April 19

Psalms 5, 6, 7, 10, 11

This version of the Bible integrates the Psalms chronologically into the text which has really given me deeper insight into David's poetic heart in contrast to his brutal action as a warrior.  Now we come to a group of psalms written by David and the various people he named to lead Israel in song and music.  The psalms are organized by topics.  The first is "Psalms of the Troubled Soul."

The tenor of the first psalms presented here illustrate man's deep need for justice and fairness in a world that seems unfairly in the control of the wicked.  We troubles our souls is the absence of justice in the world.  We all want fairness and justice in the world.  It upsets us to see the powerful take advantage of the weak.  We want fairness and justice.  But what fairness or justice is there in the fact that we were born in America or to a loving family?  How rare is our good fortune in this world.  So.  Do we really want fairness and justice?  Did David?  Truly?  The man who took a man's wife and then his life -- does he want fairness?  These psalms cry out for fairness, for God's hand to be on the wicked...but do we see the wicked as He sees the wicked?  Doe he distinguish them differently than we?

April 18

1 Chronicles 26:12-32, 27:1-34, 28:1, 23:1b, 28:2-21, 29:1-22

Oh, how much David must have wanted to build the temple.  He does everything but build it for Solomon, who "is young and inexperienced." [1 Chron. 29:1]  Do we detect a note of desire on David's part to do the job himself rather than leave it to his son?  David organizes the people and Levites, delivers the temple plans that "the Spirit had put in his mind" [1 Chron. 28:12], even prescribed the weight of gold and silver for all the items in the temple.  Finally, David donates his own fortune to the building of the temple and raises money from the people.  He rejoices at their generosity but acknowledges as we must always acknowledge:

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." [1 Chron. 29:14]

April 17

1 Chronicles 23:1a-20, 24:20-25, 23:21-23, 24:26-30a, 23:24-27, 24:30b, 23:28-32, 24:31, 24:1-19, 25:1-31, 26:1-11

As David divides the Levites into their temple duties, we see a few names that we've seen before.  

First of all, Shimei.  Is this the Shimei who taunted David when the king was down and who sought and got forgiveness from David later?  If so, it's pretty cool that David has Shimei and his family involved with the building of the temple.  It's not just enough to forgive.  Forgiveness must be acted upon.  And this is a deep act of forgiveness.

Then there's Obed-Edom, the guy who kept the Ark at his home for three months while David figured out what to do with it.  Not only was Obed-Edom blessed during those three months but the scripture says plainly here "God blessed Obed-Edom." [1 Chron. 26:5] And, boy, was he blessed.  There were 62 descendants of Obed-Edom at the time of this record prior to the building of the temple.  I wonder if Obed spoke with God while the Ark was at his house?  What happened during those three months?  What miraculous things showed God's presence and power and how He blessed Obed-Edom.

April 16

2 Samuel 21:1-14, 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-14: 1 Chronicles 21:7-13; 2 Samuel 24:15-17; 1 Chronicles 21:14-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-30, 22:1-19; Psalms 30

As a nation, apparently, we are held accountable for the sins of leaders and people in the past.  So the Gibeonites must be avenged for Saul's treatment of them.

Rash and willful Joab is on the right side of the census question.  David is not.  And so an Angel of the Lord is set loose on Israel as punishment -- 70,000 en fall dead.  The angel is finally stopped at the threshing floor of Arunah the Jebusite.  David builds an altar here and it's designated the site of "the house of the Lord God."

David will not build the temple because of the violence and bloodshed under his watch.  Does this make sense?  Were his battles not fought to secure the Promised Land or to escape Saul?  Wasn't this the Lord's work?  Maybe it was the manner or joy with which he fought?  Or maybe, simply, we can't do it all.  Some of the task is left to others so that we don't take credit but give God the glory.  David lived at a time when violence reigned.  Now peace will reign and the Lord will receive his house during that reign -- the reign of Solomon.

Like any well-meaning and dotting father, David will do all he can to help his son.  He will gather all of the materials and craftsman needed.  Do everything but built the temple.  Does he not think his son Solomon capable?  Or is David simply trying to help Solomon start off his reign on the best possible footing?  Ironically, David asks the Lord to give Solomon "discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel."  [1 Chron. 22:12]

April 15

2 Samuel 19:5-41, 20:1-26

There is a real contrast between how David and his general Joab deal with adversity and adversaries.  David forgives and Joab buries the hatchet...in whomever is bothering him.

Here David forgives Shimei, the man who once taunted him, [2 Sam. 19:18-23] while Joab murders Amasa, the man David gave Joab's job to.  Again, he kills through trickery, calling Amasa over -- "Joab said to Amasa, 'How are you my brother?'  Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.  Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground." [2 Sam. 20:9, 10]

I don't know why I've never read Joab as being such a despicable person before.  I guess I just assumed because of his association with David as his general that he was basically good.  I see him now in vivid contrast Joab's heart and David's heart.  How and why did David allow Joab to continue to lead?  Did David forgive so easily because of the guilt he carried in his own heart?  Was it because Joab knew the order that David had given to have Uriah killed so he could marry Bathsheba?  Did Joab hold this knowledge over David?

April 14

2 Samuel 16:15-23, 17:1-29, 18:1-33, 19:1-4

Absalom lies with his father's concubines openly for all to see.  Again, we have the replaying of David's sin.  Don't we?  David's sin would have been known, whispered about, certainly by the soldiers who were ordered to withdraw and leave Uriah.  Does David understand that he is reaping what he has sown?  Does he ponder and mourn this and consider, as all father's do, how things might have been different, how their children might have been blessed with different lives, if only the father had done things differently.  If we'd only spent more time, said what was needed to be said when they were little and looked to us as a hero.  Did Absalom here the whispers about his father?

Joab leads the battle to put down Absalom's rebellion.  Here again, David doesn't join in the fighting.  But this time he is fully occupied, waiting for word of his son.  Looking out from his rooftop this time for some news rather than to be tempted.  Did he stand on the same rooftop and did standing there bring together in his mind the two situations?  Did David feel convicted, humbled and oh so world weary?

Interesting verse here:

"...and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword." [2 Samuel 18:8] 

This is in a battle that claims 20,000 lives.  How does the forest claim more?  Is it because the men run and hide in the forest and flee from the battle?  Does it mean there were more than 20,000 deserters?  Probably.  Or is it something more magical and miraculous?  Is it a seen right out of Tolkien and the Ents?  Did the woods swallow them up?  Did they kill them as they assisted in the death of Absalom?

Joab kills Absalom -- despite what his king has ordered concerning his son.  Even though he is reminded what the king has said by those who would not kill Absalom, Joab kills him anyway.  I have a feeling that Joab is one of those who is always doing what is right in his own eyes and so producing all kinds of conflicts in the lives of those around him.  The heart of the law is love and not seeking your own way. 

April 13

2 Samuel 14:25-33, 15:1-37, 16:1-14; Psalms 3

Absalom is good looking. His story causes me to contemplate the burden of beauty.  Yeah, like how bad could it be to be admired for your looks?  I've noticed how people are drawn to follow those who have a physical presence or beauty.  Most leaders are tall.   I've even observed how a beautiful child will garner more attention at church than one that is less than attractive.  Object if you want.  But I've seen it.  It is our nature to be drawn to lovely things and people.  But what a burden beauty really is.  Think of all of the attention and excuse one is given for there beauty and not for who they are.  Good looks are viewed as a blessing but it can often be a curse.  Looks are simply a hollow shell that must be filled.  What's really important is what's inside.  Don't roll your eyes.  Look to pretty-boy Absalom.

Absalom uses his beauty to get what he wants.  He stands at the city gate and befrends each of David's subects and tells them exactly what they want to hear.  It's all part of his plot to overthrow his father.  He uses his beauty to accomplish his purposes...and, ironically, God will use Absalom's beauty to achieve his purposes [Absalom's hair will be entangled in a tree branch].  

So spoiled is Absalom that he sets fire to Joab's field when he doesn't think Joab is being attentive enough.  Absalom doesn't know -- but is about to learn what we all know -- that you don't mess around with Joab.

Why does David accept Shimei's physical and mental abuse?  His curses and his throwing stones and dirt down on David and his men?  Shimei is just one man and David is traveling with a band of fighters.  Is this part of David's attraction to God?  His heart knows his sin and he accepts the abuse because he knows the punishment is just.  He is being punished through Absalom -- a man avenging his sister's rape by someone who should have protected her -- a sexual sin, something taken that was not his to take.  Isn't this David's sin mirrored in his son's life?  And so he is punished.

Finally, should we make anything of the fact that David goes up to the Mount of Olives to mourn his betrayal by his son?  [2 Samuel 15:30]

April 12

2 Samuel 12:24, 25, 5:13-16; 1 Chronicles 3:4c-9, 14:3-7; 2 Samuel 13:1-39, 14:1-24

David begins to see the effect his sexual sin with Bathsheba is having on his own family.  His son Amnon desires Tamar, Abasalom's sister.  There is the brother/sister problem here, of course.  But, too, Amnon will not wait to be married as his sister Tamar begs -- "'Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.'  But he refused to listen to her...." [2 Sam. 13:12, 14]

No matter what Amnon thinks, nothing about this is love.  And what Amnon thinks will be so fantastic, so wonderful ends up causing him to hate the object of all his devotion.  He hates Tamar.  Because after the moment is gone, he is left knowing what he has done.  And, as is often the case, his "love" is replaced by hate.  

Absalom responds by waiting until the moment comes that he can kill his brother for the rape.

Joab, the schemer, does things less than honestly and openly.  He uses a trick to bring Absalom home.  Why is Joab so concerned with getting Absalom home?  Does he think, in his heart, that it's the right thing to do?  He's always disobeying the king.  Does he just want to foment tension and trouble between father and son?  Joab will be the one that returns Absalom to Jerusalem and then the one that kills him against David's order.

April 11

2 Samuel 12:18-23, 12:26-31; 1 Chronicles 20:1b-3; 2 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 18:2; 2 Samuel 8:3, 4, 7, 8; 1 Chronicles 18:3, 4, 7, 8; 2 Samuel 8:5, 6; 1 Chronicles 18:5, 6; 2 Samuel 8:13, 14; 1 Chronicles 18:12, 13; 2 Samuel 8:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 18:9, 10; 2 Samuel 8:11, 12; 1 Chronicles 18:11, 11:10; 2 Samuel 23:8; 1 Chronicles 11:11; 2 Samuel 23:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 11:12-14; 2 Samuel 23:11-17; 1 Chronicles 11:15-19; 2 Samuel 23:18, 19; 1 Chronicles 11:20, 21; 2 Samuel 23:20-23; 1 Chronicles 11:22-25; 2 Samuel 23:24-39; 1 Chronicles 11:26-47

So much talk of Mighty Men and battle.  After his sin, David returns to service.  Not just leading from afar, but back in active service.  Perhaps he understood the downfall of idle time.  What did Joab think?  Maybe David felt guilt.  Maybe out of guilt he risks his life.

April 10

2 Samuel 21:15-22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8; 2 Samuel 8:1; 1 Chronicles 18:1; 2 Samuel 10:1-5; 1 Chronicles 19:1-5; 2 Samuel 10:6-14; 1 Chronicles 19:6-15; 2 Samuel 10:15-19; 1 Chronicles 19:16-19; Psalms 60; 2 Samuel 11:2; 1 Chronicles 20:1a; 2 Samuel 11:2-27, 12:1-13a; Psalms 51; 2 Samuel 12:13b-17

The battle between David and the Philistines continues.  David is nearly killed in the fighting and so his men ask him to leave active duty.  Which he does.  Big mistake.  Are they really doing David a favor by asking him not to fight?  When we leave the fight behind, when the battles is no long raging around us and first and foremost in our mind, we're at our most vulnerable.  Ask David.  Without the battle reminding him of whose he is...his attention wanders (along with his eyes) and he sins with Bathsheba.  Interesting to note, once he is convicted of his sin and repents, David will return to the fight.

I love David's psalm of repentance:

You don't delight n sacrifice, or I would bring it;

      you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

      a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.  [Psalms 51:16, 17]

April 9

1 Chronicles 16:37-43; 2 Samuel 6:20-23, 8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 18:14-17; 2 Samuel 9:1-13, 7:1-3; 1 Chronicles 17:1, 2; 2 Samuel 7:4-17; 1 Chronicles 17:3-15; 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27

It dawns on David that he's now living in a house of cedar and that the Ark, God's presence with the people, is still relegated to a tent.  God doesn't seem to mind.  God in a tent is a good image.  It's a temporary dwelling, not the permanent fixture that we dwell on as well as in.  Tents don't seem to separate us like a fortress or a palace might.  It is a piece of fabric.  Lving in tents it's hard to have your privacy.  but God doesn't desire privacy like man does.  He doesn't have the same need for it.  There's nothing that we could see or find out that would embarrass Him.  God wants intimacy.  He was content to dwell in a bush, a tent, a cloud, a flame, a whisper, a baby.  Just to get close to us.  God is always dwelling among us.  He didn't need His son to do that.  His son was for our understanding.  God is always here.  

April 8

2 Samuel 6:12a; 1 Chronicles 15:1-24; 2 Samuel 6:12b-15; 1 Chronicles 15:25-28; 2 Samuel 6:16; 1 Chronicles 15:29; 2 Samuel 6:17-19; 1 Chronicles 16:1-36; Psalms 105, 96

Rewind.  Try that again.  Even David sees the differing results between Uzzah and Obed-Edom.  He does his homework.  Moving the Ark is not something to be taken lightly.  You must literally bear it's weight if you are to move it.  Now, rather than a few verses describing the preparation, it is now addressed by chapters.  David now inquires of Him about "how to do it in the prescribed way."  And so there are sacrifices and offerings and the priests were consecrated before carrying it on poles and its movement is accompanied by lyres, harps, cymbals, trumpets and dancing.  and just in case...they take Obed-Edom along with them.

April 7

2 Samuel 5:6-8; 1 Chronicles 11:4, 5; 2 Samuel 5:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 11:6-9; 2 Samuel 5:11, 12; 1 Chronicles 14:1, 2; 2 Samuel 6:1-5; 1 Chronicles 13:1-8; 2 Samuel 6:6-11; 1 Chronicles 13:9-14; 2 Samuel 5:17-25; 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; 2 Samuel 22:1-51; Psalms 18

David takes the City of David -- Jerusalem.  This is an important moment.  Does David realize the significance?  Does he know revered Jerusalem would become through the ages?  He issues a reward to the person who leads the attack on the Jebusites to take Jerusalem.  The Jebusites are overconfident in their position and Jerusalem's ability to turn away the invaders.  Often I think we are overconfident in our position and our ability to defend it.  A personal relationship with God trumps a defensible position every time.  And David has a unique relationship with God.

Joab answers David's challenge to lead the attack -- this is the same Joab that killed Abner.  At news of this "murder," David cursed Joab, saying, "May his [Abner's] blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house!  May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."  [2 Sam. 3:29]

So David couldn't be real excited about Joab earning the right to be the commander of his army.  It's not recorded, but I wonder what David thought.  Did he regret his rash promise of a reward?  Did he wonder exactly what God was up to and what it was God almost seems to put people in difficult and trying relationships?  Of all the people, why Joab, the murderer?

Then there is the account of two individual's interaction with the Ark of the Covenant.  David has called for the long-neglected Ark to be brought to Jerusalem.  Seems like a good idea.  He's trying to do the right thing.  Show honor to the Ark and God.  While the Ark is being transported by cart (rather than carrying it like they're suppose to), Uzzah reaches out to steady it and dies at the touch.  Out of fear, the Ark is left at the House of Obed-Edom, the Gittite for three months and the Lord blesses his "household and everything he had." [1 Chron. 13:13, 14]  

Interesting, a Gittite was a citizen of the Philistine city of Gath.  Goliath was a Gittite.  So was Obed-Edom a Philistine?  What's the difference between the two men's interaction with God's Ark?  Both were caring for it?  But one lived and was bless and one died.  How do we honor the Lord?  Do we take Him into our home and hearts?  Or just trot Him around in a cart? 

April 6

2 Samuel 2:1-10, 12-30, 3:1-29, 4:1, 3, 5, 6-12, 5:1-3; 1 Chronicles 11:1-3; 2 Samuel 2:11, 5:4, 5; 1 Kings 2:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4b, 29:26, 27, 12:23-40

Saul is dead but the battle between the House of Saul and the House of David rages on.  There is a civil war in Israel.  David is King over Judah and Abner makes Ish-Bosheth, son of Saul, King of Israel.  So much killing and death travels in David's wake.  Joab avenges the death of his brother and kills Abner against David's wishes.  Ish-Bothseth is murdered by Recab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon.  The brothers kill Ish-Bothseth in his own bedroom and go to David to tell him the news.  David deals with them as he dealt with the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul.  David has them killed.  Israel is now united under David.  But his life will continually be surrounded by death -- maybe his lot for having taken the wife and life of one of his men.  David becomes, ordained of God, becomes King at the death of a King.  And so do we.

April 5

1 Samuel 28:4-25, 31:1-13; 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14; 2 Samuel 4:4, 1:1-27

So does anyone see the irony that the witch of Endor can call Samuel from the dead but she can't see through Saul's disguise?  So much for her power.  It's interesting the medium through which Saul seeks the Lord's word -- dreams, the Urim or prophesy.  The Lord still speaks to us through scripture, others and the world around us today -- which sort of covers the Urim and prophesy.  But what about dreams?  Does the Lord set foot into our dreams?  I wonder.

Saul and his sons die as prophesied by the spirit of Samuel through the witch of Endor.  The Philistines celebrate their momentary victory.  And, I imagine the Amalekite who brought news of Saul's death to David and bragged [also lied] that he had killed Saul in an act of mercy was surprised by David's response.  Ironically, it's an Amalekite who claims to have killed Saul when it's Saul's sparing of the Amalekite king that ultimately brought down Saul.  I suppose the Amalekite thought David was going to be happy that the long-standing fight between he and Saul was finally over.  But David was at war with the Amalekites and he kills the one that claims to have killed God's anointed.  Reminder to self:  The Amalekites' mistake was he viewed the situation from his personal point of view.  He did not have the benefit of the King's perspective.  How often do I misinterpret God because I can't see the big picture?  Too often, I fear.

This reading ends with David's beautiful lament of Saul's death and especially that of David's friend Jonathan.  Such intimate words:

"How the mighty have fallen in battle!

      Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;

      you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,

      more wonderful than that of women."

[2 Sam. 1:25, 26]

April 4

1 Samuel 25:1b-44, 26:1-25, 27:1-7; 1 Chronicles 12:1-7; 1 Samuel 27:8-28:2, 29:1-11; 1 Chronicles 12:19-22; 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Abigail and Nabal -- a beautiful, gracious and intelligent woman with a obnoxious slacker for a husband.  How often have we heard this story?  A wonderful woman makes up for the shortcomings of her husband.  Abigail mirrors the lovely story of intercessor that stands in judgement before the Lord and offers sacrifice in order to save the one she loves...even though he is a fool and undeserving.  Another familiar story, right?  This is the redemption story retold or pre-told as it will be told again and again, a constant refrain in the Bible -- from Noah to Abraham and Isaac to Abigail and on and on the story goes.  How can we not understand how very much God loves us and what sacrifice He is willing to make for us, even his only begotten son [one phrase I still love in the KJV].  For her reward, Abigail's evil master dies and she is married to the King.  The Lord will triumph over Satan and we will know Him in heaven.

We have another story of averted death and salvation in today's reading.  Again, David is within striking distance of Saul.  He and two of his men sneak up on Saul while he and his guards sleep.  But David will not kill "the Lord's anointed."  [And lucky for David, he didn't bring Joab or this might have been a completely different story.  Joab would have had no problem killing him because he needed killing and David didn't want him killed.]  Anyway, David descends on Saul like the Passover Angel that was appeased by the blood of the lamb.  David passes over the opportunity because Saul is anointed.  

When he realizes what has transpired, Saul, when faced with his sin and the gift of salvation, offers his repentance.   But it is short lived.  He will commit the same sin again and again.  He doesn't have the same qualms that David does for killing God's anointed one.  

While David and his growing army are away from home, the Amalekites attack their city and take their women and children.  The people are ready to stone David for this.  [Hey, you wanted a king.  Deal with it.]  With God's help, they track the Amalekites and their homes are restored.  David's two wives are returned in the raid.  Imagine the emotion and beauty of this story that is only hinted at in scripture.  With their families taken, the men are in such despair and think themselves betrayed.  They begin to doubt the Lord and Master they have given up everything to follow.  Their love of David is not unconditional.  Now imagine the glorious restoration of their houses.  The improbable, the fantastic, the miraculous has happened.  Their women and children -- that which was lost -- is returned.  And so is their faith.  Hopefully, strengthened by this test.  God's love and voice echoes throughout all the seemingly disparate and unconnected litany of stories in this reading.

April 3

1 Samuel 22:6-23; Psalms 52; 1 Samuel 23:1-14; Psalms 63; 1 Samuel 23:15-25; Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 23:26-29, 24:1-22; Psalms 57; 1 Samuel 25:1a

Ok, now it's plain to me -- and, of course, it's been plain to God from the start -- Saul stepped way over the line here, even his own men recognize this.  But, remember, God warned the people earlier when they called for a king the problems they would face because of their king.  Saul isn't just attacking David; he's attacking God.  Does he think he can ever be absolved of the blood of the 85 priests slaughtered as well as the entire town of Nob?  Saul has gone too far in fear of David.

While Saul broods, David sings praises.

"I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and every." [Psalms 52:8]

Again, David shows his Hemingway-esque side.  This is a man who lives by a code.  He will not kill God's anointed one, even to save his own life.  Even when he catches him with both his pants and his guard down.  Saul retreats into a cave to relieve himself.  If just happens that this is a cave David happens to be hiding in at the time.  Unknown to Saul, David cuts off a corner of Saul's robe while he's...well...busy.  David will use this to prove his allegiance to Saul.  Saul is touched by the gesture and seems to repent.  But it's all so short-lived.  Such a crude story to make such a beautiful statement.  Which seems to be the nature of God -- he takes the embarrassingly personal and makes it his own -- nakedness in the garden, circumcision, the instance here in the cave.  This is an uncomfortably intimately personal God.  Nothing is protected from his holy sight.

April 2

1 Samuel 21:1-12; Psalms 56; 1 Samuel 21:13-15; Psalms 34; 1 Samuel 22:1, 2; Psalms 142; 1 Chronicles 12:8-18; 1 Samuel 22:3-5

I love the way this translation weaves David's Psalms and the events of his life that the Psalms were written about.  It brings the Psalms to life and tempers his actions by revealing David's heart.  His poetry illuminates his life -- being seized by the Philistines, feigning madness before Abimelech, hiding in the cave from Saul.

David is a warrior poet and I like him for this.  He leads men into battle but he also takes time to mediate and write.  He fights and then writes of his fear and hopes and prayers to his God.  He is Hemingway-esque -- a man's man suffering from the sins common to men.  But his is a heart that God loves and it is the heart of a poet and a warrior.

April 1

1 Samuel 18:1-30, 19:1-18; Psalms 59; 1 Samuel 19:19-24, 20:1-42

Saul's son Jonathan loves David and Saul's daughter Michal loves David and God loves David.  So Saul's jealous seems inevitable.  But, why, instead of pursuing David, doesn't Saul pursue that which makes David so lovable?  The answer to life's problems isn't throwing a spear at them.  What's up with Saul and his spear?  He throws it at David and he throws it at his son.  We're like that, too.  Our sin makes us angry, mainly at ourselves and at the gnawing feeling of conviction, and so we throw a barb at someone else -- someone innocent -- in our anger.  And once thrown, we can never retrieve those spears or, often, heal the wound left.  Toss prayers at God.  Not spears at our problems.

March 31

1 Samuel 16:1-23, 17:1-58

The Spirit of the Lord comes upon David in power and departs from Saul [1 Sam. 16:13, 14].  What does that feel like?  Did they know?  Did David feel a surge of power and Saul feel the spirit of God drawn out of him leaving him weak?  Did David feel new confidence and courage and Saul, doubt and fear?  Or did they feel the same but their lives would be changed?  I wonder.  Is the Spirits power displayed behind the scenes, unaware, changing the tenor of their days, the quality of their life, the connection with God that informs their decisions?  Do we feel the Spirit come to us in baptism?  Or do we find our lives forever changed?  Would we even recognize the Spirit of God descending on us unless it's accompanied by a dove or a miracle?  I wonder.

Speaking of Spirit -- not only does the Spirit of the Lord depart from Saul -- an "evil spirit from the Lord tormented him." [1 Sam. 16:14]  Interesting.  God has replaced His Spirit with an evil spirit of torment.  David's harp has the power to soothe Saul.  When we are in torment perhaps we need to exchange the Spirit that fills us.

David knows and understands God's power and rushes in.  He does this with Goliath and he does this with Saul.  He runs to the battle.  We, too often, are content to stand back and see what the Lord will do without us.  We sit back and wait when there are so many hurting and in need all around us.  The poor is not only always with us but too much with us.  I wonder if we assuage our need to serve by sitting in worship.  David acts because he knows no matter how ill prepared he is that "the battle is the Lord's." [1 Sam. 17:47]

March 30

1 Samuel 14:46-48, 52; 1 Chronicles 5:10, 18-22; 1 Samuel 15:1-35

Saul doesn't obey God's command completely and is punished for it.  But the punishment seems too severe for the sin.  God has told him (through Samuel), "Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them.  Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." [1 Sam. 15:3]

Saul obeys God...except he spares "Agag [the Amalekites king] and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs -- everything that was good." [1 Sam. 15:9]

Does Saul in his mind really think he's done the right thing as he suggests?  "I have carried out the Lord's instructions."  [1 Sam. 15:13]  When Samuel questions him, Saul replies the soldiers spared the best.  Is he averting blame from himself?  Since he's going to use what he saved from the battle to sacrifice to God, does he think the ends justifies the means?  Because of this, God rejects Saul's kingship.  Some will use this scripture to suggest -- "See, Saul didn't do exactly what the Lord said, he amended it a bit, and so we must be careful to do precisely what God has prescribed."  And that's true.  But is form or obedience the problem here?  The problem is obedience.  We concentrate too much on form.  

Even Samuel says, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." [1 Sam. 15:22]  I think it would be a mistake to apply this scripture to the form we follow.  And as far as obedience goes, we know that the greatest commandment and the second both deal with love.  Loving God.  Then loving others.  Rather than argue over scripture or the form of our following God, let's love.

That's why I can worship with a congregation that's caught up in bigger buildings with more professional Christians as leaders because, of course, we serve God better with bigger and better facilities and trained professionals.  I consider that a rather Catholic view.  I think God intended us to use our resources in other ways -- to reach out rather than make ourselves more comfortable.  We preach this from the pulpit as it relates to our personal use of resources but fail to preach it in our corporate use of resources.  thus, we can suggest that the congregation spends too much time in front of its flat screen televisions in a church populated with flat screen televisions.

I disagree with the leadership but still fellowship because love is the higher calling of the day.  I can accept what I perceive to be misguided as long as it doesn't violate the core of what I believe.

March 29

1 Samuel 13:1, 14:49-51; 1 Chronicles 9:35-44; 1 Samuel 13:2-22; 14:1-45

Apparently Saul gets impatient.  His men are deserting him as they stand ready to fight the Philistines and so he makes an offering to God before Samuel arrives.  I'm not sure what's wrong with this.  Maybe as we read on through the course of Saul's reign this will make more sense.  Right now it doesn't for me.  We're all guilty of sinning at times when we are honestly trying to serve God and do the right thing.  I think it's better than standing by and doing nothing at all for fear of sinning.  I think it was Martin Luther that said -- "Praise God and sin boldly."  Of course, we can never know what was in Saul's heart here and it's the heart that ultimately matters most.

Again, Saul tries to do the right thing and it backfires for him.  After Jonathan trusts God to win an impressive victory, he violates a dictum his father has rashly put into place.  Saul has said no one is to eat until the Israelites defeat the Philistines.  Seems counterproductive.  Jonathan is not acting in defiance of his father.  He learns of Saul's command after he has dipped his staff into some honey and tasting it.

The men save Jonathan from his father.

Is it Saul's rashness, his taking things into his own hands with the offering and the command not to eat that angers God?  But, at the same time, he makes sacrifices, punishes those who disobey God's ordinance and is even willing to take the life of his son who has disobeyed him and has apparently caused God to become silent.  What gives?