This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:
Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
HERE
Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the
books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for
COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.
1SAMUEL
1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
Pride and jealousy will do awful things to a person. First, Saul attempted to kill David on his own (Chapter 18:11 & 17); now he gives orders to his son and servants to kill David.
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
Saul allowed the pride and jealousy to rule over righteous judgment. When we do not surrender in obedience to God, our emotions tend to lead us to sin.
19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
We can see that Saul is intent on killing David. When David fled to Samuel in Ramah (Samuel's home), Saul found out and sent a small group of soldiers to capture David and bring him back.
NOW! I said all that to say this...The Holy Spirit of God comes upon Saul in a way that causes him to prophecy. This happens EVEN when Saul is intent on killing David!!
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible Study.
CHAPTER 19
But Jonathan warned David, and sent him out in the woods. It's good to have friends who will warn us of dangers!
Jonathan promised that the next day he would get Saul away from everyone and talk to him. Then Jonathan would tell David the results (verses 2-3).
It is also good to have a friend who will mediate between those in disagreement.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."(Matthew 5:9)
When Jonathan talked with Saul he emphasized the positive aspects of David's servantship and ability as a warrior (verses 4-5).
When Saul listened, he agreed and Jonathan told David. Mediation led to reconciliation.
This is the 2nd time now that Saul tried to kill David with a spear while David was playing a tune on the harp (verses 9-10).
Isn't it amazing how sometimes we can minister to people in love and truth, and they will be harsh and cruel in return? I believe we see the workings of God's Holy Spirit upon Saul for conviction; but he is allowing his own spirit to be in control.
David escaped and went home to his wife Michal (Saul's daughter).
Michal knew what Saul planned and warned David. Then she helped him to escape, and invented a story so that Saul's intentions would be delayed (Verse 12-16).
Now, I believe, we'll need to look back on this instance when we come to 2Samuel 6. Michal paid LOYALTY to David here.
But look at what happened to the messengers! The Spirit of God came upon them in a very significant way, and they prophesied.
This happened three times! (verses 20-21).
God's Holy Spirit MUST come upon us for salvation. And His Holy Spirit REMAINS with us all the days of our lives if we are genuinely saved. And, at times, God's Holy Spirit can empower and enable us to do extraordinary things.
Finally, Saul decided to go himself. See what happened! (verses 22-24)
This is very interesting - and perhaps a little perplexing. In chapter 16 and verse 14, we see that the Bible says, "..the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him."
Here we must realize the progressive revelation of God to man. If God did not reveal Himself to us, we would not know Him. And God does not reveal ALL of Himself at one time; rather, He reveals Himself gradually.
The purpose of this is that God's plan of redemption began in Adam, but is not complete until Jesus comes to perfectly reveal that plan through His death and resurrection.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little."(Isaiah 20:10)
After the crucifiction, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus, the "MYSTERY" of God's plan to redeem ALL who would come to him was COMPLETE.
For the sake of brevity, let me say that God is ALWAYS the same -- never changing. Therefore, it is understandable that when the New Testament says we are SEALED in God's Holy Spirit upon conversion (Ephesians 1:13), God has ALWAYS sealed believers in His Holy Spirit upon a true salvation experience.
So, what we have here in Saul's instance is a man SEALED in God's Holy Spirit, but REFUSING to act in obedience! Therefore, Saul's own "evil" human nature acts against God's Spirit of truth and life. To me, this proves that we are ALL sinners ALL the time!
((What a GRACIOUS God we have!))
But some saved sinners cause great problems for themselves when they act in disobedience to God.
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."(Isaiah 59:2)
"Come now, and let us reason together saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool, If ye be WILLING AND OBEDIENT, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye REFUSE AND REBEL, you shall be devoured with the sword, for the Lord hath spoken it."(Isiah 1:18-20)
This proves that God's GREATER purpose will always be sustained by His power (Romans 8:28).
David has been anointed to follow Saul as God's chosen king. God will not allow Saul to kill David.
This is indeed a thoughtful perplexity. That's why the chapter ends with the question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
YES! He is God's chosen vessel. He belongs to God. Even in his disobedience (which eventually causes his death), God can and does act in power to produce His eternal purpose.