Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 27-29; 1 Timothy 3
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 30-31; 1 Timothy 4
Although
David knew he had been anointed king, he could not bear the constant
hide-and-seek existence in the wilderness for his family and small army. Given
his earlier experience with the Philistines, he was courageous to return there.
But this time he arrived with a small army. Unlike earlier, the Philistines
would now be aware of Saul’s hostility toward David, which may have contributed
to the welcome David received. David’s move again demonstrates the awkward and
enigmatic relationship between the Israelites and Philistines. David’s
suggestion to move to a smaller town would help to solve probably housing and
social issues and allow the Israelites to live together as a community and
maintain their own worship life. David knew how to negotiate, enhancing his
request with words the king would like to hear. His stay in Ziklag and Gath,
though little more than a year, provided further opportunity to gain the trust
of the Philistines and to grow relationships with Israelites living in the
area. Nomadic peoples living along the border between Canaan and Egypt often
plundered Judean and Philistine towns. David would pursue these marauders in
defense of the Israelite towns, exterminate them, and take their livestock as
spoils of war. He pretended to be making raids on Judah, instead attacking the
invaders and thereby actively helping his fellow Judeans. To maintain the
deception, he had to make certain that none of the enemy survived. David’s
responses to Achish’s questions were deliberately misleading, indicating only
the direction he had gone, allowing Achish to assume that the raids were
against Israelites.
When told by
Achish that he and his army would accompany them, David’s words are
deliberately ambiguous. They could be support or betrayal. Loss of Samuel’s
leadership may have emboldened the Philistines for an all-out attack on Israel.
Now the king was desperate for any kind of guidance. Mediums consulted the
spirits of the dead, and necromancers spoke with the deceased familiar to them,
thereby supposedly discovering the secrets of the future. When Saul could get
no answer from Urim or dreams or by prophets, he went to a medium. Calling up
Samuel was another sign of Saul’s desperation; no ordinary spirit would do!
Whether or not it was truly Samuel or Satan or one of his demons, we don’t
know. Satan, though the father of lies, is capable of speaking the truth and
can even mouth God’s Word. Saul’s sins are denounced as the reason for God’s
anger and rejection. Missing is the prophet’s usual appeal for change of
attitude, perhaps because it’s too late. Saul looks for a word of assurance
that everything is going to be all right, but the earlier words of Samuel are
only reinforced and are about to be fulfilled. Saul is in such despair that he
refuses to eat. The medium has to offer an argument that he owed her for her
risking her life.
As the
Philistine army moves northward to battle, David’s difficult situation within
the army is resolved when he is removed from the battlefield. Once again, God
looked after David’s welfare. We, too, can get ourselves into some pretty tight
spots as a result of our own decisions or deceptions. God will not condone our
sinfulness, which is often what prompts the decisions we make. Yet, He still
looks after our welfare, making all things work together for good in Christ.
In our NT
reading, Paul tells Timothy that only qualified men may serve as pastors of
God’s flock. We should honor and uphold the qualifications that God has set
forth for those who would serve in the Office of the Public Ministry, always
remembering that the pastoral office is a divine institution-a gift from God
for His Church. The Lord Jesus has given this office and its qualifications
because He loves us and always desires what is best for us. He Himself is our
chief Shepherd. He has laid down His life for us and gives us eternal life.
Deacons and deaconesses were faithful people, entrusted with special
responsibilities for service to their fellow Christians. Christians today are
also privileged to serve others through special congregational offices and
service organizations. When given chances to express Jesus’ love in deeds of
service, it is easy to pass on these opportunities. But, in truth, god calls
every Christian to follow his example of self-giving service. Jesus came to
serve sinners like us with His forgiveness and salvation. He still serves us
today through His means of grace.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 1 Samuel 30-31; 1 Timothy 4
2 comments:
God's sovereignty is so amazing that He can even work through our sinfulness to accomplish His plan. Indeed, though our sin hurts us and those around us, it cannot derail God's plans.
This stood out for me:
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?
I think this obviously has value but our children are going to make their own choices. I can think of some very devoted and God fearing parents who have children who have wandered and I don't think this should prevent them from having a leadership position.
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