Sunday, April 8, 2007

1 Samuel 25-27


Insight Into Scripture

I hope that you enjoyed last week, walking with Christ to the Cross. I pray that you had a blessed Resurrection Sunday. Let's bring all of us up to speed on our readings.Israel wanted a king like all the other nations, which displeased YAHWEH, but HE gave them what they were asking for; Saul. Saul displeased YAHWEH when he was disobedient (13:13) eventually YAHWEH had enough of Saul and rejected him as king (Chapter 15)
David is anointed king (Chapter 16) but, Saul is still acting king. As YAHWEH's spirit enters into David and leaves Saul, Saul is filled with hatred toward David and has tried to kill him several times. Here is where we will pick up the story.

Blessings
This is a picture of the Judean Wilderness. Through most of history it has been uninhabited due to the lack of water and good traveling routes. This made it an ideal place for David to hide from Saul. This is the wilderness where David spared Saul's life while he was sleeping (Chapter 26)Click on the picture of the wilderness for more pictures. These photos are taken from Bibleplaces.com.

Scripture Reading
32 And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! 34 For as surely as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male." - 1 Samuel 25:32-34
9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" 10 And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. - 1 Samuel 26:9-12

Thought for the Day
David is known as "A man after GOD's own heart" As you will read, David had this intense, loving relationship with YAHWEH. What was important to YAHWEH, was important to David. Here we see one of David's traits displayed.In the first reading, David is angered, and is on his way to kill Nabal and all his men. David had been protecting Nabal and when David asked Nabal for food, Nabal refused. But, on his revengful way to kill Nabal, Abigail; a discerning and intelligent women wisely steps in and saves the day. David, after listening to Abigail releases his anger and gives his revengeful feelings to YAHWEH. As you will read, YAHWEH did take care of Nabal.
The second reading, David sneaks into Saul's camp. He and Abishai stand over Saul while everyone is sleeping. It would be so easy to kill Saul (Who has been trying to kill him) but, David again gives his revenge to YAHWEH.
Twice David puts his personal feelings aside and gives them to the LORD. What do you do when someone has hurt you or has it out for you? Do you look for ways to get revenge? Does it consume you? Do you find that you are spending more and more time thinking about the situation and how to get that person? Revenge is a consuming emotion.
If you are there or the next time revenge turns it's head towards your way, give it to the LORD. HE has promised that HE will fight your fights, and promises that revenge is HIS. I know that you will feel a weight lifted off of you, and GOD will honor the fact that you trusted HIM to take care of your problem.

Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus
Father thank You for the fresh air You provide for us to breath. The trees that sway in the wind a make a beautiful relaxing noise. Father I pray today that the ones that come into my life that I struggle with, I pray that You will show me Your ways and not mine. I pray Father that I can handle things with a loving heart and not an angry one. Father thank You for the so many blessings that You so lovingly give.
I love You and I pray in Your Name,
Amen

Bible Trivia
How old was Noah when God sent the flood to destroy the earth?
Hint: Genesis 7:11
Some have asked how to pronounce and what does this Hebrew Blessing mean:
ba-rukh at-tah Adonai me-lekh may-hul-lal ba-tesh-ba- hoot
Blessed are Lord a King be praise in adoration
Barukh attah Adonai melekh m'hulal batishbachot

2 comments:

A-Granny-r4 said...

Some have asked how to pronounce and what does this Hebrew Blessing mean:

Blessed are Lord a King be praise in adoration

Barukh attah Adonai melekh m'hulal batishbachot

This is neat Kim and Jim on March 28 I closed my comments with this translation:
BLESSED ARE YOU G-D WHO IS EXALTED WITH PRAISE

My second choice was same as yours: Blessed are you King be praise in adoration

Well it is 12:05 a.m. my time and after knowing what all ya'll have had to do in the past week I am not going to say a thing but I'm tired. I will answer question sometime tomorrow.

I to pray that everyone experienced a Life Changing Easter Season

IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna / Agranny3

A-Granny-r4 said...

Bible Trivia
How old was Noah when God sent the flood to destroy the earth?

ANSWER:
600 years old, is the age of Noah when the flood came.

OTHER THOUGHTS:
He spent 120 years of his life in the building of the ark and preaching to the people to repent.

Genesis 6:3- time took to build
Genesis 6:22- Thus did Noah (build)

Noah preparing of the ark took 120 years. During this time he preached righteousness to that generation. Noah preaching righteousness is written even years later in, 2Peter 2:5 and 1Peter 3:20.

In Noah's time the people are represented as shut up in prison-arrested and condemned by God's justice, but by that same God, they recieved grace for that space of 120 years, they could have repented.

Being unable to live a repentive life eventually led to God having to sacrifice His Son for us. In 1Peter 3:18,19, it is stated that the Spirit of Christ; and only through Him, that the doctrine of repentance could ever be SUCCESSFULLY preached.

IN CHRIST
Ecc.3
Donna / agranny3

P.S.
NUMBER MEANINGS:
120 Divine period of probation, End of all flesh; start of new life

600 Warfare