Skip to main content

March 23 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 82

It's time to meet David.  In today's reading he is anointed king; he will be king later.  He also takes a place in Saul's court and gets a major victory against some tall guy.

Pay attention to how the text begins to illustrate the fall of Samuel while describing the rise of David.  Keep note of some of what's said about each man; those little commentaries about their character or their attitude.  

Image result for david and goliath

DAILY READINGS

1 Samuel 15-17 + Psalm 82

DAILY NOTES

1 Samuel 15:1-9

  • Samuel told Saul to totally annihilate the Amalekites. "Do not spare them."
  • Some commentaries have said that even the animals should be killed because the people were sorcerers.  They would use the animals in their rituals.
  • Kenites were descendants of Jethro
  • Saul spares King Agag and the people keep the best of the animals. uh oh.
1 Samuel 15:10-23
  • Samuel is angry to find out, from God, that Saul has not followed through with the commands of God.  He cried out to the Lord all night.  What do you think he was praying?  Saying? Crying?
  • Did Saul not realize that Samuel knew/assumed where the sheep and cattle came from?
  • Samuel asks an interesting question: Even though you're small in your own eyes......
    • Another testament to Saul's humility?  His insecurity?
  • At this point it seems Saul thought he was doing good because he brought the best of the battle back for God.  
  • Samuel offers a poetic response that centers on one word: obedience.
1 Samuel 15:24-34
  • At first, Samuel does not want to go with Saul, but then he does.  What changes his mind?  
    • He seems still pretty upset.  After his garment is torn, he offers a pretty descriptive image of what Saul can expect to happen to him and his kingdom.
  • It also looks like Saul may be trying to save face.  
  • Samuel takes care of King Agag.
1 Samuel 16
  • Even as Samuel still grieves over Saul, God appoints a new king, David.  
  • Now it seems Samuel fears Saul.  
  • God reminds Samuel that the Lord sees the heart of man, not the outward appearance like man does. Remember how Saul once "stood head and shoulders above everyone else"?
  • Now, we learn that Saul is tormented by an evil spirit from God.  What does that mean?  What does it mean to say that "the Spirit of the Lord departed" from Saul?
  • David is brought in as a musician for Saul.  When did he become a "man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence"?
1 Samuel 17:15
  • Why would David go back and forth between Saul and his father's house?  Dedication?  Commitment? Care?
1 Samuel 17:19
  • It doesn't feel like they were fighting yet.  Yelling at each other maybe, but not actually fighting.  
1 Samuel 17:28
  • David's brother is angry with him because he thinks David is just there to see the fight.  
  • He knows David's evil heart.  No one else has described him that way.  What does he know that we don't?  Or is he making assumptions?
1 Samuel 17:51
  • Many people forget this part.  Does David bring it as proof? As a trophy?  As a tribute to Saul?
1 Samuel 17:55-58
  • We have been told that Saul loved David greatly (16:21) and that he requested he leave his house to serve Saul.  Saul was with David as he prepared to fight Goliath.  Now, all of a sudden, he doesn't even know who he is?
Psalm 82
  • This psalm presumes a "divine council."  That is, some supernatural committee.  
  • The action the committee desires is that God would act on behalf of the poor and weak.  Justice, from God, is their desire.

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

Can I stress again that what God has asked us to do is what matters most?

Not our bright ideas.  Not our agendas.  Not what matters most to us.

I think I can mention it again because it comes up again in today's reading.  What was Saul's ultimate downfall?  Disobedience to God.

Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obedience to the voice of the Lord?  Surely to obey is better than sacrifice."

In other words, just because you went to church doesn't mean you're being obedient.  Just because you put a dollar in the offering plate doesn't mean you've decided to live obediently.  Just because you're reading the Bible with your church doesn't mean you're trying to live out what you're learning.

Is that too harsh?  I hope so.  Because at the root of our faith is not the rituals we have.  It's not the songs we sing or how we govern the church.  It's obedience.  Jesus reiterates that time and time again.  If you love me, you will keep my commands.  

 What is God calling you to be obedient to right now?

Stay blessed...john

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 24 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 83 The relationship between Saul and David worsens.  David is now Saul's enemy.   DAILY READINGS 1 Samuel 18-20 & Psalm 83 DAILY NOTES 1 Samuel 18 Saul's delight for David quickly turns.  Saul is jealous of David's success and the fact that everyone else seems to like David more than him. Of course, we have to think about what this evil spirit from the Lord might mean. Saul tries to kill David.  He even devises a plan to have him married into the royal family so that he can create a snare for him. What does it say about David that, even after Saul has tried to kill him, he still finds it an honor to be married to the family? David escapes Saul's traps.  So, from here on out, the text says that Saul considered David an enemy.  Think he knows what it means to love your enemies? 1 Samuel 19 Verse 5 reminds us of David's fight with Goliath.  At this point, David has fought other times.  What makes that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

May 23 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 143 DAILY READINGS Job 12-15 & Psalm 138 DAILY NOTES Job 12 Surely, Job says, his friends don't think they're the only ones with wisdom?  Plus, they are telling him anything that isn't known by all.   Maybe they aren't as smart as they think they are? God holds true wisdom.  "With God are wisdom and strength" (vs. 13). Job 13 Job's friends have taken it upon themselves to speak on behalf of God.  Job considers their representation to be false because they have not considered Job's condition. Job 14 Job's prayer to God continues. We see a bit of the book's larger vision in these verses.  Job recognizes, and wants God to remember, that all humanity shares the same days of life.   Job 15 Eliphaz considers that Job's questioning hinders God and would keep others from knowing God. Psalm 138 The praise of the psalmist is a communal act.   God has been faithful and the psalmist wants to thank God...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 2 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 61 I didn't include any daily notes today.  While they may seem strange, most of the laws we're reading about today are pretty straightforward.   Today's Bible Project video gives a final look at what the book of Deuteronomy is about.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 24-27 & Psalm 61 OTHER OBSERVATIONS Within many of the commands of God given to the Israelites is the notion to remember.  Remember you were slaves to Egypt.  Remember what happened to Miriam.  Remember. The point is to remember what God has done and that the Israelites are now God's own people.  You can almost hear someone ask, "Why do we have to do [fill in the blank]?"  Because we are God's!  Remember it was the Lord who delivered us.  So, this is his way to be holy. Even the psalmist (in Psalm 61) picks up on this.  In speaking of God's protection, he says that God has given him the "heritage of those who fear your name."  ...
Post a Comment
Read more