Today's reading from the One Year Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 22:1-2, Psalm 57, Psalm 142, 1 Chronicles 12:8-18, 1 Samuel 22:3-23, Psalm 52 and 1 Samuel 23:1-12. The version with less flipping would be 1 Samuel 22:1-23:12, 1 Chronicles 12:8-18, Psalm 52, 57 and 142.
Even though we were all over the place today, I really enjoyed reading it chronologically. I definitely get more out of the Psalms readings when I read them in context.
I'm actually writing this post on the 14th in the midst of packing, laundry, etc to get ready for our trip tomorrow. So, this will be fairly short.
Oh how I loathed Saul for ordering the killing of the 85 priests who helped David! To sink so low as to kill priests is just mindboggling.
One point perhaps worth mentioning, is that David lies to the priests before they help him (1 Samuel 21:2) - perhaps his lie had a much higher cost than he anticipated! I have a feeling the priests likely would've still helped David if he had told them the truth (that he was running from King Saul) because they definitely thought highly of him, so perhaps the outcome would've been the same, but the lie definitely contributed to Saul thinking the priests were conspiring with David against him.
I also found myself angry at the people of Keilah. David just risked his life and the lives of his men to rescue them from the Philistines - and they would've turned him over to Saul in a heartbeat. There's gratitude for ya!
The depths we can fall in the face of pride and fear is truly scary. I think this is why daily studying the Word is so important. It helps us to keep our eyes on Jesus, it helps to reveal "small" sins that can so quickly turn huge, it keeps our hearts soft to the Spirit's nudging us on areas we need to work on.
Tomorrow's passage: 1 Samuel 23:13-29, Psalm 54, 1 Samuel 24-25
1 comment:
In The Lutheran Study Bible it points out that Saul was willing to do to the priests and their town what he was unwilling to do in chapter 15...utterly destroy any and all inside.
In Kretzmann's Popular Commentary, he says concerning chapter 22: "While a fugitive from the insane wrath of Saul, David felt that he stood under the protection of Jehovah, and that Abiathar, therefore, sought by Saul in the same manner, could cheerfully and safely cast his lot with the king's son-in-law. Saul's horrible deed merely indicated that his obduracy had reached a point from which there would be no return. So the high priest of God and the Urim and Thummim were now with David. In like manner the small, persecuted band of Christians has the best protection and consolation, the Word and truth of God, in its midst."
In his commentary on chapter 23: "In this story also David is a type of the Son of God. For He also, while engaged in rescuing His people from the hand of their most terrible enemies, was betrayed into the hands of the unjust. Moreover, such is the lot of all those who openly take the part of the Lord."
While it seems ungrateful to us that the people of Keilah would betray him so easily who had just saved them, can we really say that we're any better?
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