Year 1, Week 32, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 32, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Samuel 30-31.

Today’s reading continues narrating the separate paths of Saul and David. Providentially turned back from being a part of the Philistine attack on Israel, 1 Samuel 30 records David’s attack on the Amalekites in response to their attack on David’s encampment at Ziklag. Having taken the wives and children of David and his men, the Amalekites are tracked down by David and his men. They destroy the Amalekites, reclaiming their families and retaking their possession. Meanwhile, 1 Samuel 31 records the death of Saul and his sons as they are killed in battle against the Philistines. With their king killed in battle, Israel fled while the Philistines beheaded Saul and hung his body from the walls of a city. The people of Jabesh-gilead, whom Saul had rescued at the start of his reign as king, responded to the shame inflicted on Saul: “But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there” (1 Samuel 31:11-12).

One of the things that struck me in today’s reading was the LORD’s reclamation of David to himself: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word…It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:67,71). Over the past few chapters from 1 Samuel, there has been little if any indication of David seeking the LORD: “Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 27:1). David’s decision to flee to the land of the Philistines, was his own decision. David did not seek the LORD. This posture of David seems to continue until our reading today. As David and his men returned to their encampment only to find that the Amalekites had just been there: “And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive” (1 Samuel 30:3). This tragedy finds David in great trouble with his own men: “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters” (1 Samuel 30:6a).

But this tragedy serves as a turning point in David’s life. David is awakened from his spiritual stupor. David turns from his posture of self-determination as he returns to the LORD: “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6b). David was no longer drawing from his own personal resources of wisdom and strength, but the LORD’s wisdom and strength. David was no longer self-assured but God-dependent. The affliction suffered from having his family taken from him and having his men turn on him, leaving him without any resources and confidence. This is how the LORD often deploys afflictions in the lives of his people: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). The result of this return to the LORD is a chapter that is complete with actions oriented with acknowledgment of the LORD. As David received new strength from the LORD he summoned the priest and sought the LORD as to what he should do: “And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue” (1 Samuel 30:8). As the LORD gave direction, David obeyed in reliance upon the LORD’s promised outcome.

As David experienced victory in battle a conflict arose around his own men over the division of the spoils. David not only renders a wise decision, but the LORD is given the credit for the outcome of the battle: “But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us” (1 Samuel 30:21). When David shares the spoils with all his men, he further reinforces the hand of the LORD in all that they were able to do: “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD” (1 Samuel 30:26b). David has been brought back to a good place before the LORD. The LORD has brought him back. And the timing was spot on, for David, who was anointed king will soon be thrust into the role of king. With the death of Saul, having been wounded in battle, took his own life. While David is returning to the LORD, Israel has no king: “Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together” (1 Samuel 31:6).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe