[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
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"And
David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking,
"lest they should tell about us and say, 'So David has done.'" Such
was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines."
If
you steal from a thief, does that make you more guilty or vindicated? Is it a
virtue or a doubly vice?
David
was a cunning guy. A masterful deceiver. Really, a descendant of Jacob!
BTW,
in the parable of the shrewd manager, the master praised that wicked guy, and
Jesus asked us to be like that guy in making friends for the kingdom. Let those
who have spiritual ears hear what that means!
What
would I do then if I were David!!??? π€π€π€
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"Then
Saul said to his servants, ‘Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may
go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘Behold, there is
a medium at En-dor.’"
One
can write a book analyzing the character of Saul from this chapter alone!
But
for a WhatsApp post, this I have to say: Saul is so desperate that he went back
to what he has banned. I remember 2 Peter 2:22, "a dog returns
to his own vomit."
Well,
remnant sin in life is also like this. We fight and avoid and do whatever it
takes, but there are someday we just return to it. And it's the mercy of God
that we receive grace upon grace. Saul perished from that battle!
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"And
David said to Achish, ‘But what have I done? What have you found in your servant
from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight
against the enemies of my lord the king?’"
What
a bluff master! Anyway, he wasted his time there and his town was raided by
enemies.
Was
David stupid or extraordinarily cunning? But the Lord prevented him from the
battle. At the same time, the Lord sent enemies to raid his own town.
He
was busy bluffing when his own home was burnt down!
Just
an observation for tonight!
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"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. But David strengthened
himself in the LORD his God."
For
years I have been thinking and contending that this is the lowest moment of
David's life, even lower than fleeing from Absalom. Here, even his people were
wanting to stone him to death.
In
the words of Lloyd Jones, "Thank God for "But" in the
Bible." There's a "but" in this episode, in this very verse.
What a powerful contrast it is! What a strategy! David strengthened himself in
Yahweh his God.
There,
I see why and how David is different from the rest, that he is known as a man
after God's own heart!
Job
was told by His wife to curse God and die, but...
Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were told to bow down, but...
Polycarp
was told to deny Christ and be free, but...
Bunyan
was asked to stop preaching and walk out of jail, but...
They
put their trust in God! Trusting is the strength when everything fails.
Let
God be our dwelling place, our fortress, our refuge, our defender, our
protector, our strength, our joy, our life!
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"Then
Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through
with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat
me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul
took his own sword and fell upon it."
What
a contrast of character between David and Saul! And what a tragedy to die in
this way and to end the book of 1 Samuel!
David
strengthened himself in the Lord in his lowest moment: Trusting. Saul took his
own life in his lowest moment.
Saul
feared men that they might abuse him. David trusted God when the people even
tried to stone him to death.
Saul's
situation was a probability. David’s situation was already happening!
If
you have tasted and known the lovingkindness of God, no situation is too bad to
abandon God. Those who haven't trusted God won't trust Him even if the dead
come back to life. BTW, Samuel’s spirit was raised up to speak to Saul; nothing
changed. And here lies Saul, decapitated.
Postscript:
Even his armor-bearer refused to kill Saul. No euthanasia for him!