WHERE TO FIND HOPE WHEN THERE IS NONE.
This is based on the N.I.V. translation of the
book of 1 Samuel written about 930 B.C. or 39
lifetimes ago. Our comments are in brackets.
A man from Ramar (about 10 miles north west of
the top of the Sea of Galilee) had two wives.
One with children, the other with none.
Every year he took them south about 50 miles to
worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at
Shiloh. He loved Hannah the barren wife. But
year after year the other wife gave Hannah a
hard time, because she was barren. So whenever
she went up to the house of the Lord Hannah wept
and wouldn't eat. And her husband would ask why
and say, Don't I mean more to you than 10 sons?
Eli the priest was sitting on a chair by the
doorpost of the Lord's temple. In bitterness of
soul, anguish and grief, Hannah wept and prayed
to the Lord. She vowed if the Lord gave her a
son, to give him back to the Lord for all his
life, showing his dedication to the Lord by his
hair not being cut.
Her lips moved as she prayed. But there was no
sound as she prayed in her heart. Eli thought
she was drunk and told her to stop drinking. So
she explained to him. So Eli said, Go in peace
and may the God of Israel grant your request.
She went, ate and was no longer downcast. So she
bore a son to her husband and called him Samuel
saying, Because I asked the Lord for him.
She didn't go to Shiloh again 'til the boy was
weaned. Then she took him with a bull 3 years
old, flour and wine. After slaughtering the bull
the boy was brought to Eli and she explained
about the Lord answering her prayer. So she gave
him to the Lord and worshipped there.
(Chapter 1)
Then she prayed:
-My heart rejoices in the Lord.
-He's lifted me from disgrace to honour.
-The Lord:
-Is holy
-Matchless and supreme
-A rock of strength, stability and security.
-So don't speak proudly or arrogantly, for the
Lord knows and weighs deeds.
As a result:
-Warriors' bows are broken, but the weak are
armed for strength.
-The fat have to work for food, but those
who were hungry are now full.
-The barren woman has 7 children but she
with many children pines away.
-Because it is the Lord who:
-Brings death and the grave and also raises
and gives life.
-Humbles with poverty and also exalts with
wealth.
-Raises the poor and needy from:
-The dust and ash heap.
-Seating them with princes and
-Has them inherit a throne of honour.
-Has set the world on the foundations of His
earth.
-Guards the feet of His saints and silences
the wicked in darkness.
-Enables one to prevail not by strength.
-Shatters those who oppose Him, thundering
against them from heaven, judging the ends
of the earth.
-Will give strength to HIS KING and exalt
HIS ANOINTED (or MESSIAH/CHRIST).
Then she went home with her husband.
And the boy Samuel ministered before the Lord
under Eli the priest.
But Eli's sons, though priests, were wicked and
had no regard for the Lord. The normal custom
was that when the meat for a person's sacrifice
was being boiled, the priest's servant would
plunge a three pronged fork in to the vessel and
what came out on the fork was the priest's. But
Eli's sons took the raw meat first by
threatening to use force.
This was a very great sin in the Lord's eyes
because they were treating the Lord's offering
with contempt.
But Samuel, wearing a linen ephod, was
ministering before the Lord. Each year his
mother made him a little robe and brought it
when she came for the annual sacrifice. And Eli
would bless her and her husband saying, May the
Lord give you children to replace Samuel. The
Lord was gracious to Hannah and she had 3 sons
and 2 daughters. Meanwhile Samuel grew up in the
presence of the Lord.
Eli, very old, knew of his sons' sins including
how they slept with the women who served at the
entrance to the Tent of Meeting. He asked his
sons why and warned them that a man who sins
against the Lord has no one to intercede for
him. But they ignored him.
A man of God came and said to Eli, The Lord the
God of Israel says:
-I revealed myself to and chose your
forefathers as priests in Egypt.
-I gave them the offerings made by fire by the
Israelites.
-So why do you:
-Scorn my sacrifice?
-Honour your sons more than me by fattening
yourselves on the choice parts of people's
offerings?
-I promised your house would minister forever
but:
-Those who honour me I'll honour but
-Those who despise me will be disdained.
-Though good will be done in Israel, in your
family line no one will grow old, all will
die in the prime of life. Distress, tears
and grief for you.
-Your 2 sons will die on the same day.
-I'll raise up and establish the house of a
faithful priest who'll:
-Act in line with my heart and mind.
-Minister before my anointed one always.
-Then those left in your family will come and
beg him for a piece of silver and a crust of
bread and plead for a priestly office so as
to get food to eat.
(Chapter 2)
Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. The
word of the Lord was rare, there were not many
visions.
Late one night Eli, almost blind, was lying in
his usual place. Samuel was lying down in the
temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was.
The Lord called Samuel twice and each time he
got up and went to Eli thinking he had called.
Samuel didn't know it was the Lord's voice
because he didn't know the Lord. The word of the
Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
When the Lord called the third time Eli realised
it was the Lord and told Samuel to go back, lie
down and if He calls say, SPEAK LORD FOR YOUR
SERVANT IS LISTENING.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the
other times, Samuel, Samuel. Samuel said, Speak
for your servant is listening.
The Lord said to Samuel:
-I am about to do something in Israel that
will make hearers' ears tingle.
-I'll carry out against Eli's family what I
promised, judging them forever because of
the sin he knew about but failed to
restrain.
Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. But
Eli asked him so he told him. Eli said, He is
the Lord; let Him do what is good in His eyes.
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up. His
words proved reliable. So all Israel recognised
him as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued
to appear at Shiloh. He revealed Himself to
Samuel THROUGH HIS WORD.
(Chapter 3)
Israel fought the Philistines at Aphek and were
defeated. Israel's elders asked why did the Lord
bring defeat. They decided to get the Ark from
Shiloh to save them from their enemies. Eli's
two sons came with it. But in the next battle
Israel lost 30,000 soldiers AND THE ARK. And
Eli's two sons were killed.
An Israeli soldier with torn clothes and dust
covered, ran from the battle line and went to
Shiloh. Eli, blind, 98 years old and heavy was
sitting on his chair by the side of the road,
watching because his heart feared for the Ark of
God.
The soldier hurried over to Eli and told him the
news. When he heard about the Ark he fell
backward off his chair, broke his neck and died.
His dead son's pregnant wife, hearing the news
that her husband and father-in-law were both
dead went into early labour, gave birth and
died. As she was dying the midwife said, Don't
despair, you've given birth to a son. But she
didn't respond or pay attention. So the midwife
named him Ichabod which means THE GLORY HAS
DEPARTED FROM ISRAEL.
(Chapter 4)
The Philistines took the Ark to Ashdod and put
it in the temple of their god Dagon.Next morning
Dagon had fallen on his face before the Ark. So
they put him up again. But next morning he was
on his face again before the Ark his head and
hands broken off.
The Lord's hand was heavy on the people of
Ashdod, devastating them with tumours. So they
sent it to Gath. But the Lord's hand was against
that city throwing it into great panic. The
people were afflicted with tumours so they sent
it to Ekron. But as it was entering, the people
said to send it back to Israel for death and
tumours had filled the city with panic.
(Chapter 5)
After 7 months the Philistines decided to return
the Ark to Israel. They decided to send a guilt
offering of 5 gold tumours and 5 gold rats, one
for each of their 5 rulers. They remembered how
God had punished Egypt before Israel was allowed
to leave.
So they made a new cart, and put the Ark on it
with the gold objects in a chest beside it as a
guilt offering. They hitched two cows, not
previously yoked, to the cart and sent it off.
They decided that if the cows took it straight
back to Israel at Beth Shemesh it would mean God
had been afflicting them. If not, their
afflictions would have been just "bad luck."
The cows went straight to Beth Shemesh, not
turning left or right. The rulers of the
Philistines followed, watched, then returned to
Ekron.
The people of Beth Shemesh who were harvesting
wheat, saw the Ark and rejoiced. It stopped
beside a large rock at the field of one Joshua.
The people chopped up the wood of the cart and
sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the
Lord. The Levites took the Ark and gold objects
and put them on the rock. The people of Beth
Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made
sacrifices to the Lord that day.
But God killed 70 men of Beth Shemesh for
looking in the Ark. The people said, Who can
stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy
God?
So they asked the people of Kirath Jearim to
come and get it.
(Chapter 6)
The Ark remained 20 years at Abinadab's house on
the hill where his son was consecrated to guard
it. All the people mourned and sought after the
Lord. So Samuel said to all Israel:
-If you're returning to the Lord with all your
hearts,
-Rid yourself of your foreign gods.
-Commit yourselves to serve the Lord only.
-And He will deliver you from the Philistines.
Israel did that.
Then Samuel said:
-Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I'll
intercede with the Lord for you.
-They did, drew water and poured it out before
the Lord.
-They fasted and confessed, We have sinned
against the Lord.
Samuel was Israel's leader at Mizpah.
The Philistines heard and prepared to attack.
Israel feared and asked Samuel, Do not stop
crying out to the Lord for us, that He might
rescue us. So Samuel offered a suckling lamb as
a whole burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out
to the Lord for Israel:
-And the Lord answered him.
-While Samuel was still sacrificing, the
Philistines attacked.
-But the Lord thundered against them and they
panicked.
-Israel pursued, slaughtered and routed them.
-He set up a stone, named it Ebenezer and
said:
Thus far has the Lord helped us.
-The Philistines were subdued and did not
invade again.
During Samuel's life:
-The hand of the Lord was against the
Philistines.
-Towns from Ekron to Gath were restored to
Israel.
-There was peace with the Amorites.
-He went on an annual circuit between Bethel
Gilgal and Mizpah judging Israel returning
home to Ramah, where he built an altar to
the Lord.
(Chapter 7)
When old, Samuel appointed his sons as judges
but they were dishonest, accepted bribes and
perverted justice.
-So all Israel asked Samuel to appoint a king
such as ALL THE OTHER NATIONS HAVE.
-Displeased, Samuel prayed to the Lord.
-The Lord said:
-They haven't rejected you.
-It's me they've rejected as king.
-As always, since Egypt, to-day they forsake
me and serve other gods.
-Warn them solemnly what they are in for.
Samuel told them the Lord's words that a king
would:
-Make your sons serve with horses and chariots
in his army.
-Make others plough and reap his fields.
-Make others make weapons of war.
-Make your daughters his perfumers, cooks and
bakers.
-Take the best of your fields, vineyards and
olive groves for his attendants.
-Take one tenth of grain, vintage and flocks
for his officials and attendants.
-Take the best of your donkeys, cattle and
servants for his own use.
-Take you yourselves as slaves.
And further that when that day comes, you'll cry
out to the Lord for relief from the king you've
chosen and the Lord won't answer.
But the people refused to listen.
No, we want a king like all other nations to
lead us and go out before us and fight our
battles.
Samuel repeated this before the Lord. The Lord
said, Give them a king and Samuel said to the
men of Israel, Everyone go back to his town.
(Chapter 8)
A Benjamite had a son named Saul. He was an
impressive young man without equal in Israel, a
head taller than any other.
He went looking for his father's lost donkeys in
the hill country of Ephraim and Benjamin. But
without success. So his servant suggested they
ask guidance from a man of God (or seer) in a
nearby town.
The man of God was Samuel. The day before Saul
came, God told him to anoint Saul as Israel's
leader. God said, He will deliver my people from
the Philistines. I have looked on my people and
heard their cry.
Saul arrived, Samuel saw him and God said, This
is the man to govern my people. At the town gate
Saul asked directions to the seer's house. I am
the seer, Samuel replied, Eat with me to-day and
to-morrow morning before you go I'll tell you
everything that's in your heart. Your donkeys
have been found. And Israel's desire for a king
is centred on you and your father's family.
Saul replied, But I'm from Benjamin, Israel's
smallest tribe and my clan is the smallest in
it! So why me?
Samuel had previously invited about 30 guests to
a meal in a hall at the town's high place after
he blessed the sacrifice there. So he seated
Saul at the head of the guests and said to the
cook, Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the
one I told you to lay aside. The cook did so.
Samuel said to Saul, Here is what has been kept
and set aside for you for this occasion.
Coming down from the high place to the town
Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his
house. Arising about daybreak Samuel called to
Saul on the roof to get ready to depart. When
Samuel and Saul reached the edge of town Samuel
said, Tell your servant to go on ahead so I can
give you a message from God.
(Chapter 9)
Then from a flask, Samuel poured oil on Saul's
head, kissed him and said:
-The Lord has anointed you leader over His
inheritance.
-To-day you'll meet two men near Rachel's tomb
at Zelzah who will say the donkeys have
been found and your father is worried about
you.
-Go from there to the great tree of Tabor.
Three men going up to God at Bethel will
meet you:
-One carrying 3 young goats.
-One carrying 3 loaves of bread.
-One carrying a skin of wine.
-They will offer two loaves of bread which
you will accept.
-Then go to Gibeah of God, and meet a
procession of prophets coming down from the
high place. The Spirit of the Lord will come
upon you in power, you'll prophesy and be
changed into a different person.
-When these signs are fulfilled, do whatever
your hand finds to do for God is with you.
-Go ahead of me to Gilgal. I'll come down to
you to sacrifice burnt offerings and
fellowship offerings but wait seven days
until I come and tell you what to do.
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his
heart and all these signs were fulfilled that
day. When he joined the prophets and prophesied
at Gibeah, those who formerly knew him asked
each other, What has happened to him? When he
stopped prophesying he went to the high place.
Saul's uncle asked where he'd been. He told him
about meeting Samuel but not about the kingship.
Samuel summoned Israel to the Lord at Mizpah and
told them the Lord the God of Israel says:
-I brought Israel out of Egypt.
-I delivered you from the kingdoms that
oppressed you.
-But you've rejected your God who saves you
out of calamities and distresses.
-You've said, Set a king over us.
-So present yourselves by your tribes and
clans.
When they came, Samuel:
-Selected the tribe of Benjamin.
-Then he selected Saul's clan.
-Then he selected Saul.
-But Saul couldn't be found.
-So they enquired further of the Lord.
-And the Lord said, He has hidden himself
among the baggage.
-So they ran and brought him out.
-And Samuel said This is who God has chosen.
-Then the people shouted, Long live the king.
Samuel explained to Israel the regulations of
kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and
deposited it before the Lord. Then he dismissed
the people.
Saul returned home to Gibeah with valiant men
whose hearts God had touched. But troublemakers
said, How can this fellow save us and despised
him. But Saul kept silent.
(Chapter 10)
Ammonites besieged the Israeli town of Jabesh
Gilead. They imposed surrender conditions that
would have disgraced Israel. So the town elders
asked for 7 days to send messengers asking for
help in Israel, offering to surrender if none
came.
When Saul heard,the Spirit of the Lord came upon
him in power and he burned with anger. He took
two oxen, cut them in pieces and sent them
through all Israel saying, This will be done to
the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and
Samuel.
The terror of the Lord fell on the people and
they turned out as one man, 330,000 of them.
Saul mustered them at Bezek near Jabesh Gilead.
He told the messengers to tell the men of Jabesh
Gilead they'd be delivered by the time the sun
is hot to-morrow. So these men told the
Ammonites they'd surrender to-morrow.
Next day, during the last watch of the night,
Saul divided his men into three groups, attacked
and routed the Ammonites.
So the people said to Samuel, Death to those who
opposed Saul's kingship. But Saul said, No for
this day the Lord has rescued Israel.
Samuel told the people to go to Gilgal and
reaffirm Saul as king. So they did in the
presence of the Lord, sacrificing fellowship
offerings and having a great celebration.
(Chapter 11)
Samuel said to all Israel:
-You've asked for a king and I've set one over
you as your leader.
-I've been your leader from my youth.
-Have I taken an ox or a donkey?
-Have I cheated anyone?
-Have I bribed anyone?
-Have I oppressed anyone?
-Testify against me in the presence of the
Lord and His anointed if I have.
-They replied, You've done none of these
things.
Samuel said, The Lord and His anointed are
witnesses to this?
He is witness, they replied.
Then Samuel said to the people:
-I'll confront you with evidence before the
Lord of His righteous acts for you and your
forefathers.
-In Egypt they cried to the Lord for help and
He sent them Moses and Aaron who brought
your forefathers out and settled them here.
-But they forgot the Lord their God.
-So He sold them into the hands of:
-Sisera, the commander of the army of Hazor.
-The Philistines.
-King of Moab.
-Then they cried out to the Lord and said:
-We have sinned.
-We have forsaken the Lord.
-We have served the Baals and Ashtoreths.
-But now deliver us from our enemies and we
will serve you.
-So the Lord sent:
-Jerub-Baal.
-Barak.
-Jephthah and
-Samuel.
-And delivered you from your enemies so you
lived securely.
-But when you saw the Ammonites threatening
you said, We want a king to rule over us.
EVEN THOUGH THE LORD YOUR GOD WAS YOUR KING.
So here is your king, the Lord has set him over
you.
-If you and your king:
-Fear the Lord
-Serve and obey Him
-Do not rebel against His commands
-Follow the Lord your God.
Good!
-If not, the Lord's hand will be against you
as it was against your fathers.
So stand still and see the great thing the Lord
will do.
-It's wheat harvest.
-I will call on the Lord to send thunder and
rain
-And you'll realise what an evil thing you did
in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a
king.
So Samuel called on the Lord and thunder and
rain came.
-All the people stood in awe of the Lord and
Samuel.
-They said:
-Pray to the Lord your God that we won't
die.
-For we have added to all our sins, the evil
of asking for a king.
Don't fear, Samuel said,
-You have done all this evil
-But don't turn from the Lord
-But SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.
-Don't turn away after useless idols.
-For the sake of His great name the Lord will
not reject His people.
-Because the Lord was pleased to make you His
own
-I won't sin by failing to pray for you.
-I'll teach you the good and right way.
-Fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with
all your heart.
-Consider the great things he's done for you.
But persist in doing evil and you and your king
will be swept away.
(Chapter 12)
Saul was 30 when he became king and he reigned
for 42 years. His son was Jonathan. He chose
3000 men to be with him at Michmash and 1000
with Jonathan at Gibeah.
Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at
Geba. As a result:
-Saul told Israel to expect a Philistine
reaction and summoned the people to join him
at Gilgal.
-The Philistines asembled at Michmash to
fight, with 3,000 chariots, 6,000
charioteers and a vast army.
-So the men of Israel hid in caves, thickets,
among rocks, pits and cisterns, while some
fled east over the Jordan.
-At Gilgal Saul's troops quaked with fear.
-He waited 7 days as instructed by Samuel but
when he didn't arrive the troops began to
scatter.
-So he offered up burnt and fellowship
offerings.
-Just as he finished Samuel arrived and asked
What have you done?
-Saul replied,
-The men were scattering.
-You hadn't come at the set time.
-The enemy were assembling.
-So I thought, they'll arrive before I've
sought the Lord's favour.
-So I felt compelled to offer the burnt
offering.
Samuel said - You acted foolishly in not keeping
the command the Lord gave you so, instead of
your kingdom over Israel being established for
all time, it will not endure. The Lord has
sought out a man after His own heart and
appointed him leader of His people.
Samuel left and Saul counted his men, about 600.
The Philistines sent 3 raiding parties out. The
Philistines had cornered the blacksmithing
market so there wasn't a single Israeli
blacksmith. Consequently, on the day of battle,
only Saul and Jonathan had a sword and spear.
(Chapter 13)
A detachment of Philistines had gone out to the
pass at Michmash.
-Jonathan said to his young armour bearer:
-Let's go to these uncircumcised fellows.
Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf.
Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving,
by many or few.
-If, when they see us they say come up,
we'll know the Lord has given them into
our hands.
-Seeing them, the Philistines said, The
Hebrews are crawling out of their hiding
holes, come up and we'll teach you a
lesson.
-So then Jonathan climbed up with his
armour bearer right behind.
-They killed about 20 Philistines in an
area of about half an acre.
-Panic struck the whole Philistine army, in
camp, field, outposts and raiding parties.
The ground shook. It was a panic sent by
God.
-Saul's lookouts at Gibeah saw the army
melting away in all directions.
-Saul ordered a muster to see who was missing.
He found it was Jonathan and his armour
bearer.
-He said to Ahijah the priest, bring the Ark
of God.
-As he spoke, the tumult in the Philistine
camp increased.
-So he said, Withdraw your hand.
-So Saul and his men went into battle.
-They found the Philistines in total
confusion fighting each other.
-So Hebrews among the Philistines went over
to Saul's side.
-And Israelites hearing Philistines were on
the run, joined the battle in hot pursuit.
-So the Lord rescued Israel that day.
-Saul had bound his men with an oath, cursing
any who ate before evening when he would
have vengeance on his enemies.
-So his men were in distress.
-But Jonathan didn't know about the oath
and ate.
-So a soldier warned him, explaining why
the men were faint with hunger.
-Jonathan said, My father has made trouble
for the country, it would have been
better for the men to eat and more
Philistines slaughtered.
-At day's end the exhausted Israelites
slaughtered plundered stock and ate it
blood and all.
-Saul was told the men were sinning against
the Lord by doing this.
-You've broken the faith he said.
-He readied a large stone
-And told the men to slaughter them there
-And not sin against the Lord by eating meat
with blood in it.
-Everyone did so.
-Then Saul, for the first time, built an altar
to the Lord.
-He said, Let's plunder the Philistines by
night and leave none alive.
-But the priest said, Let us enquire of God
here.
-So Saul asked God if he'd win.
-But God didn't answer.
-So he called the army leaders to find out who
had sinned.
-Saying Even if it's Jonathan he must die.
-No man said a word.
-Saul told the Israelites to stand on one
side and he and Jonathan the other.
-He prayed for the right answer by casting
lots.
-Thus Jonathan was identified
-And told him about breaking the eating ban.
-Must I die for tasting a little honey, he
said.
-May God deal with me severely if you
don't, Saul replied.
-But the men said, Jonathan has brought
about this great deliverance for Israel.
As surely as the Lord lives, not a hair
of his head shall be hurt. What he did
was with God's help. So they rescued
Jonathan.
-So Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines and
they withdrew to their own land.
-Saul fought Israel's enemies on every side,
Moab, Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah,
Philistines and Amalekites. He fought
valiantly, inflicting punishment and
delivering Israel from those who had
plundered them.
-His army commander was called Abner.
-All Saul's days there was bitter war with the
Philistines. Whenever Saul saw a mighty or
brave man he took him into his service.
(Chapter 14)
Samuel told Saul to listen to the message from
the Lord.
-The Lord Almighty says, I will punish the
Amalekites for what they did to Israel as
they came up from Egypt.
-Attack and totally destroy them.
-Saul did so but he spared Agag their king and
the best sheep and cattle.
-Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel.
-I am grieved I made Saul king because he
turned away from me and hasn't obeyed my
instructions.
-Samuel, troubled, cried out to the Lord all
that night.
-Early next morning he went to meet Saul.
-But he was told he'd gone to Carmel to
build a monument in his own honour before
going to Gilgal.
-When they met Saul said, The Lord bless you,I
have carried out the Lord's instructions.
-But Samuel said, Why then the bleating of
sheep and the lowing of cattle?
-Saul said, The soldiers spared them to
sacrifice to the Lord your God.
-Stop, said Samuel, Listen to what the Lord
told me last night.
-Tell me, Saul replied.
-Samuel said, You were once small in your own
eyes but the Lord anointed you king and sent
you on a mission to completely destroy the
Amalekites.
-Why didn't you obey the Lord?
-Why did you pounce on the plunder and do
evil in the eyes of the Lord?
-But I did obey.
-The soldiers took livestock devoted to the
Lord to sacrifice them to the Lord your
God at Gilgal.
-Samuel replied:
-DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS
AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS OBEYING THE VOICE
OF THE LORD?
TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE AND TO
HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
-Rebellion equals the sin of idolatry.
-Arrogance equals the evil of idolatry.
-Because you rejected God's word, He has
rejected you as king.
-Saul said to Samuel,
-I've sinned, violating the Lord's command
and your instructions.
-I feared the people and gave in to them. I
beg you forgive my sin and come back with
me so I can worship the Lord.
-Samuel said,
-I won't go with you.
-You've rejected the word of the Lord.
-So the Lord's word rejected you as Israel's
king.
-Samuel turned to leave and Saul caught the
hem of his robe and tore it.
-So Samuel said, The Lord has torn the
kingdom of Israel from you and given it to
a better man.
-He who is the glory of Israel does not lie
or change his mind for HE IS NOT A MAN
THAT HE SHOULD CHANGE HIS MIND.
-Saul replied,
-I have sinned.
-But please honour me before the elders and
Israel.
-Come back with me so I may worship the Lord
your God.
-So Samuel went back with Saul and Saul
worshipped the Lord.
-Samuel said, Bring me king Agag.
-He came confidently expecting release.
-But Samuel said, Your sword made women
childless, so be it for your mother.
-And Samuel put him to death before the Lord
at Gilgal.
-Samuel left for Ramah. Until he died he did
not go to see Saul again. But he mourned for
him.
-Saul went home to Gibeah.
-And the Lord was grieved He'd made Saul
Israel's king.
(Chapter 15)
The Lord said to Samuel,
-How long will you mourn for rejected Saul?
-Fill your horn with oil and be on your way.
-Go to Jesse of Bethlehem, I've chosen one of
his sons as king.
Samuel said, How? Saul will hear and kill me.
The Lord said,
-Take a heifer and say I've come to sacrifice
to the Lord.
-Invite Jesse and I'll show you what to do.
-Anoint the one I indicate.
Samuel obeyed.
-At Bethlehem the elders trembled and asked,
Do you come in peace?
-Samuel replied, Yes, to sacrifice to the
Lord.
-Consecrate yourselves and come to the
sacrifice with me.
-He consecrated Jesse and his sons and
invited them.
-Arriving, Samuel saw Eliab, thinking he was
the one.
-But the Lord said, Don't look on the
appearance or height, the things men look
at. MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE
BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.
-Jesse had seven sons pass by but Samuel
said, The Lord hasn't chosen these.
-So he asked Jesse if he had any other sons.
-Only the youngest, Jesse said, But he's
tending sheep.
-Send for him, Samuel said.
-So they brought him in, ruddy with fine
appearance and handsome features.
-The Lord said, Anoint him.
-Samuel did in the presence of his brothers.
-From that day the Spirit of the Lord came
upon David in power.
-Samuel went to Ramah.
The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul
and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
-His attendants suggested a harp player be
found to make him feel better when the evil
spirit from God was tormenting him.
-Saul said, Find someone.
-A servant suggested David, a brave warrior,
well spoken, of fine appearance. And the
Lord is with him.
-So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to send
David.
-He did so with a donkey loaded with bread,
a skin of wine and a young goat.
-So David entered Saul's service.
-Saul liked him very much and made him one
of his armour bearers.
-Saul asked Jesse to allow David to remain
in his service.
-When the evil spirit from God came upon
Saul, David's playing brought relief and
the spirit left him.
(Chapter 16)
The Philistines gathered for war near Azekah.
Saul and Israel were on one side of Elah Valley
and the Philistines on the other.
Morning and evening a Philistine named Goliath
defied Israel to send a man to settle the
conflict one to one, the losing nation being
subject to the winner. But he was over 9' tall,
with a bronze helmet, scale armour of bronze
weighing 57 kgms,bronze leg protectors, a bronze
javelin on his back and a massive spear with an
iron point weighing 7 kgms! And a shield bearer
as well.
Saul and the Israelites were dismayed and
terrified.
This went on for 40 days.
David's brothers were in the battle line with
Saul. David shared his time between harp playing
for Saul and tending his father's sheep at
Bethlehem. His father sent him with provisions
for his three brothers.
As he was talking with his brothers Goliath
appeared and shouted his usual defiance. The
Israelites scattered in fear.
So David asked,
-What's the reward for killing this Philistine
and removing this disgrace from Israel?
-Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he
should defy the armies of the living God?
-Men nearby told him the reward promised by
Saul was great wealth, the king's daughter
in marriage and exemption from taxes for his
father's family.
-Hearing this David's older brother angrily
asked,
-Why have you come?
-Who did you leave those few sheep with?
-You're conceited and wicked, you only came
to watch the battle.
-What have I done? David replied.
-Can't I even speak?
-So he turned away and checked all this out
with someone else, who confirmed it.
-All this was overheard and reported to
Saul.
-David said to Saul,
-Don't lose heart because of this
Philistine.
-I'll fight him.
-Saul said,
-You're only a boy.
-He's been a fighting man from his youth.
-But David said,
-I've killed lions and bears while
protecting my father's sheep.
-This uncircumcised Philistine will be like
one of them, BECAUSE HE HAS DEFIED THE
ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD.
-The Lord who saved me from lion and bear
will save me from this Philistine.
-Saul said, Go and the Lord be with you.
-He dressed David in his own armour.
-David tried walking around because he was
not used to them.
-So he said,
-I can't go in these.
-I'm not used to them.
-So he took them off.
-Then he
-Took his staff in his hand
-Chose 5 smooth stones from the stream and
put them in the pouch of his shepherd's
bag
-And with his sling approached the
Philistine.
-The Philistine with shield bearer in front
kept getting closer to David.
-Seeing he was only a boy he despised him
-And said Am I a dog that you come at me
with sticks.
-He cursed David by his gods.
-Come here, he said, And I'll give your
flesh to the birds and beasts.
-David said,
-You come against me with sword, spear and
javelin.
-BUT I COME AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF THE
LORD ALMIGHTY, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF
ISRAEL, WHOM YOU DEFIED.
-TO-DAY THE LORD WILL HAND YOU OVER TO ME
AND I'LL STRIKE YOU DOWN AND CUT OFF YOUR
HEAD.
-TO-DAY I'LL GIVE THE CARCASSES OF THE
PHILISTINE ARMY TO BIRDS AND BEASTS AND
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT THERE IS A
GOD IN ISRAEL.
-ALL GATHERED HERE WILL KNOW IT'S NOT BY
SWORD OR SPEAR THAT THE LORD SAVES, FOR
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL GIVE
ALL OF YOU INTO OUR HANDS.
The Philistine moved in to attack.
David ran quickly to meet him,
-Reaching into his bag he took a stone
-And slung it so it sank into Goliath's
forehead.
Goliath fell face down on the ground dead.
David ran, stood over him, took Goliath's sword
and cut off his head.
The Philistines turned and ran.
Israel surged forward slaughtering them all the
way back to their towns of Gath and Ekron.
Then they returned and plundered their camp.
David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem and put
his weapons in his own tent.
After killing Goliath, still holding his head,
David explained to Saul that he was Jesse's son.
(Chapter 17)
At this time Saul's son Jonathan became one in
spirit with David. He initiated an agreement
accepting David as his equal.
Also, Saul now kept David with him.
But returning from the victory over Goliath,
Israeli women had sung praises, saying:
Saul has slain thousands
But David tens of thousands.
So Saul angrily thought, He'll get my kingdom.
He kept a jealous eye on David. Next day an evil
spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. Aiming
to pin him to the wall, he flung a spear at
David who was playing the harp. David eluded him
twice.
Because the Lord was with David and had left
Saul, he feared David. So Saul sent him away
into battles with the Philistines hoping he'd be
killed. But he was successful because the Lord
was with him. So Israel loved him and Saul's
fear grew.
Continuing to hope for David's death in battle
Saul first offered David his daughter Merab in
marriage, and then daughter Michal who loved
David.
But David had no money for a dowry. So Saul,
still hoping he'd be killed in battle with the
Philistines said he'd accept 100 Philistine
foreskins.
David presented them and Michal became his wife.
Saul, realising the Lord was with David and that
Michal loved him, became more afraid and
thereafter was always David's enemy.
David continued to have more success against the
Philistines than any of Saul's other officers
and his fame grew.
(Chapter 18)
Saul told Jonathan and all the attendants to
kill David. But Jonathan warned him to hide.
Then he spoke to his father asking why he wanted
to kill an innocent man for no reason. So Saul
swore this oath, As surely as the Lord lives,
David won't be killed.
Jonathan told David and brought him to Saul.
Things were as before and David's military
success continued. Then an evil spirit from the
Lord came upon Saul as David was playing the
harp. Again Saul tried to pin him to the wall
with his spear. But David eluded him. Saul sent
men to watch David's house that night and kill
him next day. But Michal his wife warned him and
let him down through a window so he escaped. She
put an idol in his bed so it looked like David
there asleep. She told the men who came to
capture David that he was ill.
Saul sent them back with orders, to bring him
back in his bed so he could kill him. But when
they entered his room there was the idol. Saul
asked Michal why she had deceived him. She
replied, He said, let me escape, why should I
kill you?
David fled to Samuel at Ramah. He and Samuel
went to nearby Naioth. Saul heard and sent men
to capture him. But the Spirit of God came on
them and with Samuel as leader and with other
prophets there, they also prophesied. So Saul
sent a second group - the same happened. Then
a third and the same happened.
So Saul set off to Naioth but God's Spirit came
on him and he walked along prophesying 'til he
got there. Arriving, he stripped off his robes
and prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that
way day and night. So people said, Is Saul also
among the prophets?
(Chapter 19)
David fled from Naioth to Jonathan and asked him
why was Saul trying to kill him. Jonathan denied
any knowledge of this latest development. David
explained his father wasn't keeping him informed
because of their friendship.
David was due to be at Saul's new moon festival
next day so he asked Jonathan to make an excuse
for his absence, find out the king's intentions
and let him know. Right, said Jonathan. How will
you let me know?, David asked.
Jonathan said, Let's go out into the field.There
he promised to let David know his father's
intentions. They reaffirmed their friendship
agreement and Jonathan asked for David's
unfailing kindness like that of the Lord for his
lifetime and for his family.
So they agreed that David hide at evening in an
agreed field and near a known rock. After the
feast Jonathan would come and shoot 3 arrows as
if aiming at the rock.
If he told the boy with him the arrows have
fallen short David would know he was safe. But
if he said the arrows had fallen beyond the boy
David would know that the Lord had sent him
away.
When, at the feast Jonathan made an excuse for
David's absence, Saul tried to pin him to the
wall with his spear. He accused him of
disloyalty and warned him of the threat David
was to his kingdom.
So Jonathan left in fierce anger and shot the
arrows to warn David. Sending the boy home, the
two wept. Jonathan said, Go in peace, for we
have a sworn friendship in the name of the Lord
and witnessed by Him. So they parted.
(Chapter 20)
David went to Ahimelech the priest at Nob, about
3 miles north east of Jerusalem. Telling him he
was on a secret mission from Saul, he asked for
food for himself and his men. The priest said he
only had the bread which was in the holy place
of the Tabernacle (and later the temple) as a
thank offering to the Lord for providing daily
bread. God's law was that it was later to be
eaten by the priests.
But the priest said they could have it as long
as they were ceremonially clean. David assured
him they were, not having been with women.
David also asked for a spear or sword. Goliath's
sword being there, the priest gave it to him.
But one of Saul's servants was there, named Doeg
the Edomite.
David then fled to king Achish at Gath. But he
was recognised. Fearing the king he pretended to
be mad. So the king said to his servants, I've
got enough madmen, why bring me another?
(chapter 21)
So David fled to the cave of Adullam. His
brothers and father's household went to him.
Also people in distress, debt or discontented.
He became the leader of about 400 men.
Then he went south east of the Dead Sea to the
king of Moab. He asked if his mother and father
could stay with the king, Until I learn what God
will do for me. They stayed with the king while
David was in hiding there.
But the prophet of God told David to return to
Judah. So he did.
Saul heard. Spear in hand sitting under the
tamarisk tree on the hill of Gibeah with all his
officials standing around he said:
-Will David give you fields?
-Will he make you army commanders?
-Why have you witnessed against me?
-No one told me Jonathan made an agreement
with David.
-None of you is concerned about me.
-None of you tells me why my son has incited
David to lie in wait to ambush me.
Doeg was there so he told Saul how Ahimelech had
given David food and Goliath's sword.
So Saul sent for the priest and his father's
whole family who were the priests at Nob. He
accused them of conspiracy.
Ahimelech defended David as a loyal servant of
Saul. He said he had enquired of God for David
on many occasions, not just the one for which he
was being accused. And he denied knowledge of
any conspiracy.
But Saul ordered him and his family killed. But
the king's officials wouldn't do it. So he
ordered Doeg the Edomite to do it. So he killed
85 priests along with the inhabitants of Nob and
its livestock.
But Abiathar, Ahimelech's son escaped and joined
David. David said he knew Doeg would tell Saul
and that he was responsible for the death of
Abiathar's family. He told Abiathar to stay with
him and not fear as Saul was seeking both their
lives.
(Chapter 22)
David was told the Philistines were fighting
against Keilah. So he asked the Lord if he
should attack. The answer was yes and save
Keilah. David's men said We're afraid here in
Judah and you want us to attack Philistines! So
he asked the Lord again. Same reply, so David
attacked and saved the people of Keilah.
Saul heard and planned to trap David inside the
walls of Keilah. David heard, asked Abiathar to
bring the ephod and asked the Lord God of Israel
whether Saul would come and if so would the
people of Keilah surrender David and his men to
Saul. The Lord said yes to both questions.
So David and his 600 men left Keilah, moved from
place to place and moved to the strongholds in
the hills of the desert of Ziph. Saul searched
but God did not give David into his hands.
At Horesh in the wilderness of Ziph, David
learned that Saul had come to take his life.
Jonathan went to David and HELPED HIM FIND
STRENGTH IN THE LORD. Don't fear, he said, my
father won't lay a hand on you. You'll be king
and I'll be second to you. They made a covenant
accordingly, Jonathan went home and David stayed
at Horesh.
Then the Ziphites told Saul where David was.
They offered to hand him over if the king came
down. He asked them to go and get more definite
information saying he would then return with
them.
David and his men were in the desert of Maon.
David heard Saul & his men had begun the search.
Saul was going along one side of the mountain
and David the other, fleeing from Saul. But Saul
closed in for the capture. Then a messenger
warned Saul of a Philistine raid so he broke off
the pursuit to fight the Philistines. So David
went to the strongholds of Engedi.
(Chapter 23)
After pursuing the Philistines, Saul, with 3000
men looked for David in the desert of Engedi. He
came to some sheep pens near the crags of the
wild goats. David and his men were in the back
of a cave there and Saul came in to relieve
himself. David's men said kill him. He crept up
and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Conscience
stricken, he rebuked his men saying he wouldn't
kill the Lord's anointed. Saul left and went on
his way.
David went out and called out to Saul, My Lord
the king. Looking back he saw David bow and
prostrate himself to the ground. He said:
-Why do you listen to men who say I'm trying
to harm you?
-I could have killed you to-day.
-My men urged me to, but I didn't.
-Look at this piece of your robe I cut off.
-Understand and recognise I'm not guilty of
wrongdoing or rebellion.
-But you're hunting me to kill me.
-May the Lord judge between us and decide
between us.
-May He avenge the wrongs you have done me.
-But my hand won't touch you.
-As the old saying goes, From evil doers come
evil deeds.
-Who are you pursuing?
-A dead dog?
-A flea?
-May the Lord consider my cause and uphold it.
-May He vindicate me by delivering me from
your hand.
Saul wept aloud and said:
-You're more righteous than I.
-You've treated me well but I treated you
badly.
-You spared me. A man doesn't do that to his
enemies.
-May the Lord reward you well for sparing me
to-day.
-You'll surely be king, and the kingdom will
be established in your hands.
-Swear you'll not destroy my descendants.
David gave his oath and Saul returned home.
But David and his men returned to their
stronghold.
(chapter 24)
Samuel died, all Israel mourned and he was
buried at his home in Ramah.
David moved into the desert of Maon. There was a
wealthy man there named Nabal who was shearing
at Carmel. He was surly and mean but his wife
Abigail was intelligent and beautiful.
David sent 10 young men to Nabal with
instructions to greet him thus. Long life and
good health to you and yours. Your shepherds
will tell you we looked after them in the
desert. So if you could give my men and me
whatever you can find it would be appreciated.
But Nabal replied, Who is this David? Why should
I give the bread, water and meat prepared for my
shearers to men coming from who knows where?
David was furious and set off with 400 men armed
with swords.
A servant told Abigail of the insults Nabal had
hurled at David's messengers. And that David's
men had been very good to their shepherds. He
said, Think it over and see what you can do
because disaster hangs over our master and his
whole household. He is such a wicked man that
no one can talk to him.
Abigal lost no time, she loaded donkeys with:
-200 loaves of bread
-2 skins of wine
-5 dressed sheep
-37 litres of roasted grain
-100 cakes of raisins
-200 cakes of pressed figs,
and sent her servants on ahead. But she didn't
tell her husband.
As she came riding her donkey into a mountain
ravine there was David and his men descending
towards her. He had just said, It's been useless
protecting this fellow's property in the desert.
He's paid me back evil for good. By morning not
one male of his will be alive.
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her
donkey, bowed her face to the ground and said:
-Blame me alone.
-Please hear me out.
-Pay no attention to wicked Nabal. His name
means fool, and he is.
-But I didn't see your men when they came.
-The Lord has kept you from bloodshed and
vengeance.
-As surely as the Lord lives may your enemies
be like Nabal.
-Please accept this gift of food for your men.
-Please forgive me FOR THE LORD WILL CERTAINLY
MAKE A LASTING DYNASTY FOR MY MASTER BECAUSE
HE FIGHTS THE LORD'S BATTLES.
-Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as
you live.
-Though someome is pursuing you to take your
life your life WILL BE BOUND SECURELY IN THE
BUNDLE OF THE LIVING BY THE LORD YOUR GOD.
-But He will hurl the lives of your enemies
away as from the pocket of a sling.
-When the Lord has kept every good promise to
you and appointed you leader of Israel
you'll not have on your conscience the
staggering burden of needless bloodshed or
vengeance.
-And when the Lord has brought you success,
remember me.
David said to Abigail:
-Praise the Lord the God of Israel, who sent
you to me.
-May He bless you for your good judgment and
for keeping me from bloodshed and vengeance.
-As surely as God lives, who kept me from
harming you, if you hadn't come quickly, I'd
have killed every male of Nabal's.
-David accepted her gift and said, Go home in
peace, I've granted your request.
Abigail went to Nabal.
He was holding a banquet and very drunk. Next
morning when he sobered up she told him.
His heart failed him and he became like stone.
Ten days later the Lord struck him and he died.
When David heard he:
-Said praise the Lord who upheld my cause
against Nabal for treating me with contempt.
-He kept me from doing wrong and brought
Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head.
-Sent and asked Abigail to be his wife.
Abigail quickly mounted a donkey and with five
maids went with David's messengers and became
his wife.
David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel and
they were both his wives. Saul had given Michal,
David's wife, to another man.
(Chapter 25)
Again the Ziphites told Saul where David was.
Again he pursued with 3000 men. He camped beside
the road on the hill of Hakilah. David sent
scouts, learned where he was and came and
surveyed where Saul and his army commander had
lain down inside the camp with the army around.
So, by night, David and Abishai (Joab's brother)
went to the camp. There was Saul asleep with his
spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner
and the soldiers were lying around him. Abishai
offered to pin Saul to the ground with one spear
thrust.
But David:
-Said No, you can't hurt the Lord's anointed
and be guiltless,
The Lord lives and He will end Saul's life at
the right time.
-Took his spear and the water jug near his
head and they left.
(No-one saw, knew, or woke up because the
Lord had put them into a deep sleep).
-Went and stood on top of a hill, with a wide
space between them and said:
-Abner you and your men deserve to die for
not guarding the Lord's anointed. Someone
came to destroy him and took his spear and
water jug.
-Saul,
-Why pursue me?
-What is my guilt?
-If the Lord has incited you against me
may He accept an offering.
-But if men have done it may they be
cursed before the Lord.
-You're making a fool of yourself by
chasing an innocent man.
Saul said,
-I've sinned, ACTED LIKE A FOOL AND ERRED
GREATLY.
-Come back David, I'll not try to harm you
again.
David said,
-Send a man to collect your spear.
-The Lord rewards a man for his righteousness
and faithfulness.
-As I valued and spared your life to-day, so
may the Lord value my life and deliver me
from all trouble.
Saul said,
-May you be blessed.
-You will do great things and surely triumph.
So David went his way and Saul went home.
(Chapter 26)
David decided to live with the Philistines so
that Saul would give up the pursuit. So, with
the approval of Achish, king of Gath, he, his 2
wives and his 600 men and their families settled
in Ziklag.
From there he raided traditional enemies of
Israel to the south east, leaving no human
survivors and returning with booty to Achish. He
told Achish he was raiding Israel, who concluded
David could never return there. And there were
no survivors of David's raids to report to
Achish.
(Chapter 27)
The Philistines assembled to fight Israel at
Shunem. Achish made David his bodyguard for
life, arranging for David to accompany him to
battle against Israel.
Saul camped at Gilboa, saw the Philistine army
and terror filled his heart. He enquired of the
Lord. But there was no answer either by dreams,
prophets or urim (like drawing straws).
So Saul disguised himself and went by night to a
woman medium at Endor. She thought this was a
trap to kill her for Saul had cut off all
mediums and spiritists from Israel. Saul swore
to her by the Lord she would not be punished. So
the woman asked who he wanted to be brought up.
He said Samuel. When she saw Samuel she cried
out at the top of her voice, recognising Saul.
Saul said, Don't fear, what do you see? An old
man wearing a robe coming out of the ground, she
replied.
Saul knew it was Samuel and prostrated himself
face to ground. Why disturb me? Samuel said.
Saul said, I'm in great distress, the
Philistines fight me, and God has turned away.
Samuel said,
-The Lord has turned away from you so why
consult me?
-The Lord has done what He predicted through
me. He:
-Has torn the kingdom from your hand and
given it to David,
Because YOU DID NOT OBEY THE LORD.
-Will hand both Israel and you over to the
Philistines and to-morrow you and your
sons will be dead.
-Will hand Israel's army over to the
Philistines.
Saul, filled with fear, fell flat on the ground.
His strength was gone. He hadn't eaten all that
day or night.
The woman urged him to eat. He refused so his
men joined the woman and urged him. So he and
his men ate and left.
(Chapter 28)
The Philistines gathered at Aphek and Israel at
Jezreel. David and his men marched at the rear
of the Philistine army with Aphek. But the
Philistine commanders did not trust David and
his men. Achish couldn't dissuade them and under
protest, David and his men returned to the land
of the Philistines.
(Chapter 29)
When David and his men reached Ziklag they found
the Amalekites had attacked, burned it and taken
everyone, their wives, sons and daughters, away
captive.
David's two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail were
gone. He and his men wept aloud until they had
no strength left to weep. Bitter in spirit,
David's men talked of stoning him. Though
greatly distressed DAVID FOUND STRENGTH IN THE
LORD HIS GOD.
David had Abiathar the priest bring the ephod,
his priestly breastplate. He asked the Lord if
he should pursue the raiding party and if he
would overtake them. The Lord said yes and
assured success.
About 20 miles to the south David and 600 men
reached the Besor Ravine. 200 were too exhausted
to cross so David pushed on with 400 men. They
found an Egyptian slave who had been abandoned
three days earlier by his Amalekite master
because he was sick. He had neither food nor
drink for 3 days so they fed him. David asked if
he could lead them to the raiding party. He
agreed on condition he was not killed or handed
back to his master.
So they found the Amalekites scattered over the
countryside, eating, drinking and revelling
because of the great amount of plunder they had.
David fought them from dusk 'til the next
evening, 400 young men escaped on camels but he
recovered everything that had been taken
including his two wives. He took flocks and
herds which his men drove before the other
livestock saying, "This is David's plunder."
When they came to the 200 at the Besor Ravine,
evil troublemakers among David's men said, "We
won't share the plunder because they did not
fight for it, but each man may take his wife and
children and go."
But David said, the "Lord .. has protected us"
and given us victory so what we have the Lord
has given us. Therefore, those who stayed with
the supplies are to share equally with those who
went to battle. David made this a statute for
Israel.
Back at Ziklag, David sent some of the plunder
to his friends who were elders of Judah in the
places he and his men had roamed.
(Chapter 30)
The Philistines attacked, the Israelites fled
and many were killed on Mt Gilboa. Three of
Saul's sons including Jonathan were killed and
Saul was critically wounded. He asked his armour
bearer to run him through with his sword to save
him being abused by his enemies. The terrified
armour bearer wouldn't do it so Saul fell on his
own sword and died. Then his armour bearer did
likewise.
When the Israelites along the valley and across
the Jordan heard, they fled and the Philistines
came and occupied their towns.
When the Philistines found Saul they cut his
head off, took his armour and proclaimed the
news in the temple of their idols and among the
people. They put his armour in the temple to
signify victory by their gods and fastened his
body to the wall of Beth Shan, together with the
bodies of his three sons.
When the people of Jabeth Gilead heard, valiant
men took the bodies at night, returned, burned
them, buried their bones under a tamarisk tree
at Jabesh and fasted 7 days.
(Chapter 31)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM I SAMUEL.
1. No problem of yours is too big for your
heavenly Father to solve. Talk to Him about
it. The burden will be lifted. If your will
is in line with God's the problem will also
be solved.
2. Since all you are and all you have comes
from your heavenly Father, a real mature
relationship with Him shows in your glad
readiness to give all back to Him, proved by
keeping your word in actually doing so.
3. Don't let insensitive professional clergy
get in the road of your real relationship
with your heavenly Father.
(chapter 1)
4. Give wholehearted praise and thanks to your
heavenly Father for your relationship with
Him and His answers to your prayers.
5. When you give gifts to your heavenly Father
expressing the reality of your relationship
and love for Him you'll be abundantly
blessed. He will never be in debt to you.
6 God will judge and remove ungodly
professional clergy. He wants men who will
act in line with His heart and mind.
(Chapter 2)
7. If there is sin in your life and you fail to
restrain it (through confessing it to God
and asking His help) you'll suffer God's
judgment and others will also be affected.
8. One way God will reveal Himself to you is
from His word in the Bible. When you are
clean of sin, His Spirit will make the
meaning of His word clear.
(Chapter 3)
9. Trust in ANY RELIGIOUS OBJECT makes it an
idol. It's a certain recipe for disaster
because it shows a REAL relationship with
the living God is non existent.
(Chapter 4)
10. Your relationship with your heavenly Father
must not be one of careless presumption. He
is holy which means separate and apart from
sin. Through faith in Christ and confession
and cleansing from sin you are clean to
embrace Him without soiling, as it were, His
spotless garments. But to expect to embrace
Him when you are covered with the filth of
unconfessed sin is to invite a justified
stern rebuke.
(Chapter 6)
11. For a successful life with victory against
all opposition:
-Confess all sin against the Lord.
-Return to Him with all your heart.
-Get rid of all substitutes for Him.
-Commit yourself to serving Him only.
(Chapter 7)
12. For an unsuccessful life of burdens and
defeat run your life the same way as non
believers.
(Chapter 8)
13. When you have faith in God He is with you
even in the difficulties resulting from
choices that reject His way in favour of non
believers' ways.
(Chapters 9 & 10)
14. God's Spirit with you assures victory.
(Chapter 11)
15. Recall the great things God has done for
you. Fear Him and serve Him faithfully with
all your heart. When you truly turn from
your sins and trust in Jesus Christ, the
Lord makes you His own. For the sake of His
great name He won't reject you.
(Chapter 12)
16. Always do things the Lord's way even when it
makes more sense to you to do things your
way.
(Chapter 13)
17. With God on your side the enemy may self
destruct. But remember it's God who gives
victory.
(Chapter 14)
18. Delight God by obeying His voice. Sacrifices
to God are no substitute for that. Rebellion
against His word is idolatry. God's word is
consistent, unchangeable, reliable. Unlike
man He does not change His mind.
(chapter 15)
19. God will use you to achieve His goals while
you are ready and obedient to His voice.
20. God chooses His man after looking inward, at
his attitude of heart. But non believers
make choices based on man's outward
appearance.
21. If you disobey God, He may allow an evil
spirit to trouble you.
22. If God appoints you to a task He will
provide the power to achieve it.
(Chapter 16)
23. The devil wants to destroy you. He will face
you with a monstrous problem. And hope to
paralyse you with fear. But when you are
God's man, your problem is God's problem. So
it's disgraceful to focus on the problem
instead of on God the solution. At such
times family may be more hindrance than
help.
God uses skills you've acquired in everyday
life to defeat monstrous enemies.
As God's man the enemy is not just defying
you but also defying the living God. Despite
all outward appearances this is a one sided
contest and you can't lose. A real
relationship with God enables you to see it
this way.
For this reason you need none of the battle
gear a non believer would consider
essential.
And you can confront the enemy in total
confidence and echo the shepherd boy's word
that rings down the centuries:
-"I come against you in the name of the
Lord Almighty ... whom you defied.
- To-day the Lord will hand you over to me
and I'll strike you down ... that the
whole world may know" that:
-God is alive
-And that it's not by armed might He
saves for the battle is the Lord's.
(Chapter 17)
24. But despite a big victory the devil will not
give up. He will use the jealousy and fear
of others to attack you. As Jesus Christ
said "In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart I have overcome the world."
(Chapter 18)
25. But, whatever the circumstances, God will
protect you. In these chapters through
David's enemy's daughter and son.
26. Consult and check with your heavenly Father
before moving offensively or defensively.God
will send encouragers to help you find
strength in the Lord.
(Chapters 19 - 23)
27. Walk closely with your heavenly Father to
ensure enemies are disposed of according to
His will not yours. Listen to His voice not
the worldly logic of allies. Loving enemies
and sparing them can have a disarming affect
on them. And it liberates you from being
dominated by fear of, or anger toward, them.
(Chapter 24)
28. Avoid action motivated by vengeful anger.
When you hear God speak wise counsel through
others, listen, act upon it, and praise God
for stopping you from taking action that
would leave you with a guilty conscience.
Trust God to deal with your opponents.
As God's man you can trust Him to provide a
wise helper for a wife.
(Chapter 25)
29. It's good to have one victory over the
temptation to dispose of your enemy your way
instead of the Lord's way. But you may be
tested in exactly the same way again. Each
victory draws you closer to your heavenly
Father.
It's unwise to trust the word of an enemy.
30. Disobedience to God brings a tortured life
and a tragic end as evidenced by King Saul.
(Chapters 28 & 31)
31. Being God's man doesn't shield you from
trouble, but it can drive you to find
strength in the Lord. And develop the habit
of only acting after getting God's
directions. Then the rewards of victory are
seen as gifts from God to be shared His way,
with undeserved generosity.
(Chapter 30)
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