Day 111: Saul Tries to Kill David

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 18-19 and Psalm 59.

I. In 1 Samuel 18, Jonathan and David have developed a deep friendship with one another, so much so that Jonathan made a covenant with David. To do this at that time showed great affection, loyalty, and trust. David is successful in all the missions he is sent on by Saul, who then grows very jealous of him as he is loved by the people. Part of his jealousy also stems from his loss of the "Spirit of the Lord," which David clearly has himself.  He tries to kill David, but is unsuccessful. David takes the hand of Saul's daughter Michal in marriage, after doubling the requirement of 100 foreskins of Philistine men (basically, killing these men).

The next chapter sees Saul more openly seeking the death of David, who again eludes destruction by the protection of the Lord. Jonathan warns David to hide himself and then intercedes for him to Saul. The king relented, but later tried to kill David with a spear, so he fled and escaped. Michal helped him escape, and he went to Samuel. Saul sent soldiers to arrest David, but they were moved to prophecy and were not able to carry out his command. Saul himself went, but he too fell into prophecy. 

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

David and Jonathan make a covenant with one another. The relationship between David and  Jonathan is one of the greatest examples of friendship in Scripture. The highest form of friendship is based on virtue - a virtuous friendship. There are many examples in the early Church of saints who form deep friendships because of their mutual devotion to Christ. It is powerful to discover that someone else is captivated by the same thing - or person - that has captivated you. This is the foundation of a virtuous friendship... In his envy and bitterness, Saul tries to kill David several times. So David is on the run from Saul, but whenever he is given the opportunity, he responds with mercy and forgiveness. (p. 238)

II. Psalm 59 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes:

A lament psalm. The speaker is stalked by bloodthirsty men who are like a pack of wild dogs prowling for food. He protests his innocence, which may imply he was falsely accused of wrongdoing. He seeks protection and vindication from God, who is a fortress, a shield, and a refuge for the faithful. The Psalmist closes with a promise to praise the Lord once deliverance comes. (p. 879)

That's all for today!

Day 110: David and Goliath

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 17 and Psalm 12.

I. 1 Samuel 17 tells the famous story of young David defeating the giant Philistine warrior Goliath in single combat. David, a young teenage shepherd boy, used his slingshot and brought down an experienced soldier, Goliath. He had been their champion and struck fear in the Israelites, all except David. After he was struck down, the Philistine fled in terror, pursued by the Israelites. This is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament!

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

David has been training to fight simply by doing his father Jesse's will. Jesse has sent David to guard the flocks, putting his life on the line, and this has prepared him to fight Goliath. We do not know the battles we will face in the future. When we are obedient to the tasks God gives us in the present, we are preparing for future battles... When Goliath draws near, David runs quickly to meet him. Sometimes, we hesitate in doing what is right in the moment. We should ask the Lord when he wants us to wait and when he wants us to "race into battle." David is a man after God's own heart; he does not fight to win prizes or gain glory. He fights because Goliath has insulted the name of the living God. David defends the honor of the Lord. (p. 236)

II. Psalm 12 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. It decries the moral corruption that prevails in society and victimizes the poor. The Psalmist uses the plural "us" to pray on their behalf. Central to the psalm is a contrast between the lying words of men and the trustworthy promises of God. (p. 840)

That's it for today!

Day 109: A Heart of Obedience

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 15-16 and Psalm 61.

I. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul defeats the Amalekites, but spares Agag, their defeated king, as well as kept some of the spoils. On the surface, I can sort of understand this, as we would not want to engage in the genocide of an entire people. Yet, total destruction was commanded by God for Amalek, and though we don't fully understand it today, Saul did disobey what He told him to do. Actually, keeping some of the spoils contrary to what God commanded seems like greed to me, and I have to wonder if he spared Agag for similar reasons (i.e., hoping he could get something of value from him). Regardless, God told Samuel of His displeasure with Saul and that He rejected him as king. Saul tries to explain that he kept some of the spoils to make sacrifices to God, but Samuel tells him that obedience is better than burnt offerings. Samuel has Agag brought and executes him as the chapter ends.

The next chapter sees David, the youngest son of Jesse, anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel. The "Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul," and he was tormented by this. So, upon the suggestion of his servants, David is brought to him to play the lyre and soothe away what afflicted him.

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

Recall that Saul's weakness is his inordinate preoccupation with how others view him. This is the sin of vanity, which is more than simply an obsession with one's physical appearance. While we should care to some degree about what others think of us, we cannot let this become our primary motive for how we act. We cannot let this become vanity... Obedience to the will of God is the heart of holiness... Remember that God does not judge by appearance but by our hearts. The Lord desires an obedient heart, a heart that wants what he wants. This is what it means to have "a heart after God's heart." It can be difficult. To listen to him and understand what he wants us to do, particularly when we would rather be doing other things, we need the help of his grace. (p. 234)

II. Psalm 61 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. Facing various struggles, the speaker declares God to be his "refuge" and "tower" of defense and seeks the "shelter" of his sanctuary. It is debated whether or not the Psalmist is a king and whether he is close to death, living in exile, or simply far away from Jerusalem. He shows concern not only for his personal well-being but for God's people and their anointed Davidic ruler. The psalm ends with a vow to praise the Lord in response to answered prayer. (p. 880)

That's all for today!

Day 108: Saul's Vanity

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 13-14 and Psalm 58.

I. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul organized the Israelite army, and his son, Jonathan, attacked the Philistine city of Geba, which provoked a major response. The Israelites are terrified, and after waiting seven days for Samuel, who had been delayed, Saul made a burnt offering himself to God. When Samuel arrived, he was upset and rebuked Saul for this unlawful action, telling him that because of this disobedience, Saul's "kingdom shall not continue" and that another would be found (later known as David). Only 600 men were left with Saul and Jonathan ready for battle. No blacksmiths were to be found in Israel, and the Philistines controlled all blacksmithing, meaning the Israelites were unable to make more weapons. Only Saul and Jonathan were left with swords and spears as the Philistines marched out to meet the Israelites.

In the next chapter, Jonathan surprised and attacked the Philistines at Michmash. Saul sees what Jonathan has done and joins the attack with the rest of his forces, causing the Philistines to panic and be routed. Saul then makes a rash oath binding the Israelites to fast until evening. Jonathan doesn't hear this oath being sworn and proceeds to eat some honey to replenish his strength after the battle. Upon hearing of the rash oath, he criticizes his father for not allowing the Israelite army to eat, as they could have won a bigger victory. The soldiers are starving and slaughter some animals to eat, but they violated God's law as blood was still in the meat. Saul seeks guidance from God on whether he should attack the Philistines again or not, but he receives no answer. He realizes that someone has sinned; Jonathan is identified as the one he declared must die. The people recognized that God had worked through Jonathan, which persuaded Saul to spare him. The chapter finishes with a summary of Saul's reign, from the battles with Israel's enemies to the warriors he gathered, and a listing of his family members.

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

Samuel has promised to come to Saul in seven days to offer sacrifice, but he does not. The people are scattering, and Saul begins to falter. Preoccupied as always with the opinions of others, Saul decides to offer the sacrifice rather than wait for Samuel... Although Saul is vain, he still has strengths. Rather than give up, he continues to fight against the Philistines on behalf of the people of Israel. He does not abandon the people or the Lord, even after learning that he will have no kingly dynasty... Saul continues to fight, but he seems to be driven by vanity and the need to succeed. He is a complex character. Since all of us are complex people, we can see some of ourselves in Saul. Hopefully, we can see ourselves also in the goodness and bravery of Jonathan. (p. 232)

II. Psalm 58 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed): 

A lament psalm. The speaker is distressed by corrupt judges who deal in lies and lead their victims to death. He utters several imprecations, pleading with God to hold them accountable for their crimes and to halt their abuse of power. In the end, he is confident that God will give the righteous and the wicked what they deserve. (p. 878)

Also recommended in the BIY Companion today is this video by Fr. Mike Schmitz on vanity:

That's all for today!

Day 107: Samuel's Speech

 Today's readings: 1 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 55.

I. 1 Samuel 11 recounts Saul's first great public victory as king. Led by Saul, Israel defeats the Ammonites. Some wanted to execute those who had opposed Saul as king, but he showed them mercy. Finally, Samuel called all the people to Gilgal to reaffirm Saul as king and to rejoice in the Lord.

In the next chapter, Samuel gives a farewell address to Israel as he hands over political leadership to Saul as the new king. He remains a prophet of God, but is no longer a Judge over Israel. In his address, Samuel recounts Israel's history, calls them to repentance, warns them about rejecting God's kingship, and finally encourages them to remain faithful.

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

God has always taken care of his people in their need, but now they want a king like other nations. While this is not what God wants - he himself wants to be their King - he grants their request due to the hardness of their hearts. Similarly, God permits all of the battles Israel needs to fight, although this is not part of his original plan. God's call is always "higher," but he sometimes allows us to stay "lower" if we choose. It is better to set our minds and hearts "on the heights" - on God's will for our lives. Through Samuel, the Lord promises that he will bless the people only if both they and their king are faithful to him. (p. 230)

At this point, I feel like there should be that music from the movies that clues one in to bad things coming shortly.

II. Psalm 55 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed): 

A lament psalm. The speaker seeks deliverance from his distressing circumstances: he lives in a city where enemies hound him, where he fears for his life, and where a former friend has turned against him. He wishes aloud that he could escape or at least find peace in the demise of his persecutors. Desperate and anxious, he places full confidence in God's power to save. (p. 875)

That's it for today!

Day 106: Saul is Chosen

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 9-10 and Proverbs 6:23-35.

I. 1 Samuel 9 recounts how Saul is chosen and becomes king in Israel. It begins with Saul looking for lost donkeys, and after failing to find them, he is advised to consult a "man of God," the prophet Samuel. At the end of the chapter, and into the beginning of the next, Saul is anointed king by Samuel.

In the next chapter, after Saul is anointed by Samuel, the latter tells him where to go to confirm God's calling and that his lost donkeys will be found. It is said that "God gave him another heart," and Saul prophesied with the prophets he was supposed to meet, astonishing others. Saul returns home and lets his family know the donkeys have been found, but he says nothing else. Soon afterward, Samuel calls all the people together in Mizpah and lets them know that Israel now has a king, as they wished. It is Saul.

The BIY Companion, Vol I, notes:

When Samuel anoints Saul, he says the Spirit of God will come upon him and make him a new creation. This is what happens in Baptism: through water and anointing, we are made new in the Holy Spirit and are anointed to share in Christ's threefold ministry as priest, prophet, and king. We can identify with Saul. Even though he is not the most heroic of characters, he is not thoroughly corrupt. Like many of us, he is wounded and cares too much about what other people think. (p. 228)

II.  In Proverbs 6:23-35, we again get advice to young men and finally reach the end of this proverb. As the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

Again the young man is warned against the wiles of the adulterous woman. He is put on guard against her seductive speech, her captivating beauty, and her flirtatious gestures. The price of giving in to lustful attraction is nothing less than his "life" (CCC 2351). (p. 969)

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

One does not need to indulge in sexual appetites, so fornication and adultery are always condemned. How often do we sin in seeking things we do not even need? This shows our brokenness. We must always ask the Lord for his mercy and forgiveness, as well as for reconciliation and healing, so we can avoid these sins in the future. (p. 228)

That's all for today!

Introduction to the Royal Kingdom

There are no readings today, but just an introduction video to the next section of the program with Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. Back to the Old Testament we go and finally finish 1 Samuel! Still weird how they divided this, though I did enjoy re-reading my favorite Gospel. 

The age of the Judges is over, and, per Israel's request for a king, which God grants, a new era begins. Saul will be the first king, followed by David, and then his son Solomon. Ultimately, the descendants of David led to Jesus to fulfill the covenant.

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

The period of the Royal Kingdom, much like Egypt and Exodus, brings significant changes for the people of God. They now have a king like all the other nations, but the king is called to lead and rule as God's sovereign. Jerusalem will become the permanent place where God will place his name. After Jerusalem is established as the capital of a united nation, unrest begins to grow among the ten northern tribes about the way they are being treated by the king. This grumbling will soon become a movement that will have drastic consequences following Solomon's death. (p. 227)

That's it for today!