In today’s section, we read about:
Samuel anoints David king
David defeats Goliath
David’s friendship with Jonathan
David forced into hiding to escape from Saul and twice spares his life
Saul goes to consult a medium
Some thoughts that struck me today:
16:1 – fulfilment of the blessing in Ru 4:12
16:7 – “Don’t judge by his appearance or height… The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
16:13 – the pattern of kingship is repeated again here: anointing, the Spirit comes in power, and David goes out to victory (17:50)
16:18 – one of the things that God seems to do with those who follow him closely is that they enjoy a very good reputation with other people
Saul’s relation with David changes markedly over time “Saul loved David very much” (16:21), “Saul kept a jealous eye on David” (18:9), Saul was afraid of David (18:12), Saul became even more afraid of him (18:15)
The contrast between the Israelites and David is huge. This army of grown men is terrified, but David, armed only with his faith in God, runs to tackle Goliath head on – “You come at me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied” (17:45). “As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him” (17:48)
18:21 – but Saul had already promised his daughter to whoever killed Goliath, but he uses this as a pretext to get David killed. The strategy which Saul tries against David in 18:26, and which failed, is the one that David used to get rid of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam 11:15).
The friendship between Jonathan and David is very inspiring. Even though Jonathan knew that David would replace his father as king, so taking what he might legitimately have expected to be his, he still loved him as he loved himself (18:3)
19:24 – Not only does God keep David safe from Saul, he humiliates and taunts Saul by reminding him of the time when God was with him and he prophesied (10:10), but also making him roll around on the floor naked for a day
22:2 – David’s followers are hardly fit for a king – outcasts, debtors, almost the scum of the earth. It’s a bit like God has to put up with when he has us! Yet he does more than puts up with us. He uses us and makes us a key part of carrying out his plan. David himself has not had it all easy – he has to pretend he’s mad (21:13), lives in hiding, moving from cave to cave, and yet he still does what God wants him to
22:8 – Saul has now descended into self-pity
22:16-19 – the priests were the source of legitimacy for a ruler. When one of the priests defends David, Saul feels his legitimacy is threatened and so removes them, in a vain attempt to bolster his position
24:5 – David has a clearer sense of Saul’s worth than Saul himself does (15:17)
25:38 is a very clear example of Rom 12:19, although it doesn’t always work out that neatly
28:5 – the end is near for Saul, and he cuts such a pathetic figure you almost feel sorry for him. Here it says “he became frantic with fear”. But he undoes even the good he has done in banishing mediums (28:3)
28:16-17 is confirmation that if you haven’t got the answer you want from God, you’re not going to get it from anywhere else
1 comment:
I was struck by the contrast in leadership that we have been shown through our readings. Previously I commented how impressed I was by Moses and the way he sacrificed and served the Israelites, despite their criticism and unbelief in him.
Here we have a clear example in Saul of insecure leadership. I heard once that those in leadership should always aspire that their followers would do far greater things than them. That servant heart is a true attribute of leadership and indeed Jesus shows us the ultimate example of servant leadership. This takes great humility and security. Saul reveals through his behaviour towards David how insecurities (shown though pride, hatred, jealousy) have just had destructive consequences, not only on those around him but also himself. I agree with Adam....really quite sad.
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