Tag Archives: David

May 17 2012

1 Samuel 19 – Saul Tries to Kill David

"David and Jonathan," by Rembrandt. ...

“David and Jonathan,” by Rembrandt. Jonathan is the figure in the turban. Hermitage News (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As we move to chapter 19, David’s skill as a warrior is proven, his reputation has grown and Saul has become more jealous and paranoid than ever.  His plan for David to be killed by Philistines backfired, and David’s prowess and reputation increased.  As part of that failed plan, Saul had promised his daughter Michal.  Now the one he feared most was his son-in-law!  Saul knew not only that his daughter loved David, but he also knew that the Lord was with David (1 Samuel 18:28).  So by plotting against David, he was fighting against God, and he knew it.  What madness!

Saul’s son, Jonathan, loved David.  Contrary to what some would have you believe, their relationship was simply one of deep brotherly love and respect.  Also, we tend to think of them as close in age, but this was probably far from the case.  Remember, Jonathan was commanding troops while David was still a very young boy before even being anointed (1 Samuel 13:2-3).  So Jonathan intercedes and convinces Saul not to kill David, and he again defeats the Philistines for the kingdom, as war broke out again (verse 8).

"Saul Tries to Kill David"

“Saul Tries to Kill David” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But God had to get David trained and ready to lead the people.  So in His wisdom, He again sent a harmful spirit to Saul.  Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear when he was playing the lyre in his house, but David escaped.  When he sent them to his home, his daughter had already warned David, and he escapes through the window.  He went to Samuel, and they went to Naioth in Ramah. In verses 20-24 Saul’s messengers, and even Saul himself are overcome with the Spirit of the lord and Saul is stripped of his kingly robes – just as he would be stripped of his throne.

Michal lets David escape from the window. A pa...

Michal lets David escape from the window. A painting by Gustave Doré, 1865. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What about the idol from the house of her father that Michal used to deceive her father’s messengers (verses 13-16)?  Could be the spoils of war that Saul had kept.  he never has been shown in the scripture to be a man after the Lord’s heart – that was David.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

May 16 2012

1 Samuel 17 – David and Goliath

Valley of Elah

One of the most famous chapters in the Bible begins with the Philistines camped at Socoh and Saul and his army gathered at the Valley of Elah.  Defeating them here was crucial, as control of this valley would give the Philistines an entrance into the hill country of Judah.  Goliath of Gath was their champion. A champion is a man comes forward to fight between the two enemy’s battle lines. Here Goliath challenges on behalf of the Philistines any champion that Israel will dare to confront him.  The survivor’s army would share the victory with him.  The actual size of this “giant” of a man is much debated, depending on the standard of the cubit one chooses to use (and the poor fellow that .  But it is sufficient to say that a warrior, whether approaching either 8 feet or 9 feet tall, would be most intimidating – then and now.

The Israel army is taunted daily by him (verse 16) as the actual battle continued (verses 19-21).  David arrives, and though his brother Eliab chastises him for leaving the sheep (verse 28), he continues inquiring about the champion.  Where Saul shows fear and a lack of confidence (verses 11, 33), David shows defiance and certainty that he will prevail because of God.  Even when relating his own killing of lions and bears (verses 34, 36), David points out that it was God who delivered him, just as he would do with “this uncircumcised Philistine”  because “he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Saul consents to let David go and outfits him with his armor, but it was not accustomed to it (verse 39) and sheds it.  Armed with his staff, a sling and stones he chose from the brook, he defiantly confronts Goliath, who is insulted by being challenged by such an unimposing enemy and , over-confident, curses David.  David tells him he will defeat him because the Lord will deliver him – and that he will cut off his head.  David does strike him to the ground with a stone embedded in his forehead.  The Lord was indeed with him.

(Side Note: There is an article at BiblePlaces.com on excavation at the site of Gath (Tel es-Safi) that has discovered a shard of pottery with the name Goliath inscribed, showing, at the least, that names similar to “Goliath”  were used around the 9th – 10th century BCE in that area)

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

May 15 2012

1 Samuel 16 – David Anointed King

Samuel anointing king David

Samuel anointing king David (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lord sends Samuel to the house of Jesse (son of Ruth and Boaz) to anoint one of his sons as the new king.  When Samuel arrives, he is sure that the tall one, Eliab, must be the one.  But God tells him that he is not, and that He does not judge man by appearance, but by their heart.  After going through all of Jesse’s sons, he finds that the least likely, David (the youngest, who is tending the sheep) is actually the one.  Once again, we find it to be the case that God often uses the one we least expect for His work.

Samuel anointed him in verse 13 and “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.”  Then, verse 14 tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,” making a significant statement of the rejection and shift of favor. Some commentators take the meaning of the “harmful spirit” that tormented Saul as being a mental disorder.  Others see it as more demonic.  Either way, Saul clearly is irrational at many times from this point forward.  By God’s providence, his servants suggest music to soothe him, and they just happen to know of a skillful musician with a lyre – David, who becomes favored in Saul’s court for this, as well as becoming Saul’s armor-bearer.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Apr 27 2012

Ruth 3-4 – Ruth and Boaz

Ruth in Boaz's Field

Ruth in Boaz's Field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some have suggested that the uncovering of Boaz’s feet in 3:7 suggests some sort of sexual contact, but that is not the case and it does not fit the story or the characters.  Ruth’s calling Boaz her redeemer is what amounts to a marriage proposal.  He knows that there is a closer relative who has the first right of redemption, so he tells her that he will work the matter out with that relative.  If that closer relative to does not step up, Boaz promises to do so.  The land of Naomi’s husband Elimelech must be bought by a kinsman and Ruth will be part of the bargain (an overview of the process can be found in Deuteronomy 25:7-8).

Boaz meets with the relative at the city gate (equivalent to our town hall) with the elders and proposes the situation to the other relative.  At first, he likes the idea of buying the land, but taking Ruth could muddy the waters of inheritance for the children he already has.  So under witness of the elders, Boaz claims the right that this relative passes to him (chapter 4:7-11).

So Boaz marries Ruth and they have a son named Obed who will be the grandfather of David (4:22).  Ruth is the third foreign woman in this line of Jesus Christ’s ancestry (Matthew 1:1-6).  The other two are Rahab and Tamar.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Robert
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.