Tag: 1 Samuel

David, Bathsheba, and Uriah

May 13, 2020

In the day of King David, the main way to grow your kingdom was to attack another country and take a portion or all their property for yourself.  In 2 Samuel 11, this is what is happening.  It is the time of year that wars take place.  Joab goes and the King stays home.  This was the first bad decision that turned into a tragedy for him.  The Ammonites are destroyed, and they move onto the next battle.

He sees a beautiful woman bathing on a rooftop.  She has just finished her period.  David had many wives.  He decided he wanted Bathsheba as well.  She was brought to him.  Mistake number two.  Later she let the monarch know that she was pregnant.  Her husband was brought home.  He was more dedicated to Israel than his King.  He refused to go into his house and see Bathsheba.

David makes mistake number three by sending a note to Joab with Uriah.  The instructions are to have the messenger die in battle.  Not only does he perish, but others are also casualties as well.  When word reaches the King, he sends back a message of encouragement to the commander.  David not only killed Uriah but these men as well.

After a period of mourning, Bathsheba becomes the King’s wife and the son that is born is considered as David’s, but many knew the truth.  Most importantly Jehovah disapproved of this behavior.

Would you like to be the one to tell the King that Yahweh is going to punish him for this sin?  2 Samuel 12 tells about Nathan doing just that.  To do so, God gave him a story to tell David.  It was about two men.  One was wealthy and the other poor.  The second man had only one lamb.  When the rich man had a visitor arrive, he took the other’s sheep and had it prepared for his guest to eat.

Nathan’s audience became extremely angry when he heard this.  He passes the death penalty sentence and adds that he must pay four times what the lamb was worth.  “You are the man!” is how the prophet answers the King.  All the things that Yahweh gave him are enumerated and then the penalty for David’s sin is given.

The child will die.  One of his family will punish him by seizing his wives.  Violence will never leave the King’s family and he will be disgraced publicly.  The death of the newborn son distresses David and throws the palace into confusion.  The bad decisions, like ours, cause irreparable damage in the land.  Eventually, another child is born to Bathsheba and David.  Even this does not stop the pain of their loss.

The story of David and Bathsheba is not given in 1 Chronicles 20, even though it details Joab’s attack of Rabbah. 2 Samuel 11 lists the attack on Rabbah as the battle where Uriah is killed. The King of Israel celebrates the victory by wearing the crown of Rabbah. Nothing is mentioned here about the affair, pregnancy, or murder.

Again, we have the recounting of the defeat and death of three Philistines that are like Goliath in size. One of them was his brother. The fourth man that was listed in 2 Samuel is deleted for some reason.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The death of Saul and Jonathan

April 18, 2020

The Philistines gather to attack the Israelites, again, in I Samuel 28.  Hearing this, King Saul needs advice about what to do.  He goes to see a fortune teller.   Even though he himself has been eliminating all sorcerers and witches, he finds someone who is still practicing, even if she keeps it as quiet as possible.  What he asks for is to talk to the deceased Samuel.

When he appears, it says that he comes up from the earth.  Is this a comment on where this man of God went when he died or was its recognition that his body had been laid in the earth?  The dead prophet warns the king that he and all of Israel will be defeated.  The kingdom of Israel has been given to David.  Saul is so devastated by this news be refuses to eat.  They finally convince him that he must eat.

When the other Philistines saw David’s men in the ranks in I Samuel 29, they did not like it.  Their enemy who had recently wiped out whole villages were not wanted.  They were sent back home to their city.  David will hear the news of the death of Jonathan and Saul while at their home in Philistia.  The new king of Israel will move from there to Judea.

David and his men arrive back in Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 to discover the city looted and all the women and children are gone.  The Amalekites have attacked while they were gone with the other Philistines.  Did they know these were Israelites and not Philistines?  Probably that is why they came.

They followed and are delayed by having to leave some of their men that are worn out.  The others proceed and defeat the troops that took their families.  In addition, they also take all the property of the Amalekites.  This is divided among all the men, not just the ones that went on the raid.  Some also were sent to the people in Judah who had helped David and his army.

While David is dealing with all of this in I Samuel 31, the Philistines attack Israel.  What Samuel’s spirit had told Saul came true.  Jonathan and two of his other sons are killed.  Saul is about to be overrun by the enemy.  He asks his armorbearer to kill him to prevent abuse by the others.  He refuses and the King takes his own life.

The Israelites are scattered.  Saul’s people retrieved the King’s and the Princes’ remains.  Tomorrow we begin on 2 Samuel.  It is the story of David’s reign.  Why do we have two books named for Samuel, the last judge, and none for David the most famous King of the Jews before Jesus?  The prophet anointed Saul and David.  They were the first two kings.  The two books of the Kings are about the succeeding kings of Israel.

David takes refuge in Jehovah. In Psalms 18 he asks Him to discipline him if he fails to be the man Yahweh wants. He asks God to vindicate him and to defeat his enemies. He calls Him his shield and righteous judge. David also points out how evil people work can cause trouble for themselves. He ends, as usual, with praise again for God.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Fleeing to the Philistines

April 16, 2020

In I Samuel 25 the death of Samuel seems to be a side note.  What is most important appears to be a man named Nabal who is shearer sheep near where David and his men are camped.  Representatives of the second king visit him and request a share of their food.  The reason they ask is that these soldiers served as security for Nabal’s shepherds.

The shepherd’s boss not only refuses the request but is very rude to David’s representatives.  When he hears this the former shepherd decides to exact revenge for the slight by not only killing Nabal, as well as everyone in his family.

Fortunately, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, hears of the encounter and jumps into action.  She prepares provisions for the soldiers and sets out to intercept them.  Due to her intervention, the crisis is averted, and David is impressed.

Returning to her husband, Abigail tells about the raiding party that she was able to avert.  The realization of his imminent death causes a seizure that ultimately takes his life.  Becoming a widow allows David to take Abigail as his wife after an acceptable period.

Some people help David and others turn against him and support King Saul.  In I Samuel 26 the Ziphites go to the king and tell them where his enemy is hiding.  The Israelite soldiers make camp as close to the rebels as they can.  This works well for the former shepherd.  He sneaks into the camp and takes a water pitcher and spear that are next to Saul’s head.

The following morning the young man asks the older man to look for these two items.  They cannot be found.  They are returned to the King and once again he makes it sound like he has had a change of heart.  The two go their separate ways.  David does not return home like Saul.  He stays in hiding.

David and his six hundred men and their families decide to leave the land of Israel in I Samuel 27.  The idea of their being accepted by any of the Philistines does not seem very intelligent on the part of their former enemies.

Ziklag is the city that is given for them to occupy.  The thing that they must do is keep their activities secret.  When they leave the city of Ziklag they go to other Philistines communities and destroy them.  No one is left alive.  All the plunder is taken.  They are asked where the loot came from and they specify towns in Israel.  The surprising thing is that they believe David and do not check out the areas specified.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The family joins David

April 13, 2020

David is on the run and in I Samuel 21 he stops to see a priest for supplies and weapons. The food is the showbread and the weapon is the sword of Goliath.  Note the presence of one of Saul’s men.  It will be important later.

Ahimelech, the priest, seems frightened to see David alone.  His explanation of meeting his men later does not seem to help.  When David arrived in Gath, he had to act insane.  If they had not thought him crazy, he probably would have been killed.  Was this just David’s ingenuity, or did God give the insight needed to pull it off?

David’s family finds him in hiding in I Samuel 22. Soon he has gathered many of those who were not happy with the current monarch. Four hundred men are with him. Moab takes Jessie and his sons in while David is running from Saul.

Saul is told about the Priest that helped David.  He confronts him and murders him and his family and all the priests in Nob.  Some of the King’s men would not do this but Doag did.  He and Saul now have someone as despicable as himself.

Despite his problems with Saul, David goes against the Philistines in I Samuel 23 to save one of the Israeli towns. After defeating his enemies, he had to escape the village before Saul captured him there. He has another opportunity to speak to Jonathan and is told that his friend knows that the Kingdom is Jessie’s son’s.

He is still being chased.  The King is determined to find him.  Wherever David goes, Saul follows.  The Philistines make another attack and Jehovah rescues the new king before his predecessor can intercept him.

Next Saul goes after his successor with three thousand men in I Samuel chapter twenty-four.  David and his men are severely outnumbered.  They have hidden deep within a cave.  The King cannot find him and stops to relieve himself in a cave.  Guess which cave it is?

David creeps up in the dark and cuts off the corner of his enemy’s robe.  He is overcome with shame for doing such a thing.  He orders the men to not harm Saul.  After the King returns to his men and is a distance away, the former shepherd appears on the mountain and calls to him.  Saul seems genuinely touched.  He acknowledges that his young soldier will become the next king.  He asks for mercy for his family and David agrees.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Jonathan and David

April 12, 2020

There has been some conflict in the story of David and Prince Jonathon in I Samuel chapter 18 and following.  Some have attempted to make the affection these men have for each other, as something sexual.  The Hebrew word translated as love has no homosexual connotation.  It goes beyond friendship, trust, and companionship.

Jonathan’s father is not as pleased with David.  Saul attempts to kill him with a spear and when that did not work, he sent him out with a thousand men to attack the kingdom’s enemies.  When that did not work, he offered the first one, then another and when David told others that he did not have the dowry and saw another chance to get rid of him.  The bride price was set at 100 Philistine foreskins.

David could have forced his way because the daughter of the king was one of the prizes for facing Goliath.  The song that the women sang that started the whole thing continued to be heard especially after the cost of the king’s daughter was paid, again.

Jonathan and David discuss the problems with the King in I Samuel 19.  Jonathan knows nothing about his Father’s hatred of the new king.  He tries to make amends between the two.  King Saul reacts to the way his son expects him to, and everything looks fine.  Then on another evening as the young musician is playing for the older man, a spear flies into the wall behind David.  He flees to his home where Micah, his wife, and the princess, helps him escape.

Discovering this deception, Saul accuses her of choosing David instead of her father.  She, like her brother, does not understand the King’s anger with his best soldier.  David escapes to Samuel and as the King’s men attempt to capture him, the spirit of God causes three groups of hunters and even King Saul to speak the word of Jehovah.

“Why is your father trying to kill me?” is the question that David asks Jonathan in I Samuel 20.  The King’s son is not aware of any problem between his friend and Saul.  They put together a plan that will allow the two to communicate again without Saul being aware of it.

It is unusual that the King does not think his enemy is smart enough to know that he is trying to kill him.  Jonathan learns of the anger that has developed in his father.  Saul makes a point of pointing out to his son that Jonathan would never be king if David remains alive.  Despite this, he does not turn on his friend but pledges himself to him again.  He knows that David will be the next king.

Where do you hide when you want to be safe? In Psalm 11 David tells us that Jehovah is his refuge. He knows from experience that there is no place else to hide. He is our one place of safety. Yahweh stays in His temple. This was before there was an earthly structure for His use. Once again, we ask the difference between the upright and the wicked. The righteous are like David and the evil like Saul. Neither one was perfect. Both disobeyed God. What is the difference? David acknowledged his errors while Saul continued to run from his Lord until it killed him.

Have you had a time when you were afraid for your life? That was David in the 59th Psalm. He stayed calm and trusted God although Saul was hot on his heels. The Lord was his strength and protection. He did not want them dead. A difference between followers of the Lord and those who reject Him is shown. Praises are not sung by the lost.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The final act of defiance

April 11, 2020

Samuel gives Saul the task of destroying the Amalekites in I Samuel 15.  The King warns the Kenites before attacking Amalek.  Once again Saul does not follow the instructions to the letter.  He brings the king back alive and Samuel must complete Jehovah’s word by executing this man.

They also had saved the best of the livestock.  What was inferior was destroyed per Yahweh’s instructions.  Do you count it as obedience, when only what your children want to do is completed of their required chores?  God doesn’t either.  What have you been told to do by God, that is still incomplete?  Take care of that as soon as you can.

As the prophet turned to leave, Saul accidentally tore his outer garment.  This is an opportunity to once again teach the King a lesson.  Israel has been ripped from his family, just as that coat was rent.  This is the last time these two leaders will meet each other while alive.

The second king of Israel is to be chosen in I Samuel chapter 16.  The town’s people of Bethlehem are concerned when Samuel arrives.  His explanation is that he is there for sacrifice.  Notice the prophet’s response upon seeing Jesse’s son Eliab.  Saul was not chosen by Jehovah for his outward ability or appearance.  The new king has different qualifications from the first.

The new king must be more focused on who Yahweh is.  He must be more focused on others than himself.  Saul’s current problem is his inability to accept that he is no longer the king.  The Israelites believe he is, but God is about to select another.  One of Jesse’s sons has been picked.

It is none of the first seven.  When David appears, he is anointed by the last judge as king number two of the Jews.  What does this mean for David, his family, and the kingdom? Will he claim leadership, or does he have the wisdom to wait for God?  We will see how it plays out.

The spirit of the Lord has left Saul and David is suggested as a musician for the monarch.  Jesse sends his youngest son to serve the King.  When he cannot relax, the boy will play for him.  The spirit has been given to David and his gift of music brings him into contact with royalty.

David is back at home in I Samuel 17 because Saul and the army have gone to fight the Philistines.  Jesse sent his youngest to take supplies to the three oldest boys that are serving in the military.  While there he sees the largest man, he has ever witnessed defy Jehovah and the King’s men.  The young man does not understand why no one has gone to defeat this enemy of Yahweh.

The oldest and youngest brothers have a falling out when the younger tries to find out what the rewards for challenging Goliath will be.  David was more motivated by his desire to honor God, but it doesn’t hurt to know what the pay might be.  Many other things could be looked at including why five stones are mentioned when only one is needed?

Of course, the Philistines do not surrender when their warrior is beheaded.  To the victor belong the spoils, but not easily.  The Israelites chase, slaughter, and plunder their foes.  Another example of Saul’s self-importance is his having to ask others who this young hero is.  His own personal musician should be someone he recognizes.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Saul’s disobedience

April 11, 2020

Saul reigned from age thirty until he died at age seventy-two according to I Samuel 13.  The standing army consisted of 3,000 men.  2,000 stayed with Saul and 1,000 were under his son Jonathan.  This would have been later than the first battle of course.

There were 3,000 chariots of the Philistines that gathered to fight them.  Saul was waiting for Samuel to offer a sacrifice.  The king made the offering himself, instead of waiting.    When the prophet arrived, he questioned what had been done.  Saul made an excuse and blamed the people for starting to leave.  He viewed Samuel as being late.  Samuel was following the leadership of Jehovah.  Ministers and other Christians still have problems in this way.  Yahweh sets his own time.

We learn that none of the Israelites have swords or spears, except Jonathan and Saul.  The Philistines have removed all the metal workers and tools from Israel.  This was intentional.  It may explain the Israelite tactic of hiding anywhere they can.

Jonathan’s actions in I Samuel 14 seem unusual.  He and his armor-bearer decide to attack the Philistines.  They have a plan that will tell if God will go with them.  They killed twenty of the enemy in this first battle.

Saul realizes that something is going on and has the troops searched to see who is missing.  When it is discovered that Jonathan and his servant are gone, they determine to join the battle.  Even those who had left, returned to follow and fight the retreating army.

We know that ignorance of the law is no excuse in this country.  Jonathan violates his Father’s order by eating honey.  This causes a mutiny that results in Yahweh withholding an answer from the King.  The lot is cast, and Jonathan is discovered as the sinner.  The pursuit of the Philistines stops because of this.  Who was disobeyed, God or just a man?

This was one of many skirmishes with the different enemies of the Israelites.  Jehovah allows Saul to be victorious despite his impatience to wait for Samuel.  The kingdom will be given to someone else, but until that happens, Saul becomes more convinced that he and his son should continue as the leaders of the kingdom even though Yahweh sees it differently.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Israel receives a king

April 10, 2020

I Samuel 9 seems like straying from the previous tact.  We are introduced to the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.  He and a servant are looking for some donkeys.  Jehovah can use even someone looking livestock.  Even Saul recognizes that he is not very important.

Saul is taller than the other Israelites and this will make him a humanly desirable king.  They go to find Samuel, when they are unable to find their property.  Yahweh had prepared this public place for the anointing of the first king.  Samuel does the installation of the monarch, but God chose the man.  Remember that we are chosen for a task by Him.  We should never attempt to choose our own path.

The prophet anoints Saul as king of Israel in I Samuel 10.  The judge also prophesies about what will happen.  The new king and his servant return home and tell a portion of their experiences, but the big man does not mention the oil that he had poured on his head, or his prophesying in Gibeah.  He was touched by the spirit of Jehovah.  He did not tell this to anyone, either.

Samuel comes to Mispah and a sacrifice is arranged.  They are reminded of what they had asked of Yahweh.  The tribe of Benjamin is identified first.  Then the family of Kish is separated from the others and the lot fell to Saul.  He was missing.  When he was found in hiding, they brought him out for the coronation celebration.  His height made many believe he would be a good king.

Everyone left after the festivities ended.  Some brave fighting men went with Saul to his hometown.  There were others that talked against their new king.  This is nothing new, no matter how a leader is chosen.  Someone always is disappointed with everything that is done.

Saul’s strength is being tested in I Samuel 11.  Once again Jehovah’s spirit comes on him.  Jabesh-Gilead is under attack by the Ammonites.  Their plan was very sneaky.  The Israelites were afraid they could not resist.  Their stalling tactics worked, and the new king of Israel gathered the fighting men and rescued their brothers.

At this time, they renewed the commitment of the young monarch.  This is just the first of the battles that will establish the kingdom.  Life will change for the entire country as Samuel’s predictions of the consequences of appointing one ruler for life.

In I Samuel 12 Samuel says, “Now you have a king as your leader.”  The last judge was a man who never defrauded anyone.  Unlike many others in leadership then and now, he was a man of integrity.  The prophet warns them a last time of all that is required of the Israelites.  God is still the one they should follow and no one man.

“Do not turn away from God.” That is a reminder that we all need.  Today, despite our salvation being bought and paid for by our savior, we must continue to follow in obedience to Jehovah.  Samuel gives this word not just to the Jews of his day, but to us as well.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

The Ark is captured and returned

April 10, 2020

The Philistines continue to be in control over Israel in I Samuel 4. They gather for another battle, but once again the Jews are defeated. They try again with the Arc of Jehovah. The Arc is not a talisman, but the symbol of Yahweh’s presence. God was not consulted. No one seemed to take the time to seek His advice.

The presence of the Arc caused joy in the Hebrew camp and fear in the Philistine. The hunkered down and again chased Israel away. Phinehas and Hophni, Eli’s sons, had gone with the Arc. During the fight, they were killed. Upon hearing the news, Eli fell over and broke his neck. Phinehas’ wife gave birth after she heard of her husband’s death. The boy lived and his mother died. Samuel becomes the chief minister at the Tabernacle.

In I Samuel chapter five we hear about the god of the Philistines falling and worshipping Jehovah on two different nights.  Tumors break out in the city where the Arc is taken.  Even though they do not know Him they believe He is the cause of their disease and death.  They send Him away by removing the Arc.

The same thing happens in the next city.  An outbreak of tumors kills many and others just die.  Once again Yahweh is forced from their community.  The city refuses to allow the creator of the universe entry.  They demand all the leaders of the Philistines gathered to determine what to do with the presence of such a powerful being.

Have you decided about who He is and whether you will accept His Son as your Lord and Savior?  The Philistines could have fallen on their faces as their god Dagon had done.  Had they asked for forgiveness and became a friend of Jehovah and His children, they could have been forgiven.  Ruth and many others we have read about and will encounter further in the Bible chose this path.  It was and is available for all.

I Samuel 6 tells us after seven months that a decision is finally made to return the Arc to Israel.  The plan is clever.  It also includes a method to discover if Yahweh is the one causing these circumstances or if it is just bad luck.  The cows should turn toward their calves.  They did not.

Beth-Shemesh is the Hebrew city that receives the presence of the living God.  They rejoice at first and use the two cows and the cart as a burnt offering.  They even had Levites remove the Arc from the cart because only this clan was to carry the symbol of Jehovah.

Later, some in the new hometown of God are struck down because they opened the Arc to investigate it.  Touching the container seems inconsequential.  How can it be worth their lives, just to have touched a box?  God sets standards.  It is our task to simply obey.  We all know that is impossible for us humans.  Once again God is rejected by those who refuse to respect Him.

Aminadab agrees to house the Ark of the Covenant in I Samuel 7 by consecrating his son to be pure in the sight of the Lord.  Someone had to do this to qualify to approach the presence of Jehovah once a year to present the sacrifice.

The Israelites decide to follow Yahweh while Samuel led them as their prophet and judge.  The Philistines attacked them during their worship.  They were defeated and all the Jews had to do was chase them as they fled.  Peace came to Israel and the surrounding countries that had been ruled by the Philistines.

The same problem that afflicted Eli is presented in I Samuel 8.  Samuel’s two sons do not follow his example as a leader or a follower of Jehovah.  A group of the leaders of the twelve tribes ask him to appoint a king.  They do not want to rely on those that will inherit rule.

This seems incongruous.  A monarchy is based on succession by family.  This is the reason our country chose not to create a monarchy.  The only way to remove a king or queen is through a revolution.  Violence is no way to run a civilized country.

Samuel warned them what a monarch would mean for all of them.  They would lose their children, property and civil rights.  The king would do whatever he wants to do to them.  They knew what other kings did to their people, but still wanted their own king.  Tomorrow a king is anointed.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger

Samuel’s Birth

April 10, 2020

Samu

el’s birth and call to ministry

Every minister must start somewhere and I Samuel chapter 1 is his beginning as a baby.  He became more than the last judge of Israel.  He was a prophet and the one who anointed the first two kings.  But first, he had to be born.

Hannah was childless.  This was nothing that was unique to her.  It frustrated her more than anything.  She agreed to give her child to Jehovah if he would only grant her desire.  The priest at the Tabernacle thought she must be drunk because when she prayed her heart was broken to the point, she could not vocalize those feelings.

After Yahweh granted her wish, she did not return to Shiloh until the child was old enough to be left with the priest, Eli.  What could a young boy do for God in the place where all the Jews came to worship and sacrifice?

Hanna prays in I Samuel 2 thanking Jehovah for her son.  She proclaims there is no other God.  He is the one who directs everything.  The justice of Yahweh will prevail.  The boy is left with Eli the priest.

The priest has two sons who are not very good as priests.  They have no concern for the people and are only interested in themselves.  They take what they want whether it is the women outside the tabernacle or the best part of the sacrifice.  Samuel sees all this.

A prophet comes and tells Eli that God will soon pass judgment on him, his sons and his entire family.  There will be a new prophet chosen to lead Israel.  He doesn’t name Samuel, but the description fits the boy when he is grown.

Samuel’s job in the Tabernacle was to assist Eli and his sons.  In I Samuel chapter 3 we read of the first message Jehovah gives to the boy.  He hears someone calling him three times and finally, Eli realizes that God is calling him.  Following the advice of the priest, the next time his name is called, the young judge responds positively to the Lord.

What will happen to the current family of priests is given to the young man? He reluctantly tells his mentor the next morning.  As Samuel grew, he was recognized as a prophet by Israel.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger