…………………………………………………………..
The opening verses introduce us to Hannah, one of
the loveliest characters in the Word of God.
She is an example not only to mothers but to God’s people, whoever they
might be.
1 Samuel 1:1: Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of
mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,
the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2: And he had two wives; the name of the one was
Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but
Hannah had no children.
3: And this man went up out of his city yearly to
worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. HER
SORROW
4: And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave
to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy
portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6: And her adversary also provoked her
sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
When we first meet Hannah she is grief-stricken
indeed. For three reasons …
(a) National
Unrighteousness. These are the days of the
Judges. Sin abounds. And even the priests, Hophni and Phineas,
are described as “wicked men” (2:12, 17).
Interestingly enough, the wickedness of these
ministers of the Lord did not prevent Elkanah (Hannah’s husband) and the family
from attending the place of worship at Shiloh!! (v. 4). God had commanded such attendance
(Deuteronomy 16:16) … so they went!
(b) Her
own Childlessness. And in that culture, to be
childless carried a certain stigma. She
longed for a son.
(c) Peninnah’s
Heartlessness. Peninnah was Elkanah’s other
wife (v. 2). And she had sons and
daughters! (v. 4.)
Polygamy was not forbidden under the Mosaic
Law. Nevertheless it was not God’s
original intention. And the history of
polygamy, as revealed in Scripture, indicates that so often it leads to
jealousy, resentment and strife.
Abraham, Jacob and David all found it to be so.
Even in our day we have heard of those with a warped
theology who accuse the sick or childless of being ‘a great sinner’ and under
God’s displeasure (v. 6).
2. HER
SUPPLICATION
Oh, what peace we often
forfeit,
Oh, what needless pains we
bear;
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.
Hannah knew where to go with her problem. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He
shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22).
7: And as he did so year by year, when she went up to
the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not
eat.
8: Then said Elkanah her husband to her,
Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved?
am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9: So Hannah rose up after they had eaten
in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post
of the temple of the LORD.
10: And she was in bitterness of soul,
and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11: And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD
of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and
remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a
man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and
there shall no rasor come upon his head.
12: And it came to pass, as she continued
praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13: Now Hannah, she spake in her heart;
only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had
been drunken.
(a) Her
Prayer was SPECIFIC. She asks the Lord for a son
(v. 11).
(b) Her
Prayer was SINCERE. There is no flippancy about
it.
She will give her son back to the Lord when he is
born!! (v. 11.)
(c) Her
Prayer was SILENT. Her lips move … but no sound
(v. 12).
The God who sees the heart hears Hannah’s unspoken
prayer.
This, of course, is private prayer … sometimes
believers join together to pray and then it is good to voice our requests and
thanksgiving that others might add a hearty “Amen!”
Skinner’s translation has it that Eli thought that
Hannah was ‘tipsy’!! (v. 13.)
(d) Her
Prayer was SUCCESSFUL!! Samuel is born! (v. 20.)
3. HER
SONG
Her sorrow has given way to singing (2:1-10).
She praises God for what He has done.
1 Samuel 2:: 1: And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart
rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged
over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2: There is none holy as the LORD: for
there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3: Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let
not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and
by him actions are weighed.
4: The bows of the mighty men are broken,
and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5: They that were full have hired out
themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath
born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6: The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he
bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7: The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:
he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8: He raiseth up the poor out of the
dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes,
and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are
the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
9: He will keep the feet of his saints,
and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man
prevail.
10: The adversaries of the LORD shall be
broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall
judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and
exalt the horn of his anointed.
(a) THE
LORD is her DELIVERER (vs. 1-2).
(b) The
Enemy is Silenced!! (v. 3).
(c) THE
LORD is ALL-KNOWING (v. 3b).
(d) The
Enemy is Defeated (vs. 4-5).
(e) THE
LORD is ALL-POWERFUL (vs. 6-9).
He is
able to alter one’s situation in life.
(f) The
Enemy is Doomed (v. 9b).
(g) THE
LORD is ENTHRONED (v. 10).
This verse seems to look
beyond the kingship of David (whom Hannah’s son will anoint) to the Lord Jesus
(Psalm 2:6-7).
============================================================
…………………………………………………………………………..
Samuel grows up in the precincts of the Tabernacle
at Shiloh. It is now a more permanent building
… the days of carrying it around the wilderness are long past.
He trims the wicks of the lamp … he runs errands for
old Eli, the High Priest … he closes the ‘door’ at night … he picks up pieces
of rubbish that may be scattered around …
And he looks forward to his parents’ annual
visit. And especially the coat … a
priestly garment … that his mother brings him each year.
Samuel is not descended from Aaron … but God will
use him in priestly duties whilst there is none other fit to occupy that position.
2:18: But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child,
girded with a linen ephod.
19: Moreover his mother made him a little
coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her
husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20: And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife,
and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to
the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21: And the LORD visited Hannah, so that
she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew
before the LORD.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH HE LIVED
2:12: Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew
not the LORD.
13: And the priests' custom with the
people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came,
while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14: And he struck it into the pan, or
kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took
for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15: Also before they burnt the fat, the
priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast
for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16: And if any man said unto him, Let
them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul
desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if
not, I will take it by force.
17: Wherefore the sin of the young men
was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
It was far from conducive to spiritual growth. For Eli was old and nearly blind. And his two sons, Hophni and Phineas, were
evil men. They robbed the worshippers
of their rightful portion of the sacrifices they brought (2:12-14), and they
showed a blatant disregard for the Lord Himself … taking even that which was to
be offered to Him (vs. 15-17).
Furthermore, we are told that they indulged in
immoral activities with their female assistants (2:22).
One is tempted to say that some of the Popes during
the Dark Ages, despite their claim to be the successor of St Peter, were really
successors of Hophni and Phineas!!
What kept Samuel safe from the ungodliness that
surrounded him? The answer is
obvious. Elkanah and Hannah are truly
the Lord’s people and Samuel is ever in their prayers.
And it was a rare thing for God to reveal Himself to
anyone in those days (3:1). However, He
does raise up an unnamed prophet to rebuke the house of Eli (2:27-36).
2:27: And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto
him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father,
when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28: And did I choose him out of all the
tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to
wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the
offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and
at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy
sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of
Israel my people?
30: Wherefore the LORD God of Israel
saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk
before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that
honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31: Behold, the days come, that I will
cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be
an old man in thine house.
32: And thou shalt see an enemy in my
habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not
be an old man in thine house for ever.
33: And the man of thine, whom I shall
not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve
thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of
their age.
34: And this shall be a sign unto thee,
that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they
shall die both of them.
35: And I will raise me up a faithful
priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind:
and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for
ever.
36: And it shall come to pass, that every
one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of
silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of
the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
In contrast to the wicked priests … the sons of Eli
… God will raise up ‘a faithful priest’ to walk before ‘His anointed’ (v.
35). Some commentators see this
fulfilled by Samuel; others suggest the
reference is to Zadok, High Priest in the days of Solomon.
2. THE
CALL HE RECEIVED
In the opening verses of chapter 3 we have a word
picture that represents the spiritual darkness …
·
It
is night (v. 2).
·
The
High Priest is going blind (v. 2).
·
The
lamp is going out (v. 3).
And even young Samuel … despite godly parents, still
does not know the Lord personally (v. 8).
Then comes the Voice of God … “Samuel, Samuel!” …
the same voice that later was to say “Martha, Martha” and “Simon, Simon”.
Three times the little fellow hears the voice and
mistakes it for Eli. Eventually the old
priest realises what is happening and bids Samuel reply (vs. 9-10).
3: 1: And the child Samuel ministered unto
the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there
was no open vision.
2: And it came to pass at that time, when
Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could
not see;
3: And ere the lamp of God went out in
the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to
sleep;
4: That the LORD called Samuel: and he
answered, Here am I.
5: And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am
I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went
and lay down.
6: And the LORD called yet again, Samuel.
And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me.
And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7: Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD,
neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8: And the LORD called Samuel again the
third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst
call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9: Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go,
lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD;
for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10: And the LORD came, and stood, and
called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy
servant heareth.
Rev. J.D. Burns based his lovely children’s hymn on
this passage of Scripture :
Hushed was the evening hymn,
The temple courts were dark;
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark:
When suddenly a voice divine
Rang through the silence of
the shrine.
Oh, give me Samuel’s ear –
The open ear, O Lord!
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy word;
Like him to answer at Thy
call,
And to obey Thee first of
all.
3. THE
MESSAGE HE DELIVERED
Here is Samuel’s terrible sermon … not ‘terrible’ in
its delivery, but in its content.
It is a message of judgment, again … as had been given by the unnamed prophet, upon the house of Eli.
3: 12: In that day I will perform against
Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will
also make an end.
13: For I have told him that I will judge
his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made
themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14: And therefore I have sworn unto the
house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with
sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15: And Samuel lay until the morning, and
opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the
vision.
This is the message that the boy preacher faithfully
delivers (vs. 12-14).
Eli submits to God’s Word (v. 18).
The implication of verse 14 s that Hophni and Phineas
had sinned away their day of grace.
Their day of salvation was past.
But Samuel
continues to grow … physically and spiritually … ready to lead this wayward
nation back to their God (vs. 19-21).
============================================================
Not Noah’s Ark … nor the ark that floated on the
River Nile as a refuge for baby Moses.
But the Ark of the Covenant … the most sacred of the Tabernacle
furniture.
In this gold-covered box were the two tablets of
stone engraved with the Ten Commandments.
It was on the golden lid (called the Mercy Seat) the Shekinah cloud
rested. This Ark alone was the only
furniture in the Holy of Holies … it symbolized the very presence of God in the
midst of Israel.
But it is about to be stolen!!
4: 1: And the word of Samuel came to all
Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched
beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.
2: And the Philistines put themselves in
array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before
the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand
men.
3: And when the people were come into the
camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day
before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of
Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand
of our enemies.
4: So the people sent to Shiloh, that
they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts,
which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and
Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5: And when the ark of the covenant of
the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the
earth rang again.
6: And when the Philistines heard the
noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in
the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come
into the camp.
7: And the Philistines were afraid, for
they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there
hath not been such a thing heretofore.
8: Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out
of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians
with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9: Be strong, and quit yourselves like
men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have
been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
10: And the Philistines fought, and
Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very
great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11: And the ark of God was taken; and the
two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
(a) The
Foe. The armies of Israel now join battle with
the Philistines. These people are
descended from Noah’s son, Ham … and are idolaters (Judges 10:6-7). They inhabit the coastal plain … and have
five major cities: Gaza, Gath, Ashdod,
Ekron and Askelon.
(b) The
Flight …
v. 2. Israel is defeated. The number “4,000” may not be an accurate
translation.
(c) The
Folly …
vs. 3-5. Israel decides to remove the
Ark from the Tabernacle at Shiloh to the battlefield. Heathen nations often took their idols with them into battle (1
Chronicles 14:12).
But without Divine sanction, and led by an apostate
priesthood, Hophni and Phineas, the Ark is removed to Ebenezer.
(d) The
Fear. The Philistines quake with fear … they
recall the greatness of Israel’s God over the Egyptians (vs. 6-9).
(e) The
Flight …
v. 10. Again a battle takes place … and
again the Philistines are victorious!
The Israelites flee.
(f) The
Fate …
·
of the Ark. It is stolen by the enemy (v.
11a).
·
of Hophni and Phineas. They both
die the same day as the unnamed prophet had foretold (1 Samuel 2:34; 4:11b).
·
of Eli. Hearing news of Israel’s
defeat, his sons’ deaths, and the capture of the Ark, Eli has a stroke (?) and
dies (vs. 12-18).
·
of Israel. The wife of Phineas gives
birth to a child and names him Ichabod … “The Glory has departed” (v. 22).
4: 18: And it came to pass, when he made
mention of the ark of God, that he ( Eli)
fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck
brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel
forty years.
19: And his daughter in law, Phinehas'
wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that
the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead,
she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
20: And about the time of her death the
women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But
she answered not, neither did she regard it.
21: And she named the child I-chabod,
saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken,
and because of her father in law and her husband.
22: And she said, The glory is departed
from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.
·
Of Shiloh. The Ark, when eventually
regained by Israel, is not returned to Shiloh.
It stays for 20 years at Kirjath-jearim. Why? Because archaeology
reveals the destruction of Shiloh by the Philistines had taken place at this
time!
Five hundred years later
Jeremiah points to the ruins of Shiloh as an object lesson for a disobedient
Jerusalem (Jeremiah 7:8-12).
* * * * * * * * * *
Now this dreadful story can well be described as a
classic example of MISPLACED FAITH.
The Israelites were trusting the Ark of God to save
them (“it”, v. 3), instead of the God of the Ark!!
And thousands of folk commit the same folly today!
1. There are those who trust in
the Stars of God … instead of the God of the Stars. Astrology is continually condemned
throughout the Bible. It is a pagan,
superstitious practice (Isaiah 47:11-14).
Notice, also, the prophet’s satirical advice to his
ungodly fellow-countrymen.
Not just Astrology, but all occult practices, are
“an abomination” in God’s sight (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
2. And there are those who even
trust the Church of God to save them … instead of the God of the Church.
Many cultists consider themselves saved because they
belong (so they are told) to the “one true church”.
3. Others may trust the Sacraments
of God … instead of the God of the sacraments. The water of baptism does not make one ‘regenerate’ … as the
Anglican Prayer-Book says! And as the
Roman Catholic Church teaches.
We do not put our faith in the symbol (as Israel
did) but in the Reality. Nor does partaking of the Mass … the bread and the
wine … merit salvation.
4. Some may
even trust the Book of God … rather than the God the Book. That is not to denigrate the Bible. We can believe it implicitly … it is the
Word of God in a unique sense. But just
knowing the Bible inside out does not save.
We need to come to the One of whom it tells.
Look at what the Lord Jesus said to the religious
authorities of His day …
“You study the Scriptures, because you think that in
them you will find eternal life. And
these very Scriptures speak about Me!
Yet you are not willing to come to Me in order to have life.” (John 5:39-40).
5. Salvation
is to be found in the Lord Jesus. He is
the Way, the Truth and the Life … no-one comes to the Father except by Him
(John 14:6).
The God of the Stars, and the Church, and the
Sacraments, and the Bible is waiting to receive the sinner … with open arms …
if they come by way of the Cross.
Beware of a misplaced faith!!
============================================================
………………………………………………………………………
We left our little ones at
home,
And went a way we did not
know;
We for the nation’s good did
roam …
And lost our lives in doing
so.
We travelled by a perfect
road
With all the wicked full in
view;
We lived to man, we died to
God,
But of religion nothing
knew.
All of which leads us to our further study in the
Adventures of the Ark of the Covenant.
* * * * * * * *
1. THE
ARK IN THE CITIES OF PHILISTIA … 5:1-6:9
5: 1: And the Philistines took the ark of
God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.
2: When the Philistines took the ark of
God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.
3: And when they of Ashdod arose early on
the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark
of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.
4: And when they arose early on the
morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the
ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut
off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
5: Therefore neither the priests of
Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in
Ashdod unto this day.
6: But the hand of the LORD was heavy
upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even
Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
7: And when the men of Ashdod saw that it
was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for
his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
8: They sent therefore and gathered all
the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark
of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be
carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about
thither.
9: And it was so, that, after they had
carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great
destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they
had emerods in their secret parts.
10: Therefore they sent the ark of God to
Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us,
to slay us and our people.
It is taken from the battlefield … to Ashdod
… and placed in the Temple of Dagon.
Older commentators considered Dagon to be part man and part fish … today
the majority suggest that he was a corn-god.
The next morning the idol of Dagon has fallen (v. 3)
(“Slain in the Spirit”?) And again the
next day.
Worse was to follow. The inhabitants of Ashdod are smitten with tumors (v. 6).
So the Ark is sent of Gath … another of the
five major Philistine cities (v. 8).
Again the Lord sends a plague of tumors.
So the Ark is sent to Ekron … much to the
dismay of the folk who lived there (v. 10).
After 7 months the decision is made to send the Ark
back to Israel.
But was the theft of the Ark responsible for their
afflictions, they wondered, or was it all coincidence? They propose a test (6:7-9).
6:1: And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the
Philistines seven months.
2: And the Philistines called for the
priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell
us wherewith we shall send it to his place.
3: And they said, If ye send away the ark
of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass
offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is
not removed from you.
4: Then said they, What shall be the
trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden
emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the
Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.
5: Wherefore ye shall make images of your
emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory
unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and
from off your gods, and from off your land.
6: Wherefore then do ye harden your
hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought
wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
7: Now therefore make a new cart, and
take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the
cart, and bring their calves home from them:
8: And take the ark of the LORD, and lay
it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a
trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it
may go.
9: And see, if it goeth up by the way of
his own coast to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if
not, then we shall know that is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance
that happened to us.
The Philistines are about to discover that the God
of Israel did indeed send the plagues and cause Dagon to topple. His glory He will not share with
another! (Isaiah 42:8).
2. THE
ARK ON THE ROAD TO BETH-SHEMESH … 6:10-18
6: 10: And the men did so; and took two
milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:
11: And they laid the ark of the LORD
upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their
emerods.
12: And the kine took the straight way to
the way of Beth-shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and
turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the
Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh.
13: And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping
their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the
ark, and rejoiced to see it.
14: And the cart came into the field of
Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and
they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the
LORD.
15: And the Levites took down the ark of
the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and
put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt
offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.
16: And when the five lords of the
Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
17: And these are the golden emerods
which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for
Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;
18: And the golden mice, according to the
number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both
of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel,
whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day
in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite.
These two cows are an object lesson for us today!
(a) They
are separated from their loved ones ... vs. 10-11.
“Milch cows” means that they were still nursing
their young. And the “images” of the
rats and the tumors was done as an offering to Israel’s God to appease
Him. The ‘golden rats’ (or mice)
suggest that the plague of tumors had been brought about by a plague of rats.
Now the natural thing for the cows to do is return
to their calves. The supernatural thing
to do is head for Israel. And that will
be a sure sign to the Philistines that Jehovah was responsible for their
plight.
(b) The
cows are obedient … v. 12.
They take the straight way. And they do not deviate from it…
(c) The
cows are sacrificed at their journey’s end … vs. 14-15
Down through the history of the Christian church
there have been heroic souls who heard God’s call and went forth to some
distant land … never to see their loved ones again.
And to die in the place of God’s appointment.
Read the stories of Henry Martyn … or David Brainerd
… or James Hannington … or Ann Judson.
Yet that is the kind of response the Lord desires
from all who follow Him. “If Jesus
Christ be God, and died for me: then no
sacrifice that I can make can be too great to make for Him” (C.T. Studd.)
3. THE
ARK IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL
(a) At
Beth-shemesh … vs. 19-20.
6:19: And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they
had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand
and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had
smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
20: And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to
stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
21: And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of
Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD;
come ye down, and fetch it up to you.
Unholy eyes peer into God’s Ark. The Mosaic Law pronounced the death penalty
on any who touched the Ark (Numbers 4:17-19).
Only the High Priest would gaze upon it but once a
year … and then “not without blood” (Hebrews 9:7).
The number smitten as given in the K.J.V. is not
accurate. (The translation of numbers
in the Old Testament is a continual problem).
Modern translations usually give the number slain as “70”. Beth-shemesh was a small village with a
population less than one thousand. It
is not logical to suggest 50,070 were put to death! (v. 19.) The error is not in the writing of the
original author, but the translators.
(b) At
Kirjath-jearim … 7:1-2
1: And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up
the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and
sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2: And it came to pass, while the ark
abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and
all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
So for the next 20 years the Ark of God was kept in
the house of Abinadab at Kirjath-jearim. And God’s blessing rested upon that
godly man.
Paul writes of “the goodness and severity of God”
(Romans 11:22). To the righteous He is
a refuge and a Fortress … but to the wicked, “Who is able to stand in His
presence?” (1 Samuel 6:20).
* * * * * * * * * *
Now read the opening poem at the beginning of this
study again!!
============================================================
Chapters 7 - 8
………………………………………………………………
The Ark of the Covenant has been returned to Israel
after 7 months in Philistia … and it finds its resting place in Kirjath-jearim.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. ABINADAB
AND HIS HOSPITALITY … 7:1-2
1: And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up
the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and
sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
2: And it came to pass, while the ark
abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and
all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
Do you think Abinadab put the Ark in the
cellar? Or the attic? Or gave it pride of place in his home?
And when the God of the Ark comes to dwell with us …
do we give Him pride of place in our lives … our home … or lock Him in the
Sunday room and let Him out once a week?
2. ISRAEL
AND ITS IDOLATRY … vs. 3-4
7:3: And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel,
saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the
strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the
LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the
Philistines.
4: Then the children of Israel did put
away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
(a) The
Condemnation … Samuel lashes out against the idolatry of God’s
people. The worship of pagan idols was
linked with all kinds of depravity. And
Israel’s God demanded holy living.
(b) The
Contact …
whilst idols are but lifeless pieces of wood or stone, the New Testament
teaches that those who engage in such practices are in contact with the demons
behind idolatrous worship!! See 1
Corinthians 10:18-21!!
(c) The Continuance … that is, even in our society there are people who ‘worship’ other gods. For some it is Mammon (money!); for some it is Astrology; for some it is Sport … or Pleasure … of Self. (Sport, of course, is not wrong in itself … unless it becomes the dominating thing in one’s life.)
(d) The
Cleansing … Israel puts away its ‘gods’ (v. 4).
3. SAMUEL
AND HIS MINISTRY
He leads the nation in a spiritual awakening. Sacrifices are offered. The Lord fights for Israel against their
enemies and gives them victory and peace.
Territory once captured by the Philistines is now reclaimed. The memorial stone, “Ebenezer” (v. 12) is
erected (it means, “Hitherto the Lord has helped us!”).
7:12: Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh
and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD
helped us.
But … Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abijah, turn out to be
worthless fellows. Despite his prayers
for them, they turn from God and live ungodly lives (8:1-3).
8:1: And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he
made his sons judges over Israel.
2: Now the name of his firstborn was
Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3: And his sons walked not in his ways,
but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
The Lord had given them a ‘free will’ and they chose
(as everybody can!) to reject the God of their parents!! (Ezekiel 18:1-4).
4. JEHOVAH
AND HIS ACTIVITY … 8:5-21
8:5: And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons
walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6: But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give
us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7: And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice
of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee,
but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
8: According to all the works which they have done since
the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they
have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9: Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet
protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall
reign over them.
10: And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the
people that asked of him a king.
11: And he said, This will be the manner of the king that
shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for
his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
12: And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and
captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his
harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
13: And he will take your daughters to be
confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14: And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and
your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15: And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your
vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16: And he will take your menservants, and your
maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his
work.
17: He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be
his servants.
18: And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king
which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
19: Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of
Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
20: That we also may be like all the nations; and that
our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
21: And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he
rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
22: And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their
voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye
every man unto his city.
Some years have passed. Israel is again drifting into disobedience.
(a) Israel’s
Request …
they want a king “like the other nations” (8:5, 20).
(b) Samuel’s
Rebuke … he
tells them that God is their King … and a human king will lead to taxation …
and bloodshed (vs. 11ff).But they persist in their cry … for a king.
(c) Jehovah’s
Response … “Give them a king, Samuel, and I’ll teach them a lesson the hard way!!
(v. 22). Here is a case of answered
prayer … unfortunately!! (Psalm
106:15!)
============================================================
Chapter 9
……………………………………………………………………………………
Thus it is that we meet Saul … described by one
writer as the “most pathetic character in the gallery of Old Testament
men.”
He who is destined to become Israel’s first king
begins so well … and ends so badly. He
is from a wealthy family (“power”, v. 1 = “wealth”) … and he is from the
favoured tribe … he is handsome (goodly) in appearance … and taller than his
fellows. God will equip him with His
Holy Spirit to lead the nation … but Saul in the next 40 years will end
up a suicide on the battlefield of Gilboa.
Down … down … down is his spiritual pilgrimage. And
it is a warning to us.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. SAUL’S
QUEST
9:1: Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was
Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of
Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2: And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice
young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a
goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any
of the people.
3: And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And
Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise,
go seek the asses.
4: And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed
through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through
the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of
the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5: And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul
said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father
leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6: And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this
city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely
to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we
should go.
7: Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we
go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and
there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
We first meet him seeking ‘lost asses’. Unclean animals. It could be there is a spiritual picture here … the search of an
unsaved person for that which will never satisfy.
It is a reminder that life outside of God’s plan is
aimless, useless, empty. Lost asses.
Notice also that it is the servant who suggest they
consult Samuel (v. 6).
Surely Saul knew that Ramah was the hometown of
God’s prophet…? Apparently not!
And he thinks he will have to pay God’s
representative (v. 7).
And when he eventually meets Samuel he does not
recognise him (vs. 18-19). Despite the
fact that Samuel has been all over Israel as judge and teacher of God’s laws (1
Samuel 7:15-17 indicates that Samuel was well-known throughout this area … but
not by Saul. One does not get the
impression that Saul is spiritually inclined … and as the story of his life
continues we will find our suspicions justified.
2. SAUL’S
ENCOUNTER
He is guided to Samuel by some maidens (vs.
11-12). They tell him that Samuel is at
the place of sacrifice!
9: 11: And as they went up the hill to the
city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is
the seer here?
12: And they answered them, and said, He
is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city;
for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
What a delightful illustration of the Gospel… The aimless sinner, without real purpose in
his life, suddenly finds God’s Prophet, at the place of Sacrifice. That’s what every unsaved sinner needs to do
… to come to Calvary!
3. SAUL’S
CALL TO KINGSHIP
9: 21: And Saul answered and said, Am not I
a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least
of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so
to me?
22: And Samuel took Saul and his servant,
and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place
among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23: And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring
the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24: And the cook took up the shoulder,
and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold
that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it
been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat
with Samuel that day.
25: And when they were come down from the
high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
26: And they arose early: and it came to
pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the
house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out
both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
27: And as they were going down to the
end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and
he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of
God.
(a) There
is a Confession of unworthiness on the part of Saul … v. 21.
(b) And
they Feast together … vs. 22, 24.
Thus it is our Lord Jesus invites those who come to
Him, conscious of their sin, and trusting Him as Saviour, to “Come and Dine” at
the Gospel feast.
And it costs nothing! (Isaiah 55:11.)
(c) They
Fellowshipped together … v. 25.
(d) They
Walked together … v. 27.
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His
own!
(e) He
reveals God’s will to me … v. 27.
By His Holy Spirit the Word of God is opened to our
once blinded understanding.
(f) Saul
is Anointed … and throughout the Scriptures this act is an illustration of the Holy
Spirit being poured out upon the believer to equip him … or her … for service
(10:1).
(g) And in a subsequent study we
will see Saul anointed as king … and that, too, fits our
analogy. For we are called to “reign
with Him” … to be “kings and priests” unto our God (2 Timothy 2:12).
Even now the apostle describes us as … in
God’s sight … “seated in the heavenlies” because we are ‘in Christ’ … and
that’s where He is!! (Ephesians 1:3).
* * * * * * * * * *
Those young maidens who pointed Saul and his servant
to God’s representative are surely a picture of those who already know
Him! And it is our task to point others
to Him.
Hannah’s song has been well illustrated in this
chapter …
“He … lifteth up the beggar from the dung-hill … to
set him among princes … and to make him inherit the throne of glory!” (1 Samuel 2:8.)
============================================================
Chapter 10
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
In 1 Samuel 10:1 we have Samuel anointing Saul in
private … in Ramah.
Now we come to the public announcement of Saul’s
kingship at Mizpah (10:17) … and in 11:15 the actual coronation takes place at
Gilgal.
……………………………………..
In chapter 10 Saul is returning home to Gibeah … and
the things Samuel has told him are about to come true. These were not arbitrary but each of the
three events taught Saul a lesson that he must learn if he is to be a faithful
king.
Sign 1 He
will meet folk who tell him the asses have been found.
Sign 2 He
will meet three men who give him two loaves of bread!
Sign 3 He will meet a company of prophets … and join them in their
praises!! (vs. 2-6).
10:1: Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon
his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed
thee to be captain over his inheritance?
2: When thou art departed from me to day,
then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at
Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are
found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for
you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
3: Then shalt thou go on forward from
thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee
three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another
carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
4: And they will salute thee, and give thee
two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
5: After that thou shalt come to the hill
of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass,
when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of
prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a
pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
6: And the Spirit of the LORD will come
upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another
man.
Sign 1 taught Saul that he could trust God’s
Word! What God says … He will do! If God’s prophet said the asses had been
found … then the asses had been found!
Sign 2 taught Saul that the Lord
was able to meet his material needs.
They had no money nor food (9:7) … but God is able to
provide for those who trust Him …
AND MY GOD WILL LIBERALLY SUPPLY YOUR EVERY NEED
ACCORDING TO
HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS.
(Philippians 4:19)
Sign 3 taught Saul that God would enable him and
equip him to be a godly ruler.
“God gave him another heart!” (10:9). The Spirit of God came upon him that he
spoke ecstatically! It was like a
Pentecostal revival meeting!! (v. 10).
The First Sign taught Saul to rely upon the Promises
of God’s Word … the Second to rely upon the Provisions from God’s Hand
… and the Third to rely upon the Power of God’s Spirit!!
Now, in verses 14-17 we have the three reactions to
his appointment as king over Israel…
1. THE
REACTION OF THE TOWNSFOLK … vs. 10-13
10:10: And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a
company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he
prophesied among them.
11: And it came to pass, when all that
knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then
the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish?
Is Saul also among the prophets?
12: And one of the same place answered
and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also
among the prophets?
13: And when he had made an end of
prophesying, he came to the high place.
It was such a shock to those who had known him
before he went looking for the lost asses that they couldn’t believe their eyes
… and ears. Saul praising God!! This
fellow who had previously shown no interest in spiritual things … all of a
sudden is singin’ and shoutin’ and prayin’ and praisin’ …
The townsfolk make up a proverb … “Is Saul among the
prophets” … which is something like … “You mean HE’S got religion!!”
2. THE
REACTION OF SAUL
14: And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant,
Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were
no where, we came to Samuel.
15: And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I
pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
16: And Saul said unto his uncle, He told
us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof
Samuel spake, he told him not.
17: And Samuel called the people together
unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
18: And said unto the children of Israel,
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and
delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all
kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
19: And ye have this day rejected your
God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations;
and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present
yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
20: And when Samuel had caused all the
tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
21: When he had caused the tribe of
Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and
Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be
found.
22: Therefore they inquired of the LORD
further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he
hath hid himself among the stuff.
The king is chosen in the presence of the nation at Mizpah apparently by means of the Urim and Thummim (Numbers 27:21). That’s how they “enquired of the Lord” in those days (v. 22).
But when Saul is chosen (thus confirming the
previous anointing, v. 1) in the presence of all, he cannot be found! (v.
22). He is hiding among the stuff …
that is: among the baggage!
Some folk are frightened of what the Lord is calling
them to perform … and they seek to hide among the things of this world. Even good things … but things that hinder
them from receiving God’s best.
Saul is fearful of this responsibility to which the
Lord has called him … and of his own family (vs. 14-16). He feels inadequate for the task (READ 1
Samuel 15:17).
But God has equipped him for the task … and all will
be well, IF Saul continues to walk with Him.
3. THE
REACTION OF THE NATION
10:23: And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he
stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders
and upward.
24: And Samuel said to all the people,
See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the
people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
25: Then Samuel told the people the
manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD.
And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
26: And Saul also went home to Gibeah;
and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
27: But the children of Belial said, How
shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But
he held his peace.
Saul finds himself with godly friends … another clue as to the genuineness of his conversion. And wicked men … “children of Belial … like Hophni and Phineas” (v. 27; 1 Samuel 2:12) despise him.
Thus it was with another King of Israel … some love
Him and some reject. In which group are
you?
============================================================
Chapter 11
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“Then Nahash the Ammonite
came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead:
and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and
we will serve thee. And Nahash the
Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that
I thrust out all your right eyes” (11:1-2).
Jabesh-gilead is an Israelite village in the tribe
of Gad … east of the Jordan River.
The Ammonites attack … and the Israelites are faced
with a decision. Surrender, become
slaves to the Ammonites … minus their right eyes! … or get massacred.
They ask for a week’s grace to decide (v. 3), and
during that time they send messengers across Jordan to see if anyone can
help! When Saul, at Gibeah, hears the
news he becomes righteously angry and enlists the men of Israel, in less than a
week, to defend Jabesh-gilead.
3: And the elders of Jabesh said unto
him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the
coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to
thee.
The thousands of Israel’s fighting men divide into
three companies and catch the Ammonites unaware (v. 11). A mighty victory is
thus wrought at the outset of Saul’s leadership over God’s people.
Immediately the coronation takes place at Gilgal (v.
15).
11:11: And it was so on the
morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the
midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat
of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so
that two of them were not left together.
12:
And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us?
bring the men, that we may put them to death.
13:
And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the
LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
14:
Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the
kingdom there.
15:
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the
LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before
the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. A
LESSON IN METHODOLOGY
To rally the Israelites to fight against Nahash,
Saul used shock tactics. He slew 2
oxen, chopped ’em up and gave a piece to each messenger (vs. 6-7).
11: 6: And the Spirit of God came upon Saul
when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7: And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed
them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands
of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel,
so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people,
and they came out with one consent.
This was a visual aid with a vengeance!! The sight of the gory meat … “This is what’s
in store for you too.” ’Cos Nahash will
not stop at Jabesh … he’ll come to your town!
Let’s stop him NOW!! And the
dangling meat in the messenger’s hand reinforced the fact!
Whilst the MESSAGE of the Gospel remains unchanged,
yet the METHODS of presenting it may be adapted to those addressed. Any legitimate method may be used to
reinforce the gospel truths.
And the eye registers and remembers more than the
ear. Let’s use visual aids!!
2. A
LESSON IN UNIFORMITY
Like the Apostolic church, these folk were of “one accord” (Acts 1:14, 2:1, etc). There is strength in unity.
But NOT when that unity is at the expense of
truth. The people of God did not join
forces with the Philistines or Canaanites or Moabites against Nahash and his
warriors. We are not to “yoke together
with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14).
The early Christians were united … “in the apostles’
doctrine!” (Acts 2:42).
3. A
LESSON IN SOTERIOLOGY (i.e. the Doctrine of Salvation)
Here again is a lovely illustration of what the Lord
Jesus has done for us. The Old
Testament abounds in such.
(a) The
Serpent and His Intent. Nahash is a picture of the
Devil. He is out to destroy (1 Peter
5:8) and blind (2 Corinthians 4:4). The
very name ‘Nahash’ means ‘Serpent’!
(b) The
Saviour and His Enthronement. The
illustration breaks down! For Saul was
assisted in his victory over the Ammonites by thousands of warriors. Jesus defeated Satan ALONE … at least,
initially. He calls us to continue the
battle today.
After the victory Saul was crowned king. And after Calvary, where Satan was defeated,
the Lord Jesus arose triumphant to take His seat at the right hand of God the
Father.
And to Him we give our allegiance!
============================================================
Chapter 12
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
As Samuel lays down his role of leadership in the
nation and hands over the reins to the newly appointed king … he gives his
great farewell address.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
PROPHET HE TYPIFIED
Moses had promised that when the Israelites crossed
into the Promised Land, the Lord would raise up a Prophet (Deuteronomy
18:14-15).
This was partially fulfilled by Samuel and those
prophets who followed him … but in the New Testament we see that it was also a
prophecy of the Lord Jesus … He was THE Prophet!! See Acts 3:17-26.
Samuel was also a priest, 2:18 and 2:35.
And Samuel was also leader of the nation under
God. One might say that he was
‘prophet, priest and leader’ … a type of the One who was to come.
2. THE
PIETY HE DISPLAYED … 12:1-5
12: 1: And Samuel said unto all Israel,
Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have
made a king over you.
2: And now, behold, the king walketh
before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and
I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
3: Behold, here I am: witness against me
before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass
have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand
have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it
you.
4: And they said, Thou hast not defrauded
us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
5: And he said unto them, The LORD is
witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not
found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
His life has been an open book. None can point an accusing finger at him and
say he was guilty of political corruption.
We too, are to provide all things honest in the
sight of our fellow man (Romans 12:17).
3. THE
PLEA HE PRESENTED … 12:6-18
12:6: And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that
advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of
Egypt.
7: Now therefore stand still, that I may
reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he
did to you and to your fathers.
8: When Jacob was come into Egypt, and
your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which
brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.
9: And when they forgat the LORD their
God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and
into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and
they fought against them.
10: And they cried unto the LORD, and
said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim
and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will
serve thee.
11: And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and
Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your
enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.
12: And when ye saw that Nahash the king
of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king
shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.
13: Now therefore behold the king whom ye
have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king
over you.
14: If ye will fear the LORD, and serve
him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD,
then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following
the LORD your God:
15: But if ye will not obey the voice of
the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of
the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
16: Now therefore stand and see this
great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.
17: Is it not wheat harvest to day? I
will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may
perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight
of the LORD, in asking you a king.
18: So Samuel called unto the LORD; and
the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the
LORD and Samuel.
Samuel rehearses the past history of the nation of
Israel, reminding the people of how God punished them and gave them up to
oppressors when they had forsaken him … and how He had rescued them from their
enemies when they repented and forsook their sinful ways.
[Verse 11:
“Jerubbaal” is another name for Gideon (Judges 7:1), and “Bedan” is a
scribal error for Barak (Judges 4:6).]
4. THE
PRAYER-LIFE HE EXEMPLIFIED … v. 23
“Moreover as for
me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for
you...”
Despite the fact the nation had rejected his
leadership and cried for a king, Samuel promises to continue to pray for them.
His prayer life is a challenge to us. Notice the implication … It will be a SIN
if he does not pray for them!!
There are various ‘ingredients’ in the art of prayer
… sometimes remembered by the anagram… A C T S.
A … for
Adoration. We praise and worship Him
simply because of who He is.
C … for
Confession. We come asking forgiveness for our sinful
ways.
T … for Thanksgiving. We lift our hearts in gratitude to Him for His manifold mercies.
S … for Supplication. We ask for ‘things’ that we need; be it our ‘daily bread’ or guidance for the future.
But Samuel reminds us of the ministry of
INTERCESSION … where we pray for others (12:23).
Because You Prayed
God touched our weary bodies with His
power,
And gave us strength for many a trying
hour,
In which we might have faltered, had
not you,
Our intercessors, faithful been and
true.
God
touched our lips with coals from altar fire,
Gave
Spirit fullness and did so inspire
That
when we spoke, sin-blinded souls did see
Sin-chains
were broken, captives were made free.
Because
You Prayed
The
glad good news has banished cheerless night;
The
message of the Cross, so long delayed,
Has
brought them life at last,
BECAUSE
YOU PRAYED!
5. THE
PRINCIPLE HE ENUNCIATED … 12:24-25
12: 24: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in
truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25: But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye
shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
Disobedience will result in God’s wrath falling upon
them. Obedience to His Will will result
in His blessing.
It is as simple as that!
Yet there are those who ‘muddy the waters’ by
teaching that once a person is saved he can never be lost again – regardless of
his future behaviour or beliefs! The
New Testament seems to agree with Samuel’s principle …
“Here we see how kind and how severe God is. He is severe towards those who have fallen,
but kind to you – if you continue in his kindness. But if you do not, you too will be broken off.” (Romans 11:22).
“Salvation,” says the Salvation Army Handbook of
Doctrine, “depends upon a continued obedient faith in Christ…” The faith that saves is a faith that
behaves.
6. THE
PATTERN HE FOLLOWED
Where did Samuel learn to be such a man of piety and
prayer? Where did he learn the history
of his nation and of the ways of God?
Chapter 1 introduced us to his mother: Hannah.
And she was a godly lass and one who knew the power of prayer (2:1ff).
She was one who regularly went to the House of the Lord (1:7; 2:19). And Samuel grew up to follow in her
footsteps.
Three cheers for Hannah !!!
============================================================
Chapters 13-14
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
During the leadership of Samuel the Philistines were
subdued (8:13).
Now the nation has the king they asked for, against
God’s wishes, they find themselves continually at war (1 Samuel 14:52).
One of these battles is described in 1 Samuel 13 and
14…
1. THE
CONFUSION OF THE SCRIBES
“Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over
Israel…” Thus reads 1 Samuel 13:1 in the K.J.V. But every modern translation has something
very different.
The Revised Version suggests that Saul was
now 30 years of age … in his second year;
the N.I.V. says he was 30 and that we would reign 42 years; the Amplified Bible renders it that
he was 40 in the second year of his reign … whilst the N.A.S.V. renders it that
Saul was 40 and was to reign 32 years.
To top it off, the N.E.B. says he was 50 and reigned 22 years!
It is one of the few places in our Bible where the
original wording of the author has been garbled and no-one seems to be sure
what the true wording is.
However, in matters of basic doctrine there are no
instances where such problems occur. We
clearly know the way of Salvation from God’s Word … and woe betide the one who
ignores it…
2. THE
CONFIRMATION OF THE SPADE
Saul’s headquarters at Gibeah has been excavated by
the archaeologists. And the fact that
the Philistines were in the Iron Age but the Israelites had not learned the
secrets of forging Iron … has also been verified.
And a weight with the ‘pim’ (13:21 … modern
translation) has been unearthed.
Again and again the spade uncovers that which
verifies the sacred record.
3. THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE SOLDIERS
(a) The
Prince. Saul’s son, Jonathan, decides to attack the
Philistines. Attack number one is
recorded in 13:3. After all, had not
God promised to fight for His people?
(Deuteronomy 28:7).
Attack number two involves the young prince and his
armour-bearer, who climb up a narrow pass and slay 20 foes (14:12-14).
14: 12: And the men of the garrison answered
Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a
thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD
hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
13: And Jonathan climbed up upon his
hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before
Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
14: And that first slaughter, which
Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an
half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.
Jonathan’s faith shines brightly in contrast to that
of the fearful Israelites (13:6-7).
13: 6: When the men of Israel saw that they
were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide
themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in
pits.
7: And some of the Hebrews went over
Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and
all the people followed him trembling.
And the loyalty of the armour-bearer is an example
to us!
Only an armour-bearer,
firmly I stand,
Waiting to follow at the
King’s command;
Marching, if “Onward” shall
the order be,
Standing by my Captain,
serving faithfully.
Hear ye the battle-cry! “Forward!” the call;
See, see, the faltering ones, backward they fall.
Surely my Captain may depend on me,
Though but an armour-bearer I may be.
Only an armour-bearer, now
in the field,
Guarding a shining helmet,
sword, and shield.
Waiting to hear the
thrilling battle-cry,
Ready then to answer,
“Master, here am I.”
(b) The
Major. During WW1 a Major Vivian Gilbert, serving
under General Allenby, records how he discovered this same pass (by reading the
Bible) and surprised the Turkish division where the Philistines had been
stationed centures previous. (See The
Bible as History, by W. Keller, p. 179).
The Israelite army of only 600 (13:15), with only
two swords! (13:22) were at Gibeah.
The Philistine army was at Micmash (13:16).
4. THE
CONDUCT OF THE SOVEREIGN
Chapters 13 and 14 record at least a dozen instances
of Saul’s lack of spirituality.
13: 3: And Jonathan smote the garrison of the
Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew
the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
4: And all Israel heard say that Saul had
smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in
abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after
Saul to Gilgal.
5: And the Philistines gathered
themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six
thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in
multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven.
6: When the men of Israel saw that they
were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide
themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in
pits.
7: And some of the Hebrews went over
Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and
all the people followed him trembling.
8: And he tarried seven days, according
to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and
the people were scattered from him.
9: And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt
offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
10: And it came to pass, that as soon as
he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and
Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
11: And Samuel said, What hast thou done?
And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that
thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered
themselves together at Michmash;
12: Therefore said I, The Philistines
will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the
LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
13: And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast
done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which
he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon
Israel for ever.
14: But now thy kingdom shall not
continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath
commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that
which the LORD commanded thee.
1. HIS
LIE … 13:3-4
After Jonathan’s first victory over the Philistines,
Saul takes the credit for it!
2. HIS
LANGUAGE … 13:3
He speaks of God’s people as “Hebrews” … their
national designation.
The Philistines use the same word, 13:19; 14:11.
But godly Jonathan refers to God’s people as
“Israel” … their spiritual name! (14:12).
3. HIS
DISOBEDIENCE
The prophet Samuel tells Saul to wait seven days for
his arrival … but Saul does not do so (13:8-11).
4. HIS
INTRUSION
… into the priestly office!
It was not the king’s prerogative to offer
sacrifices. Such was the role of the
priest. But Saul does it (v. 12).
5. HIS
SELF-JUSTIFICATION
Rebuked by God’s prophet, King Saul does not repent
but offers a lame excuse (v. 12).
6. HIS
TRUST … 13:12
He counts the number of his rag-tag army … at least
what is left of it! Most have fled … or
gone over to the enemy! (14:21). But it
probably indicates that he was trusting ‘the arm of flesh’ rather than his God
(Psalm 20:7).
Nor is there any indication that he paid the census
tax commanded in Exodus 30:12-13 … ½ shekel every time such a numbering took
place!
7. HIS
PRIEST
… is Ahijah, grandson of Phineas … and God had
disqualified that family from the priestly office! (1 Samuel 2:31; 3:14).
Samuel was God’s appointed priest at this time!
8. HIS
FAITHLESSNESS
Whilst Jonathan was willing to attack the enemy,
“Saul tarried” (v. 2). And he made sure
he was at the ‘uttermost part’ of Israel’s camp … in case the Philistines
attacked. Despite God’s promise … 1
Samuel 9:16!!
9. HIS
RITUALISM
He calls for the Ark of God to be brought to the
battlefield (c.f. chapter 4). His trust
is in the Ark of God rather than the God of the Ark. The less spirituality, the more ritualism.
10. HIS
CURSE … 14:24-25
14: 24: And the men of Israel were distressed
that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that
eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none
of the people tasted any food.
25: And all they of the land came to a wood;
and there was honey upon the ground.
26: And when the people were come into
the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for
the people feared the oath.
27: But Jonathan heard not when his
father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the
rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to
his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.
28: Then answered one of the people, and
said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be
the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.
29: Then said Jonathan, My father hath
troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened,
because I tasted a little of this honey.
30: How much more, if haply the people
had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had
there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?
31: And they smote the Philistines that
day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.
Saul foolishly pronounces a curse upon any of his
warriors who eat before the battle. Now
that Jonathan has the enemy on the run … not forgetting God’s earthquake
(14:15), the Israelites pursue the Philistines to Beth-haven.
But the Israelites are hungry and weak (14:24).
11. HIS
INTENTION
… to put Jonathan to death!
When it is discovered that Jonathan had eaten prior
to the battle (despite the fact he had not heard his father’s curse) Saul
proposes to put his son to death.
But Jonathan is saved by the intervention of the
people (v. 45).
14:45: And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die,
who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD
liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath
wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.
46: Then Saul went up from following the
Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
One gets the impression that Saul is jealous of his
son’s popularity … an impression to be strengthened when we see his later
hatred of David. And, of course,
Jonathan loves the Lord … whereas Saul does not.
12. HIS
CHILDREN
49: Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and
Melchi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the
firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
In 14:49 we get the names of Saul’s children … a
further indication of his spiritual condition…
Jonathan means … “The Lord gave!” (So far, so good!)
Ishvi means … “Equality”, and Malchisua means …
King of Prosperity.
The names of the two daughters are Merab
(“Increase”), and Michal (“Brook”)
Notice how the Lord’s name is no longer a part of
the child’s name, as was the case with Jonathan. (“Yah” = the Lord, “Nathan” = given).
Later another son is named Esh-Baal … Man of
Baal … a pagan god! (1 Chronicles
8:33).
King Saul is on a toboggan slide away from God!!
* * * * * * * * * *
“And Jonathan said to the
young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of
these uncircumcised; it may be that the
Lord will work for us; for there is no
restraint to the Lord to save by many by or few. Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am
with thee according to thy heart.” (14:6-7).
Glory immortal, and a bright
crown wear:
If in the battle to my trust
I’m true,
Mine shall be the honours in
the Grand Review.
============================================================
Chapter 15
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“Whenever we read the obscene stories, the
voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting
vindictiveness, with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more
consistent that we called it the word of a Demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness, that has
served to corrupt and brutalize mankind;
and, for my own part, I sincerely detest it as I detest every thing that
is cruel.” (The AGE of REASON, page
10, 1875).
Thus wrote Thomas Paine, American infidel, in his
vitriolic attack upon the Lord Jesus, the Bible and other aspects of
Christianity.
It might be added that few folk remember Tom Paine
these days … but the Word of God goes marching on, bringing joy and peace and
salvation to thousands all over the world.
But the story that confronts us is another of those
places where the critics of the Bible love to point an accusing finger. Here is the Lord’s command to exterminate
the Amalekite nation … men, women, and children. And even the animals!!
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
DECREE OF THE LORD … 15:2-3
15:2: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which
Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from
Egypt.
3: Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly
destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman,
infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
There are various things to be said in defence of
our God … not that He needs defending!
(a) The
Time Factor …
For something like 400 years the Amalekites had been inveterate foes of Israel (v. 2, c.f. Exodus 17:8).
There
had been plenty of time for them to repent!!
(b) The
Medical Analogy …
The surgeon who amputates a leg to save a patient’s
life is not considered cruel or wicked.
And the God who exterminates a disease-ridden nation that would
contaminate the rest of humanity is not a cruel God. On the contrary, it is His love for the rest of mankind that
causes Him to act with such severity.
(c) The
Archaeological Evidence …
These people were steeped in immorality. It was a part of their religion. The prohibitions in the Law of Moses were
not idle threats … such things were taking place all around God’s people. (Leviticus 18:21-29.)
Even the infants and the animals (!) were
contaminated. It was to be the
extermination of the whole Amalekite nation.
(d) The
Divine Attributes …
Again we need to remind ourselves that God is not
only perfectly loving … but perfectly just.
Not only perfectly merciful … but perfect in His righteousness. Sin brings judgement.
2. THE
DISOBEDIENCE OF THE KING
As in chapters 13 and 14, so again we see a number
of downward steps…
15: 8: And he took Agag the king of the
Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the
sword.
9: But Saul and the people spared Agag,
and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs,
and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that
was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10: Then came the word of the LORD unto
Samuel, saying,
11: It repenteth me that I have set up
Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not
performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD
all night.
12: And when Samuel rose early to meet
Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and,
behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down
to Gilgal.
13: And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul
said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of
the LORD.
14: And Samuel said, What meaneth then
this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I
hear?
15: And Saul said, They have brought them
from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the
oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly
destroyed.
16: Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and
I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto
him, Say on.
17: And Samuel said, When thou wast
little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel,
and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18: And the LORD sent thee on a journey,
and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against
them until they be consumed.
19: Wherefore then didst thou not obey
the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the
sight of the LORD?
20: And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I
have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent
me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the
Amalekites.
21: But the people took of the spoil,
sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly
destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.
22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as
great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the
LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of
rams.
23: For rebellion is as the sin of
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast
rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
(a) His
Disobedience (vs.
8-9). He spares the Amalekite King,
Agag, and some of the sheep and cattle.
(b) His
Altar …
he erects “a monument to himself” (The Living Bible, v. 12) to celebrate
his victory. There is no thought of
glory to the Lord.
(c) His
Lie (v.
13). He unblinkingly tells Samuel that
he has done that which God required.
(d) His
Blame
(v. 15). He says it was the fault of
the people that the livestock had been spared.
(e) His
Hypocrisy (v.
15) … and they were spared to sacrifice to the Lord!! So he says. Never forget
Samuel’s reply … Memorize it!! 1 Samuel
15:22 :
“Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
(f) His
Pride
(v. 17). Samuel puts his finger on
Saul’s basic sin. He wants to be
‘king-pin’ in the eyes of the people.
He wants to parade Agag through the streets as his prisoner. He wants the world’s praise.
(g) His
Confession
… “I have sinned,” says King Saul. But
it is not from the heart. He only fears
‘loss of face’ in the sight of the people (v. 22).
Again Saul says, “I have sinned” (v. 30) and
implores the prophet to stand beside him before the nation. (It is the consequences of his sin rather
than the sin itself that elicits his confession.)
(h) Three
times Saul says to Samuel “thy God” not “my” or “our” … his own heart condemns him.
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 15 closes with the putting to death of Agag
(v. 33) and Samuel and King Saul going their different ways … not only in a
geographical sense but spiritually also!! (v. 34.)
============================================================
Chapter 16
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There are 91 chapters in the Bible that tell us the
story of this man “after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:23).
But that does not mean he is perfect. The inspired writer paints his portrait …
warts and all. It is true, however,
that despite the weakness of the flesh David really wants to serve the
Lord his God.
He is one of the great heroes to stride across the
sacred pages,and his life resounds with lessons for God’s children today.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. THE
MISSION OF SAMUEL
16: 1: And the LORD said unto Samuel, How
long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over
Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
2: And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul
hear it, he Will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say,
I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.
Off to Bethlehem he goes at the Lord’s bidding to
anoint a successor to King Saul.
For safety reasons (!) (v. 2) Samuel takes a heifer
so it will be thought he is just going there to offer a sacrifice.
It is not a case of deception … but wisdom.
The fact that the Ark of the Covenant was still at
Kirjath-jearim (7:1-2), and Shiloh was destroyed, and Jerusalem had not yet
been taken from the Jebusites, all suggest that the Lord permitted sacrifices
to be offered in various places at this time in Israel’s history.
The sons of Jesse are brought out … even Samuel is
deceived by outward appearances;
surely, he thinks, Eliab will be the one God has chosen (16:6). But no!
The Lord seeth not as man seeth!! (v. 7.)
It is not outward appearance … nor the fashionable
apparel … but purity of heart for which the Lord looks.
Of course … sometimes our outward appearance is
indicative of the condition of our heart.
Those who could come into the Lord’s presence neatly and tidily dressed
… and refuse to do so … show a lack of respect for and devotion to the King of
kings!
A Verse to Memorise
“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his
countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for
the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for
man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
(I Samuel 16:7)
2. THE
ANOINTING OF DAVID
16:3: And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee
what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.
4: And Samuel did that which the LORD
spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his
coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
5: And he said, Peaceably: I am come to
sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the
sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the
sacrifice.
6: And it came to pass, when they were
come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before
him.
7: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look
not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused
him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
8: Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made
him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
9: Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by.
And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.
10: Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to
pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
11: And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here
all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold,
he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we
will not sit down till he come hither.
12: And he sent, and brought him in. Now
he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And
the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
13: Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and
anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon
David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
(a) His
Rejection
… his father did not even think it worth-while to call him in from the field
when Samuel arrived. And later his
brothers will scoff at him.
(b) His
Occupation
… he was a shepherd … and later he will testify to the dangers that confronted
him. Bears and lions often came
a-prowling (17:34-35).
(c) His
Appearance
… he is described as “ruddy”, which some translations render as red-haired!
(d) His
Schoolroom … the Judean hillside!
(e) His
Anointing
… did Samuel tell David the meaning of this ritual? Kings were anointed, and priests. Why was the prophet of God doing this to him?
Spiritually, the oil of anointing represented the
Holy Spirit. Saul, too, had been
anointed and equipped by God’s Spirit … but he had grieved the Spirit. An evil spirit entered into Saul (v. 14).
But in the case of David, although he will sin, the
Spirit of God will remain with him (v. 13).
He really wants to be God’s man, unlike Saul!
3. THE
MADNESS OF SAUL
The Lord permits an evil spirit to afflict the
rebellious king … and a musician is sought to play some music ‘to soothe the
troubled breast’ (v. 16).
16: 14: But the Spirit of the LORD departed
from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15: And Saul's servants said unto him,
Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16: Let our lord now command thy
servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on
an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee,
that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
17: And Saul said unto his servants,
Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18: Then answered one of the servants,
and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning
in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters,
and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.
19: Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto
Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20: And Jesse took an ass laden with
bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto
Saul.
21: And David came to Saul, and stood
before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22: And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let
David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23: And it came to pass, when the evil
spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his
hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from
him.
David is brought and his melodies prove therapeutic.
It is true that music can have an effect upon our
emotions. A brass band will make us
want to march … a worshipful hymn will evoke feelings of adoration … a happy
melody will make us feel good …
Supermarkets play appropriate music to put their customers in a buying
mood! Music can influence us for good,
or bad. It influenced Saul … he felt
better after David played (v. 23).
Alas, much of today’s Rock music unleashes base
instincts that influence our young people against that which is holy and
pure. The pounding beat, the abnormal
volume, and sometimes the flashing lights all unite to cause the listener to
become an addict … and putting Christian words to the beat does not help
matters!!
============================================================
Chapter 17
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There is more to the story of David and Goliath than
what one was told in Sunday School!
For example, here is the story of David’s SIX
victories!! And I suggest that had he
failed in any of the first five the result of his confrontation with Goliath
may have been different!
17:10: And the Philistine said, I defy the
armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
11: When Saul and all Israel heard those
words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
12: Now David was the son of that
Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons:
and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
13: And the three eldest sons of Jesse
went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went
to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the
third Shammah.
14: And David was the youngest: and the
three eldest followed Saul.
15: But David went and returned from Saul
to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
16: And the Philistine drew near morning
and evening, and presented himself forty days.
17: And Jesse said unto David his son,
Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves,
and run to the camp to thy brethren;
18: And carry these ten cheeses unto the
captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their
pledge.
19: Now Saul, and they, and all the men
of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20: And David rose up early in the
morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had
commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the
fight, and shouted for the battle.
21: For Israel and the Philistines had
put the battle in array, army against army.
22: And David left his carriage in the
hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted
his brethren.
23: And as he talked with them, behold,
there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the
armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David
heard them.
24: And all the men of Israel, when they
saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25: And the men of Israel said, Have ye
seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it
shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great
riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
26: And David spake to the men that stood
by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and
taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine,
that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27: And the people answered him after
this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28: And Eliab his eldest brother heard
when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he
said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep
in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for
thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29: And David said, What have I now done?
Is there not a cause?
30: And he turned from him toward
another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again
after the former manner.
31: And when the words were heard which
David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
32: And David said to Saul, Let no man's
heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
33: And Saul said to David, Thou art not
able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth,
and he a man of war from his youth.
34: And David said unto Saul, Thy servant
kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out
of the flock:
35: And I went out after him, and smote
him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught
him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36: Thy servant slew both the lion and
the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he
hath defied the armies of the living God.
37: David said moreover, The LORD that
delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he
will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David,
Go, and the LORD be with thee.
38: And Saul armed David with his armour,
and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of
mail.
39: And David girded his sword upon his
armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto
Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them
off him.
40: And he took his staff in his hand,
and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's
bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew
near to the Philistine.
41: And the Philistine came on and drew
near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
42: And when the Philistine looked about,
and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a
fair countenance.
43: And the Philistine said unto David,
Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David
by his gods.
44: And the Philistine said to David,
Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the
beasts of the field.
45: Then said David to the Philistine,
Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come
to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom
thou hast defied.
46: This day will the LORD deliver thee
into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I
will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls
of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know
that there is a God in Israel.
47: And all this assembly shall know that
the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he
will give you into our hands.
48: And it came to pass, when the
Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and
ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
49: And David put his hand in his bag,
and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his
forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to
the earth.
50: So David prevailed over the
Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew
him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
51: Therefore David ran, and stood upon
the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and
slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their
champion was dead, they fled.
52: And the men of Israel and of Judah
arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley,
and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the
way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
53: And the children of Israel returned
from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. VICTORY
… over a Proud Disposition
It would have been easy for David to puff up with
pride. Had he not been anointed by
Samuel (and not his brothers!) (16:13).
And had he not been chosen as musician to the king (16:23) … and even
been appointed as (one of the) king’s armour-bearers (16:21).
But this young son of Jesse is still humble enough
to look after his father’s sheep when he was not needed at the palace (17:15).
2. VICTORY
… over a Poisonous Tongue
Young David is sent by his father to the Valley of Elah
where the Philistine army and that of the Israelites faced each other. Three of David’s brothers are among Saul’s
warriors.
The Philistine champion is a giant, Goliath, who for
40 days has challenged Israel to send forth their bravest soldier.
David arrives with some food (v. 18) and sees the
giant. And asks what is being done
about him. And Eliab, David’s eldest
brother, flies into a rage!! It may
well be that he is embarrassed at his little brother being there to behold his
cowardice. For all Israel are a-feared
of this Philistine (vs. 26-29).
It is at this moment, suggests F.B. Meyer, that the
battle with Goliath was won. Had David
lost his temper and blazed back at Eliab he would have been in no fit spiritual
condition to meet the giant.
David simply replies, “I only asked a question…” (v.
29).
He gets a victory over that little member ... the
tongue! (James 3:8.) (Proverbs 29:20).
3. VICTORY
… over Personal Ambition
All Saul’s soldiers could talk about was the
promised reward to whoever slew Goliath (v. 25).
But such is not David’s interest. He is concerned that the Name of his God is
being dishonoured.
He says it to the soldiers (v. 26) and to Saul (v.
36) and finally to Goliath (vs. 45-46).
It is the glory of God and not personal ambition
that motivates this son of Jesse!
4. VICTORY
… over Previous Foes
Already God had used him to slay the lion, which had
attacked the flock (v. 36). And the
bear!
We need to prove God in lesser things before He can
use us in overcoming giants!!
5. VICTORY … over Paralysing Unbelief
All Israel were afraid. Even, apparently, Jonathan!
(v. 11.)
But not David!
The promise of God was clear … He would give victory to His people if
they gave Him the rightful place in their lives (Deuteronomy 28:1, 7).
So, “standing on the promises,” David ventures forth
with his sling.
He is not looking at Goliath’s massive height (“over
9 feet”) but at the God who is mightier than a thousand Goliaths!
6. VICTORY
… over the Powerful Enemy
The first stone finds its mark. (Goliath got quite a surprise … ’cos nothing
like that had ever entered his head before!)
David takes the giant’s sword and chops off his head
(v. 51). Israel now joins in the battle
and pursues the fleeing enemy (v. 52).
Saul makes enquiry as to who the young fellow is …
despite the fact that David had been his musician.
Was that a few years’ previous … and David has now
‘grown up’ and was therefore unrecognised?
Or was it because Saul was not well (!) when he had first met David?
* * * * * * * * * *
There is much more to say about this exciting
episode in the life of Jesse’s son … and we will look at it again in our next
study.
============================================================
Chapter 17
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
It is the apostle Paul who tells us that many Old Testament stories are illustrations of New Testament truths…
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
and
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The word “ensamples” is “types” … that is: a Divinely-ordained illustration.
And here in the story of David and Goliath we see
one of the most remarkable “types” in the scriptures.
Bear in mind that a “sling-shot” was not a toy but a
deadly weapon. Judges 20:15-16 speaks
of the accuracy some warriors had with this weapon. Also, the Israelites had little else (1 Samuel 13:22).
Why 5 smooth stones? Did he think he would miss with the first one? Or were the other “Lords of the Philistines” present (1 Samuel 6:16 … note: there were five of them…)? Or did Goliath have his FOUR sons with him (2 Samuel 21:22)?
* * * * * * * * * *
17:40: And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five
smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had,
even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the
Philistine.
1. DAVID’S
COMMISSION … he was sent by his father (17:17)
And so, too, was the Lord Jesus, David’s Greater
Son, sent by His heavenly Father.
2. DAVID’S
EAGERNESS … “he ran” (17:17, 22, 48, 51)
Likewise the Lord Jesus was “zealous” to carry out
His Father’s will (John 2:17; Hebrews
10:7, 9).
3. DAVID’S
DESTINATION … the battle-field
And it was to this old world of ours to do battle
with the Enemy of Souls that the Saviour came.
Bunyan describes it as the “Holy War for the City of Mansoul”!
4. DAVID’S
STARTING PLACE … Bethlehem (17:15)
In those same fields where David had lived 1000
years previous, ’twas there the Lord Jesus was born and lived his early life.
5. DAVID’S
DESCRIPTION … a shepherd (17:15)
In John 10:11 David’s Greater Son uses the same
appellation .., “I am the good Shepherd.”
It should be pointed out that He is only the
Shepherd of those who trust Him as Lord and Saviour. Some folk are described, alas, as “goats” who will find
themselves separated from the sheep at the Last Judgement (Matthew 25:31-33).
6. DAVID’S
ANOINTING … 16:13
Remember that not only was he chosen to lead God’s
people, but equipped to do so. At his
anointing the Holy Spirit came upon him.
So it was at our Lord’s baptism the Holy Spirit
descended upon Him in the semblance of a dove.
He was ready to commence His public ministry (John 1:32-33).
7. DAVID’S
RECEPTION … his brother rebukes him (17:28)
The Lord Jesus, we are told, “came unto His own, and
His own received Him not!” (John 1:10-11).
Three and a half years later the Jewish leaders
would seek His death.
8. DAVID’S
WEAPONS … 17:48-53
It has been suggested that the Lord Jesus took the
five Books of Moses … but only used one of them (Deuteronomy) to defeat the
Devil in the wilderness. He quoted
Deuteronomy three times (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)!
In the final conflict, at Calvary, the Saviour used the Devil’s own
weapon (death) to conquer him (Hebrews 2:14) (see 1 Samuel 17:51.
9. DAVID’S
RE-APPEARANCE
Who among the Israelites expected to see him again
after he ventured in the valley of Elah?
But back he came triumphant!
Up from the grave HE “For whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
Up from the grave HE arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er
His foes …
10. DAVID’S
VICTORY … he accomplished it alone!
One is reminded that the Lord Jesus ‘could have
called ten thousand angels’ to assist Him in the fight. But “He trod the winepress alone” (Isaiah
63:3). That means … “No man had any
part in making atonement; it is
entirely the work of the Messiah alone”
(Adam Clarke’s Commentary).
But having defeated the enemy alone, then
God’s people shared in the victory (1 Samuel 17:52-53).
And we who have trusted Christ share in the
blessings He has obtained for us!!
Amen.
11. DAVID’S
ENTHRONEMENT
We are anticipating a few chapters. But soon we will read of this shepherd lad
crowned as King of Israel.
And after His triumph over Satan, death and Hell,
the ascended Lord Jesus sat down on the “throne in the Heavens” (Acts 2:30-33).
12. DAVID’S
FRIEND
“And it came to pass, when
he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit
with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul”
(1 Samuel 18:1).
David’s victory over Goliath won him a friend …
Prince Jonathan.
And the victory of our Lord Jesus … and what He
suffered to win it for us … should cause us to respond as Jonathan did
My Jesus, I love Thee,
I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of
sin I resign…
I love Thee for wearing the
thorns on Thy brow –
If ever I loved Thee
My Jesus, ’tis now.
============================================================
Chapters 18 – 19
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;
The battle with Goliath has ended. The young shepherd boy from Bethlehem has
saved his people from the Philistines.
And now he interacts with three people … the
loyal Jonathan; the lying Saul, and the
loving Michal.
** N.B. It
ought to be pointed out that there is an incident in chapters 18-19 that reads
strangely … even crudely … to Western eyes.
We must remember that this is telling of events 1000 BC in an Eastern
land. Time and culture should be taken into
consideration. There is nothing
immodest or crude in that context.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. JONATHAN
… the Friend!
(a) His
Devotion.
18:1: And it came to pass, when he had made an end of
speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David,
and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2: And Saul took him that day, and would
let him go no more home to his father's house.
3: Then Jonathan and David made a
covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
There is a spiritual kinship between these two. Jonathan is also a man of faith (1 Samuel
14). And David has saved him, and all
Israel, from the enemy.
(b) His
Confession … 19:1-6
19: 1: And Saul spake to Jonathan his son,
and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
2: But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much
in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee:
now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide
in a secret place, and hide thyself:
3: And I will go out and stand beside my
father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee;
and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4: And Jonathan spake good of David unto
Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant,
against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works
have been to theeward very good:
5: For he did put his life in his hand,
and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel:
thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against
innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
6: And Saul hearkened unto the voice of
Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Told that his father, Saul, is planning the death of
young David, Jonathan speaks of David’s goodness and accomplishments. Even … be it noted … at some risk to his own
life. Saul had once before tried to
kill his own son! (14:44-45). And
defending David could have resulted in serious consequences! But Jonathan made a good confession of his
loyalty to his friend (1 Samuel 19:4-5).
(c) His
Submission … 18:4
18: 4: And Jonathan stripped himself of the
robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his
sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
This is not simply an act of gratitude, but
submission!
Jonathan is heir to the throne of Israel. And although he does not know of David’s
anointing to be the next king he sees in his friend the qualities that a king
should have. He gives David his royal
robe … thus saying in effect, “You are not only the one who saved me and my
people, but I, for one, consider you as my king!”
So it is with David’s Greater Son … He saved us … we
crown Him Lord of our lives ... and we must not be ashamed to confess Him
before others. Despite the
consequences!
Jonathan is one of the choicest souls in the Bible
story … except for one blemish (as we will see!)
2. SAUL
… the Foe!
18: 6: And it came to pass as they came, when
David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came
out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with
tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7: And the women answered one another as
they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands.
8: And Saul was very wroth, and the
saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten
thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have
more but the kingdom?
9: And Saul eyed David from that day and
forward.
10: And it came to pass on the morrow,
that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of
the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a
javelin in Saul's hand.
11: And Saul cast the javelin; for he
said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his
presence twice.
12: And Saul was afraid of David, because
the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
David’s popularity with the nation leads to Saul’s
jealous outbursts.
(a) His
Pride is Wounded … 18:6-9
(b) His
Prophesying is Wicked … 18:10
It is exactly the same word “prophesying” that was used previously when the Spirit of God came upon him (10:9). On that occasion he praised God. But now an ‘evil spirit’ takes control of his vocal chords and he curses and raves. NOT ALL ECSTATIC UTTERANCE IS THE RESULT OF THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!!
(c) His
Plans are Thwarted
Again and again he tries to murder David!
·
He
casts his spear at him … thrice!
(18:11; 19:10)
·
He
appoints David as captain of the army, thus putting him in the front line of
the battle (18:5)
·
He
seeks to provoke David into acting foolishly by giving his promised bride to
another (18:19)
·
And
he gives Michal, his second daughter, to David as wife … but demands the death
of 100 Philistines as a dowry. (David
kills 200! 18:27)
·
He
plots to have David assassinated (19:1), but Jonathan intercedes for his friend
(19:4-6)
·
And
He plots to have David murdered as he leaves the house in the morning, but
Michal overhears the evil plan and saves her husband (19:11-17).
3. MICHAL
… the Wife!
(a) Saul’s daughter “loved
David” (18:20).
(b) She
saved his life (19:12).
(c) BUT
…
“… Michal Saul’s daughter
loved David: and they told Saul, and
the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I
will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of
the Philistines may be against him” (18:21).
“A snare…”?
Not only because it meant a battle with the Philistines (that Saul hoped
would mean the death of David), but she was an idolater!! (19:13-14.)
To marry an unbeliever is indeed a “snare”. The Scriptures warn against such many times
(2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
No wonder we later read that Michal despises
David!! (2 Samuel 6:16.)
============================================================
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“We would speak tenderly of Jonathan,” writes W.
Fereday. “No more attractive figure can
be found on the sacred page…”
And Rev. J. Bayley adds his impression… “There is no
character in Jewish history that leaves a pleasanter impression than Jonathan.”
But is that true?
Maybe our study will reveal the one sorry blemish in his life …
* * * * * * * * * *
1. SAVED
Yes, indeed, David had saved him from the enemy …
and he was grateful. David’s Greater
Son, the Lord Jesus, did battle with the hosts of Hell and won salvation for
us. Have you appropriated that
salvation?
2. SURRENDERED
Jonathan gives David his royal robe and
weapons. He is submitting to David’s
kingship over his life. He even says to
his new-found friend … “Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it
for thee” (20:4).
Have we made that kind of commitment to the Son of David?
3. SPEAKING
UP
In the previous chapter we read of Saul’s plot to
assassinate David (19:1), and how Jonathan was willing to speak a good word of
testimony for his friend (19:4-6).
Momentarily King Saul was pacified.
4. SUFFERING
Now we have a new scenario … maybe months later.
David is not sure about attending the family dinner
… lest Saul attempts to kill him.
Jonathan assures David that his father is a changed man! They propose a pre-arranged signal to let
David know whether or not it is safe to show his face!
If Saul gets ‘mad’ at David’s non-appearance, then
Jonathan will shoot an arrow and tell his ‘caddy’ who has to find it, “Go
further…” But if Saul is acting in a
favourable manner, then Jonathan will cry out to his arrow-searching lad, “The
arrows are on this side”, and David will know it is safe. David, hiding nearby, will hear what
Jonathan calls to the boy (20:20-22).
20:17: And Jonathan caused David to swear
again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18: Then Jonathan said to David, To
morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be
empty.
19: And when thou hast stayed three days,
then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide
thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20: And I will shoot three arrows on the
side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
21: And, behold, I will send a lad,
saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the
arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace
to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
22: But if I say thus unto the young man,
Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee
away.
Contrary to Jonathan’s expectations, his father
flies into a rage, utters a typical Eastern curse (v. 30!) … and even seeks to
kill his own son (v. 33)!
20::30: Then Saul's anger was kindled against
Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do
not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and
unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
31: For as long as the son of Jesse
liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.
Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32: And Jonathan answered Saul his
father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33: And Saul cast a javelin at him to
smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay
David.
There are many faithful followers of the Lord Jesus
who have suffered … and even died … because of their loyalty to Him. The Saviour warned His disciples of the
persecution that would confront them (Matthew 10:16-23).
Sometimes “a man’s foes will be those of his own
household!” (Matthew 10:36).
Jonathan found it to be so. And so have thousands of Christians down
through the pages of church history.
More ‘archery practice’ (20:35-39) … and the
pre-arranged signal is given. “The
arrow is further on” Jonathan calls to the lad; David hears it from his hiding place and knows that it means Saul
is still seeking to slay him.
5. SINCERE
But even so, if this means he and Jonathan are to
meet no more, then David will forsake the cover of the rocks and weep with and
kiss his friend goodbye (v. 41).
Strange as it may read to us, this display of
emotion is not uncommon among Eastern warriors even to this day.
6. SHARING
???
There IS to be one more meeting … some years
later. By then David has been hunted by
Saul’s armies all over Israel. Hearing
David is nearby, Jonathan sneaks off to meet his old friend.
And after the get-together, Jonathan returns to the
palace, and David to the cave.
One cannot help but wonder if the allurements of the
luxuries of this world were too much to give up! Moses forsook the glitter of Egypt to be counted with God’s
people (Hebrews 11:24-26). And the
writer of Hebrews challenges us to leave the adulation of the world behind …
that we might share His reproach (13:12-13, The Living Bible).
No, Jonathan was not next to David on the
throne. He followed his father into
battle and was slain (1 Samuel 31:2).
It might have been a happier ending it at this stage he had decided to
join the ranks of David’s men … even though it meant hardship and danger!!
============================================================
Chapter 20
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Following Saul’s attempts to kill him David bids his
friend, Jonathan, “Goodbye” and flees to Nob, city of the priests. And here we get indications that is faith in
God is beginning to wane!
* * * * * * * * * *
1. DAVID’S
FALSEHOOD
20: 1: And David fled from Naioth in Ramah,
and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and
what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2: And he said unto him, God forbid; thou
shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but
that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it
is not so.
3: And David sware moreover, and said,
Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he
saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD
liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
4: Then said Jonathan unto David,
Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.
5: And David said unto Jonathan, Behold,
to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat:
but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
6: If thy father at all miss me, then
say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city:
for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.
Already in the previous chapter we have heard him
say that there is only “a step” twixt him and death (20:3).
And he apparently lied … “Tell Saul,” he told
Jonathan, “that I have gone to a family reunion in Bethlehem” (20:6).
Now he lies again to Ahimelech, the priest telling
him that he (David) is on a special mission for King Saul. And that the left in such a hurry … and
needs some food.
The lying of David cannot be excused.
Throughout the Bible LYING is condemned.
It is one of the Ten Commandments … “Thou shalt not
bear false witness.”
“All liars” have their part in the Lake of Fire
(Revelation 21:8).
Proverbs 6:16-19 tells of seven things God hates …
and two of them are lying!!
David also requests any weapon that Ahimelech may
have. There is only the sword of
Goliath … and “There is none like it…” (v. 9).
21: 1: Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech
the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto
him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
2: And David said unto Ahimelech the
priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no
man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have
commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
3: Now therefore what is under thine
hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
4: And the priest answered David, and
said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if
the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
5: And David answered the priest, and
said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days,
since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is
in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
6: So the priest gave him hallowed bread:
for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the
LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
7: Now a certain man of the servants of
Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an
Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
8: And David said unto Ahimelech, And is
there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my
sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
9: And the priest said, The sword of
Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is
here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for
there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give
it me.
One is reminded of another ‘sword’ … the Word of God
(Ephesians 6:17) … and there is no other ‘sword’ to compare with that, either!!
The repercussions of David’s actions are sad
indeed. As David himself is forced to
admit. His visit to Nob was witnessed
by one of Saul’s men, Doeg, the Edomite (21:7).
Saul therefore summons the priests to his
headquarters in Gibeah (22:6) and accuses them of being traitors (vs.
7-8). Ahimelech assures Saul that David
had deceived him, and that Saul’s words were unfair. But the mad king is not to be pacified. He commands that these priests be put to death. And Doeg carries out the massacre. Eighty-five priests are slain (v. 18). Only one escapes, Abiathar, (22: 20-23), who
will be with David for something like the next 50 years!
22: 18: And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon
the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and
slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
19: And Nob, the city of the priests,
smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and
sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
20: And one of the sons of Ahimelech the
son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
21: And Abiathar shewed David that Saul
had slain the LORD's priests.
22: And David said unto Abiathar, I knew
it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I
have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
23: Abide thou with me, fear not: for he
that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.
David’s promise to Abiathar is the same promise his
Greater Son makes to His followers! (v. 23;
John 15:5-7).
2. DAVID’S
FOLLY
In a foolish attempt to escape Saul’s clutches,
David flees to … wait for it … Gath!
Gath is the Philistine city from whence came Goliath!!
21:10: And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul,
and went to Achish the king of Gath.
11: And the servants of Achish said unto
him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another
of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten
thousands?
12: And David laid up these words in his
heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13: And he changed his behaviour before
them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the
gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
14: Then said Achish unto his servants,
Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
15: Have I need of mad men, that ye have
brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come
into my house?
Perhaps he thinks with the passing of a decade or so
that he will not be recognised. Or
maybe that they will have heard of Saul’s opposition to him and accept him as a
deserted from Israel’s ranks.
But the old song still rings in their ears … “David
has [slain his] tens of thousands..” (21:11), and he finds he is far from
welcome! He realises the mistake he has
made in walking into the midst of his foes!
So he puts on an act (21:13-15).
It is generally believed that having escaped from
this dangerous time in Philistia, David composed Psalm 34. Read it…
1: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall
continually be in my mouth.
2: My soul shall make her boast in the
LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3: O magnify the LORD with me, and let us
exalt his name together.
4: I sought the LORD, and he heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
5: They looked unto him, and were
lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6: This poor man cried, and the LORD
heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7: The angel of the LORD encampeth round
about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8: O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9: O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for
there is no want to them that fear him.
10: The young lions do lack, and suffer
hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11: Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I
will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12: What man is he that desireth life,
and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13: Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy
lips from speaking guile.
14: Depart from evil, and do good; seek
peace, and pursue it.
15: The eyes of the LORD are upon the
righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16: The face of the LORD is against them
that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17: The righteous cry, and the LORD
heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18: The LORD is nigh unto them that are
of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19: Many are the afflictions of the
righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20: He keepeth all his bones: not one of
them is broken.
21: Evil shall slay the wicked: and they
that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22: The LORD redeemeth the soul of his
servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
3. DAVID’S
FOLLOWERS
Four hundred men join themselves to David’s side …
‘a motley crew’ … who will be transformed into an invincible fighting force
(22:1-2).
22:1: David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the
cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they
went down thither to him.
2: And every one that was in distress,
and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered
themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him
about four hundred men.
Likewise we who recognise the ‘debt of sin that we
could not pay’ and found no answer to life’s discontentments … gather unto the
Son of David and find salvation, purpose and victory!
============================================================
Chapter 23
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A study of a map of this time reveals how David is
hounded by Saul for something like a decade.
Saul’s headquarters are at Gibeah (23:19).
David first fled to Nob (21:1), then foolishly to
Gath (21:10) … and off to Adullam (22:1).
In chapters 23 and 24 we will see him at Keilah
(23:1-12), then to Ziph (vs. 14-15), and Maon (vs. 24-25), and eventually to
Engedi (24:1).
Bear in mind that the distance from Engedi to the
coast of the Great Sea (i.e. the Mediterranean) is about 50 miles.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. DAVID
AT KEILAH … and a Lesson in GUIDANCE
Despite the fact that David and his 600 men (23:13)
go to rescue the Israelite town of Keilah against a Philistine attack, the
leaders of the town betray him to Saul (vs. 12-13).
23:10: Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant
hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city
for my sake.
11: Will the men of Keilah deliver me up
into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of
Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12: Then said David, Will the men of
Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They
will deliver thee up.
Possibly they are afraid of Saul’s army taking
vengeance on them for sheltering David.
And it may well be they hope for a reward for turning him in.
But David seeks the Lord’s guidance. He has access to the priestly ephod (worn by
Abiathar) that contains the Urim and Thummim … something (no one is exactly
sure what!) used for determining the Lord’s will (Exodus 28:30-31).
We might be forgiven for wishing we still had access
to such an easy way of determining God’s will!! But today God guides us -
(a) Through the Scriptures
(b) Through the Spirit’s witness
to our heart
(c) Through Saintly advice of
mature Christians
(d) Through Circumstances, though, of course, these must
never be contrary to (a)!
David, now over the lapse of faith we saw in the
previous study, asks the Lord to guide him four times in these verses (23:2, 4,
10-11, 12).
23: 2: Therefore David inquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David,
Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3: And David's men said unto him, Behold,
we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the
armies of the Philistines?
4: Then David inquired of the LORD yet
again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will
deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5: So David and his men went to Keilah,
and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them
with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6: And it came to pass, when Abiathar the
son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in
his hand.
7: And it was told Saul that David was
come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is
shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8: And Saul called all the people
together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9: And David knew that Saul secretly
practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring
hither the ephod.
10: Then said David, O LORD God of
Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah,
to destroy the city for my sake.
11: Will the men of Keilah deliver me up
into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of
Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.
12: Then said David, Will the men of
Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They
will deliver thee up.
Asking Him to direct our steps is a good habit to
cultivate (Psalm 37:23).
2. DAVID
AT ZIPH … and MAON … and a Lesson in SALVATION
David and his 600 men flee to Ziph, and are betrayed
again (23:19-20)!
So they move on to Maon … and find that Saul’s army has them trapped (v. 26)!!
23: 19: Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to
Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the
wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
20: Now therefore, O king, come down
according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to
deliver him into the king's hand.
21: And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the
LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
22: Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know
and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is
told me that he dealeth very subtilly.
23: See therefore, and take knowledge of
all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with
the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in
the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.
24: And they arose, and went to Ziph
before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain
on the south of Jeshimon.
25: Saul also and his men went to seek
him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the
wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the
wilderness of Maon.
26: And Saul went on this side of the
mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made
haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and
his men round about to take them.
And David turns to the Lord in prayer … Psalm
54:1-4.
As a result, deliverance comes from an unexpected
source … the Philistines invade the land of Israel and Saul is forced to leave
Maon and do battle elsewhere (23:27).
23: 27: But there came a messenger unto Saul,
saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
28: Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing
after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place
Sela-hammahlekoth.
29: And David went up from thence, and
dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
David names the place before he and his men move on
… “Sela-Hammahlekoth” … which means “The Rock of Division”, for in that place
Saul went one way and David the other.
And our Lord Jesus is not only the “Rock of Ages”,
but also the “Rock of Division”. It is
as one stands in relationship to Him that one is bound for Heaven … or Hell.
3. DAVID
AT ENGEDI … and a Lesson in VENGEANCE
It is in Engedi that Saul retires to the very cave
where David and some of his men are hiding.
In the darkness David slices a piece from Saul’s robe (24:4).
24: 1: And it came to pass, when Saul was
returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold,
David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2: Then Saul took three thousand chosen
men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the
wild goats.
3: And he came to the sheepcotes by the
way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his
men remained in the sides of the cave.
4: And the men of David said unto him,
Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine
enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto
thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
When Saul eventually leaves the cave, David shouts to him across the valley … and displays the portion of Saul’s garment. Saul realises that David could have killed him and again shows what appears to be a change of heart (v. 16).
24:16: And it came to pass, when David had made an end of
speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son
David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17: And he said to David, Thou art more
righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee
evil.
18: And thou hast shewed this day how
that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me
into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19: For if a man find his enemy, will he
let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast
done unto me this day.
20: And now, behold, I know well that
thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established
in thine hand.
21: Swear now therefore unto me by the
LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not
destroy my name out of my father's house.
22: And David sware unto Saul. And Saul
went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
But David has seen Saul’s fickle repentance
previously and is not willing to jeopardise his life again, or that of his
men. He returns to Engedi’s caves.
Here is an example of an Old Testament hero
practising a New Testament command (Romans 12:19).
============================================================
Chapter 25
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
One of the loveliest … and one of the nastiest …
characters in the Old Testament greets us in chapter 25.
A survey of various translations makes this more than
clear. The lovely Abigail is married to
the awful Nabal (25:3).
25: 1: And Samuel died; and all the
Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his
house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2: And there was a man in Maon, whose
possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three
thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3: Now the name of the man was Nabal; and
the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of
a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and
he was of the house of Caleb.
* * * * * * * * * *
1. HER
DOMESTIC SITUATION