Bible in 365 Days

1 Samuel 25-27                      

1 Samuel 25

We now have the account of Samuel's death. Notwithstanding all Israel's failure to realize his high ideals, it was impossible that they should not recognize his greatness, and it is easy to believe that their mourning for him was the evidence of genuine sorrow.

The story of Nabal, as here written, is intensely interesting. He was of a type which continues to this time. The whole fact is most forcibly expressed in the word "churlish." David's approach to him was characterized by fine courtesy, which was responded to, not only by refusal to grant the request, but by uncalled-for and unwarranted aspersions.

In the story Abigail stands out as a woman of fine tone and temper, and of keen insight. It is perfectly evident that her principal concern was for David. To save him from a bloody deed was her first intention. In this she was successful, and David recognized the h e service she had rendered him.

The chapter ends with the story of his marriage to Abigail, while already he had taken Ahinoam to wife. While it is perfectly true that we have no right to measure David by the standards of our own time, it is equally clear that at this point we have evidence of a weakness which presently was to lead him into the most terrible sin of his life and cause him the greatest difficulty and the acutest suffering.

1 Samuel 26

Once again we have the account of how David spared the life of Saul. There is no reason at all for the view that this is a repetition of the previous story. A quiet comparison of the two will show many points of difference between them.

After dramatically rebuking Abner for his lack of care of the king, David protested Saul's persecution of himself. Varying interpretations of the meaning of the words of David as recorded in the nineteenth verse have been given. The most natural solution is really the simplest, that in appealing to Saul why he was thus following David, he suggested that if the evil spirit should be a divine visitation Saul should seek to be free from it by making an offering to God.

David's weariness of his exile and persecution inadvertently manifested itself when he declared that if men had stirred up Saul against him they were endeavoring to drive him out from the inheritance of the Lord to serve other gods.

In answer to David's protest, Saul confessed his sin. and. in one sentence, unexpectedly, but nevertheless accurately, declared the whole truth concerning himself when he said, "I have played the fool."

Perhaps this is the briefest and, at the same time, the most accurate autobiography in existence. The statement, possibly quite unintentionally, but nevertheless definitely, had application not merely to his immediate action, but to all his history from the beginning.

1 Samuel 27

David's sense of his danger increased until he became almost pessimistic, and he said in his heart, "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." And who can wonder at, or blame him? Long and weary indeed had been his period of suffering.

The whole story is parabolic. The anointed king was driven out by the rejected king. All this was repeated long after in the history of the one true King. The difference, however, is marked. No fear ever made the anointed One quail. He also spoke, and often, of the fact that men would kill Him, but always ended with the prophecy of His ultimate resurrection and victory. Moreover, He never crossed over to the Philistines for refuge. This David did, going to live in Gath.

From there he made occasional raids on other ancient enemies of his people, and with success. In order to hide this from those among whom he dwelt he was driven to the expedient of untruth.

When a man is in a false position no matter how strenuously he may desire to be true to divine purpose, he is inevitably in grave danger of violating some fundamental principle of his loyalty. It is impossible to see David taking refuge in Gath without feeling that he had allowed himself to lose that clear vision of God which had made him invincible against Goliath.