GPS Reading Map - May 2012

Now is a good time to stop and assess where we are. We’ve seen sin enter the world (Gen 3) and God’s plan to deal with sin and restore humanity to Himself through the Messiah, His son (Gen 12). Fellowship with God and His people is temporarily and provisionally restored through the Law of Moses (Exo 20). So why are we now reading about kings, Israelites and Philistines? The answer is that God wants a prepared people to prepare the world for the coming of the Messiah. To do that the Israelites need to cleanse the land of Canaan of idolatry and idolaters lest Israel become like the nations around them (as they did in Judges). That task requires leadership, a leader who can bring the nation together as no judge could. Further, kings were always part of God’s plan as well (Gen 17:6). God’s people need to be trained as to what a king is and does! In our reading this month we will see good kings who lead the people to do what is right, and bad kings who let wickedness overrun the land. All of it points to our need for Jesus, the King of Kings!

May: Week 2

Snapshot

We continue to see the vast need for godly leadership, and we continue to see that Saul will not be that kind of leader. 1 Samuel 14 (which we skipped) records another failure of Saul’s, but 1 Samuel 15's failure is much worse. Watch the repeated use of the terms “listen,” “voice” and “word of the Lord” to see who Saul will, and will not listen to (notice especially verse 24). In 1 Samuel 16 we meet the man who will be right kind of king. Verse 7 becomes the hallmark of David’s reign: David has the right kind of heart. David does more than talk a good game. He defeats Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. His words are important however. Notice how David frames the battle as being between Goliath and God (verses 26, 45-47). Not surprisingly, God wins the battle. Saul’s jealousy consumes him and he begins plotting against David (1 Samuel 18). 1 Samuel 19 describes more of Saul’s attempts to murder David. 1 Samuel 20-27 tells of David’s various adventures trying to stay alive while Saul pursues him (and neglects the kingdom). We close Saul’s life by reading 1 Samuel 28, where he commits one of the most horrible sins imaginable, divination. Saul won’t speak to God so God won’t speak to him (verse 6). Samuel’s prophecy in verse 19 is correct, as 1 Samuel 31 shows.

Danger: Construction Ahead

16:14-23 is difficult. Is this a spirit of depression (Saul has the “blues”) or is it demonic? We cannot be sure. 17:55 is also uncertain. 16:21 seems to say David was already in Saul’s service. Why doesn’t he know him now? Did he forget? Perhaps Saul had many armor bearers. It is also possible that this material is not in chronological order. The woman in chapter 28 is famous for being a “witch,” but she really is a medium: she claims to be able to consult the dead. What she does is absolutely forbidden in the Law (Deut. 18:11; Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27).

Rubber Meets the Road

Watch carefully as you read along here for the theme of Saul fighting against God. There is much here on what God has done and how God is with David (18:12,14, 28; 19:5, 20- 24; see also 20:31; 23:17 and 24:19-20 to see how Saul knows he is trying to hold onto the throne despite God’s clear will that David be king). Think about what it means to fight against God today. Are people still doing that? Are you?

In the Minivan

What do we do when we don’t get what we want? Children often throw fits (if their parents allow it). The readings about Saul provide a great opportunity to talk about the consequences of one’s actions, and throwing a tantrum when one is unhappy with what he/she has brought upon self. Saul also shows how sin progresses: he goes from being disobedient to God to trying to murder David to consulting a witch.