David, ever loyal to
his own and aware of the political weight of his actions, heard that the city
of Keilah was in trouble.
The Philistines were
plundering all their threshing floors, to deny them harvested grain.
David went down to
help, but news that he had entered Keilah reached Saul who advanced.
God
cautioned David that Saul was coming and that Keilah would betray him.
So he fled into the Wilderness
of Ziph and hid in a forest. Jonathon went to see him and they swore that David
would reign and that he would then succeed David.
The locals then
betrayed David to Saul and promised to flush him out, but by the time Saul got
there David had fled to the Wilderness of Moan, setting a mountain between him
and Saul.
Then, as Saul closed
in, news came that the Philistines had exploited his absence to attack the
nation, so he withdrew.
David retreats to a cave to lament his lot (Psalm 7)
The Psalm is about Cush the Benjamite, which is a respectful way of addressing King Saul. It expresses David's inner fears about being torn apart by his enemy.
He bared his heart to God to petition his innocence and the injustice of it all, given that he had not harmed or sought to harm the king. He thus sues for reciprocal honor.
He even appealed to God to judge him and clear him and to do so for the sake of the people who were caught in the crossfire.
David spared Saul (Chapter 24)
After dealing with the
Philistines, Saul and 3,000 men went after David, in Engedi.
There he found a cave
and went in to relieve himself. But David was also in the cave, unbeknownst to
Saul. God even gave him the license to deal with Saul.
So David cut off the
skirt of Saul’s garment, but felt bad about it. He was so honorable and felt no
right to touch God’s anointed.
Then after Saul left the
cave, David revealed himself and challenged what others had been saying about
his desire to harm Saul.
He also asked, “have
you come out with your army against a flea or a dog?”
David assured the king
that even if he had the opportunity and even if it was handed to him by God, he
would still not harm him.
Saul wept and was
ashamed at David’s righteousness and his own folly. Saul then confirmed that
David would surely reign, but asked David to preserve his seed: which David
swore to do.
Sadly, that may be why Jonathon eventually died with Saul, but it was the last time they met.
In swearing to not cut off Saul's seed, which is what God would require him to do, God saved David from having to ever harm Jonathon.
Sadly, that may be why Jonathon eventually died with Saul, but it was the last time they met.
In swearing to not cut off Saul's seed, which is what God would require him to do, God saved David from having to ever harm Jonathon.
Samuel died (Chapter 25)
The great man breathed
his last and the nation mourned his passing: the passing of an era.
Meanwhile David
withdrew to the Wilderness of Paran towards the Sinai.
There he came to the farm
of Naboth, a wealthy stock owner with over 2,000 stock animals. However, while
his wife was gracious and wise, he was boorish and crude.
He was a descendant of
the great Caleb, who went with Joshua to spy out the Promised Land, but he was
not of the same heart: probably because he had never had to fight for his
wealth.
David sent ten men to
ask Naboth for assistance but he dealt with them rudely. Yet out in his
pastures Naboth's men and David’s men were on good terms.
David’s men took
nothing without permission and Naboth’s men sought nothing but good for David,
but David was enraged that Naboth spited his good will.
He took 400 of his men
and left 200 to watch over their belongings, then went after Naboth, but
Abigail intervened.
She had not seen David’s
emissary, but she was appalled by Naboth’s behavior, naming him a son of Belial
(of the Devil). She brought food as a peace offering and stayed David’s wrath.
Shortly thereafter, Naboth partied till dawn, but as he sobered up she told him all that she had
done and how she had spared his life. He probably had a heart attack.
The bible describes
his heart as stone. Ten days later he died, as God avenged David.
Then David sent
messengers to Abigail and she accepted his proposal of marriage. She would be
one of his most notable and gracious wives, alongside Michal and Ahinoam.
Ahinoam is always
mentioned ahead of Abigail and David’s firstborn son came from her, so he
presumably was already married to her or married her shortly before Abigail.
However, where Ahinoam
means “Brother’s delight”, Abigail was her “Father’s delight”, a special woman
who stood with David throughout his life.
Sadly, Michal, his first wife, was given to Palti the son Laish, to pour salt on David's wounds. They would marry again, but it would never be the same again between them.
Sadly, Michal, his first wife, was given to Palti the son Laish, to pour salt on David's wounds. They would marry again, but it would never be the same again between them.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
