Psalms 8, 19, 29, 32, 65, 68, 103, 108, 138

What with reading what feels like half the Psalter today, and with all Fred’s commentary from last year, I’m guessing you don’t want much more from me, so I’ll try to be uncharacteristically brief. Take advantage of your fresh knowledge of David’s story. Put yourself in his shoes as you read his songs and gain insights from that perspective. But also recognize that the Psalms are timeless, as relevant to us today as when written. They are also often prophetic, looking forward to the Christ, so pay attention to those little cross-references your Bible may provide, showing how the New Testament quotes and interprets the Psalms (for example, Ps. 8:2 in Mt. 21:16 or Ps. 8:4-6 in Heb. 2:6-8 and I Cor. 15:27).

The Psalms are rich. Let them speak Truth into your heart, and let them sing praise and worship from your heart.

See also:

• January 8 (2022) / Psalm 8
• January 24 (2022) / Psalm 19:1-6
• January 25 (2022) / Psalm 19:7-14
• March 22 (2022) / Psalm 29
• March 26 (2022) / Psalm 32
• June 14 (2022) / Psalm 65
• June 17 (2022) / Psalm 68:1-18
• June 18 (2022) / Psalm 68:19-35
• August 30 (2022) / Psalm 103:1-10
• August 31 (2022) / Psalm 103:11-22
• October 4 (2022) / Psalm 108
• December 16 (2022) / Psalm 138

I Chronicles 12-15

Today we may begin to appreciate a bit better the added value that Chronicles brings to Israel’s historical narrative. In II Samuel, we have only a few verses about David becoming king of all Israel, II Samuel 5:1-3, which is largely echoed in I Ch. 11:1-3. Today we get more detail. We see that it is not just some elders and chiefs who agree to make David king. In fact, thousands upon thousands of warriors, from each tribe of Israel, come to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. (I Ch. 12:23) This is a good deal more than a bunch of politically connected leaders all shaking hands in a back room. This is a grand display of national unity in the coronation of King David. (I Ch. 12:23-40) Of course, we should also note that in Chronicles there is a very deliberate complete omission of all the strife leading up to that coronation…

Now let’s take a look at the next issue: bringing the Ark to Jerusalem — in two phases. We have this story in II Samuel 6 and here in I Ch. 13,15. In both accounts, the core of the story is the same. We see that David desires to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, but the first attempt — by ox cart — fails when Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark and the LORD “breaks out” upon Uzzah, killing him. The Ark spends a few months in the house of Obed-edom, and then they again try to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, this time successfully.

But the Chronicles account gives us more insight, explaining what the Samuel account leaves unexplained:

Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever. … Then David summoned the priests … and the Levites … and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.

I Chronicles 15:2,11-15

So the second attempt succeeds where the first attempt failed, because this time they do it the right way, with Levites carrying the Ark on their shoulders rather than transporting it on an ox cart. (By way of refresher, see the February 10 post.) Chronicles thus gives us a fuller view than we would have had with just the Samuel account. And in this fuller view, there is a lesson for us: Good intentions are not enough; the way we do things matters, too.

We may have some really excellent goal in mind. We may even be called by God to accomplish that goal. But that does not mean that we are free to ignore the Lord in how we accomplish that goal. If God gives us any direction on the proper way to do things, we need to pay attention. That applies not only to worship and ritual, but to everyday life. We are called to honor the Lord in everything we do — both in what we do and in how we do it.

I Chronicles 9:35-11:46

Fast-forward, rewind, and replay. Reading through the Scriptures chronologically means that we are now skipping forward in the text to I Chronicles so that we can go back and review some history we’ve already been through, but from a somewhat different perspective. Sometimes Chronicles quotes almost verbatim from Samuel and Kings. (For example, compare I Ch. 10:1-12 with I Sam. 31:1-13.) So do not be surprised if you feel like you’ve read this before. You have!

Chronicles does not devote much ink to Saul. Aside from a few minor references in the next few chapters, what we have today is just about it. Chronicles thus skips over Saul’s anointing, all of Saul’s positive accomplishments, the vast majority of Saul’s hunting of David, and gets straight to Saul’s demise. All that silence stands as an implicit negative commentary on Saul, but in case there is any question about that, Chronicles briefly makes that criticism explicit:

So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

I Chronicles 10:13-14

And so Chronicles moves straight on to David, even skipping over all the conflict and political machinations that precede David’s ascension to the throne of a united Israel. (I Ch. 11:1-3)

As we move back and forth between Chronicles and Samuel and Kings, let’s notice both the similarities and the differences. Let’s appreciate the different perspectives, arising from authors writing at different times and to audiences in different circumstances, and therefore with different emphases. And let’s recognize that it is all God’s Word. We should not read only Samuel and Kings without Chronicles. Neither should we read Chronicles without Samuel and Kings. We must take them all together to get the full message that God has for us.

II Samuel 5-7

II Samuel 7 may not be the ultimate pinnacle of all of Scripture, but I’d say it’s the highest ground on which we’ve stood lately. If you have fallen behind in your reading and are either skimming or skipping some text to catch up, be sure not to skim or skip this chapter. Read it. All of Israel’s history (and certainly all of David’s history) has been building to this point, so heads up!

Having moved into a nice new house of cedar, David proposes upgrading the accommodations of the Ark of the Covenant from a tent to a house, a solid building. But the LORD has a surprise for David. The LORD tells David that He does not particularly need a house. He has never dwelt in a house, and He has not asked for one. Instead, God promises to establish David’s house — but God does not mean a building; He means a dynasty. God says that after David dies, God will raise up David’s offspring, who will build God’s house, and that his throne and kingdom will be established forever. Though David’s descendants may need to be disciplined, the LORD will never remove His steadfast love from David’s line.

David is not to build God’s house. God is going to build David’s house. As we continue to read through the Scriptures, we’ll see how that plays out. As with many other prophecies, what God says here has a dual fulfillment — one narrow and “short” term, and one much broader and “long” term or even eternal. The narrow focus here is the business of establishing David’s earthly successors. It is not just that David is now king. David is to be the root of a dynasty that will last for generations. That is a tremendous promise in itself. But the broader fulfillment is far superior: the establishment of the Kingdom of God in David’s descendant, Jesus Christ.

The cynic sees only the narrow focus and the ultimate downfall of David’s dynasty under the Babylonians. The cynic sees no Kingdom of God. In Jesus, the cynic sees only a man who gets himself crucified. He fails to see the Resurrection of that Man. And the cynic lives accordingly. But the saint knows better. The saint knows that Jesus is the promised King. The saint knows that Jesus is building God’s house, a temple built of living stones. (I Peter 2:4-5; Eph. 2:19-22) The saint knows that even now King Jesus reigns over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1:33) And the saint lives accordingly.

So how about you? Are you living as a cynic? Or as a saint?

II Samuel 2-4

Life is messy, even for the LORD’s anointed. One might think that with Samuel’s endorsement years earlier, and with his proven track record as a warrior, David’s path to the throne of Israel would be an easy one now that Saul is gone. But no. We see political intrigue, personal rivalries, vendettas, war, murder, and assassination. In all the maneuverings, David may be innocent, but not his family: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel are all David’s nephews, the sons of David’s sister, Zeruiah (I Ch. 2:16), and they complicate life for David.

Though David promptly executes those responsible for the assassination of Ish-bosheth (II Sam. 4:5-12), he does not execute Joab for the murder of Abner, instead only distancing himself from the murder and pronouncing a curse on Joab and all his father’s house. (II Sam. 3:28-29) It could well be argued that David drops the ball here, applying a different standard of justice to his family than to others. Our text makes no explicit comment one way or the other on that, but it seems to me that although we know David is a man of tremendous faith, he still feels “political realities”. He is therefore reluctant to dispense with a strong and able ally like Joab. David has the promise of the throne, but the path to it is long, painful, and difficult. Yes, life is messy for David.

We, of course, live in the same messy world. That is certainly true when we create our own messes. But even when we know we are on the right path, in step with the Lord, we meet assorted obstacles. We rarely (if ever) enjoy extended periods of “smooth sailing” (and with all the examples we have in Scripture, it is a mystery why we persist in expecting them). Things do not go smoothly. “Stuff” happens. We know that Jesus is already King, but we do not yet see the fullness of His Kingdom on this earth. Yes, life is messy for us.

On this Palm Sunday, let’s remember King Jesus. Let’s sing “Hosanna” to our great King, knowing that He is, truly, the LORD’s Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ. But unlike those who originally waved palm branches, we know what the rest of the week holds. We know it is a mess. We know there is scourging and a crown of thorns. We know the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Suffering, that Jesus treads. We know He bears the Cross. We know that He is pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. (Is. 53:5)

Life is messy, especially for the LORD’s Anointed.

I Samuel 31; II Samuel 1; Psalm 18

How the mighty have fallen!

II Samuel 1:19b, 25a, 27a

David thus laments the passing of Saul and Jonathan. We should note that the grief expressed in David’s song is not only for Jonathan, his closest friend, but also for Saul. David is well aware of Saul’s deep flaws, having been Saul’s prime target for years. But David also recognizes Saul’s strengths and how he has fought valiantly for Israel. David knows that Saul will forever be Israel’s first king, the first of the LORD’s anointed, and he honors him as such. I do not think that this is just a formal salute to a dead king that David is happy to have out of the way. David is genuinely grieved over Saul, and that is worth thinking about.

We likewise should give honor and respect to all those in authority. We may disagree with their political agendas. We may see deep personal character flaws or rampant corruption. We may believe them to be thoroughly unworthy of their office, and we may thus work to remove them from (or keep them from) that office in future elections. But we must also strive to recognize the LORD’s hand in bringing people to positions of authority. Disrespect — and particularly the kind of abusive language we’ve seen over the last several years (from both sides) — is not God’s way. As Saint Peter says, Honor the emperor (I Peter 2:17), which would include any number of very unsavory characters, like Nero and Caligula.

Hmm… Perhaps I am in need of a good deal more repentance.

See also:

• January 19 (2022) / Psalm 18:1-15
• January 20 (2022) / Psalm 18:16-24
• January 21 (2022) / Psalm 18:25-36
• January 22 (2022) / Psalm 18:37-45
• January 23 (2022) / Psalm 18:46-50

Psalm 54; I Samuel 26-30

In Saul we see the desperation of a man who is quick to accept the LORD’s help when it suits his own ambitions, but who steadfastly refuses to surrender to the LORD otherwise. We see that refusal in his persistence in hunting David, despite David’s proofs of innocence and despite Saul’s outward displays of “repentance”. Saul “inquires of the LORD”, seeking guidance, but his heart is not inclined toward obedience, and the LORD is suitably silent.

Rather than turning in true repentance to the LORD, Saul sinks still further. Although the LORD had expressly forbidden sorcerers, mediums, and necromancers (Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:31; 20:27; Dt. 18:9-14), and Saul himself enforced that policy, Saul resorts to engaging a medium, the witch of Endor, in order to consult the dead Samuel. (I Sam. 28:3-25) Samuel’s words to Saul are telling:

And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me…”

I Samuel 28:16-17a

In other words, “How do you expect to get around the LORD by coming to me? What can you possibly hope to hear from me that I haven’t already told you?” Samuel goes on to pronounce only doom upon Saul and his sons and the entire army of Israel at the hands of the Philistines. For years Saul has neglected faith. Now he has only fear. Saul has had years in which to repent. Now it is too late.

Let’s not take Saul’s path. Let’s not treat God like a genie that grants us wishes, but whose wishes we can ignore. And let’s not look for alternate paths, ways of bypassing the LORD to get what we want, to hear what we want to hear. Let’s instead surrender to the LORD. Let’s seek the LORD Himself, not just His blessings. If your conscience is pricking you about anything, if the Holy Spirit is convicting you of any sin, then repent! And do it now. Don’t wait. But don’t play games with half-baked repentance or feigned remorse. You can’t fool God. So give it up and really surrender to Him.

Of course, I say all that not just from reading Saul’s story but out of my own experience. That is, I see myself in Saul. I see my own pride. I see the twisted devices of my own sinful heart. But unlike Saul I also know the Gospel, that the LORD delights in removing my sin from me as far as the east is from the west. (Ps. 103:12) Note that I did not say that the LORD removes just the penalty of my sin, while I continue to cling to the sin. No, the LORD delights in removing the sin itself. But for that to happen, I must relinquish it and nail it to the Cross of Christ. In doing so — in repentance — I find His abundant mercy. And so can you.

See also: June 2 (2022) / Psalms 53-54

I Samuel 24; Psalms 57, 142; I Samuel 25

David has the perfect opportunity. With one blow he can eliminate the greatest threat to his own life, Saul. He can step into the kingship that he knows is his. His friends all see the LORD’s hand in providing this opportunity. (I Sam. 24:4) David does too (I Sam. 24:10), but he does not take his friends’ advice. Instead, David demonstrates in the clearest possible terms that Saul’s fears of him are completely unfounded. (I Sam. 24:11)

In refusing to kill Saul, David exercises extraordinary practical wisdom and self-control. He also exhibits extraordinary faith and a heart for God:

• David has no real desire to kill Saul; he never has had. He does not lust for power the way Saul does.
• David realizes that killing Saul (or trying to) would validate all those claims against him. Such an action would confirm that Saul was right to fear David all along and would serve to unite opposition against David among Saul’s supporters.
• David understands that killing the king as a means of taking the throne would set a bad precedent that would jeopardize his own future position as king. He would forever have to watch his own back to protect himself from rivals, becoming just like Saul.
• Most importantly, David understands that Saul is still the LORD’s anointed, so David is thoroughly unwilling to harm him. As far as David is concerned, the LORD put Saul in place as king, and it is up to the LORD to remove him. David thus puts his whole faith and trust in the LORD to bring justice His way, but it won’t be by David’s own hand. (I Sam. 24:10-12)

Nabal, on the other hand, is not the LORD’s anointed. When Nabal refuses David’s request to feed his men in return for having provided protection for Nabal, his sheep, and his shepherds, David does not hesitate to take matters into his own hands. David orders his men to strap on their swords, and he vows (somewhat rashly, like Jephthah and Saul before him) to kill every male associated with Nabal. Fortunately, Nabal’s wife Abigail has better sense than Nabal and steps in to prevent the slaughter. She gives the requested provisions and reminds David to refocus on the LORD, saying “the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand.” (I Sam. 25:26) David recognizes the LORD’s hand in sending Abigail, and he realizes that fulfilling his vow would be contrary to the LORD’s direction. David thus responds in kind: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!” (I Sam. 25:32-33)

That response is a far cry from what a lesser man than David might say: “Listen, lady, I appreciate your attempt to save your lousy husband, and I certainly appreciate your provision of food, but I am in the right here. I made a vow, and I aim to keep it, so get out of my way.” No, David takes the better path: the path of repentance, the path of mercy, and the path of trusting the LORD to settle the score His own way.

We may not face life-or-death challenges like David. Most of us (hopefully!) never seriously consider killing anybody (though the thought has probably crossed our minds a time or two). But that does not mean that we are not faced with the desire to settle scores, because we are all injured by others one way or another. Like David, we can either do things our own way or let the LORD do things His way. I think we know which path is better…

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.”

Romans 12:19

See also:

• June 6 (2022) / Psalm 57
• December 21 (2022) / Psalm 142

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One more thing…

In I Samuel 24:16-22, Saul declares his remorse, confesses his sin, and says David is in the right. He appears to be humbly seeking full reconciliation. Although David accepts the statement and swears not to destroy Saul’s descendants, he wisely does not entrust himself to Saul and therefore returns to his stronghold. David trusts the LORD. That does not mean that he needs to trust Saul.

I Samuel 22; Psalm 52; I Samuel 23; Psalm 63

Saul lives in an imaginary world. He imagines that no one cares about him. He imagines that [Jonathan] has stirred up [David] against [him], to lie in wait. (I Sam. 22:8) He imagines that David is actively seeking the throne. He imagines that David wants to kill him. He imagines that Ahimelech, the High Priest, all the other priests, and indeed the entire city of Nob are guilty of conspiring with David to overthrow the king. But his imagination is wrong.

Unfortunately, Saul’s imaginary world carries with it horrendous real-world consequences. Real-world priests are killed. The real-world city of Nob is wiped out. Real-world resources are diverted from protecting Israel and instead devoted to hunting David.

Saul is not alone, of course. We all live in imaginary worlds. We can’t help it. That’s just the way we are wired — and rightly so, for without imagination, we could never advance our knowledge: we could never learn anything; or invent anything; or develop language; or create art; or, well, use your imagination to fill in the blank! But we always need to hold our imaginations in check, to bring them back to reality, especially when our imaginations bring fear and anxiety. How much energy do we expend worrying about imagined possible futures that never actually happen? (By the way, there are an infinite number of possible futures, but only one ever materializes.) Do you really know the motives behind your co-worker’s actions? Do you really know that that other driver is an idiot? (Or maybe he’s racing to the hospital to save his child…) How much first-hand knowledge do you really have about all those things you fret about? And how much is just imagined?

The LORD God is the ultimate Reality. Yet He is the One we most often overlook in our imaginations, the Critical Factor that we ignore in all our anxieties. He certainly seems to be absent from Saul’s imaginary world. Is there room for Him in yours?

See also:

• June 1 (2022) / Psalm 52
• June 12 (2022) / Psalm 63