April 2 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible Beginning to End Reading Plan

Index of Beginning to End Readings

The Reign of Saul
Today's reading 1Samuel 21-24
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: 1Samuel 21; 1Samuel 22; 1Samuel 23; 1Samuel 24

1Samuel 21 (1-6) David went to Nob, where he met Ahimelech, the priest. David lied and told him that he was on a mission from Saul. He asked him for five loaves of bread, or some food. Ahimelech gave him some consecrated bread from the altar. In 7-9, Doeg the Edomite was also there and he watched David took Goliath’s sword. Psalm 52 was written at that time.
In v. 10-12, he fled to the Philistines in Gath where went to King Achish, the king for protection. David was desperate, he stayed with the Philsitines, knowing that they would not trust him because he had killed Goliath and launched many military campaigns against them. This was when he wrote Psalm 56. In verse 13-15 He pretended to be insane before Achish and his servants. Achish. Psalm 34 is associated with this event. According to the NIV Study Bible, Abimelech was a traditional dynastic name for Achish.

In 1Samuel 22, (v.1-2) Achish drove him away and David escaped to the cave of Adullam. His brothers and his father’s household supported him. This was when he wrote Psalm 102, when he prays for refuge from his enemies. some warriors joined David including Gadites who had defected to David (In 1Chronicles 12.8-18).. In v. 3-5, at Mizpah, David went to Moab, another enemy of Israel and asked them to let his mother and father stay with him. The king of Moab had allowed it. Sometimes God will even use your enemies to protect you and your loved ones. In v. 6-19 Doeg told Saul that he saw David at Nob. Saul ordered Doeg to kill the priests of Nob! Doeg went and massacred the priests. David heard of the slaughter from Abiathar, a son of Ahimelech. David felt responsible for the deaths of the priest and his family. Psalm 52 was written at this time, the psalm mocked Doeg and warned that God would avenge for the deeds what Doeg had done.

In Samuel 23.1-6 Keilah was under attack by the Philistines. David and his men went and saved Keilah from the Philsitines (1-6) Saul pursues David (7—26) Saul knew David and his men were hiding in Keilah. David asked god for counsel and was told to leave Keilah because the citizen would moved form place to place. Notice Jonathan came to David and renew his covenant with him despite the fact that Saul, his father wanted to kill David. (v. 15-16). The Ziphites betrayed David and told Saul where he was hiding. David was always one step ahead of Saul. Why? Because God had a purpose for David. Let us not be discouraged when bad things happen to us when we are in God’s will.

In 1Samuel 24, David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he turned down the opportunity. He did it God’s way. Compared to Saul who had many opportunities to kill David, he used them. Although Saul was an evil man, David still viewed Saul as God’s servant and his king. God blessed David for waiting on Him and doing it God’s way. In our difficult circumstance, we need to see God's hands controlling the circumstances of our lives and we need to do things God’s way instead of our way.

1 Samuel 21, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 22, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 23, with Commentaries, verse by verse
1 Samuel 24, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Links to Commentaries and other References - 1Samuel

Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.