Year 1, Week 32, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 32, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Samuel 27; Psalm 17; 35; 54.

Today’s reading continues describing Saul’s jealousy and hatred toward David. David takes his attempts to escape from Saul to another level: “Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand” (1 Samuel 27:1). 1 Samuel 27 records David’s new life exiled in Philistine territory. Interestingly, while David is dwelling in Philistine territory with permission of a Philistine king, he raids Philistine cities and kills the people. Today’s reading also correlates some Psalms attributed to David. While Psalm 17, 35, and 54 are each ascribed to David, only Psalm 54 explicitly has an ascription or title that links to the historical happenings parallel to our readings in1 Samuel. However, Psalm 17 and 35 share themes that suggest they are connected to the historical narratives of David on the run from Saul.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the sense of despair that seems to be creeping into David at this moment: “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions!…You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!” (Psalm 17:17, 22-23). It seems that David flees to the land of the Philistines out of weariness. The LORD is not explicitly mentioned in today’s chapter of 1 Samuel. It seems odd that while David finds himself weary from his continued attempts to stay one step for Saul, he does not explicitly cry out to the LORD merely says to himself that Saul will eventually find and kill him. David is not explicitly seen as consulting the LORD in his plans to ask the king of Gath: “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” (1 Samuel 27:5). I would suggest that the implied assessment of David’s choices in 1 Samuel 27 is gracious but not commending. David seems to be looking to the Philistines more than the LORD for his safety.

David had once again been betrayed: “Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” (1 Samuel 26:1). While David once again was protected from Saul, the frequency of those who were willing to betray David seems to have left him searching for a way to no longer be subjected to this recurring dilemma. Written in the context of this latest betrayal, David prayed for a hearing before the LORD: “O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth” (Psalm 54:1-2). Perhaps while David has waited and prayed, he has also resorted to his own plans as he decides to flee to the land of the Philistines. It is hard to say for sure but it is quite possible that David’s decision to approach Achish, king of Gath was at odds with the wisdom of: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). While it seems abnormal to us as far as what we think we know about David, David is acting out of his own wisdom. In making this assessment, we can still be sympathetic. David seems to be weakened at this moment as the wording of his prayers seem to suggest he feels abandoned: “Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help!…Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!” (Psalm 35:1-2,17).

But it seems that 1 Samuel 27 does not put David in a most favorable light. I think it is a sympathetic but subtly expressed critique of David. David acted deceptively in terms of his vague updates to Achish: “When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites” (1 Samuel 27:10). David’s reports suggest that he was attacking Israelites in Israelite territory. At least that is what Achish accepts: "And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant” (1 Samuel 27:12). To cover for his deceptions, David acted destructively-overly so-as he left no witnesses to his real actions: “And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done’” (1 Samuel 27:11). This assessment may seem too harsh on David (and it is possible that it is an unfair assessment); but we would do well to remember that the difference between Saul and David is not that Saul does wrong and David does no wrong. The difference is that Saul never truly repents from his wrongs. We need not idolize David in order to see that the LORD used him. While David was susceptible to making his own plans, he was also drawn to look to the LORD: “Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them” (Psalm 54:4-5). Such opposite pulls of the heart are not all that unusual, are they?

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe