Skip to main content

March 24 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 83

The relationship between Saul and David worsens.  David is now Saul's enemy.  

Image result for saul tries to kill david wikipedia

DAILY READINGS


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 battle so significant?
  • Michal helps David escape from Saul.  She even lies to her father for him.  
  • Verses 18-24 are strange to me.  Notice the "prophetic frenzy."  This is something usual for people who were considered prophets.  But how are the messengers of Saul brought into this act?  Saul?  Saul has been, previously, overtaken by an evil spirit.  
1 Samuel 20
  • Jonathan and David's friendship is solidified.  And it seems, after Jonathan helps David escape, that Saul turns on Jonathan.  
Psalm 83
  • A psalm against our enemies.  
  • Notice that even with the call to do so much to our enemies, the psalm ends with a specific prayer: Let them know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
    • Of course, that could be read differently.  "Let them know" like let them have it.  Or let them know so that they can truly know who God is.  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

It doesn't make sense at all for Saul to kill David.  Everyone loves David.  He has been successful in battle, which has been good for Saul.  David has not done anything to Saul.

But that jealousy and envy and can be dangerous.  We'll continue to see how they lead Saul to his death and the end of his kingdom.  

Remember that commandment about not coveting?  That's a real thing!  Maybe none of us would consider taking someone's life because of what they have (like Saul did), but we often neglect parts of our life because we're focused on what other people have.  

Contentment.  That seems to be such a counter-cultural thing these days.  

Maybe more of us need to learn to live by it.

Stay blessed...john

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

March 29 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 88 Now that Israel has one king, it's a good time to consider the role of Israel's messiah.  Check out today's Bible Project video that explains how Jesus fits the narrative of messiah. DAILY READINGS 2 Samuel 4-8 & Psalm 88 DAILY NOTES 2 Samuel 4-5 The murder of Ishbaal, Saul's surviving son, prompts all the people to anoint David king over the entire kingdom. Notice that over the last several chapters, David does not approve of these political murders. The first act of David, as the narrative is concerned, is to stand against the Jebusites.  These are the people Joshua did not drive away (Joshua 15:63).  As a result of their conquest, David makes Jerusalem the capital of the kingdom.   David continues to rise in stature and respect. 2 Samuel 6 After establishing Jerusalem as the capital, David's next effort is to bring the ark to the capital.  It is the nation's most sacred object and it belongs in the nation's capital. I
Post a Comment
Read more

April 11 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 101 The great prophet Elijah leaves the scene (He'll appear again later.  Do you remember where?).  Elisha takes his place and immediately begins to act as prophet among the people.   DAILY READINGS 2 Kings 1-3 & Psalm 101 DAILY NOTES 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah is injured and he wants to know if he'll live.  He seeks input from the prophets of Baal-zebub.  Elijah finds out and interrupts Ahaziah's men from going to the prophets.   Notice that Elijah, that hairy man, is divinely protected by the captain and his men.   Ahazia never hears from the prophets.  Elijah speaks directly to him to tell him that he will surely die. 2 Kings 2 Where did the idea of a whirlwind come from?  Did anyone expect that Elijah would be taken "to heaven by a whirlwind"?  Everyone seems to know that today Elijah will be gone. Elisha's command to the band of prophets seems to indicate his sense of loss but also a vigor within himself; he is standing up to
Post a Comment
Read more

February 26 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 57 Today's Bible Project video centers on what the Bible means when it speaks of the heart.   DAILY READINGS Deuteronomy 13-14 & Psalm 57 DAILY NOTES Deuteronomy 13 Any prophet or "dreamer of dreams" lead you away from God to other gods, he is to be put to death.  That person has, among other things, spoken "treason" or "falsehood" against God. The same thing should happen to "anyone" who tempts you in secret to follow another God, even if that anyone is a family member.   Notice that you're not even to show them "pity or compassion" or even try to protect them.   The text (Verse 13) says to watch for scoundrels--literally, sons of decadence.  If they are found to be leading people away from God, they are to be put to do as well, and all those of their town that followed them. Deuteronomy 14 The Isrealites were to remain a distinctive people.  They were not to follow the customs or practices o
Post a Comment
Read more