Skip to main content

March 27 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 86

Ever notice these books don't end with happily ever afters?  

Remember that we are reading an entire story of God told over many years.  The individual books help us follow that story, but we do well in remembering it's still one complete story.

Today, we're finishing 1 Samuel.  As we read, we'll see how far Saul has fallen.  Ultimately, what God said would happen, happens.

Related image

DAILY READINGS

1 Samuel 28-31 & Psalm 86

DAILY NOTES

1 Samuel 28

  • This chapter is devoted entirely to Saul's encounter with a medium.
  • Notice that Saul had previously expelled mediums and wizards.  This could be a sign of his former faithfulness.
  • Saul's fear overwhelmed him.  He is up against a Philistine army he does not think he can defeat.
  • Since Saul could not hear from God, he seeks a medium to "inquire of her."  What did he want to know (from God or the medium)?  He asks Samuel what he should do.  So, is that asking whether to flee or fight?  
  • Samuel confirms what he has already said would happen.
1 Samuel 29
  • David has done such a good job for Achish that he defends David before the other Philistines.
1 Samuel 30
  • This seems like the first time that David is ever actually in danger.  His troops were devastated when they returned to find their families had been taken; they are ready to kill David in return.
  • David is able to rally the troops and defeat the Philistines.
1 Samuel 31
  • Saul's sons are killed.  Saul kills himself so the Philistines could not "make sport" of him--they do anyway
Psalm 86
  • Compare this psalm with what happens in 1 Samuel 28.  
  • Imagine these words being on Saul's lips.  

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

If you've ever participated in any ongoing Bible study with me, you know I try to get us past any of the watered-down, cliche answers of faith.  Ours is a growing faith. So, there are many times what we think about faith and life should be growing, changing or developing, too.

Look at David again.  His troops are ready to attack him.  They have lost everything, and all because of him.  Of course, we can try to imagine what they were feeling.  But let's consider what David is thinking.  He knows he's responsible for what happened.  He has lost his family, too.  I imagine he's tired of running.  He's given so much and look at what it has cost him.

As the troops' bitter spirit rises against David, the text says that "David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

If I were to ask this in a Bible study, "What does that mean? How did David strengthen himself? Or how do we strengthen our selves in the Lord?"  we'd probably hear the easy answers first.  We strengthen ourselves by reading the Bible, praying and being patient.  If I ask a bunch of kindergartners that same question, they'll give me the same response.  So, there is something elementary, basic about doing such things, although I've never heard a 5-year-old talk about patience!

But think about this: Did David have his Bible handy--"What's a Bible," he would probably ask?  

He didn't have time to be patient.  

I imagine he prayed, though.  But I don't think he prayed the way many of us are used to thinking about prayer.  I don't see him closing his eyes or bowing his head once.  Does he pray quietly?  I don't think so.  Again, we're imagining here.  The text doesn't offer us any more insight.  But if you know what it's like to be in anguish, to be in trouble, to be furious, to be furiously frustrated, you know that a Precious Moments prayer time is not what you're in need of.  

So, what do you think that looked like as David "strengthened himself"?  

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 14 + Daily readings & notes

DAY 134 We're reading another prophet today.  Here's t he Bible Project video that describes what the book is about. DAILY READINGS Jonah 1-4 & Psalm 129 DAILY NOTES Jonah 1 Notice the simple, direct message God gave Jonah.  There's no explanation for why Jonah doesn't follow through (yet).  As quickly as the word from God comes, he goes away. The mariners have their own god to cry out to for help.  They ask Jonah to cry out to his God.  Did you notice he never did?  He only told them that he worships the Lord.   The mariners feared the Lord after this.   Jonah 2 When he and the others were in trouble, Jonah didn't cry out to God.  Now that he's sitting inside a big fish, he offers a prayer to God.   And notice even the fish listens to God! Jonah 3 The word of God comes to Jonah again.  This time Jonah responds.  And the people of Nineveh respond with faith in God. Up to this p...
Post a Comment
Read more

March 17 + Daily notes & readings

DAY 76 We're finishing the book of Judges today.  The judges have ruled over Israel, but the people have strayed from God.  Things are not as they should be.  By the book, the tribes of Israel have been fighting against one of their own. DAILY READINGS Judges 19-21 & Psalm 76 DAILY NOTES Judges 19 No one is given a name in this chapter.   A Levite takes a concubine for a wife.  She gets angry and leaves to go back to her father's house. The Levite goes to her and the father-in-law and he enjoy several days of eating and drinking together. The Levite eventually leaves with his wife and they travel to Gibeah; they get no help from anyone else along the way. They stay at the home of a man from Gibeah.  While they are there, the men of Gibeah rise against the Levite.   The man of the house refuses their attack and offers both his daughter and the Levite's wife instead.   The men "wantonly" rape the wife.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more