David composes Psalms

Mo. 2/24/14: 1 Samuel 17:45                  David faces Goliath

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;              Psalm 23:4a

Tu. 2/25/14: 1 Samuel 18:10 – 11                  David sings for Saul

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul … So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.

The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;               Psalm 5:6b – 7a

We. 2/26/14: 1 Samuel 18:14 – 15                  Saul fears David

And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

And the tongue that speaks proud things              Psalm 12: 3

Th. 2/27/14: 1 Samuel 19:1 – 2                  Saul wants David killed

Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David.

So Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide.

“Flee as a bird to your mountain”?

For look! The wicked bend their bow,

They make ready their arrow on the string,

That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. Psalm 11:1b – 2

Fr. 2/28/14: 1 Samuel 19:9 – 10                  David sings for Saul again

Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.

Attend to my cry;

Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

Let my vindication come from Your presence;              Psalm 17:2a

Saul and the witch at Endor

Mo. 2/17/14: 1 Samuel 28:3, 4 – 7                  What did Saul do?

Now Samuel had died, and … Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.

Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. … Saul … was afraid ... And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, … by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.

Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.”

What did Saul do? Saul decided to consult a witch.

Tu. 2/18/14: 1 Samuel 28:8 – 10                  What did Saul ask for?

So Saul disguised himself … and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please conduct a séance for me, and bring up for me the one I shall name to you.”

Then the woman said to him, “Look, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the spiritists from the land. Why then do you lay a snare for my life … ?” And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you … ”

What did Saul ask for? Saul asked the witch to bring up an unnamed man.

We. 2/19/14: 1 Samuel 28:11 – 14                  Did Saul get what he asked for?

Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice … saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!” And … “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”

So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man … covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground…

Did Saul get what he asked for? Yes, but her scream showed astonishment.

Th. 2/20/14: 1 Samuel 28:15                  What did Saul ask Samuel’s spirit?

Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me … Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”

What did Saul ask Samuel’s spirit? Saul asked about the future.

Fr. 2/21/14: 1 Samuel 28:16 – 19                  What was Samuel’s answer?

Then Samuel said: “… the Lord … has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to … David. … Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel …  into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”

What was Samuel’s answer? Saul and his sons would die in battle.

David and Saul 2

Mo. 2/10/14: 1 Samuel 26:2, 5 – 6                  What was Saul doing again?

Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.

So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. … Then David …  said … “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will.”

What was Saul doing again? Saul again was pursuing David to kill him.

Tu. 2/11/14: 1 Samuel 26:7 – 9                  What did David do?

So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear …!” But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”

What did David do? David went into Saul’s camp at night!

We. 2/12/14: 1 Samuel 26:10 – 12                  What did David not do?

The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. … So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

What did David not do? David did not take Saul’s life.

Th. 2/13/14: 1 Samuel 26:13 – 16                  What did David declare?

Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. And David called out to the people and to Abner … “Are you not a man? …  Why then have you not guarded your Lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your Lord the king. … And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

What did David declare? Abner did not protect Saul, his King .

Fr. 2/14/14: 1 Samuel 26:21 – 22                  What was Saul’s reply?

Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

What was Saul’s reply? Saul humbly acknowledged his guilt and went home. May we, in like manner confront our enemies.

David and Saul

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Mo. 2/3/14: 1 Samuel 24:2 – 5                  Where did God lead Saul?

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David … by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

Where did God lead Saul? God lead Saul into the cave where David was hiding. While Saul slept, David cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

Tu. 2/4/14: 1 Samuel 24:6 – 7                  What did David then do?

And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words … Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

What did David then do? David restrained his men from harming Saul.

We. 2/5/14: 1 Samuel 24:8 – 10                  What was David’s next move?

David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My Lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: “… Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave ... But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against … the Lord’s anointed.’

What was David’s next move? In spite of the danger, David revealed himself to Saul who was going away.

Th. 2/6/14: 1 Samuel 24:11                  What was David’s white flag?

Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand …

What was David’s white flag? It was the piece of Saul’s robe that he cut off!

Fr. 2/7/14: 1 Samuel 24:17 – 19                  What was the result?

Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

What was the result? Saul recognized David’s mercy.