1 Samuel 22:1-23:29 + John 10:1-21 + Psalm 115:1-18 + Proverbs 15:18-19
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Old Testament - Very sad readings today in First Samuel 22 as we read about the slaughter of the priests. Sadly fitting that Doeg betrayed the priests to Saul and then Saul commanded Doeg to kill the priests, because no one else would. This whole incident shows how far Saul has strayed away from God. He has lost his moral compass completely. It's interesting to recall earlier in our First Samuel readings how Saul looked like he might be a decent king initially. But, then he was disobedient to God. And then his sin continued and continued to where he is in today's readings. This should be a warning to each of us to not stray from God like this. If we are allowing ourselves to be disobedient to God or if we are continuing in a sin, we are slaves to that sin. And this slavery to sin can grow and grow until we lose all moral control, as Saul has. This image below by Gerard Hoet from a 1728 Bible is courtesy of Bizzell Bible Collection, University of Oklahoma Libraries:
I love the mini-reunion of Jonathan and David in First Samuel 23 verses 16 & 17 - "Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. "Don't be afraid," Jonathan reassured him. "My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father is well aware." What great words of encouragement from Jonathan! Who is the last person you encouraged? Do you make it a habit to encourage people around you regularly? Who is someone you can encourage big-time today or tomorrow?
Bible.org's commentary on our First Samuel readings today titled "Saul Loses His Grip" is at this link and commentary titled "A Friend Indeed" is at this link.
New Testament - I love Jesus' teachings today in John 10 verses 9 & 10 - "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." What a great analogy - Jesus is the gateway to salvation. Life in relationship with Jesus will be full of green pastures - this reminds me of Psalm 23 verse 2! And then Jesus tells us that his purpose is to give us life in all its fullness. I think all too often we look for fullness of life in all the wrong places... when all we have to do is walk through the gate. Have you walked through the gate?
Jesus calling himself the Good Shepherd is so very beautiful and fitting in verses 14 &15 - "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep." After we walk through the gate of faith to fullness of life with Jesus, he will be our Good Shepherd forever. He is a shepherd that knows us - and we know him. He will protect us with his rod and staff - again, a little Psalm 23 verse 4. :) And more than anything else, this Good Shepherd has laid down his life for us. Do you consider Jesus to be your Good Shepherd?
Bible.org's commentary on our John 10 readings today titled "The Good Shepherd" is at this link.
Psalms - Today in Psalm 115 verse 1 we will read – “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory.” (Chris Tomlin fans out there will recognize this as one of his many awesome worship tunes. . .) I don’t know how this verse strikes you, but it strikes me hard. Which is good. I think sometimes I do things for my own glory. And this verse, and really the entire Bible, is clear that the glory is God’s and not ours. Yeah, sure, we will live our lives full of “glorious” moments when we are loving God and loving people. But, we should not be living our lives to build up our own fame or our own glory. As Rick Warren states so well in the 1st sentence of the 1st chapter of his book “Purpose Driven Life”- “It is not about you.” And this is true. It is about God. And this is good news! Really. I have tried to live my life in the past where it was all about me. And this was a miserable way to live life. I pray that you see the incredible wisdom in this verse - “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name be the glory.” How are you living your life? Are you living your life to advance the fame and glory of God? Are you doing this by loving God and loving other people with all that you are? Or, are you by chance living your life to advance the fame and glory of yourself? And if so. . . how’s this going for you?
Proverbs - Proverbs 15 verse 19 today teaches us: "A lazy person has trouble all through life; the path of the upright is easy!" This is a great reminder that we should live our lives upright, intentionally, and not be afraid of a little hard work!
Worship Video: Per Psalm 115:1 reflections above, here's Chris Tomlin's beautiful song "Sovereign" live at Red Rocks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVpk-QmISRo
Do you know our sovereign God? Click here for Sovereignty!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "I (Jesus) am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray in thanksgiving to Jesus for laying down his life for you, if you have given your life over in faith to Him. Thank him for being your Good Shepherd! Pray for the lost "sheep" that you know, that they would come to know Jesus as their Good Shepherd.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
1 Samuel 22-23:29
Wow, David had to have been some leader. If I saw these guys coming toward me, I would be running for the “Border.” I know that I’m quick to check out the “character” of those hanging around me and I usually inch away from folks who are the type of people that flocked to David. Rebellious people will usually rebel against you so it would take intense mentoring to guide a group like this.
2 And everyone in distress or in debt or discontented gathered to him, and he became a commander over them. And there were with him about 400 men.
I find it quit interesting that David uses his father’s connection to the Moabites to protect his mother and father. David’s father, Jessie, was the grandson of Ruth (Ruth 4:17). Because David sends his parents to stay in Moab before the Saul has the priest’s killed, David undeniably had a keen understanding of the lengths Saul would go to kill him and his family.
Saul’s promises of special privileges, implied or direct, had been used with his army as a motivational “tool” to get someone to kill Goliath, but Saul seemed to be someone who didn’t or wouldn’t keep his word. In the twenty-second chapter, he uses the carrot again to get people to pursue and fight an ungodly fight, the pursuit of David at all cost,
7 "Listen here, you men of Benjamin!" Saul shouted when he heard the news. "Has David promised you fields and vineyards? Has he promised to make you commanders in his army? 8 Is that why you have conspired against me? For not one of you has ever told me that my own son is on David's side. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son--encouraging David to try and kill me!"
Saul doesn’t appeal to his men’s sense of “righteousness” but he appeals to their emotions by throwing a pity party, a poor me gripe session. If we take this scenario and place it in today’s churches, we can use it as a guide to evaluate appeals by unscrupulous “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” I believe a call to spiritual arms should never be based on emotion and sentiment so an appeal to consider, “Poor me as I suffer for the Lord,” should cause the ringing of bells and blowing of whistles to go off in one’s head. If Israel represented a type of the church then, our churches hold the capacity and potential to be just as ruthless and deadly as Saul. But for God and the fact that David had not served the purpose God had created him for, we would never be reading this wonderful story about David.
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. (Acts 13:36). Our obedience to the will of God is what keeps us alive and if we are not severing our purpose, God’s mercy holds us back from the grave.
John 10:1-21
This chapter is jammed pack with stuff. Jesus is the gate, the gatekeeper, the shepherd, the Good Shepherd. He is the go to guy for all of our needs.
This verse is powerful, “10 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness,” and sets every other belief system at odds with Jesus. Jesus emphatically states that anyone other than He is a crook and a murderer and He is ”intolerant” to anything else. I guess Jesus is a Politically Incorrect man and God.
This passage contains the words that should stop everyone and anyone looking to blame Jesus’ crucifixion on a specific group of people.
17 "The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command."
The writer of Hebrews even states, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (12:2)” What was the joy set before Jesus? Our redemption from sin, death, hell and the grave.
Psalm 115:1-18
Idols are dead things which cannot move, who cannot do anything for us. We have to carry our idols around; well most of the things we worship we must carry around. I find the most damning thing in this particular division of Psalm is verse 8 (my paraphrase) “We become what we worship, we take on the characteristics of the thing we give our adoration too. That is a sobering thought. Flip that thought or statement over and one could say, “I can tell who or what your God is by observing who you are!”
8 And those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.
Who am I, what are the fruit of my worship?
Proverbs 15:18-19
19 A lazy person has trouble all through life; the path of the upright is easy!
This is the first time I’m seeing this in this particular verse, but I know people who have bad things happen to their bad things. And I just realize the ones that I know really well, are lazy. They might not be lazy physically, but they refuse to use common sense in living their lives. They want someone else to tell them what to do because they don’t want to be held accountable for their decisions, “It not my fault I so and so told me to do it this way. They refuse to expend the time and energy to search for wisdom. Wow and boy oh boy or boy. Do I see me in all of this?
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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Saul had totally lost all form of respect for God.He knew Ahimelech heard from the Lord therefore the Lord was still with him yet he had him killed using a gentile.I can't help but wonder how this really happened...did 85 priests just sit and wait for one Edomite to slay them all or did Saul's officials finally decide to join in the slaughter...
I guess this may be a bit controversial...I couldn't help wondering if what happened to the priests came as judgement on the house of Eli and his sons(I couldn't find any scripture to clear me on that one)...The priests seemed godly men and their slaughter by ungodly men does raise the usual questions"why did God let that happen".
We can see David getting encouragement when he's at his lowest;the people he fought to save from the philistines are willing to give him up,each time he looks at Abiathar he remembers that priests got killed because of him,Saul's hot on his heels....then his beloved friend Jonathan comes to remind him that God is still on his side.It's also amazing that Saul stops at nothing to kill David yet when the philistines attack Israel,he turns back even though he's so close to capturing David.God made him do that!Saul was capable of throwing his spear at Jonathan in public because of David,killed innocent priests because of David,surely he couldn't have cared less if all Israel burned down if only he could get David....yet he turned back!
The question still rises up in my mind...what about the priests and their families...slaughtered like sheep.Reading Bob's commentary,I guess when Jesus promises abundant life surely he meant eternal life.Daily we hear of christians killed during missions and it really doesn't go with the prosperity gospel that we hear so much about.True nobody likes to preach about poverty but Jesus became poor so we could be rich...we are called to share in his sufferings.I pray for grace and understanding to be able to God will inspite of the costs.
God bless you all
Anka
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The friendship between David and Jonathan reminds me of the bonds developed by men who have served together on the field of battle. God seems to use this fraternal bond to encourage David in his most desperate time and it causes a son to turn on his father. Just a thought.
Jim
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What is with this ungrateful city of Keilah? David saves them from the Philistines and they show their gratitude by being willing to turn him over to Saul?
Is there some virus floating in the air? Saul is so focused on killing David. Has anyone read A Tale of Three kings? by Gene Edwards? (Good read.)
Anyway, who would have known God would have the Philistines attack at just the right time and to turn Saul's head to that situation? Oftentimes I pray and have it all mapped out about how God should answer my prayers so that the outcome is to my liking, but I need to remember these types of passages, because God always has an "Ace in the hole" or a "trump card" that He can use to bring about His desires. Praise God~
Alrighty then, this good Shepherd story reminds me of when Jesus was talking just the other day about the slave having no rights but family being in solid.
It also reminds me of a story I heard about there being three kinds of people: Sheepdogs, wolves, and sheep. Wolves don't become sheep; sheep cannot be wolves, and the job of the sheepdog is to protect the sheep from the wolves. I am sure you all can draw from the analogy here.
Idols. umm. umm. I guess sheep don't recognize idols. We are not the sharpest pencils on the desk, are we?
Patience. We all know the axiom there, don't we? We all want it but we don't want to go through what it takes to get it.
Sue
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Jim
Amen. I spent six years in the peace time Navy. Most of it on one ship (an aircraft carrier). We worked long hours, fought fires, repaired machinery that couldn't be repaired and formed bonds that I have only seen on some sports teams - (and that does not compare). I can only imagine how more intense the friendships and bonding are during war and when the men are in combat.
Sue: Keilah
Nothing is 100%. take a look at any poll today and no matter the question there will be a split amongst the respondants.
I am sure the city was grateful to David. The Philistines had attacked when the harvest was in, so this was a critical victory. However, no matter how grateful, I am sure Saul had some segment of the city in his camp (corner).
In addition, there is the fear factor. Since a priest had escaped they knew of the slaughter of priests and probably the annihilation of Nob.
"Why would the people of Keliah betray the man who just saved their city? No doubt, they heard of Saul’s brutal massacre of the priests (1 Samuel 22:16-19), so they knew Saul would stop at nothing to kill David." (from enduring word.com)
They did not turn David over to Saul, we only know that if David had stayed God said they would have given David over to Saul. In the end they were spared from Philistines and Saul.
Note: The Ziphites were Judeans, and their sole reason for helping Saul appears to be to get in the good graces of Saul. For benefits or just to avoid his wrath?????
John
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I Samuel 22:1-23:29
There is sooooo much meat in today’s reading, so many things to hone in on yet, I can’t get away from a verse in Proverbs that keeps coming to me over and over again every time I read today’s Old Testament passage,
THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion. [Lev. 26:17, 36; Ps. 53:5.] When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but when the ruler is a man of discernment, understanding, and knowledge, its stability will long continue. (Proverbs 28:1-2 AMP)
I became stuck with this passage and didn’t know why. “God, what does this have to do with the passage? David is the one who is running from Saul; is David “wicked” because he is running; but Saul IS after Him,” what am I missing? “God what are you trying to tell me?”
And then I heard in the middle of the day after “seeking,” knocking,” “asking” about the meaning, “The wicked flee from the face of truth, that is what they are running from!” Never have I looked at those verses in Proverbs as speaking about anything other than one human who is paranoid because of evil deeds fleeing from another. Saul’s pursuit of David was not really about David although David was the object of Saul’s desire. Saul’s pursuit was all about fleeing from the truth that he had been removed from his spiritual authority over Israel and as the spirt goes, there goes the man.
What are we pursuing and are we pursuing it out of our fleeing from the Truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NET.)
I think I was given some insight into why those in Truth are persecuted. It’s really not about us, its all about Jesus.
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" He replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! (Acts 9:4-5 NET.)
Saul hadn’t touched Jesus physically; however, because Jesus was and is the Truth, any assault against those who speak the Truth, love the Truth, live by the Truth is an assault against Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
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It is amazing at all that David has seen and been exposed of in his life and yet we get to have a segway into the experiences and life and passion of the young "king". I liked the verse 14 of I Sam. 23, where it said Day after day Saul searched for him(David), but "God"!, did not give David into his hands. It brings us to todays John verses: chapter 10:17, starting with, "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. (18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
Can't you see the pattern of Davids life and see why he was called a "man after Gods own heart" I Samuel 13:14. Here David was calling unto God for guidance, direction, wisdom, character, instruction, and he was mentoring as well. Here is a man who has left mother, father, sister, brother, (literally) and followed the Lord. Here is a man who would put his life down for a brother in Christ(Jonathon or any of the Israelites and soldiers)..to have that type of endurance and chrisma only comes from the Father above!
In Psalm, 115:12, The LORD remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron..in church last night we did a series on the fruits of the spirit and how to recognize and when did the Holy Spirit come upon us, and it was incredible! In Acts 2:2-4, and suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. God has blessed not only the Jews and Priests and Hebrews, but the Gentiles too! (who once was called the heathen)! We are blessed and are prosperous just as any other, because we have entered into the Kingdom(ship) of Gods dear son, Jesus Christ! The same yesterday, today and forever more! Now I need to take a lesson from Proverbs and not be lazy and get to cleaning!! lol!!
take care, God Bless!!
Dee
I love this verse today: "So Saul quite the chase and returned to fight the Philistines. Ever since that time, the place where David was camped has been called the Rock of Escape."
Also, I love when it says, "Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God." As Christians we are to support and encourage each other. When someone is weak or going through a challenging time, a kind word is needed. One WORD from God can make everything change!
Johnnie
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The whole story of Saul and David reminds of an excellent book I read once and one which my Pastoral team is currently reading called "A Tale Of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards. Its a great book on the different types of leadership and also on the wounding that happens within the body of Christ. Good read...
God bless you all...
Rita
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Verse 9 & 10 from John 10 really stood out me today: "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
Do you consider Jesus to be your Good Shepherd? ~ Yes, Jezus is my Good Shepherd, defenitly! He's the Sheperd to many of us! In our Wednesdaynightservice our pastor talked about lambs, sheep and shepards. First your a lamb, then you become a sheep and finally we become shepherds. Well, of course not a shepherd like Jezus, but to encourage and watch over the lambs and sheep. You're a lamb when you're just reborn, a sheep when you're longer reborn and finally you become a shepherd. Nice thought. That's how we encourage eachother and watch over eachother, we ... children of our Heavenly Father.
Mae
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I,too, in the past have relied more on myself and less on God. That didn't work out too well. Like Pastor Warren says, "It's not about you."
That said, aren't I giving myself too much credit? Yes, its an example of humbleness to confess my self-centerness of the past. But what about today? Have I learned from my misdeeds? Have I repented? Do I still have that self-love, self-reliance about myself and come begging to God when all else fails? Certainly I know myself in this matter and I cannot hide today's failings from either myself or from God.
It is said that a man walking down the street here in America that somehow gets a small stone in his shoe...this presents to him a larger, more immediate problem than all of the combined problems of the world.
Holy Father, I am a sinner. I continue to sin while studying your Word. I continue to sin even after being shown the correct Path. Let me not say that my sins are in the past. Rather, help me with my weakness as I sincerely desire your presence and care.
Love,
Art
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With all the ups and downs and turnarounds in David's life, I see him as a "King in Training." God is in control.
Janice
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Yes, interesting that malcontents and those in debt gathered with David in the cave of Adullam (not the righteous and super godly). In this cave, David seems to regain his bearings and begin to inquire to God. In this cave, the outcasts of society gathered and were transformed. Many of those that gathered here became David's mighty men. Are you in a dark place, rejected, outcast, pursued? Turn to Jesus and He will turn you into "mighty men".
Charles
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Psalm 115
Mike thanks for mentioning Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life”. Our church did this study some years ago and the book lends itself well for bible study. In fact I used it as a guide in teaching a group of 25 young men in Liberia, West Africa in 2004. Instead of using the prescribed 40 days, I condensed it into 4 days. Worked fine! One thing I really liked was the questions that are brought up and the flexibility of any age group that can use it. Excellent biblical references too. The one thing I would stress is the most important point made in the book which fits nicely into Psalm 115 and that is the question of why was I created? As Rick says, “What on Earth Am I here For?” Rick hits this at all sort of angles and does a fantastic job of bring out all your attributes. It really is about giving glory to God. The most important way to do this is servant hood. To think of how to serve God, in every way you live.
Robert