1Samuel 25-27
Overview of chapter 25
Samuel died. David hid in the wilderness of Paran and while their began protecting the shepherds of a evil man named Nabal (which means senseless of foolish). On a festival day David sent messengers to see if Nabal would send some food for David’s men to celebrate as well. Nabal refused, so David and his men decided to return his evil by killing him and his men (KJV - “any that pisseth against the wall”). A message was sent to Nabal’s intelligent wife Abigail warning her of the impending death of her husband. She decided to bring a great feast out to David in hopes of saving her husband. David met her and agreed to take the feast and leave her husband alone. When Abigail returned home, she waited for her husband to sober up and then she told him what had happened. It broke his heart and he died 10 days later. When David heard that Nabal had died he proposed to Abigail and they were married. David had two other wives at this time, Saul’s daughter (who was also married to someone else) and a woman named Ahinoam.
Overview of chapter 26
The Ziphites continued to spy for Saul and once again told him where David was hiding. Saul and an army of 3000 men came to find David and set up camp near where David was hiding. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall over Saul and his men, allowing David and Abishai to sneak in to the camp. Once again David would not allow Saul to be killed, but he had Abishai steal Saul’s spear and water jug. Once David and Abishai got a comfortable distance away they called out to Abner the captain of Saul’s guards. They asked Abner why he had done such a poor job defending Saul, since they were able to get close enough to kill Saul. Saul recognized David’s voice and realized that David had again spared his life. Saul sounds repentant so David gave him his spear back and the two men parted to their own place again.
Overview of chapter 27
David still did not believe that Saul would give up trying to kill him (and apparently he didn’t believe that God would continue to protect him), so David decided to hide among Saul’s enemies the Philistines. When Saul heard David left the country he stopped searching for him. The king of Gath originally let David stay in his palace, but David convinced him to allow him to have the city of Ziklag. David still continued to fight the enemies of Israel, but he lied to the king of Gath and told him he was fighting the Israelites. We are told that David lived this bandit type lifestyle for 16 months.
Reflection
Do you trust God to take vengeance or do you try to take it for yourself when you are wronged? Abigail showed her wisdom by giving a gift to her enemy, what gifts can you give your enemies? In 1Samuel 26:23 David says, “the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;” will that be a big or small paycheck for you? Does lying to protect yourself show a lack of faith or trust in God?
For Further Study
Saul’s spear: 1Samuel 13:22-23, 1Samuel 18:10-11, 1Samuel 19:9-10, 1Samuel 20:32-33, 1Samuel 26:12, 2Samuel 1:6.
Samuel died. David hid in the wilderness of Paran and while their began protecting the shepherds of a evil man named Nabal (which means senseless of foolish). On a festival day David sent messengers to see if Nabal would send some food for David’s men to celebrate as well. Nabal refused, so David and his men decided to return his evil by killing him and his men (KJV - “any that pisseth against the wall”). A message was sent to Nabal’s intelligent wife Abigail warning her of the impending death of her husband. She decided to bring a great feast out to David in hopes of saving her husband. David met her and agreed to take the feast and leave her husband alone. When Abigail returned home, she waited for her husband to sober up and then she told him what had happened. It broke his heart and he died 10 days later. When David heard that Nabal had died he proposed to Abigail and they were married. David had two other wives at this time, Saul’s daughter (who was also married to someone else) and a woman named Ahinoam.
Overview of chapter 26
The Ziphites continued to spy for Saul and once again told him where David was hiding. Saul and an army of 3000 men came to find David and set up camp near where David was hiding. The Lord caused a deep sleep to fall over Saul and his men, allowing David and Abishai to sneak in to the camp. Once again David would not allow Saul to be killed, but he had Abishai steal Saul’s spear and water jug. Once David and Abishai got a comfortable distance away they called out to Abner the captain of Saul’s guards. They asked Abner why he had done such a poor job defending Saul, since they were able to get close enough to kill Saul. Saul recognized David’s voice and realized that David had again spared his life. Saul sounds repentant so David gave him his spear back and the two men parted to their own place again.
Overview of chapter 27
David still did not believe that Saul would give up trying to kill him (and apparently he didn’t believe that God would continue to protect him), so David decided to hide among Saul’s enemies the Philistines. When Saul heard David left the country he stopped searching for him. The king of Gath originally let David stay in his palace, but David convinced him to allow him to have the city of Ziklag. David still continued to fight the enemies of Israel, but he lied to the king of Gath and told him he was fighting the Israelites. We are told that David lived this bandit type lifestyle for 16 months.
Reflection
Do you trust God to take vengeance or do you try to take it for yourself when you are wronged? Abigail showed her wisdom by giving a gift to her enemy, what gifts can you give your enemies? In 1Samuel 26:23 David says, “the Lord will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness;” will that be a big or small paycheck for you? Does lying to protect yourself show a lack of faith or trust in God?
For Further Study
Saul’s spear: 1Samuel 13:22-23, 1Samuel 18:10-11, 1Samuel 19:9-10, 1Samuel 20:32-33, 1Samuel 26:12, 2Samuel 1:6.
posted by Shaun Sells | 10:01 AM
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