, he also recognizes the Lord’s deliverance, not his own.

So Israel has its king and everything looks great going forward. End of story…? Maybe not!

Blessings!

I Samuel 9:1-10:16

Dear RTB’ers,

Israel wanted a king and now they’ve got Saul – anointed, but not yet proclaimed. [NOTE: The word “king” does not appear until later. For now the word “prince” is used in the ESV (vv. 9:16, 10:1), with “ruler” and “leader” in the NASB.] Strangely the two translations are substantially different in 10:1, with the ESV adding two prophetic sentences that the NASB omits: And you shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies. And this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you to be prince over His heritage. (ESV, v. 10:1b)

I have occasionally heard of people “reinventing” themselves. Today we have God reinventing Saul: When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. (v. 10:9a) I’m putting myself into the story here. When specifically did God choose me to do what He called me to do? How did He equip me? No doubt He changed my heart, but when did He do that? There was nothing instantaneous, but I know that I am not the same person that I was 50+ years ago, before I accepted Him as Lord. No doubt, bit by bit I am a changed person. How about you? Same questions…

Blessings!

I Samuel 7:3-8:22

Dear RTB’ers,

The ark is back, the Philistines are routed, Samuel is Israel’s judge (and prophet), and his sons are scoundrels! Sounds like a continuation of the book of Judges!! But it’s chapter 8 where we begin a really new period in Israel – the people ask for a king.

The elders’ request had Samuel’s age and his sons’ behavior as reasons for their request, but in fact they just wanted to be like the nations around them: …“Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (v. 8:5) Samuel is displeased at this request, but it’s the Lord who shows Samuel what’s really going on: And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” (v. 8:7) Samuel tells them what having a king will mean for them, but they are persistent: But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” (vv. 8:19-20) Although the elders appear to be requesting a king, in truth they are rejecting the Lord’s leadership and kingship over them. God grants their request and the rest of I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, and I and II Chronicles are all about Israel’s monarchy. A new period in Israel’s history…!

Blessings!

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See also: March 23 (2023) / I Samuel 8-10.