Mediate Like Abigail

The life of Abigail is given in 1 Samuel 25. In our introduction to her, we are told that she is intelligent and beautiful, a description that should not be taken lightly. Growing up I heard about Abigail maybe once or twice, but we never really discussed her in detail nor the implications of her behavior on the expectations of being a woman of God.

Beauty and Brains

Each translation has a slightly different word choice in the description of Abigail, but using the context of the passage I believe she was being described as wise and clever. When it comes to Abigail's beauty, I think it's interesting that the author creates a juxtaposition between intelligence with beauty and being mean and surly. It almost implies that one cannot be intelligent and mean or mean and beautiful. This implication hold with other passages in the Bible that tell us man looks outward while God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) and that beauty is fleeting (Proverbs 31:30). Since it is the Holy Spirit that is inspiring this passage, I opften wonder if the word beauty is describing her heart or her physcality, or possibly both. Another interesting point about her description is that her intelligence is mentioned first. Usually the first thing listed is the most pronounced or the more important matter.

Saving the Day

We only get one chapter about Abigail but it's pretty powerful. When her husband, Nabal, is rude to David, Abigail sets things right by doing going behind her husband's back to do the right thing. She provides the hospitality that David desereved, intercedes on her husband's behalf—complete with an appology where she takes the blame for her husbands rude behavior and an isult to her husband's character—and tops it off with a little chastizing of David, as well. Abigail's actions are bold and very different from what the church typically teaches about the Godly woman's behavior.

Prepared

So, one thing the church pushes on women that Abigail does display is hospitality. The amount of food Abigail just has lying around to be given away is astonishing. Even with a grocery store 5 minutes from my house, I don't know that I could acquire that much food in the time Abigail did. Of course it is importatn to point out here that Abigail had servants to help her with this task. She did not prepare all this on her own! It is this preparedness, however, that allows her to make ammends. If I were in Abigails shoes, everyone would have died, because even if I'd thought to do what she did, I would not have had the means. It is important for us as believer to anticipate what is needed. A simple example is leaving the house early because you anticipate traffic to cut down on road rage and crazy driving.

Behind Her Husband's Back

Where things get interesting is that Abagail did not submit to her husband's decision. The way the church harps on submission, you would think the "appropriate" action would have been to stay out of it, or to ask for permission to to give David the food. Abigail does neither and is praised for being intelligent. Also, her actions save the lives of many people, since David's reaction was to kill Nabal's household. Personally, I believe this goes back to something I said at the beginning of this series: we're only required to submit to a Godly husband. In Ephesians 5, where women are told to submit, the whole relationship is compared to that of Christ and the Church. Christ is the perfect husband, He would never lead you to harm, nor ask you to do what is wrong. Christ loves His bride. Nabal did not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and thus wasn't Christ-like, and we see Abigail praised for chosing Christ-like behavior over submission to her husband. That says something.

Correction

Not only does Abigail go behind her husband's back, she corrects David. David's revenge scheme wasn't Godly either. Abigail reminds him that vengence is for the Lord. She says o in a polite manner, but she is in fact correcting a man, the future king of Israel no less. She was not silent by any means. Upon being corrected, David—the man after God's own heart—thanks her for her correction. He recognizes his wrongness and acknowledges that she is correct. Think about that.

Happily Ever After?

After Abigail saves her household, she tells her husband what she has done—no secrets!—and upon hearing this news, he has a stroke or heart attack. Within a few days Nabal is dead. Remember, during this time, women weren't afforded many rights, so with her husband dead and seemingly no son to take care of her, Abigail was possibly placed in a difficult predicament when Nabal died. It's posssible that she had family who would have seen to her needs but likely she would have been destitute. Fortunately, David was impressed by Abigail (or felt obligated, the Bible doesn't say exactly). When he hears that Nabal is dead, he sends for Abigail and makes her one of his wives. The Bible names another woman as also being taken as a wife for David so I'm not sure if Abigail was his second or third wife, but at this point in David's life, Saul had taken David's first wife, Michal, from him. Therefore it is possible that for a time Abigail served as the first wife (meaning she would have had the most influence and power). That being said, we know David had many many wives, so I'm not sure this was a love marriage.

1 Chronicles 10: Saul's Death

1 Chronicles version of 1 Samuel 31 & 2 Samuel 1, discussing how Saul died.

Introduction

We're only given a single chapter on Saul by the chronicler, who spends most of his time talking about David. It is interesting to me because this is a typical pattern found in most cultures. Leaders who disappoint us are not spoken of as often as those who carry significant impact or are loved. By the time the chronicler was born, Saul would have been just a tiny speck in history. Although he was the first king of Israel, he hadn't been very remarkable and it was David's line that inherited the throne. Although the chronicler does not go into great detail about Saul, we are given two important confirmations in this chapter.
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How Did Saul Die?

Many people complain that the account of Saul's death is a contradiction. In 1 Samuel 31 we are told that Saul killed himself, but in 2 Samuel 1, an Amalekite tells David he killed Saul. People often forget that 1 and 2 Samuel are actually the same book, and the two passages were likely written by the same author. Which means the person likely knew and meant to give two different accounts. The important distinction is that in the first account we are being told what happened, but in the second, a man is telling his version of the story. This man isn't the first man to lie. Since David and Saul were are odds, the man probably thought if David believed he had killed Saul, he would gain favor. 1 Chronicles 10 confirms that Saul killed himself, further supporting the theory that the Amalekite man was lying to David.
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Condemnation

The Chronicler only gives enough information on Saul to explain why Saul was condemned as king. We see him condemned for consulting a familiar spirit and for not abiding in God's law. Despite these transgressions, the Israelites still rescued his body to give him a proper burial. This should remind us that no matter how a person choses to live their life, we have a duty to treat humans with dignity in both life and death.
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References

1 Samuel 28-31: Saul's Last Battle

Abandoned by men of faith, Saul resorts to sorcery before dying in his final battle.

Introduction

Once again, the Philistines gather against Israel. This time, Saul has neither Samuel (who is now dead) nor David (who is in exile) to be his strength in the battle. Without these two faithful men present in his life, Saul turns to "a woman that hath a familiar spirit"—a person he was forbidden from dealing with by God (Leviticus 19:31). The woman would have been a sorcerer or medium, and the "familiar spirit" would be how she communicated with the dead. Since God does not give us these abilities (hence forbidding them), we know it is the devil who rules these people.^[3]
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Saul

Breaking God's Law

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Mario Alberto Magallanes Trejo

The woman is initially wary of fulfilling Saul's request; wizardry, witchcraft, etc. were all against God's law, and thus also against the laws of Israel. As king, Saul was to uphold God's law so the woman likely thought he was setting her up. Saul, however, had drifted so far away from God that he believed breaking God's law would bring him closer to God. Saul needed comfort and reassurance, but he no longer had a relationship with God. When Saul prayed, God didn't answer. This drove him to such desperation that he swore an oath to God not to punish someone for breaking the law of God. This is the exact point I was trying to make in my response on a pastor teaching his congregation to be "clean and empty;" when you are full with God's Spirit, you run the risk of filling yourself with something that isn't good for you.

Relating to Today

This is an important part of Saul's story because it gives us a framework to remember about our own lives. Saul put himself in a situation many of us have been in or will be in at some point in our lives. We have a tendency to put God on the back burner, and then when life gets tough, we want Him to be at our beck and call. No where in the passage do we see Saul repent of the wrong he's done or make amends for all the time he's spent away from God's presence. Saul jumps straight into worrying about the battle and asking for God's help. Similarly, we often will go days, weeks, maybe even months without thinking about God, until something happens and we are forced to pray for His help.

When God doesn't immediately answer, Saul impatiently jumps to the next thing. How often do we do that? When we don't hear from God or can't understand His voice, we often try to take matters into our own hands, which is never a good idea. I say "can't understand His voice" because I think most of the time, it isn't that God isn't answering so much as the fact that we either aren't listening or have forgotten His voice. There are many verses that state God will never leave or forsake us (i.e. Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5), but that doesn't mean we won't feel forgotten. We are told the Spirit of God leaves both Samson and Saul at some point during their lives. In Samson's case, when he repents, God returns, giving him the strength to carry out the mission. The key there is the repentance. Saul does not repent, so God does not return to save the day for Saul.

We should remember this. When we feel we have lost the presence of God, we should reflect on our behavior, on our relationship with God prior to our current situation. Along with repenting, we must exercise patience and faith that God will return to show us the way. It is this patience that will keep us on the right path.

Did Saul Actually Speak to the Dead?

As we know, Saul didn't do this. Instead, he convinces a sorcerer to contact the spirit of Samuel. Remember Leviticus 19:31 and Deuteronomy 18:11-14? God told the Israelites not to try to communicate with the dead. Saul clearly didn't remember this, or he deliberately chose to disobey God. When a man appears, Saul infers him to be Samuel and begins a conversation. It's important to remember that 1 Samuel 28:14 says "Saul perceived that it was Samuel," which means it may not have been Samuel. If it was Samuel, I would think the text would have said something along the lines of "Saul saw Samuel..." As it is written, it could just as well mean that Saul only thought this person was Samuel.

However, the words of Samuel are what lead me to believe Saul spoke with the real Samuel. Samuel tells Saul that he will lose the battle, his sons will die in battle, and the kingdom will pass to David. All three of these prophecies come true, just as Samuel predicted. In the New Testament, one of the ways to discern a prophet of God from a false prophet is whether their prophecies come true or not (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Since we know the real Samuel was a real prophet, it follows that the real Samuel would give a true prophecy, but a demon posing as Samuel may not. That being said, although the devil isn't all knowing like God, he does know some things. Since his game is deceiving people, it seems unlikely the devil would give the full story in a prophecy, however he may have been using Saul as a pawn. When Saul's soldiers saw that he consulted a medium (ungodly), spoke to the dead (ungodly), and received a valid prophecy, they may have followed in his footsteps.
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Saul's Defeat

As predicted, Saul does not fare well in battle. 1 Samuel 31 recounts the death of Saul and his sons. Saul is initially wounded by an arrow, but the wound must have been too great for him to continue in battle. Knowing that he would be tortured when captured, Saul requests his armor bearer finish the job before the Philistines capture him. When the armor bearer refuses, Saul kills himself by falling on his sword. The armor bearer commits suicide after discovering Saul has killed himself, and all three of Saul's sons die in this battle. Although Saul escaped torture, his body was desecrated when the Philistines found it on the battlefield. I imagine this was a great day of mourning for the Israelites.

The act of killing oneself to avoid torture has been a long standing tradition and found in many cultures. I find it interesting, however, that this trait has been found mainly in those who are/were against God. Jesus, our ultimate example, did not kill himself when He was taken from the garden. He didn't avoid the torture of being whipped, crowned with thorns, hung on a cross or pierced in the side. The only man of God (that comes to my mind) who "committed suicide" was Samson. Though, Samson didn't commit suicide to avoid torture; Samson killed himself in the process of killing a multitude of Philistines (more like a suicide bomber). Even so, I wouldn't count Samson among the most faithful and godly men; he got himself into bad situations by disobeying God the same way Saul did. How we respond to adversity is definitely something to think about. It seems to me that the key difference is in the faith affirmed or denied in the action. By falling on his sword, Saul admitted that he had no faith in God delivering him in the battle. He was convinced Israel would lose, the Philistines would capture his body, and he would live long enough to be tortured, which means the wound couldn't have been that bad. This lack of faith is perfectly juxtaposed with David's valiant faith as these last few chapters parallel the two battles. David's army is tired and worn out, but David doesn't put off the battle, nor does he give up. Instead they trusted God to lead them to victory and came out unscathed.
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David

1 Samuel 29 switches to the Philistine side of the battle, primary because that is where David is. While Saul is cowering and consulting sorcerers to prepare for the battle, David and his men are following the Philistines into battle. David and his men were located in the rear of the main army, with Achish, the king of the Philistines. Naturally, this made the Philistines nervous. The princes complained, suggesting that David would turn on them in battle. With David and his men located at the rear, he could easily trap the Philistine army by cutting off their retreat should he decide to fight for Israel instead. Achish has great faith in David that he wouldn't betray them, but eventually, David is dismissed back to Ziklag.
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Would He Betray Them?

I often wonder if David would have betrayed them. Samuel told Saul that he would lose the battle, and it is assumed that it was God's Will for Saul to lose and die and that moment. Thus it stands to reason that God did not intend on David fighting for Israel that day. If David had fought and switched sides mid-battle as the Philistines feared, surely Israel would have won. However, if David had fought for the Philistines, why would Israel accept him as king? Would that not be fighting against God? It seems unlikely, to me, that David was ever inclined to fight his own people. Achish's faith in David was based on a misunderstanding which convinced Achish that David had already attacked his own people, but David had done no such thing.
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Ziklag

We get a better glimpse of David's mindset when he returns to Ziklag 3 days later in 1 Samuel 30. While they were gone, the city had been invaded by the Amalekites. The Amalekites burned the city and took the women captive. This included the wives of David, as well as, the wives of the soldiers. The people were so angry, they threatened to stone David!

Unlike Saul, David knew he could not fix the situation by himself. He calls upon Abithar, a priest, so that he may consult God for direction. Abithar brings David the ephod, and then David asks God what he should do. It interesting that the ephod is mentioned just before David prays to God, and God answers David. It almost seems that David used the ephod to contact God. I find this interesting, only because I've heard theories from ancient alien theorists that many of God's holy items were actually high tech communication devices to "alien" space ships.

While I don't necessary share the same ideas or beliefs as these theorists, God (along with the angels) are not earthlings which technically makes them aliens... I'm not sure whether the ephod served as a "telephone" to God, or if it was just a symbol. Back in Leviticus, the ephod was described as an article of clothing, however as the Bible continues, scholars agree the word "ephod" seems to take on a different meaning.^[1][2]
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David's Victory

God was marching with David, so even though his men were tired (they had just walked 3 days from the location of the Philistine battle to their "home" in Ziklag) and distraught (over the situation in Ziklag), David still defeated his enemies. When David and his men set out behind the Amalekites, they happened upon an Egyptian servant from the Amalekite army who had been left to die. Not only does this man confess that he was there when they burned Ziklag, but he agrees to take David and his men to the army, provided they do not harm him. This man took a leap of faith on David. An ungodly man would have killed the servant once they had the information they needed, but David promised neither to kill nor hand over the servant. This is one of the passages in the Bible many Southern whites apparently skipped during American slavery.

In remaining true to God, both in his heart and in his actions, David ensured he would win. He was able to recover all of the stolen goods along with all of the people who had been kidnapped without losing any soldiers in the process. How often do people win battles without losing something? I guarantee it only happens when God is present. Further confirming his allegiance to God and Israel, David sends the spoils of his victory to the elders of Judah (1 Samuel 30:26).
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References

1. Emil G. Hirsch, Immanuel Benzinger, Solomon Schechter, and Louis Ginzberg. "Ephod". Jewish Encyclopedia. 2016
2. "What was the significance of the ephod?". GotQuestions.org. 2016
3. "What are familiar spirits?". GotQuestions.org. 2016

1 Samuel 25: Samuel's Death and David's Wives

Samuel dies, David seeks help from an old ally, and we learn about 2 of David's wives.

Introduction

The beginning verse of 1 Samuel 25 tells us that Samuel has died. Samuel was the last of the judges and the person who established the monarchy in Israel; he was beloved, and likely caused quite a bit of mourning in the land. After Samuel dies, David is back on the run from Saul. 1 Samuel 25 details the rift between David and a man named Nabal, followed by the marriage of David to Nabal's widow, Abigail.
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Nabal

Nabal was a descendant of Caleb (Joshua's friend; he and Joshua were the only Israelites from their generation to enter the promised land). Nabal was a wealth man living in Carmel, and apparently at one point David helped Nabal. Now, David was asking for Nabal's help in return. Nabal, however, refuses. He arrogantly claims he doesn't know David or his men. As you would expect, David is angered by Nabal's response. David was ready to fight over the matter.

Meanwhile, one of Nabal's men confides in Abigail, Nabal's wife, what has transpired. Abigail realizes that her husband is in the wrong, so she loads up on bread, wine, sheep, corn, raisins, and figs, then sends her servants to David with the goods, all behind her husband's back. Abigail asks for David's forgiveness, which he obliges. David is content not having to kill Nabal; he turns the matter over to God's hand. Shortly after, Nabal gets drunk during a feast. It is after he sobers from this feast that Abigail tells Nabal what has happened. It appears that he has some type of stroke and dies ten days later.
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Behavior of a Wife

Photocredit: ShutterStock.com/Blend Images

It's interesting that Abigail is praised for doing the right thing by going behind her husband's back to make things right. Many people get hung up on the idea that women are to be submissive to their husbands and miss the actual message given about marriage in the Bible. Wives were to be the rock and strength of the husband, which included helping them. Sometimes helping people requires doing something they don't want you to do. Think about it, are you a better friend if you tell you teenage friend's parents that he/she is secretly experimenting with drugs, or if you simply allow them to continue? Abigail chose to save her husband's life (at least from the hands of David) by completing the transaction he was obligated to. This is yet another passage that should force people to re-evaluate their view of women in the Bible and a wife's role.
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Wives of David

When David learns of Nabal's death, he sends for Abigail to become his wife. Abigail was said to have been of beautiful countenance (as was David). This union gave David a great deal of resources. David also takes a woman named Ahinoam as his wife, though the timeline of this is not given. It is in 1 Samuel 25:44 that we learn Saul has given David's wife Michal to Phalti, the son of Laish. We aren't told if this happens before or after David takes on more wives, nor if this change takes place according to Michal's will or according to Saul's will.
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1 Samuel 23: David Saves Keilah

Therefore David enquired 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.1 Samuel 23:2 KJV

Despite Saul's pursuit of David, he still takes the time to rescue a city in distress.

Introduction

David is told that the Philistines are gathering to fight the city of Keilah and would rob the threshing floors. This meant the Philistines would wait until the men of Keilah had done all the work to harvest their grain, then the rob them of the grain. David knew this wasn't something the Lord wanted for his people, so he asks God if he should do something about it. When God responds with the affirmative, David is ready to take his men to war. David's men were afraid to go to war, so they inquire of God once again, and once again, God tells them to engage the Philistines at Keilah.
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A Successful and A Failure

As God promised, David is successful at defeating the Philistines, but when Saul hears that David has placed himself in a gated town, he sends his men to besiege the city to retrieve David. Knowing that such a fate was about to befall him, David asks God if the people of Keilah will hand him over to Saul. One would think that given David's recent victory in saving the city, they would ally themselves with David; after all, Saul didn't come save them. However, God reveals that the men plan to hand David over to Saul anyway. It is then that David flees into the wilderness. At this point, he has gained 600 men following him.
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How Does This Relate To Us Today?

We have the same issues today. Often, we can do right by people only to discover they are ready and willing to stab us in the back. David did the right thing by coming to his fellow Israelites' aid, but they were easily persuaded to do the wrong thing to hand him over. However, just as God delivered David into the wilderness, he will deliver us in the same situation. We are always to choose the right thing to do, regardless of the reaction we receive from those around us. David may have not been comfortable and content in the wilderness, but he was safe and God was pleased. We have to remember that discomfort is not a sign of wrong doing. As long as we follow God's word, we can trust we will be ok in the end.
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1 Samuel 18-27: Saul Tries to Kill David

Saul becomes jealous of David and attempts to kill him. This post covers those attempts, the help of David's supporters, and David's reaction.

Introduction

Jealousy is a dangerous thing, that's probably one reason why God told us not to covet. When women in the kingdom begin to praise David's military accomplishments, specifically attributing a higher number of kills to David than to Saul, Saul becomes discontent with David. Eventually, Saul decides to kill David.
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Motive to Kill

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/dlritter

Generally speaking, men tend to be more competitive, so it's no surprise that Saul would feel animosity about the kingdom boasting of David's accomplishments over his own. However, it seems extreme that he would suddenly want to kill David. Most people would have simply strove to prove they were better... After all, this boasting could also have been the kingdom's way of saying Saul was a great king because he chose a great military captain.^[11] It seems quite rash that Saul would want to kill the man who was leading his army to victory.

The issue stemmed much deeper than simple jealousy over praise or lack thereof from Israel. Saul knew he was in hot water with God—if you've ever walked with God at all, you definitely know when you've messed up. With Samuel no longer visiting him, an evil spirit visiting him, and the community placing David on a higher pedestal, Saul knew that God was bringing his reign to an end. Not only was Saul not ready to give up power, he wanted to pass the kingship on to his own lineage. With David gaining such notoriety, it was becoming obvious to Saul that the people would want David as the next king. Saul didn't want that, and the easiest way to solve the problem, at least in his mind, was to kill David.
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Saul's Attempts on David's Life

Attempts By Saul to Kill David
	Location	Method	Verses
	Saul's home	javelin thrown at Saul (twice)	1 Samuel 18:11
	-	David made captain of an army in hopes he was be killed in battle	1 Samuel 18:12-15
	Saul's home	marriage arrangement to Merab (sending David to battle)	1 Samuel 18:17
	Saul's home	marriage arrangement to Michal (sending David to battle)	1 Samuel 18:20-21
	Saul's home	servants ordered to kill David	1 Samuel 19:1
	Saul's home	javelin	1 Samuel 19:10
	David's home	messengers sent to kill David	1 Samuel 19:11
	David's home	messengers sent to fetch David for Saul to kill	1 Samuel 19:15
	Naioth in Ramah	messengers sent to fetch David for Saul to kill, again	1 Samuel 19:20
	Naioth in Ramah	messengers sent to fetch David for Saul to kill, again	1 Samuel 19:21
	Naioth in Ramah	Saul attempts the murder himself when his messengers fail	1 Samuel 19:22-24
	Ziph and Horesh	Saul seeks for David in the wilderness	1 Samuel 23:15
	Ziph	Saul seeks for David in the wilderness, again	1 Samuel 26:2

Saul attempted to kill David not once, not twice, but on multiple occasions. The first few attempts on David's life by Saul occur while David is soothing Saul's spirit. Saul takes the javelin he holds while sitting on the throne and lunges it at David. Saul also plots to kill David by enticing him to take on more battles with the promise of giving him one of Saul's daughters to wed. He hopes David will die in battle trying to prove himself worthy to marry Saul's daughter. When that fails, Saul sends messengers to kill David multiple times. When these attempts fail, Saul tries to kill David himself again. In the commotions of all these things, Saul ends up killing a priest who helps David unknowingly. David has to flee Saul's house, taking refuge with Samuel, with Ahimelech (the priest who ends up getting killed), Achish (the king of the Philistines), and in the wilderness. The table to the right details the attempts on David's life by Saul and lists the associated Bible verses.
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Saul's Children Choose David

Saul's desire to kill David was rooted in jealousy, as discussed earlier, which is an issue that arises from insecurity. Generally, people who are secure and confident are less likely to be jealous of those around them. Saul felt his kingdom was slipping away from him (and rightfully so, because it was). The people saw David as a better soldier and David had found favor in God's eyes. This was enough to drive Saul to the point of madness, in which he desired David dead. It is no wonder that he becomes more obsessed with killing David when he learns two of his children choose to help David over their own father.
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Jonathan, David's Best Friend

Saul's son Jonathan took an instant liking to David. The Bible is clear that Jonathan loved David deeply; 1 Samuel 18:1,3 says Jonathan loved David the way he loved himself. When Jonathan hears that his father is planning to kill David, he is quick to tell David. Recognizing David as the true heir to the throne, Jonathan remains on David's side throughout this ordeal. The two even make a covenant to remain friends and to have peace between their houses after death.

When Jonathan tests the waters with Saul to see if he is still intent on killing David, his words in support of David cause Saul to throw a javelin at his own son. Saul curses Jonathan's mother (possibily the world's first iteration of son of a *****) in anger and is furious that his eldest son would take David's side. Saul reminds Jonathan that David is a threat to his own inheritance of the throne, but Jonathan knows that God has chosen David.
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A Covenant Among Friends

When David finally flees Saul's presence to seek safety for himself, the two friends make a covenant with each other. Both men knew that eventually David would become king; tradition held (and still holds) that new kings would kill competing lineages to seal their claim to the throne. A more modern example was that of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. When the Bolsheviks seized power from the Tsar Nicholas II, they killed all of his children. Many believed the assassinated king's youngest daughter had survived and several women impersonated her, hoping to claim her status.^[9] When David took the throne, it was likely expected that he would kill Saul's lineage to keep any of them from trying to steal the throne back.

In David's case this would have been difficult considering he was married to Michal, Saul's daughter. At the time David made this covenant with Jonathan, Michal was Saul's only wife, so presumably David's heir to the throne would still be of Saul's lineage, as well. However, inheritance passed through sons, not daughters. It would have been Jonathan, Ishui, and Melchishua that could lay claim to the throne. Jonathan made David promise that he wouldn't kill Jonathan's family; their houses were to remain friends.
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Were Jonathan and David Gay?

Some people try to twist their relationship into romantic love and suggest there was a homosexual overtone in the description of their friendship.^[6][7] People often forget it is possible to love someone without being "in love" with someone. The first obvious point is that self-love, the love Jonathan would have had for himself that is described as the love he has for David, is not sexual. In addition, mother's usually love their children more than themselves, another example of non-sexual love.
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More Than The Love of Women?

Something that comes up is often a quote from 2 Samuel 1:26 in which David remarks that Jonathan's love surpassed the love of women. People who want to imbue this friendship with homosexuality interpret this to mean the two loved each other more than they loved the women in their lives and thus were in love with each other. However, this a forced interpretation, especially given what we know of God's (and their society's) view of homosexuality. If they were romantically involved, the last thing David would do is infer such a thing by admitting he loved a man more than his wives! The Israelites would have had him stoned on the spot. It has only been in the past 10 years or so that people have not been completely ostracized for being openly gay; again, I highly doubt David would have armed the rumor mill with such a statement. Furthermore, this is a common saying among friends! How many friends don't make a pack not to let relationships severe their bond? This is the basis of phrases such as "chicks before dicks" and "bros before hoes" (pardon the crudeness). These statement are meant to illustrate that the friendship, which usually begins well before either friend is involved in a romantic relationship, is too important to lose because of spouses.

Bromances such as that of Corey and Shawn from Boy Meets World depict this perfectly; Corey was in love with Topanga but his friendship with Shawn was forever. When Shawn dates a girl who forbids him to see Corey, they begin sneaking away to meet each other. Topanga reveals the fact that she understood their friendship and would never come between them, however Shawn's girlfriend ends up getting dumped. The two were determined to be friends even after girlfriends (and marriage). This is how David and Jonathan were, as well.
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Love at First Sight?

Another point pro-homosexual interpreters have is the fact that Jonathan gives David all of his stuff after they meet in 1 Samuel 18:4. The passage does not confirm or deny David's presence when Jonathan strips himself. Whether he was or wasn't, you have to read the passage in the context of the time period, not in the context of today. Back then, to strip yourself of your clothes was a sign of humility. Clothes were (and still are) a symbol of status. By removing these clothes and giving them to David, Jonathan was transferring his status as "prince" or "future king" to David. Like David, Jonathan was a man of God; he realized that God had selected David to inherit the throne and this was Jonathan giving up his claim to the throne.
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The Dinner Conversation

As I mentioned earlier, Jonathan defends David at the dinner table and brings about Saul's wrath. This conversation occurs in 1 Samuel 20. Some try to turn this into a "coming out" scene.^[6] Supporters of this theory suggest that "many gay men have experienced dinner conversations that sounded very similar to this one. They made the mistake of talking about their lover at the table, and their father became furious. More often than not, the blame goes first to the mother, who was “too soft,” or “too harsh,” or who “perverted” her son somehow. Then the father turns his anger toward the son: “Can’t you see how you’re shaming the whole family? Do you even care what this will do to your career? You’ll never amount to anything until you give up this foolishness!”"

If that's what you want to see, I can see how they get that interpretation, but that requires you to step away from the literal text. It is Saul who mentions David's absence first. Knowing that David and Jonathan are friends, Saul inquires of Jonathan where David is. Jonathan says David wanted to go to his family to offer a yearly sacrifice so Jonathan let him go. It is then that Saul gets angry. Saul says that he knows Jonathan has chosen David "to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness." This is where things get interesting. According to pro-homosexual interpreters, the mentioning of "thy mother's nakedness" makes this a homosexual reference. They believe Saul is accusing Jonathan of being David's lover. That, however, would be the "confusion of Jonathan's nakedness." What does his mother have to do with it? How is a homosexual relationship the confusion of a mother's nakedness?

From the books of law, we know that uncovering nakedness is a sexual reference, but "thy mother's nakedness" would be a reference to his mother's sexual encounters not Jonathan or David's. The very next verse explains exactly why Saul referenced Jonathan's mother's nakedness. Jonathan was the eldest son of his mother and should have succeeded Saul to the throne, however, David was desired by the people. With David in the picture, Jonathan could not claim the throne. Saul knew that Jonathan was relinquishing his claim to the throne in favor of David ("thine own confusion") and thus abandoning his inheritance, which was his right through the union of Saul and his mother ("thy mother's nakedness"). Scholars suggest that by giving up the throne, Jonathan was painting his mother as a whore (again, "thy mother's nakedness") and proclaiming himself unworthy to lead.^[8]

Even if Saul did accuse Jonathan of loving David in a homosexual manner, that doesn't mean it was a true statement. Here we have a man who is half mad, pained with an evil spirit, paranoid, and trying to kill a faithful servant in a jealous rage, how can you trust any of his judgements? People who are devoid of God are often bewildered at the behavior of those who follow God. My male friends who are waiting or who have waited until marriage to have sex have all been accused of lying or being gay. Only those who don't know God make these types of accusations, however. These accusations normalize their own behavior, which soothes any guilt they may have about how many partners they've had before marriage. It is far easier to accuse those who followed God's word of being gay or lying than to admit we were too weak to do the same. Similarly, it would have been easier for Saul to claim Jonathan was gay and take out his anger on Jonathan who was present, than admit he was in the wrong and had lost the throne for his lineage.
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Michal, David's Wife

After Saul fails to marry off his eldest daughter to David, he is thrilled to learn that his other daughter, Michal, is in love with David. David wasn't in the social class to marry the king's daughter, though; he didn't have the means to pay a dowry or brideprice for such a match. David knew this, and so did Saul. Saul tells David not to worry about the dowry (1 Samuel 20:25), instead he wants 100 foreskins of Philistine soldiers.

Saul is sure this task will get David killed, despite the fact that David has already won many battles and defeated Goliath. David probably thought the request was symbolic of not only defeating God's enemies, but forcefully cleansing them via circumcision, thus the request would not have set off any red flags in his mind. David goes above and beyond, bringing Saul 200 foreskins to "buy" Michal as a wife. Saul could have refused, but we see a glimpse of honesty in Saul, and he gives Michal to be married to David.

When Saul decides to send messengers to David and Michal's home to kill David, Michal helps David escape. Once David has safely fled the home from a window, she tucks a life-size idol in his bed to fool the messengers. The text does not tell us why an idol is in David's home; it may have belonged to Michal, since it is unlikely David took anything to do with idols. After Michal helps David sneak out, she lies to her father's messengers and claims that David is sick in bed. When Saul sends more messengers to fetch David and it is revealed that David is gone, Saul questions his daughter about why she lied to him. Saul felt betrayed that his daughter would just allow his "enemy" to escape so easily.
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Michal's Love

The Bible is very clear that Michal loves David; not only is it explicitly stated in 1 Samuel 18:20,28, but Michal's actions prove that she loved David. Michal could have been killed for assisting David—in 1 Samuel 22 Saul kills an entire city of priests because one priest aids David unaware that he and Saul are at odds. Considering Saul's violent outbursts and evil spirit, I don't think it's far-fetched to think Michal may have been worried her father would kill her for helping David. Michal chose David over family, this is an explict declaration of love.

Interestingly, it is never stated that David loves Michal. Wikipedia contributors point out that David doesn't try to contact Michal while he is on the run and that he takes other wives.^[1] When David takes off to save his life, we haven't seen anything that suggests he loves her as much as she loves him. This, plus the fact that David took additional wives while he was separated from Michal paints David as a womanizer.

I think a case can be made for David's love of Michal, too, however. One thing that stands out is David's 180 on his decision about marrying a daughter of Saul. When Saul is trying to get David to marry his eldest daughter, David isn't interested. The offer isn't drastically different, so why was David more receptive to marrying Michal? Obviously, this isn't an explicit declaration of undying love, but it does suggest that there was something there that was reciprocated. However, we aren't told a lot of this story. If this was set in modern day America, David would have texted Michal, or left her a private message on Facebook, to i. let her know he was alright and ii find out if she was ok. However, during David's era, there were no cellphones or computers and all of his supporters (i.e., the people who would have been safe to transport a message to Michal) were with him. Contacting Michal would have been quite difficult. Also, in contacting her, he would have risked angering Saul to the point of killing his own daughter. Just because he did not contact her does not mean he didn't miss her or desire to contact her.
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A Marriage Under Siege

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Genesis 2:24

While David is gone, Saul gives Michal to another man. By God's law, Michal's second marriage was probably not lawful. There are several examples of polygamy in the Bible, though there are passages that suggest monogamy is preferred.^[2][3][4] However there are no examples of polyandry and the Bible explicitly states that a woman who leaves her husband for a reason other than adultery and marries another man, commits adultery.^[5] In the books of law, the word "wife," not "wives" is used to define marriage, and Deuteronomy 17:17 forbids a king from taking multiple wives, so David was probably not supposed to take on two more wives, either.

We aren't told whether Michal hears of this then asks to be remarried to someone else—how betrayed would you feel if you risked your life and turned against your father to save a man, then he went and found him 2 more wives?—or if Saul forced Michal into a new marriage. In 2 Samuel, we will see Michal returned to David, but we also will see a change in how she feels about him (2 Samuel 6:16).

David had strong faith in God, but women were definitely a weakness of his.
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David Seeks Asylum

David hides out in several different locations while Saul is hunting him down. Many people are on David's side and eventually he is accompanied by an army of 400 men.
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Nob

At one point, in 1 Samuel 21, David requests food from Ahimelech, a priest in Nob. Ahimelech does not have any bread but the shewbread meant for the priests. David lies to Ahimelech, suggesting Saul had sent him on mission rather than admitting he was running for his life. Seeking to help David, Ahimelech offers him and his men the shewbread provided they are not unclean from sleeping with their wives. Jesus refers to this in Matthew 12:2-4. People debate whether Jesus was condoning David's deceit and subsequent breaking of the law or if Jesus was making a point about the Pharisees hypocrisy.^[10] I believe Jesus was pointing out that people praised David's unlawful act but condemned Jesus' lawful act. David was clearly forgiven by God and made peace with Him concerning this action, though the details of this process are not recorded in the text.

When Saul discovers Ahimelech's role in aiding David, he is furious. Saul orders not just Ahimelech killed, but all the priests in Nob. Saul has 45 priests killed, along with women, and children. Clearly, Saul was possessed with an ungodly anger. Ahimelech's son Abiathar escapes the mayhem and joins David.
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Gath

David hides in Gath, a Philistine city, twice. The first time David flees to Gath, he worries that people will recognize him. David feigns like he is mad and is taken before Achish, the king of Gath. Seeing his insanity, Achish sends him away, saying he has no use for a madman. The second time, David is more sure of himself and is able to convince Achish to give him a place to dwell in the country, specifically the city of Ziklag.

By the time David comes to Gath the second time, Achish has likely heard that Saul is trying to kill David. This makes David the enemy of Achish's enemy. Using the principle "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Achish makes peace with David. David furthers this assumption by deceiving Achish into believing an attack he carried out on the Geshurites was actually against his own people.

As I read this passage, I couldn't help think sometimes the enemy of my enemy should make my enemy my friend. In Achish's case, David was actually the bigger enemy; David was a man of God and would not hesitate to carry out battles to defeat the Philistines at God's command, but Saul was not so keen on listening to God. Under Saul's reign, the Israelites were destined to lose battles (previously witnessed), but under David's reign, they would thrive. It would have been in Achish's best interest to kill David and use it as a peace broker with Saul. This is one of the many examples that show when you are against God, you are against yourself. God will always lead us in a direction that benefits our best interest.
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David Lets Saul Live

On a few occasions, God places David in the position to kill Saul. God is showing both David and Saul that He has chosen David; where Saul has been unsuccessful at killing David over several attempts, David walks into situations where he could easily kill Saul without even trying. In both cases, the person with him advises him to take advantage of the position God has placed him in, but David refuses. David says Saul was anointed by God, thus it isn't right for him to take his life. Instead, David takes the opportunity to prove to Saul he means him no harm. When the encounter passes, David shows Saul a relic of the event, proving he was both undetected and within range to kill the king. At this revelation, Saul always admits his sin and ceases his pursuit of David momentarily. Why this revelation does not stick with Saul is unclear.
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Once Anointed, Always Anointed?

This passage led me to reflect on the doctrine of "once saved, always saved" or perseverance of the saints. This doctrine persists in denominations that stem from Calvinism. Baptists and other evangelical denominations hold this position as well.^[12] The idea is that once a person professes belief in Jesus, they are guaranteed salvation. The point of contention is whether this is dependent on their choices after professing belief. There are many people who claim to be "non-practicing" Christians; many of whom will say they believe in Jesus they just don't follow the Bible. Opponents of "once saved, always saved" attack the teaching because many who grew up in churches that adhere to the doctrine grow up to believe they can stray from Jesus' teachings but because they believe in him they're OK. I'll talk about the doctrine itself in a post by itself so that I can cover it in more detail, but right now I want to discuss this idea as it relates to how David viewed Saul.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.1 John 3:9

We are told that those who are of God will not sin, which means once a person confesses Jesus is Lord, he/she should not be actively committing sin. This can't mean they never sin or that they won't receive eternal life if they sin once, because Moses sinned (everybody sins). He may not have seen the promised land, but he was taken to Heaven and appeared at the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36). However, the devil knows Jesus lives, chooses to sin, and will not be in Heaven. So where does that leave us? Personally, I believe it's about open rebellion versus minor slip-ups. Moses gets caught up in the moment and does something he shouldn't have; likely, he repents of the actions after he realizes his mistake. The devil, on the other hand, rebels openly, consciously choosing to do what God has told him not to do. If you have chosen Jesus, you will not choose to rebel or remain in sin (though you may fall into it on occasion), but if you have not chosen Jesus, you will rebel just as Satan did. We have to remember that people can claim to believe without actually believing.

Imagine you're on a boat and it begins to capsize, so you and your friend throw out a life boat. People from the boat will make their way out of the water and into the life boat. As long as they remain in the boat (and the boat has no holes), they will stay afloat, but if one chooses to jump off the boat, they may drown. Similarly, as long as we choose God we are guaranteed to stay afloat. The question is what will happen if we choose to jump ship? Did Saul truly repent, or was he in open rebellion against God?

David's insistence that Saul was anointed by God and thus should not be harmed begs the question, what did ancient Israelites believe. Samuel has told David he would be king and anointed him. Samuel has also informed Saul that the kingdom was being taken from him. Yet, when David is given the opportunity to kill Saul and claim the throw, he choses not to. Did David think "once anointed, always anointed?" Will Saul be in heaven despite his treatment of David and the priests?

David's perspective represents that of non-judgment. David knows that at one point, God chose Saul; that makes Saul a chosen person by God and worthy of respect. Saul's sinfulness is between him and God. While God may have placed David in situations that gave David the advantage and ability to kill Saul, God never issues a direct command to David that such a thing is to be done. David understand his anointing to give him authority as king after Saul has died of natural causes or in battle.
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References

1. "Michal". Wikipedia. 2016
2. Genesis 2:24
3. 1 Timothy 3:2,12
4. 1 Timothy 5:9
5. Matthew 19:9
6. LifeJourney Church. "David loved Jonathan more than women". Would Jesus Discriminate?. 2016
7. Musgrove, Jared. "The Truth About David and Jonathan". The Village Church. March 7, 2012
8. Guzik, David. "Jonathan's Final Attempt to Reconcile His Father and David". Blue Letter Bible. 2001
9. Biography.com Editors. "Anastasia Biography". Biography. June 22, 2016
10. YellowJacket. "How Does Jesus' Argument From David and the Showbread Work". Hermeneutics Stack Exchange. January 12, 2014
11. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 501. 2014
12. "Perseverance of the Saints". Wikipedia. 2016

1 Samuel 17: David vs. Goliath

How tall was Goliath? How can we replicate David's faith?

Introduction

One of the most famous moments in Bible history is the slaying of the giant Goliath by David. This story is told in 1 Samuel 17. Goliath challenged the Israelites that if a man could slay him, the Philistines would leave, but if Goliath slayed the Israelite, the Philistines would automatically win the battle.

Without any details, it seems like a convenient way to avoid massive bloodshed. Imagine, if instead of the world's armies fighting on 3 fronts in WWII, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Churchill, Kai-shek, Roosevelt, and Hirohito just fought each other. Instead of millions of people dying, bombs dropping on innocent civilians, and destroying the land, only the majority of the opposing side's leaders would have died. That sounds like a good deal, right? In the Israel-Philistine case, only one person had to die. However, the fact that Goliath was a giant and a warrior put fear in Israel's heart that none of their men could defeat him. They thought it might be better to fight an all out battle which they had better odds of winning. Only David, who wasn't even supposed to be on the battle field, was brave enough to take on Goliath.
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Goliath

Goliath's height is given as 6 cubits and a span. A cubit is generally considered to be 1.5 feet,^[1] and a span is given as 9 inches.^[2] This means Goliath was a whopping 9'9" tall. For comparison, the tallest man in secular record is Robert Waldow, who was 8'11",^[3] and the tallest NBA players were Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who were only 7'7".^[4] The current tallest man alive is Sultan Kosen, who is 8'3".^[5] Basically, Goliath was astronomically tall, and that's not just my short-statured, 5'3"-self talking.

Considering the fact that Mr. Kosen's extreme height was caused by health problems and Mr. Waldow had to wear an ankle brace, I'm sure that both men would be in no condition to take on someone who was healthy at 9'9".^[3][5] Mr. Bol and Mr. Muresan, who were fit and athletic, are still more than 2 feet shorter than Goliath. Can you imagine being asked to fight to the death with a man 2 feet taller than you? Now take in to account that the average height for a man today is about 5'10".^[6] Most of Saul's army was probably about 4 feet shorter than Goliath.

Goliath's enormous height is probably one of the biggest (pun-intended) details of the story. The story is etched in our memory as this huge, warrior of a man being defeat by the young and small David. However, Goliath's height is actually debated. The Hebrew Text (also called the Masoretic Text) that records Goliath's height as 9 cubits, however, a copy of the Book of Samuel from the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as, the Septuagint list Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span. Using these measurements, Goliath would only be 6'9", though this still pretty tall to the average person.^[7] Even at 6'9", Goliath would be in the 99.997th percentile for height in America and the 99.995th percentile in Israel today.^[8] This means 99.9% of the people he came into contact with would be shorter than him.

In addition to the conflict in texts, we have to remember that "cubit" and "span" were measurements controlled by distances on the body; they varied from person to person. Using the average height of the Israelites during David's era, one Bible scholar estimates that a cubit was probably around 16 inches and a span around 7 inches. Using these measurements he estimates that Goliath would have been either 8'10" (just shy of the tallest man ever recorded) or 6'1", depending on which measurement is correct. In both cases, Goliath still would have towered over the Israelites, whose average height of the time was 5'3".^[7]

The wonderful thing is that the text reads the same way regardless of which height you choose. The point was that Goliath was exceedingly tall compared to the Israelites, and whether he was over 9' tall or just over 6' tall, he still towered over them.
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David

David is described as being but a youth when he goes up against Goliath. I would guess he was in his teens, since Israel's age for military service was 20 years old (Numbers 1:45) and David was not in the army with his older brothers. In fact only 3 of his brothers were involved in the battle. One could try to assume that this means 4 of his brothers were also under 20 years of age. If they were a year apart in age, this would place David's age at approximately 14. While this definitely makes his victory all the more compelling, and explains Saul's declaration that he was but a child, we have to remember that brothers were likely forbidden from fighting in the same battles. The fear was that a family would lose it's name if all the sons died in the battle. It was likely that brothers were split up during wars to increase the likelihood of at least one survivor to carry on the family name.^[9] It is possible that the other 4 brothers were in battles elsewhere across the nation. After all, if the other sons were present, why was David the one sent to take food to his eldest brothers in battle?

Nonetheless, the narrative tells us David was quite young and quite confident in God to deliver the Israelites once again. While the Israelite soldiers cowered before Goliath, David boasted that God would not fail Israel. He had faith that whoever volunteered would be protect by God, and thus come out victorious. David's faith and confidence in God to take care of the people clearly illustrates why God described David as a man after his own heart.

Sometimes we let the details of life intimidate us. We think our problems are too great and the people against us too powerful for us to win the battle. At these times we are stagnant, unable to move forward. However, we should be like David, and remember that God can handle anything. Just as David was able to face the taller and more experienced Goliath by the grace of God, we are able to do the same with problems in our lives.
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The Battle

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.Isaiah 54:17 KJV

Initially, Saul gives David his own armor, which was not only a statement of their friendship, but a statement of Saul's blessing as the king. With Saul's armor, you can bet David had quality, top-of-the-line armor. Saul even lent David his sword to fight with. However, the armor didn't sit well with David. In 1 Samuel 17:39, David says he had not proven the armor, so he gave it back. It isn't exactly clear what David meant here, but there are a few possibilities. It could have been that David was not used to the weight of the armor and thought it would hinder him battle. Another possibility is that as a youth who was not even trained as an entry level soldier, David felt it above his station to wear the kings armor.

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Asif Akbar

After casting off Saul's generous offer, David is left to find his own weapon for battle and prepares to fight Goliath unprotected. David chooses 5 smooth stones to be his weapons. Goliath is insulted that the Israelites send this small boy, not even baring a sword, to fight him. As is the pattern with God winning battles for the Israelites, the odds were stacked against David so if he won, it could only be attributed to God. David wastes no time using a slingshot to fire off one of the stones at Goliath. The stone lands in Goliath's forehead so hard it sinks in a bit. This knocks Goliath to the ground where David severs Goliath head from his body with his own sword—remember, David didn't bring a sword to the battle. How humiliating is that?

Once David has won the battle, the Israelites drive the rest of the Philistines back and Saul inquires of David's father. It is not clear why he wants information on David's father, but studies have suggested he wanted to reward the man for producing and raising the son who became a hero for Israel.

References

1. Sergey Gershtein and Anna Gershtein. "Cubit Conversion Chart". Convert-Me.Com. 2016
2. "Span to Inches". ConvertUnits. 2016
3. "Tallest Man Ever". Guinness World Records. 2016
4. "The Tallest Players in NBA History". Sports Illustrated. March 3, 2015
5. "Tallest Man Living". Guinness World Record. 2016
6. "List of average human height worldwide". Wikipedia. 2016
7. Randy McCraken. "Goliath’s Height: How Tall Was He?". Bible Study With Randy. May 23, 2016
8. "Height Percentile Calculator, by Age or Country". Tall.Life. 2016
9. "Sullivan Brothers". United States Senate. 2016

1 Samuel 16: David is Anointed

God allows Samuel to mourn for Saul for a little while, but eventually, God tells Samuel it's time to move on. When we lose friends because we have chosen to follow God, He will bring us into the fellowship of people following the same path.

Introduction

In the previous chapter, Samuel began to mourn Saul due to the king's sins. At the start of this chapter, God tells Samuel it's time to stop mourning Saul and anoint the new king. We aren't told how long Samuel was allowed to mourn Saul's choices, only that God was there to help Samuel move on when the time came.

A New King

Knowing Saul would be suspicious and angry if he found out what was happening, God sends Samuel to Jesse to select the new king under the auspices of offering sacrifices. Once there, Samuel sees Jesse's 7 eldest sons before pronouncing God's favor on David, the 8th and youngest son. At that time, David is anointed and the Spirit of God comes upon him, confirming God's favor upon him.

In contrast to God's Spirit coming upon David, an evil spirit comes upon Saul. While the evil spirit is described as being from God (1 Samuel 16:14-16); likely the implication is that God allowed an evil spirit to haunt Saul. It isn't that God has created this evil, so much as the fact that He allows the evil to occur.^[1] This situation is similar to that of Job. In Job's case it was a test of Job's righteousness, but in Saul's case it was likely punishment. Another way of thinking of this is by viewing God as our armor (Ephesians 6:10-18); when we drift from Him, we take off our armor and leave ourselves vulnerable to evil. A final interpretation is the perception of Saul. Since he, too, had received the Spirit of God, which is pure, the "evil spirit from God" may simply be the judgement of guilt-riddled conscious of Saul by the Spirit of God.

Whatever the case, Saul calls for a harp player to soothe the evil spirit. The harp player turns out to be David. When David plays the harp for Saul, the evil spirit subsides. While Saul, and probably some who read the story, will think it is the sound of the harp that calms the spirit, I have a feeling the presence of God in David has something to do with it, as well.

David doesn't share Samuel's revelation to Saul—probably a wise decision on his part— which allows the two men to become very close. They get along so well that Saul appoints David to be his armor bearer.
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The End of Mourning

It's only natural to be concerned for our loved ones. However, many times, our friends and family are not on the same spiritual journey that we are. I have friends who are out seeking Christ daily; they're growing in Christ at their own rate. I have other friends who believe, but are stagnant in their faith; they are content with themselves right where they are and don't desire a stronger relationship with God. On the other hand, I know people who are struggling with their faith; they've lost their connection to God and are wandering in every which direction. Like Samuel, when I learned my friends were struggling with faith, I was sad for them. I'm not sure I would say I mourned for them, but then, I wasn't in the position Samuel and Saul were.

Saul was king of Israel, and Samuel was a priest/judge of Israel. If the two of them stood together, God's way was sure to prevail. They were the highest men of authority in Israel. Having both been anointed, Saul and Samuel likely shared a bond, that Samuel felt could only be discussed between the two. In addition, since Saul was king, anytime Samuel wanted to get a message out to the people, he could have sent it through Saul. However, once Saul's heart changed, his vision changed and that split the united front Saul and Samuel were meant to project. Samuel could no longer rely on Saul, and Saul was no longer listening to Samuel. Samuel knew that he had to distance himself from Saul because Saul had made his decision, and that hurt.

Our friends and family are the same way. If you stay true to God amongst friends who have lost their way, it will put a wedge in your friendship. Just as God does not seek to keep company with evil, evil does not seek to keep company with God. As Amos 3:3 says, "can two walk together except they be agreed?" Sometimes we have to let these friendships die. That doesn't mean you stop praying for that person or you cease loving them; it just means they may not be your best-best-buddy anymore.

God allows Samuel to mourn for Saul for a little while, but eventually, God tells Samuel it's time to move on. When we lose friends because we have chosen to follow God, He will bring us into the fellowship of people following the same path. God doesn't want us desiring people who do not desire Him, and He doesn't want to see us suffering due to the loss of those people. However, we can't move on to the next phase of our life while still in mourning. Eventually we have to let those people go and trust God to bring us to a better place.
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References

1. "1 Samuel 16:14 Commentary". Bible Hub. 2016

1 Samuel 15: Saul Sins

Saul disappointing God to the point he loses his throne is more like us today than we like to think.

Introduction

Saul had already committed a sin, when he decided to present the offerings instead of waiting on the priest (Samuel) in 1 Samuel 13, and God had already made it known to Saul that he would be replaced. You would think this would drive Saul to be better, to prove that his sin was one moment of poor judgment, not his normal behavior. Perhaps that was Saul's intent with the fast he imposed upon his soldiers before their battle; of course that, too, backfired, causing them to sin when they finally could eat. 1 Samuel 15 tells us how Samuel fell into sin, once again.
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Saul

1 Samuel 15 finds the Israelites at war once again, this time with the Amalekites. Samuel relays a message from God to Saul that they are to attack the Amalekites. God reminds them of how Amalek unjustly attacked Israel during their time in the wilderness, though He does not specify why the Israelites are to attack them now. It is possible that the Amalekites were thinking of attacking Israel, so God was moving Israel to attack first. It is also possible that the Amalekites were still in sin; most of the nations, including Israel, worshipped pagan gods. In the latter instance, God may have been using Israel to render punishment.

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.1 Samuel 15:3 KJV

As with most battles Israel entered, God command them to destroy everything. Whatever the Amalekites' sin was, it had defiled everything around them.
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Why Kill Everything?

Death to all sounds harsh; I'm pretty sure that would be considered a war crime in today's world (of course, only the losers ever get tried for war crimes). God Himself told us not to kill, so why does He tell the Israelites to kill everyone when in battle? That's hard logic to follow, and perhaps why Saul didn't follow God's instructions. Let's think about the situation for a minute.

Per God's design, and especially in that era, men were supposed to be leaders and warriors. Anyone left after a battle would harbor resentment and desire revenge, but the men would be the ones to carry it out. A perfect example of this is in the movie 10,000 BC. Whn an army attacks a village, carrying off many of their residents, the men that were left behind form a small army and set off in pursuit of the stolen villagers. Spoiler alert: in the end, that small army recruits other small armies in the same position, and together they defeat a massive empire. This is likely why God wanted all the men killed; to put a final end to the conflict. Afterall, once Jesus wins the final battle for the Earth, everyone who opposes God will be killed, too.

What threat did the women possess that they should be killed? In Numbers 25, we see it is the women that lead the Israelites into idolatry. Once their men were killed, they would have to seek out Israelite men or men in neighboring kingdoms for husbands, which would also make them low hanging fruit for the Israelite men to pluck. Lust and love can have a tremendous affect on a person's behaviors. Just a few years ago, I was talking to a friend of mine about the holidays. When I asked what he was going to do about holidays such as Christmas (we'll skip the discussion that it has pagan origins and is not really Christian) when he had children, he started saying it would depend on his wife. He kept talking about how "normal" it was for people to change their beliefs and stance on beliefs for their spouse. "People change all the time," he argued. This is why we are told not to be unequally yoked! We are to chose partners who are following God so that we are not tempted away from God. God knew that the Amalekite women would provide just that, temptations and gateways to paganism.

Which brings us to the animals. If anyone was completely innocent in the matter, the animals were. Why should they die? For the same reason God sent Jesus to die; after all of the killing the Israelites did, there had to be sacrifices to cleanse the Earth (Numbers 35:33). If they kept the spoils of war without atoning for the bloodshed, it would be detrimental to the Earth, and thus themselves. The animals' blood would cover the blood of the Israelites who should have otherwise send their own blood to atone for the massacre.
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Saul's Response

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Ra Wan

Saul gathers an army of 210,000 men to advance against the Amalekites. Though they are victorious, Saul does not kill the king of the Amalekites (Agag) and keeps the best of the livestock. If my assumption about the livestock acting as a sacrifice for the blood spilled, he withheld the best from God! Needless to say, God was not happy about Saul's decision to forgo His instructions.

Samuel weeps for Saul when he learns from God of Saul's disgraceful behavior. When Samuel confronts Saul, Saul's excuse for saving the livestock is that they were going to use it as a sacrifice. The sacrifice, however, was supposed to have happened on the battle field; it was the Amalekite's land that needed cleansing, not the Israelites. God didn't want "stolen" goods for the sacrifices in His tabernacle.

Samuel reveals God's disappointment to Saul. Suddenly, Saul changes his tune, and says it was "the people" that kept the spoils. This is like many before him, and many of us today. We often try to excuse our behavior by deflecting the blame to others (sometimes I think this is a subconscious decision and we don't even realize we're doing this). One of the most important verses of the Bible follows Saul's deflections.

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.1 Samuel 15:22

God would rather see us be obedient than have us shed the blood of animals. Justice may require bloodshed at times, but God's preference is that we obey so we don't need to shed blood. Saul's inability to follow God's orders constituted a rebellion and a rejection of God. Since Saul was rejecting God, God rejected Saul as king.

Upon hearing this, Saul begins to repent, claiming he was afraid of the people. Samuel doesn't seems to believe Saul at first. It is only after Saul's second declaration of repentance that Samuel agrees to pray with him. While Saul may have been genuinely sorry for his actions, his position required better. As king of Israel, he shouldn't have ever been so weak that the citizens were dictating how he was to lead. Whether God forgave him or not, he had proven himself to be inadequate as a leader. When we are placed in positions of power, we inherit higher standards. If we are easily swayed by the masses, we are not fit to lead God's people.
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The End of a Friendship

Even after Saul's declaration of repentance, it is Samuel who is forced to kill Agag and put an end to the conflict. Once Samuel leaves Saul this time, he doesn't go in search of Saul again until Saul's death. Saul seeks out Samuel in 1 Samuel 19, but from this point on, Samuel's view of Saul is forever altered. This was the breaking point of their friendship. Saul had chosen to lead a life where he disobeyed God, whereas Samuel had chosen to follow God in everything; they were no longer compatible. This happens in our friendships today. The closer we get to God, the farther away some of our friends will become. Our friends who do not believe or who chose to disobey God can serve as tethers to sin. Like Samuel, we must continue to pray for them, and sometimes our example may bring such a friend to Christ. However, we must be wary of seeking these people out and continuing to fellowship with them as though we agree with their choices.
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Getting Up After A Fall

When I was an undergraduate, I miraculously was able to earn a 4.0 for quite some time. At the end of my junior year, however, I earned a B in one class. That killed my 4.0 forever. I could have come back my senior year and churned out two more 4.0 semesters, but in the end, my GPA would have only been a 3.99. Some people probably would have went for that 3.99, but for me, that initial B was like permission to make other Bs. Suddenly, there was no need to be perfect, because I'd already messed that up, and as I watched my GPA dip, it didn't seem important any more. The first semester of my senior year, I ended up with 2 Bs, and the final semester, I let myself slide with 3 Bs. It wasn't until I started graduate school that I refocused my attention.

Sinning can be the same way. The devil has a way of convincing us that once we sin, we're hopeless. Once we get that first taste of sin, we wonder if it's really so bad—especially if we don't see immediate consequences. This is the process of drifting away from God. Most of my agnostic and atheist friends call it being enlightened, but really it's the fall all over again. The sin is like the forbidden fruit, and eating it opens your eyes to the knowledge that yes you can sin. You may reap positive consequences at first, maybe for so long you forget the connection. However, if you never repent, judgment day will bring the promised negative consequence of permanent death.

When we sin, we have to remember that God still loves us, that we aren't hopeless. We have to remind ourselves that unlike my 4.0 situation, Jesus can restore us to perfection. The whole purpose of Jesus dying on the cross was that we could be made new and wash away our sins.
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