April 11, 2022

Welcome to the devotional part of Quest: Exploring God’s Story Together. Peachtree Church will read through the Bible together in 2022. Devotionals will be sent by email three days each week. Monday’s email will include additional background, history, and cultural information to help us better understand the texts. Every Tuesday and Thursday you will receive a devotional based on one portion of the texts for each week.

Texts for this week

1 Samuel 15-17, 24

2 Samuel 6-7

Psalm 34

Introduction to the Texts

Our readings now lead us from the history of Israel that dealt with the forty two years of the reign of King Saul, to his emerging downfall, and the appearance of the best-known (but not most revered—that is King Josiah) of the Kings of Israel: David.
 
In our first chapter reading this week, we see how God rejects Saul as the King of Israel. Yes, God chose him, and yes, Samuel anointed him, but Saul would not own up to his own mistakes; he seems to always blame others for the mistakes he makes, and tries to rationalize what he has done to avoid trouble (sounds like us, does it not?!)
 
And so, as God rejects Saul as King, He chooses David, the “runt of the litter” of his siblings, but one whom God identifies as one whose heart is right.
 
The “David saga” is an interesting one, with David being chosen as the one whom God has sought out. Ordinarily one would expect the oldest member of the family as the leader, but in this case—as with Joseph?—God chooses the younger. As the stories of David emerge, he is introduced to the court of King Saul as a musician to soothe Saul’s tantrums (it will be centuries later that William Congreve writes “Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. To soften rocks, or bend the knotted oak.”), and while the story seems to suggest David lived in the royal courts, the details of the battle with Goliath help us to see that he was not a full-time tenant, nor a well-known one. Yet that story about the battle shows the heart and soul of David.
           
As David’s popularity rises, Saul grows jealous, and we see him trying to rid himself of his “pretender to the throne.” Even when pursued, even when he has the opportunity to end Saul’s life, David demonstrates integrity and respect for the King.
 
In the last chapters that we read, David is now King, and brings the ark of God to Jerusalem, albeit by a circuitous and somewhat tragic, and at points even rather risqué means. And as David decides to build a Temple for God, God declines, but makes promises to David.
 
Psalm 34 comes from the period when David was running and hiding from Saul, and helps us to remember the great, deep, trust we can all have in the Lord.

DEVOTIONAL

I recall a Sunday noontime when I was a child, and while we waited for Mom to pull Sunday lunch together, Dad and I were outside with a bat and a ball. Dad was tossing the ball, and I was batting it back to him. After several exchanges, I hit the ball, and it went straight into a window, smashing it. I did what every red-blooded, American boy would do.
 
I dropped the bat and ran like the wind.
 
Halfway down the block, it occurred to me that Dad watched it happen. I turned around, knowing that I could not weasel or rationalize my way out of this one. When I got back to our yard, Dad was standing where I’d last seen him, simply laughing. Gosh, it was even a window to my own bedroom.
 
I learned that day how to replace a pane of glass. And also to own up to my own mistakes. More importantly, that a father can lovingly forgive a child.

For Reflection

When has been a time that you tried to rationalize your sin, or tried to slough blame onto someone else?
 
Have you ever admitted a mistake/transgression/sin and found that you were still loved?

Prayer

Lord God, I am not a King; I am not a warrior; I’m not a shepherd; but I am Yours. Thank You for loving me, and choosing me in Your own way. Thank you for promising to hold onto me forever. Use me today as You will, and for Your good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.