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!

Day 114: David Saves Keilah

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 23 and Psalm 54.

I. 1 Samuel 23 recounts how David heard of the Philistine attack on Keilah, and after seeking God's advice, he rushes to defeat the Philistines and save the city. Next, Abiathar the priest had survived the massacre at Nob and fled to David with the ephod. Saul mistakenly thinks that this meant God would deliver David into his hands. David, meanwhile, consulted God and learned that Saul would indeed come for him and the people of Keilah would betray him by handing him over, so he fled to the wilderness of Ziph before the mad king arrived. Unfortunately for him, the Ziphites betray David by informing Saul of his whereabouts, who then sets off after him. David then fortunately escapes at the last moment to En-Gedi.

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

David's action gives us great insight into his heart. He is showing that he is truly a man after God's own heart by appealing to the Lord for direction... God's protection of David in this instance reminds us of all the ways he is working of which we are unaware. Many times difficult things happen to us and those we love, but we do not know how many times the Lord delivered us from harm. In heaven, we will see all the moments that could have been catastrophes but were not, due to God's actions. God remains close to us in his mysterious will. Even when we cannot sense him, his hand is outstretched to us whenever we appeal to him for his guidance and aid. (p. 244)

II. Psalm 54 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The speaker is a hunted man fleeing from the evil designs of his enemies. He cries out to God for help, trusts in God's protection, and vows to celebrate his rescue with a sacrifice of thanksgiving. (p. 875)

That's it for today!

Day 113: Broken Trust

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 21-22 and Psalm 52.

I. 1 Samuel 21 tells part of David's life as a fugitive from Saul's murderous rage. He arrives at Nob, where he meets the priest Ahimelech, whom he deceives to obtain food for himself and the men with him. Having no ordinary bread, Ahimelech gives him the consecrated Showbread and the sword of Goliath, which had been stored there. Jesus would later refer back to this incident when challenged by the Pharisees about the Sabbath (Mk 2:25-28). David fled to Gath, where he tricked the Philistine king into thinking he was mad. This was presumably done so he could hide there for a time unmolested. 

In the next chapter, David then fled to the Cave of Adullam. There, he is joined by his family and 400 loyal followers, and he becomes their leader. He takes his parents to Moab for safety and returns to Judah upon the direction of the prophet Gad. Then Saul reveals the depth of his madness as he orders the slaughter of Ahimelech and the priests at Nob for assisting David. Doeg the Edomite happily carried out the massacre, which included a general massacre of the families of the priests, when Saul's guards refused to commit such sacrilege.

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

The bread of the presence is a sign of how God, out of love, fed the people of Israel in their desert wanderings. At every Mass, the priest elevates the true bread of the presence, the Eucharist, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb." (p. 242)

II. Psalm 52 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm that contrasts the godly and the ungodly. Like the Psalmist, those who trust in God's mercy will be planted securely in God's presence and thank him forever. Those who trust in riches, speak arrogantly and deceptively, and devise schemes to oppress the faithful will not escape God's judgment. (p. 874)

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

Doeg the Edomite betrays Ahimelech and the priests, but David responds with Psalm 52. David prays for justice, committing himself to walk in righteousness even in the midst of dishonest and evil people. In his Inferno, Dante places traitors at the deepest level of hell. Judas is one of the figures portrayed in this circle of hell, along with Lucifer and other deceivers. (p. 242)

Presumably, Doeg the Edomite is a resident of Dante's lowest level of hell, also. That's all for today!

Day 112: True Friendship

Today's readings: 1 Samuel 20 and Psalm 142.

I. 1 Samuel 20 tells of the deep friendship between David and Jonathan as they discover that Saul really is determined to kill David. I'm guessing the previous attempts weren't clear enough for them. Their friendship is indeed a deep one, given almost marital terms that have been misunderstood or exploited, really, by certain groups today seeking approval for same-sex relationships. They loved each other, which is true, but theirs was a philia kind of love, not one of eros. So much so that Jonathan could say that he loved David "as his own soul," without intending any sort of sexual attraction towards him. I'm not sure how far back such disordered speculation goes about their relationship, but it does seem to be quite popular nowadays among some, sadly enough. That not only distorts Scripture, which clearly condemns such behavior, but also dishonors both biblical figures and all men who care for each other like they did.

At any rate, when Saul throws a spear at Jonathan in anger upon discovering the absence of David at a dinner meal, it becomes clear to both David and Jonathan that Saul has murderous intent towards David. So David flees.

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

Scripture makes clear that David and Jonathan love one another. Their love is not disordered, however - it is philia, a true friendship love... In 1 Samuel, we see this type of love reflected in the brotherhood between David and Jonathan. They are united in their pursuit of honoring Israel and seeking the glory of God. David and Jonathan recognize this virtue in each other, so they love each other and help each other in a particular way... If you have experienced philia, then you know its power. Philia is closest to a fourth kind of love, agape - sacrificial, divine love. Agape has become a reality for Christians through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. All the loves come to perfection in the person of Jesus Christ, who loves us to the point of death, calls us friends, and gives us his Spirit. (p. 240)

II. Psalm 142 is, as the Ignatius Bible notes (verse numbers removed):

A lament psalm. The poet complains of his troubles, mourns that no one will help him, and turns to the Lord as his only refuge. The nature of his plight is unclear, although he mentions "persecutors" who are too powerful for him to resist or escape. The psalm ends with a hopeful prospect of giving "thanks" to God for coming to his rescue. (p. 951)

The BIY Companion, Vol I, also recommends this video with Fr. Mike Schmitz on why love is more than a feeling:

That's it for today! Happy 250th Independence Day!!! God bless the USA! 

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 (verse numbers removed):

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!