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 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