وجبـــــــة روحيـــــ(†)ــــــــــة يوميـــــــــة

[Mary Naeem]

David began to take other wives. He married Abigail, a widow of Carmel, during the time he was fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 25). David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. Saul had given David’s first wife, Michal, to another man (1 Samuel 25:43–44). After Saul’s death David was publicly anointed king over the house of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4), and he then had to fight against the house of Saul before being anointed king over all of Israel at the age of thirty (2 Samuel 5:3–4). Now king, David took Michal back to be his wife again (2 Samuel 3:14). David also conquered Jerusalem, taking it from the Jebusites, and became more and more powerful because the Lord Almighty was with him (2 Samuel 5:7).

The Ark of the Covenant had been previously captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). Upon its return to Israel, the ark was housed at Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:1). David wanted to bring the ark back to Jerusalem. But David omitted some of God’s instructions on how to transport the ark and who was to carry it. This resulted in the death of Uzzah who, amid all the celebrations, reached out to steady the ark with his hand. God struck Uzzah down, and he died there beside the ark (2 Samuel 6:1–7). In fear of the Lord, David abandoned the moving of the ark and let it rest in the house of Obed-Edom (2 Samuel 6:11)

[Mary Naeem]

Three months later, David resumed the plan to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This time, he followed instructions. He also "dance[ed] before the LORD with all his might" (2 Samuel 6:14). When Michal saw David worshipping in that way, "she despised him in her heart" (2 Samuel 6:16). She asked David how he, as king, could have acted so undistinguished in front of his people. "David said to Michal, 'It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes" (2 Samuel 6:21–22). David understood that true worship is intended for God alone. We do not worship for the benefit of the perceptions of others but in humble response to God (John 4:24).

[Mary Naeem]

After David was settled in his palace and had peace with his enemies, he wanted to build a temple for the Lord (2 Samuel 7:1–2). The prophet Nathan first told David to do as he wanted. But then God told Nathan that David would not be the one to build His temple. Instead, God promised to build a house for David. This promise included a prediction that Solomon would build the temple. But it also spoke of the coming Messiah, the Son of David who would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:4–17). David responded in humility and awe: "Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?" (2 Samuel 7:18; see 2 Samuel 7:18–29 for David's entire prayer). Before he died, David made preparations for the temple. God’s reason for not allowing David to build the temple was that he had shed so much blood, but David’s son would be a man of peace and not a man of war. Solomon would build the temple (1 Chronicles 22)

[Mary Naeem]

Much of David's shedding of blood had been a result of war. But, in a sordid incident, David also had one of his mighty men killed. Though David was a man after God's own heart, he was also human and sinful. While his armies were at war one spring, David remained home. From his rooftop he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He found out that she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of his mighty men who was at war, and David sent messengers for her. David slept with Bathsheba, and she became pregnant. David called Uriah back from battle, hoping he would sleep with his wife and believe the child to be his, but Uriah refused to go home while his comrades were at war. So David arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle. David then married Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). This incident in David's life shows us that everyone, even those we highly esteem, struggle with sin. It also serves as a cautionary tale about temptation and the way sin can so quickly multiply.

[Mary Naeem]

The prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. David responded in repentance. He wrote Psalm 51 at this time. Here we see David's humility and his true heart for the Lord. Though Nathan told David that his son would die as a result of his sin, David pleaded with the Lord for his son's life. David’s relationship with God was such that he was willing to persist in faith and to hope that God might relent. When God enacted His judgment, David accepted it completely (2 Samuel 12). In this story we also see God's grace and sovereignty. Solomon, David's son who succeeded him and through whom Jesus descended, was born of David and Bathsheba.

[Mary Naeem]

God had also told David, through Nathan, that the sword would not depart from his house. Indeed, David's household had much trouble from that time on. We see this among David's children when Amnon raped Tamar, leading to Absalom’s murder of Amnon, and Absalom’s conspiracy against David. Nathan had also told David that his wives would be given to one who was close to him; this would not occur in secret as had David's sin with Bathsheba, but in public. The prophecy was fulfilled when Absalom slept with his father's concubines on the roof for all to see (2 Samuel 16).

[Mary Naeem]

David is the author of many of the psalms. In them we see the way he sought after and glorified God. He is often thought of as a shepherd king and a warrior poet. Scripture calls him “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1). David's life seemed filled with the range of human emotions—a common shepherd boy with great confidence in God's faithfulness who honored authorities, fled for his life, and became the king against whom all future kings of Israel would be measured. He saw many military victories. He also fell into grave sin, and his family suffered as a result. But through it all David turned to God and trusted Him. Even in the Psalms when David is downcast or despondent, we see him lift his eyes up to his Maker and give Him praise. This reliance on God and continual pursuit of relationship with God is part of what makes David a man after God's own heart.

God promised David a descendant to rule on the throne forever. That everlasting king is Jesus, the Messiah and Son of David

[Mary Naeem]

The name “Saul,” from the Hebrew word pronounced shaw-ool, means “asked.” Saul was the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. Saul came from a wealthy family (1 Samuel 9:1) and was tall, dark and handsome in appearance. Scripture states that “there was not a man among the sons of Israel more handsome than he, being taller than any of the people from his shoulder and upward” (1 Samuel 9:2). He was God’s chosen one to lead the scattered nation of Israel, a collection of tribes that did not have a central leader other than God and no formal government. In times of trouble, leaders would arise but never consolidated the power of the twelve tribes into one nation. Years before Saul’s rule, Samuel the prophet was Israel’s religious leader but not a king. In fact, Israel was loosely ruled by judges who presided over domestic squabbles (1 Samuel 8). They were not, however, equipped to rule in times of war. It is no exaggeration to say that Samuel and Saul lived in turbulent times. The Philistines were Israel’s sworn enemies, and war broke out between the two on a fairly regular basis (1 Samuel 4). Because of the constant threat of war and a desire to be like the surrounding nations, the people pressed Samuel to appoint a king to rule over them (1 Samuel 8:5).

[Mary Naeem]

Though the people's request for a king was displeasing to Samuel, God allowed it. The people had rejected God as king, forsaken Him, and served other gods (1 Samuel 8:6–8). God told Samuel to anoint a king as the people had asked, but also to "warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them" (1 Samuel 8:9). Thus, it became Samuel’s task to anoint a king from among the people. Saul was secretly anointed the first king of all the tribes of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1) before being publicly selected by lot (1 Samuel 10:17–24).

[Mary Naeem]

Saul’s reign over Israel started peacefully around 1010 BC, but the peace did not last. One of the most famous events in Saul’s life was the stand-off with the Philistines in the Valley of Elah. Here Goliath taunted the Israelites for 40 days until a shepherd boy named David slew him (1 Samuel 17). Aside from that incident of fear and uncertainty, Saul was a competent military leader. He was good enough that his rule was solidified by his victory at Jabesh-Gilead. As part of the triumph, he was again proclaimed king at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:1–15). He went on to lead the nation through several more military victories as his popularity reached its zenith. However, a series of very serious blunders, beginning with an unauthorized sacrificial offering (1 Samuel 13:9–14), started Saul’s downfall from his kingship. Saul’s downward spiral continued as he failed to eliminate all of the Amalekites and their livestock as commanded by God (1 Samuel 15:3). Disregarding a direct order from God, he decided to spare the life of King Agag along with some of the choice livestock. He tried to cover up his transgression by lying to Samuel and, in essence, lying to God (1 Samuel 15). This disobedience was the last straw, as God would withdraw His Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). The break between God and Saul is arguably one of the saddest occurrences in Scripture