June 22 / I Samuel 25-26

I Samuel 25-26

Dear RTB’ers,

Two incidents, both fairly straightforward. In the first, Abigail defies her husband Nabal and provides David and his men with food and drink. David is truly grateful and Nabal is equally angry – so much so that he appears to have suffered a stroke or a heart attack and dies ten days later (at the Lord’s hand, v. 38). David then takes Abigail to be his wife. Recall that David was already married to Saul’s daughter, Michal. Surprisingly, that marriage is over, with Saul turning Michal over to another young man. But that’s not the end of the Michal story. We’ll meet her again one more time.

The second incident has David again sparing Saul’s life, with David’s spoken phrase, “the Lord’s anointed”, appearing four times in our second chapter. Saul had acknowledged David’s righteousness two chapters ago when David had earlier spared Saul’s life. Today Saul appears genuinely remorseful: Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” (v. 26:21) David does not “return” to Saul’s house. In fact our first verse in today’s reading tells us that David does not at all believe that Saul’s remorse is genuine: Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” (v. 27:1) Now, on to the next reading…

Blessings!


See also: March 30 (2023) / I Samuel 24-25; Psalms 57, 142.

June 21 / I Samuel 23-24

I Samuel 23-24

Dear RTB’ers,

David on the run and Saul in hot pursuit. It’s a continuing story of Saul’s pursuit and David’s escape – or of Saul’s withdrawing. There are a number of smaller items in today’s reading, but David sparing Saul’s life really sticks out for me. They are both in the same cave, with Saul unaware of David’s presence. David’s men suggest that David can now end Saul’s pursuit by taking Saul’s life. David, however, has a different response: He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” (v. 24:6) In liturgical churches today we consecrate our clergy with anointing oil when we ordain them. I have always been careful not to speak out directly against these clergy who have thus been anointed. I may disagree with decisions that are made, but I’m careful to hold back my tongue in speaking directly against them. Sadly, however, I’ve heard many harsh words spoken against some of those who have been chosen to lead us.

So, Saul repents: You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. (v. 24:17b-18) But as I wrote above, David on the run and Saul’s pursuit is a continuing story. Again, stay tuned!

Blessings!

June 20 / I Samuel 21:10-22:23

I Samuel 21:10-22:23

Dear RTB’ers,

We will find as we move through the Samuel, Kings and Chronicles books that detailing the lineage of the kings of Israel and Judah is important to the Biblical writers. Somewhat less important, but still helpful is the lineage of the high priests. This will become much more important later. For now we have Ahimelech described as the son of Ahitub. Back in I Sam. 14:3 we learned further that Ahitub was directly descended from Phineas, the son of Eli. I asked Copilot, an AI source, about Eli’s ancestors: “…from later biblical texts and genealogical records, we learn that Eli is a descendant of Ithamar, one of Aaron’s sons. This places him within the Levitical priesthood, though not from the more prominent line of Eleazar, the elder of the two. His line later becomes dominant through Zadok.” During David’s and Solomon’s times, Abiathar (Ahimelech’s son) and Zadok “compete” for the high priesthood. We’ll have to refer back to this post when we see infighting and divergent loyalties from the priests toward the kings.

Have any of you ever heard of anyone named “Doeg”? No? I didn’t think so. Doeg is one of the most despicable characters in all of Scripture. Reporting David’s movements to Saul is one thing, but then he killed Ahimelech and 84 (or 85) other priests before destroying all the inhabitants of Nob, the city of the priests. We never hear of Doeg again in the historical literature, but we do see him in the header of David’s Psalm 52. You might want to read that Psalm and get David’s personal evaluation of this “most despicable” character.

Blessings!


See also: March 29 (2023) / I Samuel 22-23; Psalms 52, 63.

June 19 / I Samuel 20:1-21:9

I Samuel 20:1-21:9

Dear RTB’ers,

Saul intent on killing David; Jonathan and David knit together in a vow relationship; and David clearly on the run. These Saul-Jonathan-David relationships will continue for the rest of I Samuel, but David’s brief time with Ahimelech, the priest is a story that will live on for centuries. Jesus referred to this incident in Matthew 12:3-4: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him; how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? The point that Jesus made was a comparison of the letter of the law with the spirit of the law. It’s always nice to see Jesus referring to Old Testament incidents. BTW, this brief incident with Ahimelech is not over. Stay tuned.

Blessings!


See also: March 28 (2023) / I Samuel 20-21; Psalms 56, 34.

June 18 / I Samuel 17:55-19:24

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!


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

June 17 / I Samuel 17:1-54

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!

June 16 / I Samuel 16

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!


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

June 15 / I Samuel 15

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!


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

June 14 / I Samuel 14

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!

June 13 / I Samuel 13

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!