David now has an important item of business. Remember the Ark? We left it with the folks in Beth Shemesh, where the Philistines sent it. It was subsequently moved:

God struck some of the men of Beth Shemesh who, out of curiosity, irreverently peeked into the Ark of GOD. Seventy died. The whole town was in mourning, reeling under the hard blow from GOD, and questioning, “Who can stand before GOD, this holy God? And who can we get to take this Ark off our hands?” They sent emissaries to Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of GOD. Come down and get it.” (1 Samuel 6.19 – 21, MSG)

Now David wants it back, all the way back to Jerusalem, the new capital.

David mustered the pick of the troops of Israel—thirty divisions of them. Together with his soldiers, David headed for Baalah to recover the Ark of God…. (2 Samuel 6.1, 2, MSG)

They’re all pretty excited, but there’s an oops:

They placed the Ark of God on a brand-new oxcart and removed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the new cart loaded with the Ark of God, Ahio in the lead and Uzzah alongside the Ark. David and the whole company of Israel were in the parade, singing at the top of their lungs and playing mandolins, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark of God. GOD blazed in anger against Uzzah and struck him hard because he had profaned the Ark. Uzzah died on the spot, right alongside the Ark. 2 Samuel 6.3 – 7, MSG)

What’s the problem? Uzzah was just trying to help. The problem was, they weren’t supposed to touch the Ark. And they weren’t supposed to carry it in an oxcart, not even a brand-new, most likely “consecrated,” oxcart. The Ark’s very design dictated how it was to be moved. Bob, what do you mean?

The Design of Everyday Things is a fascinating book whose main idea is that you don’t need complicated written instructions if the product’s design communicates how to use it. Here’s a classic error shared by nearly all kitchen stoves. The burners are arranged in a rectangle, but the controls are in a straight line! You need labels to know which knob controls which burner (except for the one in the middle).

The Ark did not have that problem. It was to be carried by Levites using the poles which stayed with it:

First let them make an Ark using acacia wood…Cover it with a veneer of pure gold inside and out and make a molding of gold all around it. Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Make poles from acacia wood and cover them with a veneer of gold and insert them into the rings on the sides of the Ark for carrying the Ark. The poles are to stay in the rings; they must not be removed. (Exodus 25.10 – 15, MSG, emphasis mine)

David was angry, fearful, and puzzled:

And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the Ark of the LORD come to me?” (2 Samuel 6.8, 9, ESV)

But after three months, he figured it out:

David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the Ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. (2 Samuel 6.12 – 15, ESV, emphasis mine)

“When those who bore the Ark…” No new oxcart, just four Levites with poles on their shoulders. When all else fails, follow the directions!

God made us and gave us a maintenance manual. When you run the creature according to the manual, you get a minimum of friction and a maximum of joy and peace. – Skip Gray

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. (Deuteronomy 30.14 – 16, ESV)

Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32.46, 47, ESV)

David is now king over all Israel and three things happen right away:

• David captures Jerusalem and makes it his headquarters, the new capital city of the nation:

David and his men immediately set out for Jerusalem to take on the Jebusites, who lived in that country. But they said, “You might as well go home! Even the blind and the lame could keep you out. You can’t get in here!”…But David went right ahead and captured the fortress of Zion, known ever since as the City of David…David made the fortress city his home and named it “City of David.” (2 Samuel 5.6 – 9, MSG)

• David builds a palace there with the help of Hiram, king of Tyre:

It was at this time that Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, along with timbers of cedar. He also sent carpenters and masons to build a house for David. (2 Samuel 5.11, MSG)

• In the custom of the time, David takes on wives and concubines and has a plethora of children:

David took on more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he left Hebron. And more sons and daughters were born to him. (2 Samuel 5.13, MSG)

But there’s no rest; remember the Philistines? They are always among us…even until today!

When the Philistines got word that David had been made king over all Israel, they came on the hunt for him. David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley. Then David prayed to GOD: “Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?” “Go up,” GOD replied. “Count on me. I’ll help you beat them.” David then went straight to Baal Perazim, and smashed them to pieces. Afterwards David said, “GOD exploded on my enemies like a gush of water.” That’s why David named the place Baal Perazim (The-Master-Who-Explodes)…Later there was a repeat performance… (2 Samuel 5.17 – 22, MSG)

Chapter 5 documents two decisive victories over the Philistines. (I just checked. The Philistines don’t go away…there are more battles to come!)

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him…And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child…Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus… (Revelation 12.7 – 9, 13, 17, ESV)

David is king over Judah, but not the rest of Israel. We have civil war:

The war between the house of Saul and the house of David dragged on and on. The longer it went on the stronger David became, with the house of Saul getting weaker. (2 Samuel 3.1, MSG)

Israel’s General Abner shows his power by sleeping with one of King Saul’s concubines. When King Ish-Bosheth challenged him, Abner “lost his temper with Ish-Bosheth:”

Treat me like a dog, will you! Is this the thanks I get for sticking by the house of your father, Saul, and all his family and friends? I personally saved you from certain capture by David, and you make an issue out of my going to bed with a woman! What GOD promised David, I’ll help accomplish—transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and make David ruler over the whole country, both Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba. If not, may God do his worst to me. (2 Samuel 3.8, 9, MSG)

I’m intrigued that Abner knew God had promised the kingdom to David. If so, why was he leading the fight against David? Weird.

So Abner arranges for David to be crowned king over all Israel, meets with David, and departs in peace. Later, David’s general, Joab, finds out and is incensed:

Joab went straight to the king: “What’s this you’ve done? Abner shows up, and you let him walk away scot-free? You know Abner son of Ner better than that. This was no friendly visit. He was here to spy on you, figure out your comings and goings, find out what you’re up to.” Joab left David and went into action. He sent messengers after Abner; they caught up with him at the well at Sirah and brought him back. David knew nothing of all this. When Abner got back to Hebron, Joab steered him aside at the gate for a personal word with him. There he stabbed him in the belly, killed him in cold blood for the murder of his brother Asahel. (2 Samuel 3.24 – 27, MSG)

David led mourning for his former enemy, making it clear that he was not responsible for Abner’s murder. Later, at the end of his reign, he makes it clear to his son Solomon that Joab should not have avenged in peacetime a death that occurred in war. (1 Kings 2.5). By the way, Joab was David’s nephew, the son of his sister Zeruiah (see 1 Chronicles 2.12 – 16).

The king spoke to his servants: “You realize, don’t you, that today a prince and hero fell victim of foul play in Israel? And I, though anointed king, was helpless to do anything about it. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. GOD, requite the criminal for his crime!” (2 Samuel 3.38, 39, MSG)

And with Abner dead, two of King Ish-Bosheth’s officers kill him during his afternoon nap!

They entered the house on a ruse, pretending official business… and entered the room where Ish-Bosheth was asleep on his bed. They killed him and then cut off his head, carrying it off as a trophy… They presented the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, telling the king, “Here’s the head of Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, your enemy…David answered the brothers Recab and Baanah…”As surely as GOD lives—the One who got me out of every trouble I’ve ever been in—when the messenger told me, ‘Good news! Saul is dead!’ supposing I’d be delighted, I arrested him and killed him on the spot in Ziklag. That’s what he got for his so-called good news! And now you show up—evil men who killed an innocent man in cold blood, a man asleep in his own house! Don’t think I won’t find you guilty of murder and rid the country of you!” David then issued orders to his soldiers. They killed the two—chopped off their hands and feet, and hung the corpses at the pool in Hebron. But Ish-Bosheth’s head they took and buried in Abner’s tomb in Hebron. (2 Samuel 4.6 – 12, MSG)

That’s the last of the murders (for now). The way is now clear for David to be king over all Israel:

Before long all the tribes of Israel approached David in Hebron and said, “Look at us—your own flesh and blood! In time past when Saul was our king, you’re the one who really ran the country. Even then GOD said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel and you’ll be the prince.’ ” All the leaders of Israel met with King David at Hebron, and the king made a treaty with them in the presence of GOD. And so they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and ruled for forty years. In Hebron he ruled Judah for seven and a half years. In Jerusalem he ruled all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years. (2 Samuel 5.1 – 5, MSG)

It took a long time, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, for David to be an overnight success!

Then he asked Jesse, “Is this it? Are there no more sons?” “Well, yes, there’s the runt. But he’s out tending the sheep.” Samuel ordered Jesse, “Go get him. We’re not moving from this spot until he’s here.” Jesse sent for him. He was brought in, the very picture of health—bright-eyed, good-looking. GOD said, “Up on your feet! Anoint him! This is the one.” Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed him, with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of GOD entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life. Samuel left and went home to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16.11 – 13, MSG)

For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Psalm 75.6, 7, KJV)

Back to 2 Samuel. Getting David crowned king of all Israel is no mean feat, and there’s a lot of bloodshed in the story:

David moves to Hebron and becomes king over Judah:

So David moved to Hebron, along with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David’s men, along with their families, also went with him and made their home in and around Hebron. The citizens of Judah came to Hebron, and then and there made David king over the clans of Judah. (2 Samuel 2.2 – 4, MSG)

In the meantime…

Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, had taken Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king …over all Israel. (2 Samuel 2.8, 9, MSG)

So now we have civil war: David’s general, Joab, versus Abner. Starting with a contest where 12 men from each side kill each other, there is a battle in which David’s men are winning. However, in the process, Abner kills Joab’s brother Asahel as Asahel is pursuing him:

Abner turned and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It surely is,” he said. Abner said, “Let up on me. Pick on someone you have a chance of beating and be content with those spoils!” But Asahel wouldn’t let up. Abner tried again, “Turn back. Don’t force me to kill you. How would I face your brother Joab?” When he refused to quit, Abner struck him in the belly with the blunt end of his spear so hard that it came out his back. Asahel fell to the ground and died at once. Everyone who arrived at the spot where Asahel fell and died stood and gaped—Asahel dead! (2 Samuel 2.20 – 23, MSG)

As I say, it’s messy, and it gets worse. Stay tuned.

In the Bible and in life, there is often a delay between the promise and the fulfillment. Even now, as we pray “Your Kingdom come,” there is a delay. And while we wait, there’s a battle. Jesus will win, of course, just as David will win in our story, but not without cost.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. (Hebrews 10.36, ESV)

God is strong, and he wants you strong…This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Ephesians 6.10, 12, MSG)

I’ve written about gambling before. It’s bad enough that the gambling industry is out to get you. We’d expect that. But when the government sponsors it…

Here is Elliot Eisenberg, the economist who writes a daily 70-word blog:

On 4/3/24, a drawing for a $1.09 billion Powerball jackpot will occur, the fifth largest. While the chances of winning are one in 292 million, Americans spent over $100 billion in 2022 buying lotto tickets and it’s mostly the poor. In the poorest 1% of zip codes, the average adult spends about $600/year or 5% of income, versus $150/year or 0.15% of income in the wealthiest 1%. Talk about regressive. – Elliot Eisenberg, “Lousy Lotteries”

Unconscionable! The poor spend 5% of their income on lotto tickets versus 0.15% of income for the rich.

And it’s not getting any better in sports either. Last year I wrote about a Denver Broncos football player suspended for gambling outside of “NFL Policy.” Now the NBA has banned (not suspended) a player for gambling violations, specifically limiting his own performance to reward those who took “under” in one of the many “prop bets” that are being played these days. What’s worse, look at the CNN headline:

Do you see it? “gaming rules” not “gambling rules.” Interestingly, if you go to the article itself, they do say “gambling.” My favorite Wall Street Journal sports columnist, Jason Gay, picked up on this story with his usual wisdom.

There is no safe level. A friend of mine became a compulsive gambler playing penny poker in the Marines. He finally quit, decades later, when he met Jesus, coming off of a 3-day drunk having dropped $50,000 on the Super Bowl. “I never took another drink. I never laid down another bet.”

By the way, you know something is a trend when it hits the comics. Pearls Before Swine, April 18, 2024, has this exchange:

• Goat: Am I the only one worried about the fact that so many states have now legalized online sports betting?
• Rat: Yes. It’s fun. So get with the times you oversensitive ninny.
• Rat (looking at his phone): Oops. Just lost the house.
• Rat: My opinion on this subject is changing.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14.12, ESV)

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. (Proverbs 24.11, ESV)

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6.9 – 10, ESV)

I received an update from a young missionary couple, I’ll call them Bill and Betty. Betty is the daughter of a couple who served with us in The Navigators a few years ago. Betty and Bill are serving as missionaries in West Africa, in medical and software ministries. They have a toddler, whom I’ll call Caleb, who keeps them on their toes. They are among the most cheerful people I have ever known. They act like every day is a party…

They act like every day is a party, but it’s not. In a recent newsletter, they shared how difficult everyday life sometimes is. I include all of that section of their letter. Think of them and other missionaries the next time you turn on the lights because you still have electricity, get gas, or grab some cash from an ATM. By the way, they are in a fairly large country with a decent economy. It’s just not the US.

We want to close by sharing something to bring you encouragement, though it may not seem like it! I (Bill) had a trying time one morning and I want to bring you along the journey with me. Here is a fictional conversation to demonstrate the day between my “adversary” and me.

Me: We’ve been having power issues for the past week. Today is really at a critical point. But the power is finally here!

Adversary: Yeah, but the phase you’re on is now gone.

Me: Okay, I’ll switch to phase 2. That one’s working and when I last looked, the voltage was great!

Adversary: Yeah, but now the voltage is low, flipping your stabilizer on and off, causing the lights to flicker, the UPS [uninterruptible power supply] to not know what it’s doing, and the internet router to keep restarting.

Me: Fine, let’s switch to the third phase which also has great voltage!

Adversary: Yeah, but that switch is burned and needs to be fixed.

Me: Didn’t I call the electrician about that?

Adversary: Yeah, he came yesterday, but couldn’t get a new switch in the market because there were protests downtown. He said he’d try today, but his schedule was already packed, so he probably won’t come.

Me: Well, let me go turn the generator on, then. I hate to do it when there IS power, but I’ll do what I’ve got to do. (turns on the generator and it dies).

Adversary: Oh yeah, that propane bottle is empty.

Me: No worries, I’ve got three others I can use!

Adversary: Actually all four are empty.

Me: What?! How did that happen? We were just using one this morning! Well, whatever, we’ll go get them filled.

Betty returns an hour and a half later from the propane refill station with four full bottles. In the meantime, Caleb made friends with the guys running the shop, had a meltdown about not having his sippy cup, and learned the British English word “spanner” for the wrench the shopkeeper gave him to play with.

Me: Cool, here we go. (generator doesn’t start)

Adversary: Oh yeah, you need to change the oil on that before it’ll start.

Me: I don’t have a ton of time, so let me call the generator guy to see if he can come and do it.

Adversary: Well, he just left town and won’t be back until tomorrow.

Me: Fine, I’ll go get the oil after lunch and fix it myself.

Adversary: Don’t forget your meeting soon…

How would you respond in a situation like this? If I’m not careful, I end up getting mad, very similar to Jonah when the vine above his head died. As I went through this scenario, God reminded me that redundancies, planning, and whatever else I can think of won’t protect me from these situations. God tailor-makes trials like this because He’s working in my life to remove the stubbornness, pride, and anger I have when things don’t go my way. He’s in control, and He knows exactly what I need. What I ended up doing after this situation was smiling and talking with God. “God, this actually somewhat funny—I can’t make this stuff up! Thanks for today, and for being in control. I’ll keep working to fix it, and submit my plans to you! You are great, holy, and amazing!”

While Bill went off to his meeting, the saga continued from Betty’s perspective:

Betty: We really need to get the generator going as soon as we can. Our batteries are still fine and our fridge is still cold, but our new neighbor’s barely-full fridge is probably already warm, and our shared water tanks are almost empty. What a way to say, “Welcome to the compound!”

Bill: While I’m on this phone call, can you run to town to pick up some 10W-40 oil, please? I’ll also need some petrol or kerosine to clean the filter. Now that we’re on propane, I gave our last jerry can of petrol to another missionary for their gas-powered generator.

Betty: In order to just buy a small amount of petrol, especially without an approved jerry can, I’ll have to go to one of the black market guys on the corner. And we’re all out of cash, so I’ll have to stop at the bank before I can go there.

(Puts Caleb down for a nap, then drives to the main branch of our bank and finds out that all five ATMs are out of cash—the third time this has happened this month. Goes to a different bank’s ATM and finds out the withdrawal limit for non-bank customers is the equivalent of about $3. Then waits in a very long line of cars at two different fuel stations before finding a place that has the particular oil in stock. Thankfully, they accept a debit card. Goes to three different roundabouts/corners where black market fuel is sold before finding someone with fuel to sell. Pays nearly double the standard price per liter for a small reused water bottle full of petrol)

When I return, Caleb is still asleep and Bill’s already got the generator apart and ready for the oil change. He does the repair and it starts right up. We then string several extension cords between an outlet in our home and our neighbor’s fridge so we can finally get power and we’re finally able to pump water up to the tanks!

On days like this, I often find myself saying, “God, but I had plans for today! And those plans didn’t include this!” I had planned to use that precious naptime to write this newsletter, but instead drove around town trying to find cash and petrol. But I’m slowly learning to count life’s little activities, big toddler meltdowns, short times of peace and quiet, and long, hot afternoons as sacred and given to me by a loving Father. The words of one of my favorite hymns, “Day by Day” have been dear to me recently:

Day by day and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best–
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest

I can’t add anything to that. Thank you, Bill and Betty, for sharing your challenges and Spirit-filled responses with us.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5.18, ESV)

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4.11 – 13, ESV)

It’s not often that when one’s enemy dies, the survivor writes a song about how great his enemy was, but that’s exactly what happens when Saul is killed in battle:

Then David sang this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan, and gave orders that everyone in Judah learn it by heart. Oh, oh, Gazelles of Israel, struck down on your hills, the mighty warriors—fallen, fallen!…No more dew or rain for you, hills of Gilboa, and not a drop from springs and wells, For there the warriors’ shields were dragged through the mud, Saul’s shield left there to rot. Jonathan’s bow was bold— the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul’s sword was fearless— once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it. Saul and Jonathan—beloved, beautiful! Together in life, together in death. Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions…The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen in the middle of the fight! Jonathan—struck down on your hills!…The mighty warriors—fallen, fallen. And the arms of war broken to bits. (Selected verses from 2 Samuel 1.17 – 27, MSG)

The word “forgiveness” is not there, but surely David had forgiven Saul for his bad behavior dominating 1 Samuel chapters 18 – 26. We were just talking with someone who, in his 60s, is still holding a grudge about the way he perceives his high school principal treated him. “Don’t tell me to let it go! I will always hate him!!” How’s that working for you?

Jesus was clear in what we call “The Lord’s Prayer:”

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors…For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6.12, 14, 15, ESV)

Paul echoes the message:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4.31, 32, ESV)

We left Saul in 1 Samuel 28 consulting with the deceased Samuel before a battle with the Philistines. Samuel was clear:

Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And, yes, indeed, GOD is giving Israel’s army up to the Philistines. (1 Samuel 28.19, MSG)

And so we have a short account of the battle:

The Philistines made war on Israel. The men of Israel were in full retreat from the Philistines, falling left and right, wounded on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines caught up with Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, Saul’s sons. The battle was hot and heavy around Saul. The archers got his range and wounded him badly. Saul said to his weapon bearer, “Draw your sword and put me out of my misery, lest these pagan pigs come and make a game out of killing me.” But his weapon bearer wouldn’t do it. He was terrified. So Saul took the sword himself and fell on it. When the weapon bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, and his weapon bearer—the men closest to him—died together that day. (1 Samuel 31.1 – 6, MSG)

At least Saul didn’t run from the battle in which Samuel had predicted that Saul would die. Philistines cut off his head and “nailed his body to the wall at Beth Shan.” (These are not nice people!) 1 Samuel ends with a daring rescue of Saul’s body:

The people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul. Their valiant men sprang into action. They traveled all night, took the corpses of Saul and his three sons from the wall at Beth Shan, and carried them back to Jabesh and burned off the flesh. They then buried the bones under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted in mourning for seven days. (1 Samuel 31.11 – 13, MSG)

The narrative continues into what we call 2 Samuel. Providentially, David is NOT in the battle when Saul is killed. David is back in Ziklag and is approached by an Amalekite who claims that he killed Saul:

I just happened by Mount Gilboa and came on Saul, badly wounded and leaning on his spear, with enemy chariots and horsemen bearing down hard on him. He looked behind him, saw me, and called me to him…He asked me who I was, and I told him, “I’m an Amalekite.” “Come here,” he said, “and put me out of my misery. I’m nearly dead already, but my life hangs on.” So I did what he asked—I killed him. I knew he wouldn’t last much longer anyway. I removed his royal headband and bracelet, and have brought them to my master. Here they are.” (2 Samuel 1.6 – 10, MSG)

This is a different account from what we just read in the previous chapter, and most commentators agree that the simple explanation for the discrepancy is that the Amalekite was lying. The lie cost him his life:

“Do you mean to say,” said David, “that you weren’t afraid to up and kill GOD’s anointed king?” Right then he ordered one of his soldiers, “Strike him dead!” The soldier struck him, and he died. “You asked for it,” David told him. “You sealed your death sentence when you said you killed GOD’s anointed king.” (2 Samuel 1.14 – 16, MSG)

Brutal times. So Saul is dead, and David becomes king…Not so fast. It will take four chapters and seven more years for that to happen. In the meantime, David composes a song, which we’ll look at tomorrow.

In the meantime, we recall David’s prescient words to Abishai:

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on GOD’s anointed and even think of getting away with it?” He went on, “As GOD lives, either GOD will strike him, or his time will come and he’ll die in bed, or he’ll fall in battle. (1 Samuel 26.9 – 10, MSG)

Job left us an example, which David followed:

Did I ever crow over my enemy’s ruin? Or gloat over my rival’s bad luck? No, I never said a word of detraction, never cursed them, even under my breath. (Job 31.29, 30, MSG)

The Apostle Paul picks up the theme:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12.14, 19, ESV)

The Philistines get ready for battle, Saul panics and consults Samuel through sorcery, David initially goes with the Philistines but is turned back (thankfully!). So David returns to his home in Ziklag to wait out the battle. Uh, no…

Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn’t kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner. (1 Samuel 30.1 – 3, MSG)

Recall that among the people David raided as recorded in chapter 27 were the Amalekites. Maybe David’s operations weren’t as secret as he thought. Anyway, David and his men wept until the men wanted to take their frustrations out on David:

And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. (1 Samuel 30.6, MSG)

Recall the kind of men David had on his team: losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. But David’s trust was not in his men – we have the rest of verse 6:

David strengthened himself with trust in his GOD. (1 Samuel 30.6, MSG)

So David seeks God’s guidance and promise:

Then David prayed to GOD, “Shall I go after these raiders? Can I catch them?” The answer came, “Go after them! Yes, you’ll catch them! Yes, you’ll make the rescue!” (1 Samuell 30.8, MSG)

Off they go…

David went, he and the six hundred men with him. They arrived at the Brook Besor, where some of them dropped out. David and four hundred men kept up the pursuit, but two hundred of them were too fatigued to cross the Brook Besor, and stayed there. (1 Samuel 30.9 – 10, MSG)

Remember the 200 left behind: we’ll get some insight into the kind of leader David was.

David and his men find the Amalekite camp, rescue their families and their property and return:

David pounced. He fought them from before sunrise until evening of the next day…David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken. And he rescued his two wives! Nothing and no one was missing…David recovered the whole lot. He herded the sheep and cattle before them, and they all shouted, “David’s plunder!” Then David came to the two hundred who…had dropped out at the Brook Besor. They came out to welcome David and his band. As he came near he called out, “Success!” But all the mean-spirited men who had marched with David, the rabble element, objected: “They didn’t help in the rescue, they don’t get any of the plunder we recovered. Each man can have his wife and children, but that’s it. Take them and go!” (1 Samuell 30.17 – 22, MSG)

The mean-spirited men: “they didn’t help, they don’t get any of the plunder.” David won’t have it:

Families don’t do this sort of thing! Oh no, my brothers! You can’t act this way with what GOD gave us! God kept us safe. He handed over the raiders who attacked us. Who would ever listen to this kind of talk? The share of the one who stays with the gear is the share of the one who fights—equal shares. Share and share alike! From that day on, David made that the rule in Israel. (1 Samuel 30.23 – 25, MSG)

Then David uses the plunder to buy some goodwill among the “elders of Judah:”

On returning to Ziklag, David sent portions of the plunder to the elders of Judah, his neighbors, with a note saying, “A gift from the plunder of GOD’s enemies!” He sent them to the elders in Bethel… and Hebron, along with a number of other places David and his men went to from time to time. (1 Samuel 30.26 – 31, MSG)

A chapter with a bad start has a good finish. David’s faith in God is strengthened, he creates a rule that support people share equally with frontline fighters, and he buys some goodwill.

Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12.22 – 27, NKJV)

The Philistines are marching into battle; where is Saul? Answer: scared to death:

The Philistines had mustered their troops and camped at Shunem. Saul had assembled all Israel and camped at Gilboa. But when Saul saw the Philistine troops, he shook in his boots, scared to death. (1 Samuel 28.4, 5, MSG)

The guy who at the beginning of his career was filled with the Spirit and confidently led the nation into battle, was now on his own and rightfully terrified:

Saul prayed to GOD, but GOD didn’t answer—neither by dream nor by sign nor by prophet. (1 Samuel 28.6, MSG)

What to do? Here’s where it gets weird. The Law was clear about consulting mediums:

A man or woman who is a medium or sorcerer among you must be put to death. You must kill them by stoning. They’re responsible for their own deaths. (Leviticus 20.27, MSG)

This apparently, is one more law the Israelites ignored because the chapter opens with an aside:

Saul had long since cleaned out all those who held seances with the dead. (1 Samuel 28.3, MSG)

It’s hard to clean out people who aren’t there! But even though they weren’t supposed to be there, and King Saul had gotten rid of those who were there, Saul wants to consult one, and his officials, shockingly, know where one is!

So Saul ordered his officials, “Find me someone who can call up spirits so I may go and seek counsel from those spirits.” His servants said, “There’s a witch at Endor.” (1 Samuel 28.7, MSG)

Saul disguises himself (how do you disguise the tallest guy in the country?) and goes to see her. She calls up Samuel, whose death is recorded in 1 Samuel 25. This is the only recorded seance in the Bible, as far as I remember, and I’m not going to speculate on all that’s going on. What’s clear is that Saul, for all this trouble, gets the same message he already heard:

Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by calling me up?” “Because I’m in deep trouble,” said Saul. “The Philistines are making war against me and God has deserted me—he doesn’t answer me any more, either by prophet or by dream. And so I’m calling on you to tell me what to do.” “Why ask me?” said Samuel. “GOD has turned away from you and is now on the side of your neighbor. GOD has done exactly what he told you through me—ripped the kingdom right out of your hands and given it to your neighbor. It’s because you did not obey GOD, refused to carry out his seething judgment on Amalek, that GOD does to you what he is doing today. Worse yet, GOD is turning Israel, along with you, over to the Philistines. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And, yes, indeed, GOD is giving Israel’s army up to the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 28.15 – 19, MSG, emphasis mine)

It’s the same message Samuel gave Saul back in chapter 15:

Samuel said, “GOD has just now torn the kingdom from you, and handed it over to your neighbor, a better man than you are. (1 Samuel 15.28, MSG)

We’ll get to the battle in chapter 31 in a couple of days, where Saul and his sons will join Samuel in death.

In the meantime, let’s be obedient to what we know:

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. (James 1.22 – 24, MSG)

These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards. (Matthew 7.24 – 27, MSG)

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29.29, ESV)

PS For those in breathless anticipation of whether or not we’re doing a road trip “planned” to start April 23, we are now shooting for September.