When we last left David, he was hiding from Saul in the city of Gath. Saul was so jealous and afraid of David that he was killing David’s supporters, including many priests. David went in pursuit of the Philistines, and Saul went in pursuit of David. More than once during this mad manhunt David had the chance to take Saul’s life, but did not. Two men, both anointed and chosen by God as King of Israel, stood toe-to-toe trying to decide whether or not to kill the other Lord’s anointed. Samuel died during this time, depriving both Saul and David of an advisor and mediator.
Four Psalms are tied to this period. In Psalm 57, David speaks mainly of rescue from persecutors. Psalms 142 and 54 are both cries for help in times of trouble. David takes a different turn in Psalm 52, though, boasting in God’s goodness. All these Psalms show David’s legitimate fear and despair over his situation, and also his assurance that God was his refuge and fortress.
Saul, seeking advice, visited the witch of Endor and asked her to call up Samuel’s spirit, which then confronted and scolded Saul. His reign was pretty much over by this point because of his disobedience and idolatry.
David was hiding in the camp of the Philistines when they went to war against Saul; they didn’t let David go with them, being unsure of what he would do in this situation. Psalm 56, written as David was hiding from Saul yet again, follows the same theme as the previous poems--recognition of those who could cause him harm, and of the stronger One who will keep him safe.
Then came Saul’s fateful last battle, against his old enemy the Philistines. All but one of Saul’s sons were killed, including David’s best friend Jonathan, and Saul is cut down by arrows. So that he won’t be killed by the Philistines, he falls on his own sword, taking his own life. First Chronicles states that God killed Saul, using the Philistines, because of his sins against the Lord. What an interesting difference in interpretation of events by different Bible writers. A sad end to a 40-year reign, though! “How have the mighty fallen...” David writes, not in Psalms but in 2 Samuel 1.
David is then established as king over Judah (the split into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms has already begun) and Saul’s remaining son, Ish-bosheth, is king over Israel. Various people, trying to get on David’s good side, kill Saul’s advisors and eventually his son. However, this has the opposite effect and David had all the murderers put to death. After seven years, David is king over all Israel.
We end this week’s reading with a lesson in how not to move the Ark of the Covenant. David wanted the Ark in Jerusalem, where he had taken up residence. So the Israelites went and retrieved the Ark, put in on a cart (despite the fact that God told them that the Levites were supposed to carry it) and began to bring it to David. There was a bump in the road, a man named Uzzah reached up and steadied the ark to keep it from falling over, and he died. “I told you never to touch the Ark,” was God’s reasoning. So the ark stopped its journey and stayed halfway between where it had been and Jerusalem.
Is that a cliffhanger or what? Tune in next time...it should be soon.
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