Samuel Dies, David Meets Abigail. I Samuel 25

 

I Samuel 25-Samuel Dies, David Meets Abigail

 

Samuel had been a great man of God; He was outstanding. He was the bridge between the judges and the kings. He was the last of the judges and the first in the office of prophets. There were many prophets before him, but he represented the office that continued through the Old Testament and into the New Testament. Samuel was a buffer between David and Saul. When Samuel died David went farther away from Saul. God knew David’s heart. He was anointed Israel’s future king by Samuel. He slew the giant Goliath. As a musician he is called “the sweet Psalmist” of Israel. David married the Princess Michal, daughter of Saul, He was loved by Jonathan, son of Saul. David became an outlaw. He gathered a band of men and lived in mountain strongholds.

The story of David and Abigail reveals how human David was.

Nabal means “fool”. He was a rich man who had neither honor nor honesty. He was a drunkard, but he had a beautiful and intelligent wife.

David had been protecting Nabal’s property. He had quite the army with him, and he could have robbed this man and taken his sheep for food. Instead, he kept thieves and marauders from getting the sheep. He did many things to assist Nabal. Now David and his men need food, so he sends to Nabal to ask. Nabal is saying David has betrayed Saul and is disloyal. David gets angry over Nabal’s reply.

Someone in Nabal’s household learned of this and informed Abigail. Abigail gathered food and went to meet David before he could get to Nabal and kill him. David’s intention was to kill every man that belonged to Nabal. David looks down the hill and sees a woman on a donkey with food. For the first time, God’s anointed is face to face with a noble woman who means well by him. She apologizes for the fact that her husband is a fool and a brute. She asks David not to hold this against him as David will soon be king. David is thankful to this woman for her advice. David accepted her food and her advice. That night Nabal had a party, and the next Day Abigail tells him what she did for David. Then his heart died within him, and he became “as stone.”

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he wanted Abigail for his wife. And she became his wife and a blessing in his life.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

David Spare's Saul's Life. I Samuel 24

 

         

I Samuel 24 David Spares Saul’s Life

 

David had gone to a rugged place to hide.  Saul went looking for David with an army of three thousand men while David only had six hundred men. David made up for this imbalance by using strategy.  Also, he knew the area and his men were rugged men.

Saul entered the very cave in which David was hiding and went to sleep. Saul’s men were on guard, but they were outside the cave. David quietly slipped up to the sleeping king and trimmed off the lower part of his garment. Right away David regretted his act because it would be a source of embarrassment to Saul. David respected the office of the king although he may not have respected the man.

We live in a country that has its faults, but it has been a great country for most of us, and its offices and officers should be respected.

Even though David is hunted by Saul, David will not lay a hand on him because he is God’s anointed. David is going to let God deal with the king.

Romans 12:19 “Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.” When we take things into our own hands, we are no longer walking by faith. We are not trusting God.

Several of David’s men had no use for Saul and would have killed him in a minute, but David would not permit it. David’s act of mercy in sparing Saul’s life should have made it abundantly clear that he was not seeking the king’s life. As David reasons with Saul, he weeps. This is an amazing confession from Saul. He realizes that what David said is true and is moved by the fact that David spared his life. Saul acknowledges the fact that David will become king.

Saul returns home, but David and his men go to their stronghold. David still does not trust Saul. He goes further and further into the wilderness to hide, because he knows there will come a day when Saul will come after him again.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

David Leans on God. I Samuel 23

 

I Samuel 23 – David Leans on God

 

A gifted leader like David might have been tempted to depend on his experience; instead, he turned to the Lord for the guidance he needed. Even the counsel of his men did not sway him once he knew the mind of God.

David rescued the citizens of Keilah, yet they planned to turn him and his men over to Saul. Do not expect everybody you help to appreciate what you have done.

Even though Saul was out to kill David, Jonathan was brave enough to visit David and encourage him. That is what friendship is all about. How tragic that Jonathan’s hope for the future were destroyed by his father’s sins, but at least Jonathan was willing to be second man.

God used an invasion of the Philistines to rescue David when it looked as if Saul’s forces would win. No matter what men may do, God  works out His purposes, and His providence does not fail.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Saul Kills the Priests of God - I Samuel 22

 

I Samuel 22 – Saul Kills the Priests of God

 

David was a long time in breaking with Saul. There were many loyal to Saul, but they were finally forced to flee because their lives became endangered. Many fled to David and joined up with him. There were men who came to him who were in debt. Debt is a cancer that destroys under any circumstance. In that day when a man got into debt he could lose his property and be sold into slavery. Saul was permitting men to become slaves – he was not enforcing the Mosaic law. Forgiveness always rests upon the payment of a debt, and those who were in debt had to flee. David did not pay the debt, but Christ did. He paid the debt of sin by dying on the cross. He set us free.

The discontented also came to David. This means that they were bitter of soul. The circumstances and experiences of life had soured them. Life will make you bitter unless you see the Hand of God.

The fact that David leaves the land of Israel and goes to Moab means he is really a frightened man.

Saul developed some paranoic tendencies. He developed a persecution complex. There was one man who knew where David had gone, and he tells Saul what he knows. He was at the tabernacle when David and his men ate the showbread. After Doeg gives Saul his information, Saul decides to go after Ahimelech the priest. He sent for Ahimelech and the other priests who were in Nob. Saul demanded that Ahimelech explain why he had helped David escape. The Priest gave a truthful answer. He was not aware that David had not been honest with him. In his anger Saul did not listen to reason but commanded the servants to kill the priests. They hesitated to carry out his order. But Saul had gone so far in his rebellion and sin that he would not stop at anything. He commanded Doeg to do his dirty work.

The bitterness and vengeance of Saul was terrible. It is a terrible thing when bitterness takes over. “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”  Hebrews 12:15

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

David Involves the Priests I Samuel 21

 

I Samuel 21 – David Involves the Priests

 

David flees from Saul with his young men that are with him. No one is wearing livery of King Saul. The only bread available was on the table of showbread, which was not to be eaten except by the priest and only at a certain time – which was at the changing of the bread each Sabbath Day. In giving David and his men the bread, the priest was breaking the letter of the Law but not the spirit of the law. David ate the showbread because he had need. Christ said that human need supersedes all ritual and ceremonial laws.

 

Doeg is an Edomite. He is in Saul’s service, and he was going to betray David and the priest. David has a great deal to say of this man in Psalm 52.

David did not have a sword or a spear because he had to leave in a hurry. He was not on a mission for the king, even though he said so.

The king’s business does not require haste. Have you ever noticed how patiently God works?  He is going to work that way in the life of David. David is going to be schooled and trained in the caves of the earth. God is in no hurry. God has had to teach patience to every man He has ever used. God’s work does not require haste. David uses Goliath’s sword because it is there for him to take.

 David got away from Saul as far as he could and went to Achish. When he arrived among these foreigners, he found he was in danger. They were enemies of Israel; so David had to pretend that he was a madman. David’s act was good and the king of Achish believed it. David would not be in danger there.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Jonathan Helps David Escape. I Samuel 20

 

I Samuel 20. Jonathan Helps David Escape

 

Saul knew his daughter had deceived him concerning David. He knew Jonathan and David were good friends. Therefore, Jonathan had to be careful, and very secretive about communicating with David.

David was puzzled. He could not understand why Saul was after him. Jonathan told David that if his father makes a move to slay him, he will know about it.  David said, “there is but a step between me and death.” You and I are within a step of death. Isaiah said that there is only a heartbeat between you and death. Death can come at any time. That is the reason we ought to be ready at any moment to move out into eternity and into the presence of God. Are you trusting Christ as your Savior- so that if you should die at this moment you would go into the presence of God? It is not something that we should put off.

When David was in trouble, Jonathan proved to be his friend. He would do anything to protect David.

David was expected to be at the palace at mealtime, but he was afraid to go. Instead, he asked Jonathan for permission to disappear for three days. Jonathan realized that David, his brother-in-law, would probably succeed Saul on the throne. So, he requested that when David came into power his own relationship with David’s house might not be forgotten.

The plan called for Jonathan to shoot his bow and arrows. David would be hiding in the field. If he shot the arrow way beyond David, it meant that evil was determined against him, and he should flee. If he shot the arrow closer to David, in front of him instead of beyond him, he would know it was safe to return. The arrow went flying and landed way on the other side of David. That meant he was to flee.

 

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Saul Desires to Kill David - I Samuel 19

 

I Samuel 19 – Saul Desires to Kill David

 

Jonathan told David to get out of the palace, because his life was in danger there, and hide himself. Saul was now openly trying to take David’s life. Jonathan has a plan. He is going to try and talk to his father. Saul and Jonathan go out into the field and Jonathan says, “David has actually helped you. He is one of your followers. He is a wonderful citizen of your kingdom. You should not try to kill him.”

Saul listened to his son, and David came back to the palace. David was wary though because he knew his life was in danger.

An evil spirit comes upon Saul again. David is playing his harp, and Saul is fingering his javelin. David senses Saul’s murderous mood. Saul throws that javelin with the intent of pinning David to the wall. David knows he is no longer safe in the palace, even though he is married to Saul’s daughter.

In the beginning Michal was on David’s side. She told David that if he did not escape that very night he would be killed the next day. She knew her father meant business. David fled from the palace, and Michal fixed up the bed to make it look like he was still in it.

When Saul found out that he had been deceived, he demanded an explanation from his daughter. She told him that David would have killed her if she had failed to help him.

Because Samuel had appointed David as king, his life was in danger too. From then on, David lived like an animal. He will be on the run until the death of Saul.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.