Thoughts on the Bible Readings (1 Samuel 21, 22; Isaiah 65; Matthew 10) for July 9th

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The incidents in these two chapters reveal David at a low point in his life. They reveal his despair and exasperation which were to cost the lives of those associated with David. David has fled from Saul in fear of his life and the lives of the men who are with him. David's first thoughts are of food and a weapon to protect himself. He goes to Nob to the high priest - Ahimelech - seeking sustenance and a sword. David's trust should have been in his God. In Yahweh he would have found provision - as Israel had for 40 years in the wilderness - and he would have found protection. The high priest was fearful at David's arrival. So many throughout Israel knew of Saul's envy of David. To help David will be extremely dangerous. Yet Ahimelech also knew that Yahweh was with David. David commences on a course of deception that will be his pattern for years. Once you start lying it will become a habit that will be hard to break. David requests the shewbread which had just been changed that Sabbath day: Luke 6 verses 1-4. Verse 7 of 1 Samuel 21 notes, almost as an aside, that Doeg was there and that he was a chief cattle herder of king Saul. Doeg was a vile and violent Edomite as chapter 22 records. Verse 8-9 tell us that Ahimelech gave Goliath's sword to David. David received it with great anticipation not knowing the grief that the possession of this sword would cause him. Verses 10-15 speak of David's folly in fleeing to Gath with the sword of the giant champion - Goliath of Gath. David's fame proceeds him and his folly exposes him to great danger. David is brought into the presence of Achish king of Gath to explain what he is doing in Gath. In terror David feigned madness but also silently prayed intensely for his God's rescuing of him. Other accounts tell us that David was imprisoned in Gath, but later inexplicably released. The reason David was released is told us in Psalm 34 - recording his prayer in his extremity and from that what he would teach to his band of men: Psalm 34 verses 1-22. Slowly read these words aloud and contemplate the lessons for each of us. That Psalm, due to the vital lessons it teaches, is one of the most frequently quoted Psalms in the New Testament.: eg 1 Peter 3 verses :8-17. 1 Samuel 22 speaks of the snowballing consequences of lying. Verses 1-5 tell us that David fled from Gath to the cave of Adullam where he first sought to educate his followers in the need for truth and trusting in the Almighty. Next he arranged for the rescuing of his mother and father who were sent to Moab and remain there whilst David was a fugitive. Many people who felt oppressed by Saul's ways fled and came to David for leadership, protection and security. David would do this for them and more as he would guide theme in the way of Yahweh their Sovereign. The prophet Gad urged David to flee from Adullam. Verses 6-8 tell of Saul appealing to the Benjaminites, his own tribe, to betray David. Saul says that he will enrich his tribesmen and that David would not do this. The Benjaminites are reluctant despite being offered a bribe to betray David. Verses 9-10 describe Doeg's enthusiasm to tell Saul of Ahimelech's support of David. Verses 11-19 tell of the high priest being interrogated by Saul; his being sentenced to death for supposed treachery. We are told of the reluctance of Saul's soldiers to slay the priests and Doeg's single handed slaying of 85 priests at Nob. In addition Doeg slew the women, children and livestock of the town. Verses 20-23 speak of Abiathar's escape and his relating the incident to David, who offers him asylum.

Isaiah 65 verses 1-7 tells us of God's lament at the unholiness of His people who refuse to obey His voice. Israel commit every imaginable abomination despite the LORD's continual pleadings with them. They were like an irritating smoke in God's nostrils. Yahweh cannot be ignored without consequences. The Almighty will punish them for their contempt towards Him. Verses 8-10 present a contrast with the attitude of the majority. The remnants of the LORD's people - His servants - will experience abundance of blessings from Him. Even the curse that Achan brought upon the nation of Israel when he took from the devoted things of Jericho will be reversed. The valley where he was buried will become an oasis for sheep and as the prophecy of Hosea says - 2 verses 15 - will become "a door of hope" (Hebrew' Peta Tikva' the words of Israel's national anthem composed in 1882). There is always hope for those who wholeheartedly turn to the LORD: Joel 2 verses13-14. Verses 11-12 describe the punishments that Yahweh would bring upon His people. Verses 13-16 also contrast God's obedient servants with His disobedient nation. When Yahweh blesses His servants those rebels will experience want. Our Omnipotent Creator promises that the time will come when those who are blessed acknowledge that their blessings come from the "God of Truth" - Hebrew' Eduth here translated as "Amen". Verses 17-25 talk of the blessings of the kingdom age under the rule of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Verses 17-19 are quoted in 2 Peter 3 verses 11-13. Peter says we are looking for God to fulfill His promise to the faithful. The new heavens and earth speak of the administration of Christ's kingdom. Note how Revelation 21 verses1-5 speaks of a change of government and although this vision is of the time after the millennium the figure still stands that the heavens relate to rulership and the earth to those peoples who are subject to the heavens: see also Deuteronomy 32 verses1; Isaiah 1 verses 2,10. Verses 20-25 describe the longevity which will prevail during the millennium - 1,000 year - reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mortality still exist, but life will be prolonged so that one dying at one hundred years of age will be considered to be but a child. However the persistent sinner dying at 100 years will still be considered to be cursed. There will be a harmonious relationship between animals commencing in Mount Zion and eventually throughout the entire world: Isaiah 9 verses 1-7; 11 verses 6-9. This is also symbolic of the peace between the nations of the earth. But this is only possible under the government of our Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 65 verse 25 reminds us that the curse from Adam and Eve's disobedience in Eden has been rolled back when we are told that the serpent - snake - will still eat dust. The blessings apply to productive farming and long occupancy of houses because the wicked have been restrained. How this contrasts greatly with what we see in our world in this troubled age.

Matthew 10 verses 1-4 tell of our Lord Jesus' selection of his 12 Apostles. Their mission is described and their names given. In verses 5-15 they are sent forth with a commission to preach solely to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel". Mark 16:15-16 tell us that the Lord's ambassadors after his resurrection were to be sent into all the nations of the known world. The Apostles' message was to repent because the kingdom was at hand. Accompanying miracles were to be done to demonstrate that the work was from God. A failure to respond to the preaching was to be met with a curse upon those refusing the invitation from the Almighty through His Son and His Son's emissaries. Verses 16-25 tell us that those carrying the good news - ie the gospel - could expect to receive persecution just as Jesus their Master was experiencing. In verses 26-33 Jesus says to those Apostles that they must preach without any fear of human authorities as they could only take away their life until God would resurrect His faithful witnesses. Jesus' witnesses must not put their light under a bushel: Matthew 5 verses 14-16. The same remains true today. Although we are respectful of human government our allegiance is to our Sovereign Omnipotent Creator: 1 Peter 4:1-11. Verses 34-39 teach us that in our witness for Christ we will often find that this proclamation will bring division within families. We must not be overzealous in pushing our message upon anybody including our family; and we need to be kind in the way we present our views to them. We need individually to pick up our stake and deny ourselves in following our Lord Jesus Christ. In so doing we will in the kingdom receive the blessings of the faithful. Verses 40-42 tell of the blessings for showing kindness now - even in the smallest of ways.