“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
(Romans 8:34-36 ESV, to be continued)
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
I Samuel 20:1-23
A Plan Comes Together
}So far David’s big support system has been the family of Saul. Jonathan has been steadfast to David and made a commitment to him and then there’s Saul’s daughter who tricked Saul’s guards into thinking that David was still in the bed so he could abscond from his arrest.
}This chapter starts out with David returning after staying with Samuel and David thinks that Jonathan might know why Saul wants him dead.
}David’s first approach is asking if he committed some kind of wrong to Saul and Jonathan thinks that if Saul wanted David dead that Saul must have said so.
}Most people don’t tell the best friends of their targets of their true intentions- especially if it’s murder.
}David comes up with a plan would unfortunately keep him away during a monthly religious feast, but David was looking to use that to his advantage.
}If Saul asks where David went, Jonathan was to give a response and wait for Saul’s answer. If Saul responded that it was good then David would be fine but if Saul responded angrily then David knew that his life was in danger.
}David then tells Jonathan that if Saul wanted to kill him that he would rather have Jonathan kill him mercifully. Jonathan is not eager to go along with this plan and instead tells David that killing him is the last thing on his mind; “Far be it from you.”
}Jonathan then comes up with a signaling system that was designed to keep David alive and not in Saul’s line of fire.
}The plan would be that three days after Jonathan gathered the info from his father at the table then he would go out into the field and David would be hidden behind a rock formation trying to stay alive.
}Jonathan would take the newly gathered information and an assistant out into the field and shoot three arrows near the rock formation.
}If Jonathan tells the boy that the arrows are to the side of him then David is safe to come back but if Jonathan launches the arrows beyond then David would know that it was his time to go.
}So far David’s big support system has been the family of Saul. Jonathan has been steadfast to David and made a commitment to him and then there’s Saul’s daughter who tricked Saul’s guards into thinking that David was still in the bed so he could abscond from his arrest.
}This chapter starts out with David returning after staying with Samuel and David thinks that Jonathan might know why Saul wants him dead.
}David’s first approach is asking if he committed some kind of wrong to Saul and Jonathan thinks that if Saul wanted David dead that Saul must have said so.
}Most people don’t tell the best friends of their targets of their true intentions- especially if it’s murder.
}David comes up with a plan would unfortunately keep him away during a monthly religious feast, but David was looking to use that to his advantage.
}If Saul asks where David went, Jonathan was to give a response and wait for Saul’s answer. If Saul responded that it was good then David would be fine but if Saul responded angrily then David knew that his life was in danger.
}David then tells Jonathan that if Saul wanted to kill him that he would rather have Jonathan kill him mercifully. Jonathan is not eager to go along with this plan and instead tells David that killing him is the last thing on his mind; “Far be it from you.”
}Jonathan then comes up with a signaling system that was designed to keep David alive and not in Saul’s line of fire.
}The plan would be that three days after Jonathan gathered the info from his father at the table then he would go out into the field and David would be hidden behind a rock formation trying to stay alive.
}Jonathan would take the newly gathered information and an assistant out into the field and shoot three arrows near the rock formation.
}If Jonathan tells the boy that the arrows are to the side of him then David is safe to come back but if Jonathan launches the arrows beyond then David would know that it was his time to go.
I Samuel 20:24-42
Target Practice
}Well, it’s go time for the plan- everyone sits down to dinner and Saul notices that David is not there. He doesn’t say anything but instead thinks to himself that David must be ceremonially unclean.
}The second day in a row when David didn’t show up for dinner Saul decides to address the situation. Jonathan goes ahead and gives David’s reason for not being at the table and true to character Saul starts to rant about his son, his wife, and David.
}Saul wants his son to see that if Jonathan chooses David then Jonathan doesn’t have a chance at continuing on Saul’s dynasty and being the king.
}When Jonathan tries to rationalize with his father that David really hasn’t done anything worthy of death Saul puts his cherub-like demeanor on display by throwing a spear at his son to kill him. Always the ever patient one, that Saul.
}Jonathan then goes outside and tells the boy to go looking for his arrows as he shoots them way beyond David’s position. David’s inclinations that he was in danger were confirmed.
}Jonathan and David depart as friends and more importantly, David stays alive. They both understood that Yahweh was in control and would keep David safe.
}Well, it’s go time for the plan- everyone sits down to dinner and Saul notices that David is not there. He doesn’t say anything but instead thinks to himself that David must be ceremonially unclean.
}The second day in a row when David didn’t show up for dinner Saul decides to address the situation. Jonathan goes ahead and gives David’s reason for not being at the table and true to character Saul starts to rant about his son, his wife, and David.
}Saul wants his son to see that if Jonathan chooses David then Jonathan doesn’t have a chance at continuing on Saul’s dynasty and being the king.
}When Jonathan tries to rationalize with his father that David really hasn’t done anything worthy of death Saul puts his cherub-like demeanor on display by throwing a spear at his son to kill him. Always the ever patient one, that Saul.
}Jonathan then goes outside and tells the boy to go looking for his arrows as he shoots them way beyond David’s position. David’s inclinations that he was in danger were confirmed.
}Jonathan and David depart as friends and more importantly, David stays alive. They both understood that Yahweh was in control and would keep David safe.
I Samuel 21
The Beginning of David’s Wanderings
}Chapter 21 marks 9 chapters of David wandering through the wilderness. This is meant to show a parallel between David’s life and that of the Israelite nation as a whole after they left Egypt.
}Some similarities are noted: both David and the Israelite nation were both pursued by the forces of enemy kings and both of them were kept safe against foes by the Lord’s hand.
}At the beginning of the chapter David walks into a sanctuary and the priest who was inside begins to tremble. This is because of David’s reputation in an earlier chapter of making everyone in the compound fall down and prophesy.
}The priest knows who David is and knows that he’s a member of the king’s guard. Thus he thinks it’s strange for David to be traveling alone (i.e. without the king).
}David is not lying here when he says he’s on a mission from the king- he’s on a mission from Yahweh the king in order to stay alive.
}The whole exchange about women being kept from them is David explaining to the priest that he was about to go to battle and every time he goes to battle it is a holy matter (remember why he fought Goliath). Keeping women from them was a provision in the law for soldiers not to have sexual relations before battle.
}There is no reason given for Doeg being there. (sorry that was a little anti-climatic)
}Now that David has secured some food he needs a weapon. Since he was the one that had acquired Goliath’s sword, he could be the one to take the gift back. Now David was armed.
}David then goes from there and seeks his next hiding place: a city of the Philistines in Gath.
}David was afraid of the Philistine king in Gath and decided to play the part of the mad man in order to stay alive. He even drools and marks up the door to look insane. Maybe not a good idea to stay there, huh?
}Chapter 21 marks 9 chapters of David wandering through the wilderness. This is meant to show a parallel between David’s life and that of the Israelite nation as a whole after they left Egypt.
}Some similarities are noted: both David and the Israelite nation were both pursued by the forces of enemy kings and both of them were kept safe against foes by the Lord’s hand.
}At the beginning of the chapter David walks into a sanctuary and the priest who was inside begins to tremble. This is because of David’s reputation in an earlier chapter of making everyone in the compound fall down and prophesy.
}The priest knows who David is and knows that he’s a member of the king’s guard. Thus he thinks it’s strange for David to be traveling alone (i.e. without the king).
}David is not lying here when he says he’s on a mission from the king- he’s on a mission from Yahweh the king in order to stay alive.
}The whole exchange about women being kept from them is David explaining to the priest that he was about to go to battle and every time he goes to battle it is a holy matter (remember why he fought Goliath). Keeping women from them was a provision in the law for soldiers not to have sexual relations before battle.
}There is no reason given for Doeg being there. (sorry that was a little anti-climatic)
}Now that David has secured some food he needs a weapon. Since he was the one that had acquired Goliath’s sword, he could be the one to take the gift back. Now David was armed.
}David then goes from there and seeks his next hiding place: a city of the Philistines in Gath.
}David was afraid of the Philistine king in Gath and decided to play the part of the mad man in order to stay alive. He even drools and marks up the door to look insane. Maybe not a good idea to stay there, huh?