1 Samuel 26

• Reminiscent of an earlier encounter (1 Samuel 24), the Ziphites tell Saul how to find David; and David, by not killing Saul, proves to Saul that only David’s fear of God has kept the king alive; and then Saul, as before, apologizes.

Psalm 7

• Shiggaion-wandering. Does the content wander, or was the psalm composed while the author was wandering?
• Cush the Benjamite-is this a veiled reference to Saul, son of Kish, the Benjamite?
• Slander is the theme. People saying things to malign the reputation of others.
• Saul’s unjust persecution of David; and David’s appeal to God for help may well be the background of this psalm.
• Bishop Samuel Horsley (1733-1806) suggested that the psalm should be seen on a much higher level:
  

  Whatever might be the occasion of the Psalm, the real subject seems to be the Messiah’s appeal to God against the false accusations of his enemies; and the predictions which it contains of the final conversion of the whole world, and of the future judgment, are clear and explicit. (cited by Spurgeon in Treasury of David)

• Outline:
  • Although many people, and one in particular accuse me, I am innocent (Psalm 7:1-7)
  • My God will discover my innocence, and punish my accusers (Psalm 7:8-17)

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Meditation Points:

• Samuel died (verse 1). Did David attend the funeral?  Did Saul attend the funeral?
• Nabal (1 Samuel 25:3) – quite literally: foolish; and so he acted
• of the house of Caleb – as “Caleb” means “dog”, some translators have seen this as a reference to Nabal’s dog-like behavior
• David, it seems, had guarded Nabal’s shepherds without any consideration of remuneration (1 Samuel 25:7); but now he uses that kindness as a bargaining chip (1 Samuel 25:8, 21).
• Who is David (1 Samuel 25:10)? Has Nabal been living under a rock? Even without CNN all Israel knew about David.
• David’s (immediate and prayerless) response was to put on his sword and to teach Nabal a lesson (1 Samuel 25:13). Is it ever right to avenge yourself? (Romans 12:19-21)
• He’s a son of Belial (1 Samuel 25:17), you can’t talk to him. Abigail knew it to be true of her husband. And you probably know some folks like that, too.
• 200 loaves of bread, available for immediate transport and distribution (1 Samuel 25:18). Was there a Super Wal-Mart nearby? Even if they were small cake-sized loaves (like doughnuts?), that’s more than 16 dozen!
• Abigail didn’t tell her husband what she intended to do (1 Samuel 25:19). Would you have advised this course of action?
• Translation or Interpretation?  Do these verses (1 Samuel 25:22,34; 1 Kings 14:10; 1 Kings 16:11; 1 Kings 21:21; 2 Kings 9:8) speak against bad bathroom etiquette? And who is to say that the reference is to human males (as translated/interpreted by almost all English translations other than the KJV) and not to dogs? Given that the Hebrew word means “to pass water” or “to urinate” and NOT “males” or even “men”, I vote for a more accurate translation, even if objectionable to modern sensibilities. Two extremes on this issue are to be seen in this video or in this posthumously published, and relatively unknown (for good reasons), work by Mark Twain.
• Every would-be politician should heed Abigail’s advice: don’t do anything that you’ll regret after you take office (1 Samuel 25:31).
• Abigail would tell her husband what she had done; but not while he was drunk (1 Samuel 25:36). Another good example to follow.
• When Nabal learned the next morning what had transpired between his wife and David, Nabal had a stroke and went into a coma (1 Samuel 25:37). “Nabal, good news. I talked to David and he’s not going to kill you.” Ten days later, the LORD took Nabal’s life (1 Samuel 25:38).
• And David took Nabal’s widow to be his wife (1 Samuel 25:42). Wait! David was already married, to Saul’s daughter (1 Samuel 25:44). And then he took a third wife, Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Samuel 25:43). Clearly the man needed counseling.

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To the Chief Musician

Are you in a song-writing mood, but you can’t think of a message? Why not borrow one of these themes from the inspired song writer?

• Waiting upon God (Psalm 62:1)
• Salvation is of the Lord (Psalm 62:1; Jonah 2)
• God alone is my rock, my salvation, my defense (Psalm 62:2,6)
• The unrighteous say one thing, but think another (Psalm 62:4)
• Trust in the Lord at all times (Psalm 62:8)
• If God said it once, that’s enough for me; but I’ve heard more than once about God’s power (Psalm 62:11)
• My enemies shoot at me; and God shoots back at them (Psalm 64:4,7)
• God hears prayer (Psalm 65:2)
• God purges away our transgressions (Psalm 65:3). (And not in a make-believe purgatory!)
• God chooses some men to approach Him and to dwell with Him (Psalm 65:4)
• Listen to the rain, and remember God (Psalm 65:9-10)

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Psalm 68

I know not how to undertake a comment on this Psalm: it is the most difficult in the whole Psalter…There are customs here referred to which I do not fully understand; there are words whose meaning I cannot, to my own satisfaction, ascertain; and allusions which are to me inexplicable. (Adam Clarke)

Meditation Points:

• Mention of the temple at Jerusalem (verse 29) might justify placing this psalm chronologically later in the life of David.
• God is a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows (verse 5). We should be, too (James 1:27).
• The exodus event and the giving of the law at Sinai are often mentioned; and why shouldn’t they be? They were significant demonstrations of God. Do you have any recollection of God’s work in your life, or in your family’s history?
• Internet web sites can be used to publish all kinds of information. Since the Lord has given us the Word (Psalm 68:11), shouldn’t we publish it (Mark 16:15)?
• Compare Psalm 68:18 with Ephesians 4:8.
• People often unload on us; blessed be the LORD who daily loads us with benefits (verse 19).

Psalm 61

Meditation Points:

• If this psalm was written while David was fleeing from Saul, either David was confident that God would protect Saul, or David spoke as though he were already king himself (Psalm 61:6).
• We say, “I’m at the end of my rope.” David vowed to call upon the Lord from “the end of the earth” (Psalm 61:2).  Shouldn’t you?
• What do you do when your heart is overwhelmed?
• Some things should be done daily (Psalm 61:8).

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