I have been using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study for almost a year. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I started writing this blog because the only way I can get myself to read the Bible everyday is to pretend that I am teaching someone about what it says to me. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.
As the Philistines mustered for battle, the other commanders asked Achish why David, a Hebrew was part of their army. They insisted that David be sent back, as they were afraid he would turn against them in battle. I am sure they were in part remembering the first major battle against Saul, when they had large numbers of Hebrews in their army who turned joined with Saul when battle was entered. Achish argued for keeping David and his men in the army, but the other Philistine commanders insisted that he be sent back. Finally, Achish agrees to send David back. David argues his case with Achish, but the decision has been made, so David and his men return to Ziklag.
When David and his men get back to Ziklag, they discover that the town had been sacked. Their possessions had been taken and their families made slaves. David’s men were angry with him, and blamed him even though his wives have also been taken captive. David called Abiathar, the priest, to consult God as to what he should do. Abiathar told David that God was telling him that if he pursued the raiders, he wiould overtake them and recover the people and stolen goods. David set out with his 600 men in pursuit. As they were in pursuit, about 200 of his men became too exhausted to continue, so David left them to watch the supplies while he went on with the remaining 400 (this actually resembles a practice he had used before, where he left about one-third of his force to guard the supplies while the rest continued to battle).
Shortly after this, they came upon an Egyptian in a field. David’s men brought him to David. They fed the man and gave him some water since he had not had anything to eat or drink for three days. When his strength returned, they questioned him. He told them that he had been the slave of an Amalekite who had been part of a force which had raided in Judah and burned Ziklag. The Egyptian agreed to guide David and his men to the camp of the Amalekites as long as they promised not to kill him or return him to his master. They readily agreed. The man led them to the Amalekite camp, where the raiders were spread out celebrating the success of their raid. David and his men attacked them killing all of the Amalekites except for 400 young men who fled on camels. They recovered all of their families and their goods. When they rejoined those who had been left behind, some of those who had gone into battle did not want to share the plunder with those who had remained behind. David insisted that the plunder be shared equally between those who had fought and those who had guarded the supplies. When David got back to Ziklag, he sent shared part of the plunder with the elders of Judah.
Meanwhile, the Philistine army attacked the Israelite army and defeated it soundly. They killed three of Saul’s sons. In addition, the battle raged around Saul until Philistine archers wounded Saul. Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him so that he would not be taken alive by the Philistines. When his armor bearer refused, Saul killed himself. When his armor bearer realized Saul was dead, he also killed himself. The Philistines took the bodies of Saul and his sons and mounted them on the walls of one of their cities. The men of Jabesh-gilead went under cover of night and removed the bodies of Saul and his sons from the walls of the city and brought them back to Jabesh-gilead, where they buried them.
As the time of the Passover Feast arrived, Jesus went to Bethany to visit with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Martha served, Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus and Mary took a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on his feet, which she then wiped with her hair. Judas Iscariot complained that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. John editorializes that Judas said this because he was in charge of the disciples’ money and helped himself to what was put into it. Jesus answered Judas by telling him that Mary was preparing Him for His burial. They would have plenty of opportunity to help the poor, but only a short window with Jesus. There are two possible ways to interpret this. First is that Jesus was a special case and it was appropriate for Mary to use up this luxury item on Him because He was the Messiah. I don’t think this would have gotten this story into the Bible. The second possibility is that Jesus was telling us that sometimes we need to “treat” those around us, that we need to make sure that those we love know that we love them. I think this latter is the case. Sometimes we need to splurge a little on those who are important to us.
What a great psalm! It has many lines that I want to pull out and remind myself of.
What can mere people do to me?
I will trust in the Lord, what need do I have to fear or worry? If He wills good for me (and elsewhere we are assured that He does), what can anyone do to bring me harm? No one has the power to bring harm to those whom God protects.
he has given me victory.
People may stand against me, but as long as I do the Lord’s will, I will be victorious, not through my own strength, but through His.
to tell what the Lord has done.
I will tell of what the Lord has done as long as He shall give me life. He has done marvelous things for me.
Today’s three proverbs are linked. The wise do well because they remember the other two proverbs. Those who become proud of their possessions will see those possessions taken from them. Yet God protects the widow. I have seen both sides of this. God detests the plans of the evil and will bring them to ruin, but he will reward those who are upright and speak honestly.