1 SAMUEL 26-31: DAY 108 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

April 18, 2023

1 SAMUEL 26-31
DAY 108 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verses For Today: 1 Samuel 30:7-8

Today we conclude our journey through 1 Samuel. The stage is set for things to change in Israel. King Saul’s army is sacked by the Philistines and King Saul takes his own life after witnessing the loss of his army and the death of all three of his sons. Saul abandoned God, leaving him with no one to turn to in his greatest hour of need.

Seek the Lord’s perfect understanding of 1 Samuel 26-31. Read 1 Samuel 26-31. Let’s journey!

1 Samuel 26-31: King Saul is pursuing David and David had the opportunity, and was encouraged by Abishai, to kill Saul as he slept in a camp surrounded by his soldiers. David’s response had not changed: he would not kill the anointed of God. King Saul promises to let David alone. King Saul returned home and David went on his way. David knew that King Saul was consumed with killing him. David, with his 600 men, decided to dwell in the land of the Philistines because they knew King Saul would not pursue him there. David settled in the land of Ziklag provided by Achlsh with whom David had found favor. Achish, although Philistine, trusted David completely; so completely, that Achish made David his bodyguard. As the Philistines gathered to fight Israel, David volunteers to join Achish’s forces to fight against Israel, but the Philistine commanders do not trust David and refused to allow him to go into battle with them. King Saul, who is terrified of the Philistines, seeks counsel through a medium. Achish sends David and his men home to Ziklag, where they find their homes, burned to the ground, their families kidnapped, and their possessions taken by the Amalekites. David and his men were in utter anguish. David was about to face rebellion from his men. David seeks the Lord’s advice. David’s men overtake the Amalakites and retrieved their families unharmed and recaptured their property. David settles a dispute among his men. Meanwhile, King Saul’s army is destroyed by the Philistines, and his three sons are killed. King Saul wounded and in despair takes his own life rather than lose it to an “uncircumcised” Philistine. King Saul’s body, like his sons, was mutilated, and King Saul was decapitated by the Philistines. The Philistines hung his body from the wall at Beth Shan and put his armor in the Ashtoreths’ temples. King Saul’s, the first King of Israel, body, with his sons’ bodies, was retrieved by the people of Jabesh Gilead from the wall at Beth Shan. Their bodies were taken to Jabesh where they were burned and their bones buried underneath a tamarisk tree. (1 Samuel 26:1-31:13)

A very sad ending for the first king of Israel.

Our focus verses for today:

 7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?”
“Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” (1 Samuel 30:7-8, NIV)

David, unlike King Saul, made it a habit to do things the Lord’s way. Typically David did not rush into matters hastily nor did he allow the circumstance to govern his conduct. David had two opportunities to kill King Saul but refused because King Saul was anointed by God. In our focus verses today, David is in despair over the kidnapping of his wives and the families of his 600 men. David’s men are on the verge of stoning him. David turns to God for the solution. Where do you turn when you are overtaken by despair, hopelessness?

Godspeace!

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