[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
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v12
"So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and
a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is he.’"
Even
Bible reading Christians have a wrong view of David. I can understand that
because narratives [what we heard] are often stronger than what we read. I
myself have found myself many times flipping the pages of my Bible to confirm
whether what I grew up hearing is indeed true or a myth! Like the stories of
David, Noah, Gideon, and Christmas.
Those
Sunday School teachers and preachers who added details, their mouths should be
whacked, huh! π¬π
BTW,
just look at the description of David: ruddy, beautiful eyes, handsome.
His brothers were all kingly in appearance v6. David came from a good
stock of genes! He was the youngest, but not spoiled; he was very responsible,
tending the sheep v11.
v16. Skillful player of harps chosen to be at the
palace. Do you think Indian Idol winner Pawandeep Rajan will be invited to
Rashtrapati Bhawan? A far talented guy than him was David. No wonder later on
when he became king, he assembled musicians and psalms to praise God through
music and songs.
v18. Skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a
warrior, prudent in speech, handsome, and Yahweh with him.
v21. Saul loved Him
v23. Saul would be refreshed by the presence of David.
He
killed a bear and a lion. I don't think even Bruce Lee can do that!
I
don't have beautiful eyes, rather I have to wear thick spectacles. I ain't
handsome, I can't even slingshot off a bird, don't even play guitar. Well, "prudent
in speech" is what I can think of to imitate him.
π ππΈπππΌπ ππ:ππ
"But
David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's flock at Bethlehem."
An
interesting mention in this chapter is the sheep, that David was a shepherd v15.
From
Royal Court to wilderness to tend the sheep.
Even
on the battlefield, with a conversation with his warrior brother, they talk
about sheep again (v28).
When
he decided to fight Goliath and came before the king, Saul, he talked about
sheep again (v34).
When
he came and stood before Goliath, he came like a shepherd, not as a warrior,
again with a stick (staff) v40. ["shepherd" is mentioned
again].
Even
in the act of killing Goliath, David's shepherd bag is mentioned again v49.
I
see a shepherd boy in this chapter. A shepherd, chosen to shepherd Israel. A
shepherd who went to the Royal court to tend the needs of a king. A shepherd
who took food to the battlefield for his brother. A shepherd who volunteered to
fight those who despise God. A shepherd who refused to pretend to be who he was
not (he refused Saul's armor, and delighted to be who he was). A shepherd who
went to battle. A shepherd who won the battle.
No
wonder, he wrote, "The Lord is my Shepherd!" (Ps.23) Yahweh is
the Shepherd of this magnificent shepherd boy! And Jesus said, "I am the
Good Shepherd!" (John 10).
And
Jesus told Peter to be a shepherd (John 21). And Peter in turn tells the
elders of the church to be shepherds (1 Pet 5).
#Shepherd, #Sheep, #Sheepfold
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"David
was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him."
This
was said of Joseph too. The stones that were thrown at him had become stepping
stones to attain a further height of success and glory.
Saul
planned to give Michal to be a snare to David, well, she loved him like
anything!
Saul
asked 100 Philistines that he [David] may be killed, well, David brought 200.
Saul
sent him out to war to be killed, well, even the enemies esteemed him. And the
Israelites and Saul's soldiers loved him!
That's
what it looks like when God is with a person, and when a person walks with God.
What further motivation do we need than this!?
Walking
with God is not an absence of suffering, threats, troubles, and challenges;
it's endurance, faithfulness, and going through all of them. That's why even Psalm
23 says, "Even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death"; it's walking through, not escaping.
Our
Lord says, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against the
church." The imagery here is not a prevention of trouble, nor an
escape from trouble, but the walking through greatest trouble and threats!
Satan
used Judas to kill Christ. Well, God raised Him up for the defeat of Satan and
for our victory! Indeed, God can use the hurled stones for stepping stones to
bring more glory to Him and His servant! In trouble and suffering, we may do
well not to complain, but to contemplate, that's comely of Christians. The
great Bible commentator Matthew Henry says, "Sinners in trouble bark
like dogs; The godly in trouble mourn like doves." (Paraphrase).
π ππΈπππΌπ ππ‘:π
"Now
Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But
Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David."
In
this chapter alone, Saul tried to kill David thrice; and David was protected
thrice. The intensity increased, not decreased; God's protection was also
greater.
His
friend Jonathan protected him in the palace. His wife Michal protected him in
his home. Samuel's God protected him in God's house. In the public square,
private home, sacred place, a man who dwells in God is protected!
Blessed
is a man whose dwelling is God. Blessed is a man who has such friend, such
wife, and such spiritual leader!
π ππΈπππΌπ ππ:ππ
"Then
Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food on the
second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father
had dishonored him."
Saul
hurled his spear at Jonathan. Wow! Had Jonathan not a skilled warrior, he
couldn't possibly escape that!
Jonathan
was grieved because his father had set his mind to kill David. There's no
mention that he was sad because his father almost killed him. His loss of
appetite and sadness was in sympathy with David's condition.
Jonathan
is an outstanding example of loving others! He would rather think of Saul's
anger against David than [his father, Saul’s anger] upon him!