Day 121: Cycle of Violence

Today's readings: 2 Samuel 2, 1 Chronicles 2, and Psalm 24.

I. 2 Samuel 2 recounts first how David sought God's guidance about what to do next. He is told to go to Hebron, and he is anointed king of Judah. David commends the men of Jabesh-Gilead for their courage in retrieving and burying the bodies of Saul and Jonathan, as well as encourages them to remain loyal. Saul's commander, Abner, takes the late king's last remaining son, Ish-bosheth, and makes him king of most of Israel. Abner's forces then meet those of Joab, David's commander, where the latter defeats the former. Job's brother Asahel doggedly pursues Abner, who warns him off. Asahel refuses to listen, and Abner kills him. This sparks a blood feud between Joab and Abner. Both Joab and Abishai, enraged at the death of Asahel, then pursue Abner, who calls for peace and for the fighting to stop. Asahel is buried in Bethlehem, and David's men return to Hebron.

The BIY Companion, Vol II, has some good commentary on this:

Violence does not simply end on its own; it must be ended by those who are fighting. Jesus allows violence to fall upon himself, suffering for the sake of the unrighteous. This puts an end to the cycle in many ways. Jesus gives us an opportunity to be part of the cycle of mercy - the cycle of allowing oneself to suffer for another. He calls us to forgive. Forgiveness, though, is one of the most difficult teachings of Christianity. (p. 4)

II. 1 Chronicles 2 begins by listing the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel. The genealogy then focuses on Judah, from whom the Messiah would come. Included in this are David's military leaders, Joab, Asahel, and Abishai. The remainder of the chapter traces various branches of Judah's family up to the time of David. Rather a dull reading, to be honest, but still important information for narrative story.

As the BIY Companion, Vol II, notes:

This genealogy in Chronicles tells the story from Abraham to David. Then the family line will go on from David to Jesus, who had been promised from the very beginning. Some of the names may be unfamiliar, but each individual has a place in salvation history. (p. 4)

III. Psalm 24 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

An entrance liturgy. Its Temple setting and its reference to God entering the gates point to a ritual procession featuring the Ark of the Covenant. Perhaps it was a ceremony for reinstalling the ark in the Temple after it had been carried forth into battle (24:8; cf. Num 10:35-36; 1 Sam 4:3-4). The psalm's questions and answers form an antiphonal dialogue that would have been sung in the Temple choir and the assembled congregation. Scholars also identify Ps 15 as an entrance liturgy. (p. 849)

That's all for today!

Day 120: David Mourns Saul

 Today's readings: 2 Samuel 1, 1 Chronicles 1, and Psalm 13.

I. 2 Samuel 1 recounts David's mourning for Saul and Jonathan. It begins with an Amalekite coming to David, carrying Saul's crown and bracelet, telling him that both had died and he had finished off a gravely wounded Saul at his own request. David orders his execution because, by his own words, he had claimed to kill the Lord's anointed (Saul). He then composes a moving funeral song, honoring both Saul and Jonathan.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

David mourns the deaths of his enemy Saul and his dear friend Jonathan by singing a song of lamentation. David entreats the people of Israel to learn this song and sing it. David refuses to be held captive by the memory of Saul's animosity and jealousy. Rather, he honors Saul. The wounds of our pasts are real, but the freedom we have in Jesus is greater. We do not need to be held captive by the past or even by any present sorrow or pain. With God's grace, like David, we can move forward. (p. 256)

II. 1 Chronicles 1 gives a genealogy from Adam, showing that the God of Israel is the Creator and Lord of all peoples, not only Israel.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

1 Chronicles begins with a listing of many prominent biblical figures, including Adam, Seth, and Noah. Though there is no explicit mention of God here, he is directly involved in all their stories. These names mean something to us only because of what God has done through them. God can sometimes seem unnoticed in our lives, yet our lives matter because he is present. (p. 256)

III. Psalm 13 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed): 

A lament psalm. Anguish and distress have taken hold of the Psalmist, whose health is fading quickly and whose enemies have gained the upper hand over him. As in many lament psalms, complaints give way to a renewed confidence in the Lord's help in the final verses. The poet comes to trust that God will transform his sorrowful heart into a heart filled with joy. (p. 840)

That's it for today!

Day 119: David's Wisdom

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 29-31 and Psalm 18.

I. 1 Samuel 29 recounts how David and his men marched with the Philistine army, but although Achish trusts him, the other Philistine leaders do not. So he is sent away and returns to Ziklag, while the Philistines continue on to Jezreel to do battle with Saul and the Israelite army. I'd say this is a good thing because David was spared fighting against his own kinsmen.

In the next chapter, David returns to Ziklag, and he and his men discover that it had been sacked and burned down by the Amalekites, who also carried away all the women, children, and possessions. David's wives were among those taken. They are grief-stricken, with the men grumbling about stoning David. David, though, turns to the Lord and is strengthened, telling him to pursue the Amalekites. They all set off in pursuit, finding an abandoned Egyptian servant along the way, who leads them to the Amalekite camp. David attacks and defeats the Amalekites, rescuing all of the hostages and retaking all the stolen possessions. They even increased their gain by spoils from the Amalekites, sharing some of this with the 200 men who had stayed behind at Ziklag. 

1 Samuel 31 finishes out the book by recounting the defeat of Saul's army at the hands of the Philistines. In the battle, Saul's sons, including Jonathan, were all killed, while Saul himself had been badly wounded and committed suicide to avoid torture and humiliation. The Philistines cut off the head of Saul's body, stripped off his armor, and made a spectacle of the body in their capital city to shame the Israelites and glorify their pagan gods. The men of Jabesh-Gilead heard about what had happened, and secretly recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burning them and giving the remains burial.

Saul was a tragic figure, one whose own actions led him down to such an ignominious end. What was even more tragic, sad even, was the death of his son Jonathan. He seemed to be a good man and obviously cared for David, yet he too was struck down. After reading this, I feel like I should pray for God's mercy on their souls.

II. Psalm 18 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A victory hymn. It extols the Lord as the Savior of his servants, particularly David, whom the Lord rescued from many dangers. God also gave David victory in war and made him a ruler over nations bordering Israel. In all of this, God's covenant of kingship with David was confirmed. Psalm 18 is nearly identical to 2 Sam 22:1-51. (p. 843)

That's all for today!

Day 118: King Saul Despairs

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 27-28 and Psalm 34.

I. 1 Samuel 27 recounts how David fled to Gath to seek refuge with Achish again. David asks for, and is granted, the frontier town of Ziklag in the Negev as the place where he and his men can reside. From there, he raids the Geshurites, Gezerites, and the Amalekites, longstanding enemies, and "did not leave a man or woman alive." Achish inquires as to whom David was attacking, and is led to believe that it was against Judah and her allies. As there were no survivors from the raids to say differently, and being misled, Achish concluded: "He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant."

In the next chapter, Achish tells David that he and his men will accompany the Philistine army to fight against Israel. David tells him cryptically, "You will see what your servant can do." Achish thinks that David is his loyal servant at this point, appointing him as his personal bodyguard. Interesting how such enemies can intermingle like this at times.

The narrative then switches to Saul, who is terrified about the gathering storm from the Philistines. He fervently seeks God's guidance, but receives no answer. Saul had expelled all those who practiced the forbidden dark arts, like necromancy. Yet in his desperation, he goes to the Witch of Endor in disguise to have her summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. She does so and is terrified when it seems the prophet appears. Samuel tells Saul that God had abandoned him due to his disobedience, and that he with his sons would die the next day when the Philistines defeat Israel. Saul, of course, has a breakdown, but after resting a bit, leaves.

II. Psalm 34 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A thanksgiving psalm with elements of a wisdom psalm. It gives personal testimony to the power of prayer as well as ethical instruction on the benefits of righteousness. Psalm 34 is also an acrostic psalm, meaning each poetic line begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. (p. 858)

That's it for today!

Day 117: Reverence and Faithfulness

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 26 and Psalm 56.

I. 1 Samuel 26 recounts how David again spared Saul's life. He went to where Saul and his forces were encamped and found the king sleeping, with a jar of water and a spear near his head. David and his companion quietly took these items and left without anyone knowing. He returned to his own army and called out to Saul's forces. David rebuked Abner, head of Saul's army, for not protecting him well and showed the spear and water jar he had taken. Upon being asked why he kept pursuing him, Saul admitted that he had sinned and blessed David. The two depart in separate ways, and this is the last time they would meet.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

David has three prominent virtues: mercy, reverence, and faithfulness. Though his comrade Abishai says he could easily kill Saul with his spear, David knows it is not his job to kill the Lord's anointed. David hopes the Lord will treat him the way he has treated Saul. He says to Saul, "As your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord" (1 Samuel 26:24). Here, we see a foreshadowing of the Our Father: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." David says, "As I am treating others, please, Lord, treat me" - that is, with mercy. (p. 250)

II. Psalm 56 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker is pursued by ruthless men who seek to do him harm. He overcomes his fear with trust in the God of mercy, being convinced that human foes can scheme and threaten, but they have no power to thwart the Almighty or to take away his reliance on him. On the contrary, he is sure that God can put his enemies to flight and cast them down. (p. 877)

What has been enjoyable to see over the last couple of days is just how closely these psalms relate to the events in 1 Samuel! Somehow, I missed this without having them connected like this through Bible in a Year.

That's all for today!

Day 116: David and Abigail

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 25 and Psalm 63.

I. 1 Samuel 25 begins with a quick note that Samuel the prophet dies and is buried while Israel mourns. Then we are shifted to a story of David being insulted by a rich man. Nabal, living in Maon, is approached by some of David's men, seeking provisions. He contemptuously rebuffs them. David, hearing of this, sets out with his men to destroy Nabal's household in revenge for the insult. Abigail, Nabal's wife, is told of all this and rushes to David with gifts to avert disaster. She falls before David and gives a moving speech that changes his mind. David praises God and Abigail's wisdom, accepts the gifts, and calls off the attack. When Abigail returned home, Nabal had been drunkenly feasting. He died ten days later, with the text explicitly saying that his death was due to God's judgment rather than David's sword. After this, David wooed Abigail to be his wife, which she accepted. The chapter ends by noting that David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel and that Saul, before he died, had given his daughter Michal, also David's wife, to Palti, son of Laish. Cue the ominous underscore, because giving another man his first wife will not sit well with David.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

David is not perfect. Though he is an Old Testament hero, who is portrayed as a type (or, figure) of the future Messiah, he has faults. The people following David see him as a just and upright leader. We often look to those who lead us to know how to act, and we benefit from just leaders. Abigail stands up to the evil in David's heart, demonstrating her wisdom and courage. David seeks revenge due to a personal insult. Abigail stands in David's way not only to protect Nabal's life but also to protect David from guilt. (p. 248)

II. Psalm 63 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker compares his desire for God to a burning thirst that leaves him parched and exhausted. He yearns to worship in the Lord's sanctuary, the place where his presence is most tangibly experienced. In the meantime, his sleepless nights are spent meditating upon God and his divine help. The prayer ends with the Psalmist confident that his enemies will come to judgment. (p. 882)

That's it for today!

Day 115: David Spares King Saul

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 24 and Psalm 57.

I. In 1 Samuel 24 , Saul is told that David had been spotted in the Engedi wilderness, so he took 3,000 men to pursue him by the Wildgoats' Rocks. Saul went to relieve himself inside a cave, which, unbeknownst to him, David was hiding with his men. David's men encouraged him to kill Saul, but he quietly cut off a piece of the man's robe instead. When Saul left, David called to him and gave him honor as the king. He showed David the cut piece of fabric and told him that he could have killed him, but would never do so. Saul expressed regret for pursuing him, but when he left for home, David and his men didn't accompany him.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, has some good commentary on this:

God can give and take kingship from anyone he wants, but David is not God. He cannot kill the Lord's anointed. God has not given him that job. Though God has told him he will be Saul's successor as king, David recognizes his own limits. At times, we might be tempted to overextend our reach into battles that God has not asked us to fight. Being aware of your limitations is not the same thing as limiting ourselves. David never shrinks back from a battle, and neither does Jonathan. But he seeks the Lord's guidance first... David will only fight when the Lord wants him to. (p. 246)

What I found remarkable in this scene is that David's sparing Saul shows his mercy and helps explain why Scripture calls him a "man after God's own heart."  

II. Psalm 57 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (most verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker seeks shelter from God in storms of danger that rage about him. His adversaries are like lions ready to devour him and like hunters setting traps to ensnare him. He is confident that salvation is on its way from heaven, along with humiliation for his foes. The prospect of divine help leads to promises of musical celebration and gratitude. The two halves of the psalm end with the same refrain: "Be exalted, O God...over all the earth" (57:5, 11). Part of the psalm, 57:7-11, reappears with slight variations in 108:1-5. (p. 877)

That's all for today!