March 21, 2025 - 1 Samuel 21-24

Such a contrast between Saul and David.  Saul was pursuing David in order to kill him.  David fled and came to Nob.  David, assisted by the priest Ahimelech, was given the holy bread to eat and escaped to Gath.  David then fled to the cave of Adullam and from there to Mizpeh of Moab and from there to the forest of Hereth.  So angry at the priests of Nob, Saul murdered them and continued to pursue David.  Even while fleeing for his own life, David accomplished what Saul apparently could not or would not do:  “David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, ‘Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.’  And . . . saved the inhabitants of Keilah” (23:4-5).  Saul continued to pursue David and David, when having the opportunity to kill Saul, spared his life saying, “I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed. . . . I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it” (24:10-11).  Saul unfit.  David, a man after God’s own heart.  One rejected by God, the other blessed by God.  God sees and knows.  He rejects the one and blesses the other.

Blest is he who loves God’s precepts,

Who from sin restrains his feet,

He who will not stand with sinners,

He who shuns the scorners' seat.

Blest is he who makes the statutes

Of the Lord his chief delight,

In the law of God rejoicing,

Meditating day and night.

Well the Lord will guard the righteous,

For their way to Him is known;

But the way of evildoers

Shall by Him be overthrown.   –Luther O. Emerson (1863)