March 2023
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
The Promised Land “reflections” 24
S a m u e l
“Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for war to fight with Israel.” Then TWO unthinkable events took place. First, David had been befriended by Achish, king of Gath, and he expected David to join the war on the side of the Philistines. Second, king Saul, without having Samuel to offer advice was left to face this situation alone. And alone he was. He was thoroughly frightened at the prospect of war. He tried to gain the counsel of the LORD, but the LORD was as silent as Samuel was dead. Then Saul made a HUGE mistake. He sought advice from a ‘medium’. In spite of Saul attempting to disguise himself, the ‘medium’, fearful for her own life because there was a decree (made by Saul himself) against such Torah prohibited practices, called him out immediately and asked him what he wanted. He wanted to speak with Samuel. (Note:- If you think that believers today would shun such practises, you will be alarmed to learn that Benny Hinn confesses to such, claiming to speak with the deceased Kathryn Kuhlman on matters of ‘spiritual guidance’)
The Scriptures record here that Samuel DID in fact speak with Saul. Not that he gained any comfort from the encounter, quite the contrary. Samuel reminded Saul of his disobedience (1 Sam 15) in relation to the capture of the Amelekite king Agag. That was the time when God removed His Spirit from Saul. In addition, Samuel told Saul that the next day, he and his two sons would be with Samuel, in the place of the dead. (Note:- It is very comforting to believers to think that once dead, we are transported immediately into heaven. So please ponder the question “Is it likely that the faithful Samuel, and the necromantic Saul would end up in the same place?” A study of the Scriptures provides the answer. But it isn’t exactly the answer we have been told, or even what our wishful thinking would like it to be! Most commentators are unhelpful, by avoiding the question) “Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground and was dreadfully afraid.” And presumably, Samuel went back to his place of rest, awaiting the day of resurrection.
As this was going on, the Philistines were gathered in their thousands in the valley of Jezreel parading, ready for war, before the lords of the Philistines. Last of all in that parade came David and his band of outcasts. The smart lords of the Philistines could see the possibility of David turning on them in the battle and so it was that David’s small army was excused battle duty and were sent back to Ziklag. It was a three day trip from the Jezreel Valley, and when they returned they found that Ziklag had been invaded by an Amalekite group who’d made off with all their possessions as well as their families. David was blamed for the catastrophe and was threatened with ‘stoning’. “But David strengthened himself in the LORD”. We are not told, but it is worthwhile pondering how David did that, because it would be a good example to follow. What we are told is that David called on Abiathar to enquire of the LORD using the priestly Ephod. By God’s guidance, they met a man who was a servant of the raiding Amalekite group and he was able to lead them to the place where the raiders were celebrating their victory. Thus it was that David’s company of men were able to recover all their possessions, and more, as well as being reunited with their families. One of the good outcomes of that recovery experience was the sharing of the spoil among the whole group, not only among those who actually went into battle. That became a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day forward. It is noteworthy too, that David shared the spoils with other Judean groups in the region as a thankyou for their past support.
While David was recovering their possessions in the south, at the other end of the country, in the north, at Mt Gilboa, the Philistines were enjoying great success in their battle with the Israelites. Thousands of corpses of those slain in battle littered the mountain battleground as they sought to escape the carnage. As they fled, Saul’s sons, Jonathan, Abinabab and Malchishua were killed, as Samuel had said they would be just a day before. Saul himself was gravely wounded by an arrow, and knew that he too would soon die. Rather than be humiliated in capture, he asked his armour bearer to kill him. The armour bearer could not bring himself to kill the king, so Saul took the sword and fell on it himself. The armour bearer did the same moments later. A very sad end to Israel’s pleadings some years earlier to be led by a king, after what was, for them, about 400 years of a succession of judges.
Saul’s failure as king was due to his refusal to be obedient to the LORD’s direction. But the final act of debasement was still to come. The Philistines saw that the Israelites had fled from the mountain so they went to ‘strip the slain’ of useful and valuable possessions. They found Saul’s lifeless body, took his armour, which they eventually put into a pagan temple, and beheaded him, and fastened his body to the walls of Beth Shean. The men of Jabesh Gilead had reason to be thankful to Saul for his rescue of them from the Ammonites (1 Sam 11) years earlier, so they did what they could to provide a ‘decent burial’ for his remains.
The Book of 1 Samuel records some momentous failures for Israel. Early in this book we are told how they lost the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines. It ends with the complete humiliation of their nation and king in battle with the Philistines.
But, God’s succession and success plan for Israel, had already been set in His choice of the young David as king. We continue our ‘reflection’ on that in future weeks.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
The Promised Land “reflections” 23
S a m u e l
“Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him in his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. The well respected Samuel, the last of the Judges of Israel, one who had some influence and an element of control over Saul, no longer there to exercise such influence. Almost in the same sentence, we find David moving out of the ‘strongholds’ of En Gedi, having received a kind of commitment of peace from Saul (which we dealt with last week), back to the wider spaces of Paran.
It may be assumed that David was prepared to take Saul at his word, and although he was cautious, he seemed to be ready to settle and wait to see how Saul would behave. He sought the favour of a wealthy farmer called Nabal, who lived in Maon, but had sheep and goat herds in Carmel, a little further north. (See map for geographical relationship) Nabal (which means ‘foolish’) was “harsh and evil in his doings”, but his wife Abigail was both wise and attractive. David, knowing of Nabal’s wealth, sent ten of his men to Nabal to seek his favour and support by way of food provision. Nabal refused. So David determined to ‘help himself’ to a portion of Nabal’s wealth! He instructed his men to get ready for ‘some action’! In the meantime, Abigail was told about Nabal’s refusal to assist David, and took matters into her own hands by taking supplies of food to David’s camp. The two groups met as they made their respective journeys. Read the dialogue of their encounter (1 Sam 25: 21 - 35). When Abigail returned home and told Nabal what she had done, he had a heart attack and died.
David’s wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter) had been given to another man! So on learning of the death of Nabal, David proposed to Abigail (who consented) and another lady, Ahinoam (not the one who was Saul’s wife), thus David acquired two new wives. Chapter 26 of our text opens with the news that Saul had soon forgotten his promise not to seek David’s life and was again hunting him down with 3,000 select men of his army. Of course, David was soon aware of this and took steps assess the situation with another man called Abishai. They came across Saul’s camp as he slept, entered the camp, and took Saul’s water bottle and spear, then left. Abishai had strongly urged David to let him put an end to this matter by summarily killing Saul in his sleep, but for the second time, David resisted on the grounds that Saul remained God’s anointed king, assuring Abishai that God would deal with Saul in His own good time. What an inspiring lesson that provides.
How many times in our own experience, when things don’t go according to our expectation, do we ‘take matters into our own hands’ to solve the issue? It could be argued that God had created the opportunity for Saul to be killed by David, TWICE, … but David was wise enough to know that it was not his role to be executioner of a rival who had been appointed by God Himself.
David retreated to some high ground with great distance between himself and Saul’s camp and shouted, waking up the camp and specifically addressed Abner, Saul’s cousin and commander of Saul’s army. David taunted him with being slothful in his duty of protecting the king, asking him to look for the king’s water bottle and spear. The eventual result was a second statement of promise from Saul to desist from pursuing David. Saul’s words are sincere. “I have sinned … for I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly”. And David’s response was memorable. “May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness.” And I believe that to be a reliable statement of God’s intent towards all who are His, and who deal so with others with such grace. “So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.”
Never-the-less David was unconvinced by Saul’s words of remorse and decided to relocate, with this own group of 600 men and their families, to the land occupied by the Philistines. “And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath (again); so he sought him no more.” In time, David asked Achish, king of Gath, to give him a place in which he and his band of followers to settle. “So Achish gave him Ziklag.” And David lived there for 16 months. During that time, David effectively continued the work that Joshua was given to do several hundred years earlier. He attacked and plundered territory occupied by Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites, the Jerahmeelites and Kenites, all original occupants of the Land of God’s Promise, now known as Judea. David gained significantly in wealth and reputation, through plunder and success in those raids. No-one was left alive to tell the tale, and Achish became convinced that David was attacking Judeans, and so making enemies of Israel, the enemies of the Philistines. Thus David was eyed, by the king of Gath, as an ally of his, and David gained knowledge of the various plans Achish made to war against Israel.
It is a fascinating story to read. It is also quite amazing, because we know the end of the story, to see how God so amazingly put together all the pieces to bring about the result which He had planned for Israel from the very beginning.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
The Promised Land “reflections” 22
S a m u e l
David was in big trouble! As he fled from the wrath of king Saul, he went about 15 km West, to Gath, a Philistine stronghold, thinking that Saul would not follow him there. He was right in that assumption. But the servants of Achish, king of Gath, recognised him as an enemy of the Philistines, so he very effectively feigned madness to avoid arrest, and our text begins today with David moving on again, this time about 15 km South east into the safer territory of Judea to the “Cave of Adullam”, about mid distance between Gath and Hebron. David was joined there by his whole family, and as word spread, our Bible tells us that many others, discontented with king Saul also joined him there. A company of about 400 men and their families. This number would shortly swell to over 600 as more families joined him.
It seems that David was now acutely aware of the dangers he faced from Saul, and the possibility of that being extended to his immediate family. So he sought safe refuge for them. Presumably drawing on his own Moabite ancestry (Ruth was his great grandmother) and counting on the Moabite mutual animosity towards Saul, David’s family was taken to, and remained in, Moab, until Saul was no longer a threat. What a good example to sons !!
Saul’s home base was Gibeah, a city with a horrible history (Judges 19) north of Jerusalem. Saul was brooding over the fact that David had fled and no-one could, or would, inform him about David’s whereabouts nor Jonathan’s collusion in his departure. Then the devious Doeg, the one who was “detained by the LORD” at Nob as we read about last week, spoke up. He related the events he witnessed in Nob, and that resulted in the priest Ahimelech receiving a visit from Saul at Nob. It is a brutal story resulting in the slaughter, at the hand of Doeg the Edomite, of 85 priests as well as women and children. Even their animals were not spared the rage and blood lust which Saul visited upon them. But one, Abiathar, escaped the carnage and fled to the ‘Forest of Hereth’ where David was camped with his followers.
It was at this point that David began to embrace the call that God had placed on his life. Here is a lesson of great importance. It is amazing to see how the LORD was working out His purposes in all the circumstances of the events which had preceded this. The most unlikely people, like Doeg, had been (unwittingly to them) used by God to bring about the result the LORD had planned for Israel from the beginning. As we continue in our ‘reflection’ we clearly see that the threat to David’s life was undiminished, but David began to rely more and more on the LORD for instruction and for survival. The evidence for this is in the account (1 Sam 23) of the respective roles of both David, in rescuing the city of Keilah from the marauding Philistine army, and Saul in his attempts to besiege David and his followers as they defended Keilah.
Throughout this narrative, there are many instances in which David is both respectful towards Saul, whom he correctly identified as being anointed by God as king, and honourable, as he seeks to know God’s will for the actions he is about to take. Here we find another lesson as we seek to know “God’s plan” in everyday life situations. Earlier we read about Abiathar, a priest who escaped from the carnage at Nob. We are told that he took with him an “Ephod” (The apron like covering over the High Priestly linen garment) which contained the Urim and the Thummim. Our Bible does not describe these items, and so to us they remain mystical elements, which God used to convey His will and purpose to the High Priest in matters of direction and judgement. In our text today, we find that even without the presence of a High Priest, God made the Urim and Thummim available to David for consultation in his wilderness hiding places to keep him safe. I suggest that today, they are replaced by God’s written word and guidance of His Holy Spirit. (Even visions and dreams for some people). The lesson of David’s example is in his reliance on God, not on his own best guess !!
Saul’s pursuit of David seems unrelenting. His army was numerically vastly superior to that of David, but David’s followers were more nimble and kept ‘a step ahead’. At one point, when David was encamped in the “Wilderness of Maon” it seemed like Saul would succeed, but then word came to Saul about an invasion of Israel by the Philistines, so Saul had to ‘break off’ the chase in order to defend the territory from Philistine attack. (Personal note:- On a visit to Israel in 2012, our tour guide took us to the location of the “Wilderness of Maon”. It was searingly hot. He described for us the plight of David and his followers. Unbearably hot. Then suggested that this was where David wrote Psalm 61, in which David pleaded with God to lead him to a rock “that is higher than I”. A place of shelter from the sun, and hiding from his pursuers. Then a prayer for the king’s life. Speaks much about David and his trust in the LORD)
As time went on David moved East and encamped at En Gedi on the shores of the Dead Sea. There he had that famous encounter with Saul in which he removed a corner of Saul’s garment. The result of that was the ultimately disingenuous promise of Saul to cease his pursuit of David, saying “Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.”
Prophetic YES. But it’s a tale of two very different personalities, isn’t it?
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
The Promised Land “reflections” 21
S a m u e l
Last week we read about David’s wise behaviour and the esteem which was afforded him by the people as a result. At the same time, king Saul, devoid of the influence of the Spirit of God had become a very troubled, depressed individual, with murderous intent towards David. This was a result of intense jealousy which had turned to hatred. And therein we can find a lesson for ourselves if we are willing to learn it. So our reading this week opens with Saul’s announcement to the royal court, which included his son Jonathan, that David was to be killed off.
But Jonathan had become a close friend to David, so he warned him of the threat and colluded with him to bring about change in Saul’s paranoia. Which he did. Then David was restored to his place as Saul’s comforter, playing soothing music to ease Saul’s depressive moods. But it was a short-lived. Soon there was another war with the Philistines. Once again David distinguished himself in the ensuing battle. The result. Another surge in David’s popularity. Another severe depression for Saul. Another attempt on David’s life and another order from Saul to kill David. This time David’s wife, Michal, who was Saul’s daughter, came to David’s aid. The whole story is well known and loved by most children who ever attended a Sunday School.
Firstly Jonathan, then Michal, Saul’s children, risked, and were prepared to lose, their own lives to save David’s. In my mind I see a fore-runner, an example in type, of sacrificial love which was eventually given for my own salvation. But the LORD had great plans for David, so thus it was that David fled to Ramah, Samuel’s home, where he unburdened himself to the prophet. It seems that Samuel had established a place of learning and worship, called Naioth, a few miles farther north in the mountains of Ephraim. It was to Naioth that Samuel and David went to be safe from Saul. Such was the atmosphere at this place of worship at Naioth that all who came within it’s boundaries were drawn into it’s influence and were overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. Even Saul himself was found in prophetic worship at that place.
David seemed puzzled. He simply could not understand why Saul was so angry with him that he wanted him dead. In his distress he sought Jonathan’s help. Read the account in Chapter 20 of our text. It speaks of the great bond of love and friendship between Jonathan and David, and ends with their parting. Jonathan went back to the city, and David began his new life as a fugitive. Because we are privileged to know the end of the story, it may come as a shock to discover the way the LORD chose to place David in, what can only be described at this point in his life, a somewhat perilous situation. And in that, I find another lesson for those who choose to serve the LORD. The “prosperity” teachers today would have people believe that ‘coming to Jesus’ leads directly into a life in which all of life’s problems, material and financial are instantaneously solved. I can think immediately of two prominent servants of the LORD, David and Paul, who might take issue with that teaching. The LORD had very important work for David to do, and he needed to be trained, by experience, to deal with many adverse circumstances in which he personally, and the nation he was destined to lead, would face as the fullness of God’s plan unfolded.
David was God’s anointed, yes, and chosen for a purpose. Did God choose David because he was ‘perfect’? Did God choose Paul because he was perfect? Did God choose YOU because you are perfect? David was inexperienced and young. Paul was an enemy of believers. Only you, and God, know about you. And to accomplish the task for which God calls us, we all need to be trained by experience to fulfil God’s expectation.
“Now David came to Nob”. Nob was a dwelling place of priests on high ground about 2 miles north east of Jebus (Jerusalem) beyond the Mt of Olives. David was met by a priest, the great grandson of Eli, Ahimelech (which means “brother of the king) who expressed surprise that David was unaccompanied (even though the text implies that he was not alone). David concocted a story about being on the king’s secret business, and asked for some food for his journey. In the event, David was given some of the ‘showbread’ which had recently been taken (and replaced by new bread) from the altar in the tabernacle. He also was given the sword which was taken from Goliath, and went on his flight from Saul towards Gath, a Philistine city, where David reasoned he would be safe from Saul. In the event, the servants of Achish, king of Gath, recognised David as the slayer of Goliath and numerous other Philistines. So David thought he might have jumped “out of the frying pan into the fire” so to speak. He feigned “madness”, and acted insanely.This caused Achish to dismiss him out of his sight, and thus it was that David escaped the wrath of Achish and continued his flight from Saul.
There is an interesting snippet in the text (1 Sam 21:7). It refers to an Edomite, called Doeg. He is not a very nice man, and we will meet him again next week. As I read this text I note that Doeg, in this special place where the priests dwelt, was “detained before the LORD”! We don’t know the circumstances, but bad as he was, he was part of God’s overall plan. And what do I learn from that? God’s purposes will NOT be hindered by ANYONE. Good bad or indifferent. So it was that this unlikely Edomite was used in the purposes of the Lord, in the rescue and preservation of David, the LORD’s anointed.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
The Promised Land “reflections” 20
S a m u e l
The faithful Samuel was grieving, not for, but about, king Saul. Such a disappointment because of the way events had unfolded and exposed the frailties of Saul’s character, thereby rendering him unsuitable to lead the people in the ways of righteousness. God had already revealed to Samuel that the reign of king Saul was at an end, and that He had already chosen a successor! Our reading today opens with the Lord giving Samuel a ‘prod’ to get on with the job of identifying that successor. It may seem surprising that Samuel was actually fearful of Saul (evidence of Saul’s unsavoury character perhaps), because he was initially reluctant to seek out God’s chosen replacement. So God provided a plausible reason (some might conclude it to be an excuse) for Samuel’s ‘secret’ mission! The predictable Saul may be equated today, in some countries, to ‘godless’ governments, of which believers are rightly fearful. Could it be that the Lord provides such ‘reasons’ today to faithful believers who work in such countries, where the ‘ekklesia’ are known as ‘underground churches’? One thing of which I am sure is that the work of the Lord may be frustrated by men, but it will not be stopped. (I recall, many years ago, listening to a visiting pastor from a church in Lebanon declaring that he would not want to live in a country where being a christian was “easy”. Why? Because in such a country there was little sense of value and privilege in being a christian. He said “When it is costly to belong, it is greatly valued, and growing in faith is inevitable”)
“So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem”. There he met with Jesse, (grandson of Boaz and Ruth) who had brought his sons with him to the sacrifice which Samuel was to conduct. As soon as Samuel’s eyes looked on the oldest son, Eliab, Samuel was sure that he was the one to replace king Saul. The story is well known. However, “The Lord does not see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”. So it was that Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel before Samuel said “The Lord has not chosen these”. The youngest lad was looking after the sheep. “He was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good looking. And the Lord said ‘ Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Samuel took a horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers “and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward “. Then Samuel returned to his home in Ramah. The very next statement in the Scriptures tells us that just as the Spirit of the Lord came upon David, “the Spirit of the Lord departed from (king) Saul” and was replaced by a ‘distressing’ spirit from the LORD which troubled him. Remember the injunction of the LORD to Isaiah many years later? “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”. (Isaiah 55:8) Whoever could imagine that the LORD would use this ‘distressing’ spirit, not only to introduce Saul to David, but to also have Saul declare favour towards him, and to find in David a source of comfort.
But, it wasn’t long before things began to change! And I commend readers to keep in mind that everything that follows is under the direct control and direction of Almighty God. He was working out His purposes then, and He is working out His purposes today. Here is a modern photograph of the region where these events occurred. It is the same valley along which the Ark of the Covenant was drawn by the cows when it was returned to Israel from it’s Philistine captivity. (1 Samuel 6) In our text today, we have one of the most well known events in biblical history. I was probably less than 5 years old when I first heard it !! “Only a boy named David only a babbling brook, only a boy named David and five little stones he took.” It is legendary in its detail. A young shepherd boy saves his nation by killing a giant. But he had a lot of help! God was with him, and had great plans for his future, as we discover later in this story. However, David’s life took on new meaning and new challenges from that day forward. As indeed it does for all who earnestly and willingly become part of God’s plan.
The Philistine’s champion had been conquered. The Israelites were full of admiration and joy at the conquest. But Saul was full of jealousy, anger, and distress. So much so that he sought to kill the people’s hero. Three times in chapter 18 of our text, Samuel tells us that David “behaved wisely”. And when (v.15) “Saul saw that David behaved vey wisely, he was afraid of him”. Then it happened that Saul changed tack and sought to make David a son-in-law, offering his daughter to David in marriage. But he set an unusual dowry for the hand of his daughter Michal. A dowry which Saul was sure would result in David’s death! He had to kill 100 Philistines. Surprise! Surprise! David killed 200 and was married to the king’s daughter.
“Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David …. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.” And finally for this ‘reflection’ we have some words which should be an encouragement to every believer. “David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.” Many times in the Scriptures we are told the “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. The Psalmist (111:10) and the Preacher in Proverbs (9:10) being the most often quoted. We may be sure that the young shepherd boy David certainly “feared the LORD” because he was very wise.
Shabbat Shalom
RS