We all want freedom in the outside world. Sometimes difficult to achieve, sometimes easy to lose.

But do we ever think of the freedom to be gained through an inward journey that neutralizes our ego and releases out soul and out light?

What country on earth would want to go from the freedom of democracy to requesting a king or dictator?

Funny thing, but we do that every day, even sometimes twice or more a day. We let an addiction dictate out lifestyle when we could be saved by the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Internal freedom trumps external freedom any day of the week ‘here and now’ or ‘there and then.’

See beyond what seems to be…

Or be happening… Samuel could see the big picture. Why go for a new relationship with a king? Why not repair the existing relationship with God? Why go down a road that the best case is bondage? Why not begin a spiritual journey the will result in unlimited peace, joy, unity, and freedom; guaranteed?

Samuel: He (the king) will take your sons… and will make them his horsemen, his running footmen, appoint them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields… Your daughters also will he take… to be his cooks and bakers…And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, and give them to his servants… Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn… Your flocks he will also tithe, and you shall be his servants.

And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves: and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

Lord to Samuel: “Hearken to their voice, and make them a king.

Unfortunately, the Lord sometimes gives us what we ask for.

Lord to Samuel: “Behold the man, of whom I spoke to thee, this man shall reign over my people.

Saul’s journey to being a king started with a journey looking for his father’s missing asses (donkeys).

Samuel to Saul: I am the seer (prophet)… and I will… tell thee all that is in thy heart… as for the asses… be not solicitous, because they are found.

Saul: “Am not I a son of Jemini of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?

The Cinderella ‘rags to riches’ story in the Bible!

So when Saul turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto him another heart… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them… therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?

Samuel to Israel: “Surely you see him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him (he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders and upward) among all the people. And all the people cried and said: God save the king.”

Did the people really pick Saul because he was really tall, heads and shoulders above anyone else?

And there you have it the first biblical ‘God save the king, or queen in today’s world!’

The spirit of the Lord came upon Saul… follow Saul and Samuel… the fear of the Lord fell upon the people… children of Israel three hundred thousand… men of Juda thirty thousand… and he slew the Ammonites… and the rest were scattered so that two of them were not left together.

So God was with Saul in the battle with the Israelites. Favored nation status in effect.

But underlying that is the fact that the Israelites chose to have a king versus the Lord.

Samuel: I will call upon the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know and see that you yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring a king over you.

People to Samuel: Pray for thy servants to the Lord thy God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.

Samuel: Fear not, you have done all this evil: but yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

Samuel to the People: Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and with your whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among you. But if you will still do wickedly, both you and your king shall perish together.

Perish together? Not a good foreboding.

Why chose a King over the Lord, in Biblical Times or Now?

Day 95: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Why chose a King over the Lord, in Biblical Times or Now?

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 8-13

Bible Notes:

This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 8: The sons of Samuel, The people desire a king; Samuel explains the rights of a king; Samuel is commanded to make a king.

And it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel… and his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Lucre—monetary reward or gain; money.

Ancients of Israel to Samuel: make us a king, to judge us, as all nations have (displeased Samuel).

Lord to Samuel: “Hearken to the voice of the people in all that they say to thee. For they have not rejected thee, but me, that I should not reign over them… as they have forsaken me, and served strange gods, so do they also unto thee…yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.”

Samuel: He (the king) will take your sons… and will make them his horsemen, his running footmen, appoint them to be his tribunes, and centurions, and to plough his fields… Your daughters also will he take… to be his cooks and bakers…And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your best oliveyards, and give them to his servants… Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn… Your flocks he will also tithe, and you  shall be his servants.

And you shall cry out in that day from the face of the king, whom you have chosen to yourselves: and the Lord will not hear you in that day, because you desired unto yourselves a king.

Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

Lord to Samuel: “Hearken to their voice, and make them a king.

1 Kings Chapter 9: Description of Saul; Saul vainly seeks his father’s asses; Saul and Samuel meet; The Lord reveals that Saul is to be king; Samuel entertains Saul; Samuel accompanies Saul on his way.

Cis, valiant and strong… and he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and godly man, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he appeared above all the people.

And the asses of Cis, Saul’s father were lost.

Cis to his son Saul: Arise, go, and seek the asses.

Behold there is a man of God in this city, a famous man: all that he saith. Cometh certainly to pass… come let us go to the seer. For he that is now called a prophet, in time past was called a seer.

Lord to Samuel: “Behold the man, of whom I spoke to thee, this man shall reign over my people.

Samuel to Saul: I am the seer… and I will… tell thee al that is in thy heart… as for the asses… be not solicitous, because they are found.

Saul: “Am not I a son of Jemini of the least tribe of Israel, and my kindred the last among all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?

Samuel to Saul: but stand thou still a while, that I may tell thee the word of the Lord.

1 Kings Chapter 10: Samuel anoints Saul; Samuel’s prophecies; Samuel’s prophecies fulfilled; Saul conceals his appointment as king; The people assemble to choose a king; Saul is publically chosen king; Saul returns home to Gabaa.

Samuel to Saul: Behold, the Lord hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance, and thou shalt deliver his people out of the hands of his enemies, that are round about them.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God… thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place… and the spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be changed into another man… do whatsoever thy hand shall find, for the Lord is with thee.

So when Saul turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave unto him another heart… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he prophesied in the midst of them… therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?

But of the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken to him, he told him not.

Samuel relating the words of God: “But you this day have rejected your God, who only hath saved you out of all your evils and your tribulations: and you have said: Nay: but set a king over us.

Now therefore stand before the Lord by your tribes, and by your families. And the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin… and the lot fell on… Saul.

Samuel: “Surely you see him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him (he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders and upward) among all the people. And all the people cried and said: God save the king.”

1 Kings Chapter 11: The Ammonites besiege Jabes Galaad; Saul saves Jabes Galaad; Saul is acknowledged as king by all.

And it came to pass about a month after this that Nass, the Ammonite came up and began to fight against Jabes Galaad.

Jabes to Nass: Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

Nass to Jabes: On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may pluck out all your right eyes.

The spirit of the Lord came upon Saul… follow Saul and Samuel… the fear of the Lord fell upon the people… children of Israel three hundred thousand… men of Juda thirty thousand… and he slew the Ammonites… and the rest were scattered so that two of them were not left together.

Saul: “No man shall be killed this day, because the Lord this day hath wrought salvation to Israel… and all the people went to Galgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Galgal…

 1 Kings Chapter 12: Samuel’s integrity is recognized by all; Samuel recalls God’s favors; Samuel warns Israel to be faithful to God; God sends thunder and rain; Samuel comforts the people.

Israel to Samuel: Thou hast not wronged us, nor oppressed us, nor taken ought at any man’s hand.

Samuel to Israel: Nay, but a king shall reign over us: whereas the Lord your God was your king. Now therefore your king is here, whom you have chosen and desired: Behold the Lord hath given you a king… But if you will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, but will rebel against his words, the hand of the Lord shall be upon you, and upon your fathers. (Why not mention children?)

Samuel: I will call upon the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know and see that you yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring a king over you.

People to Samuel: Pray for thy servants to the Lord thy God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for a king.

Samuel: Fear not, you have done all this evil: but yet depart not from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

Samuel to the People: Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and with your whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among you. But if you will still do wickedly, both you and your king shall perish together.

1 Kings Chapter 13: Saul calls Israel to war; The Israelites are terrified; Saul sins; Samuel declares God’s punishment; Saul’s army encamps in Gabaa; Strategy of the Philistines.

Saul was a child of one year when he began to reign, and he reigned two years over Israel.

And a multitude of people besides, like the sand on the sea shore for number.

Saul, was yet in Galgal, all the people that followed him were greatly afraid… Because I saw that the people slipt from me, and thou wast not come according to the days appointed…

Samuel to Saul: Thou hast done foolishly, and hast not kept the commandments of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee.

 

 

Chapter Eleven of the Gospel of Saint John is one of the most narrative story-telling in the Bible. There are so many words to describe the moments in detail that one feels as though they are there with the Jews, Disciples and Jesus.

They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” And Jesus wept.

When he had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus come forth!” And at once he who had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bandages, and his face was tied up with a cloth.

Chief priests and the Pharisees: “What are we doing? For this man is working many signs. If we let him alone as he is, all will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

But one of them, Caiphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all; nor do you reflect that it is expedient for us that one man die for the people, instead of the whole nation perishing.”

So much splendid detail though yet there is some confusion and projected human nature (our type of human nature) onto Jesus.

Now Bethany was close to Jerusalem, some fifteen stadia distance… and stadia—an ancient Greek and Roman unit of length, the Athenian unit being equal to about 607 feet (185 meters)—that’s as close as 30 football fields!

Jesus therefore came and found him already four days in the tomb… the two days Jesus stayed in the same place plus a day of travel for messenger to come to Jesus and a day for Jesus to come to Lazarus?

It is our human nature to project our own perspective on others, usually in a limiting way to them and upon deeper reflection, us too

Martha to Jesus: “Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever thou shalt ask of God, God will give it to thee.”

Of course Jesus would only ask meaningful, important things of God and God would surely grant them to His Son. After all, God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit are One and know each other more intimately than we could ever imagine.

Are they One God of different time periods? God, present in the Old Testament, at a time of lawlessness transforming into lawfulness through Moses? Jesus, present in the New Testament, transforming lawfulness into obedience to love? The Holy Spirit, of the Third Testament that is coming where all human beings in all countries come to understanding and prioritizing that we are spiritual beings living as a human being and not human beings living a spiritual life? Is there a revelation of the Holy Triumvirate to come?

We have to ask God, or better yet listen for God, yet Jesus is God so there is no need for him to do so or for us to project our own limitations on God or other human beings.

It seems as though it was God’s intention to set up one last big miracle, the precursor to Jesus’ resurrection and life-after-death. I am not God and don’t think like he does but this was the last straw, the tipping point with those in power.

There was fear, disguised as self-centeredness, of the chief priests and Pharisees:

Chief priests and the Pharisees: “What are we doing? For this man is working many signs. If we let him alone as he is, all will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

This is near the ‘beginning’ of Christ (His resurrection, His Church, and near the end of his human life).

Disciples: “Rabbi, just now the Jews were seeking to stone thee; and dost thou go there again?”

After the Lazarus miracle, Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but withdrew to the district near the desert, to a town called Ephrem; and there he stayed with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand; and many from the country went up to Jerusalem before the Passover, in order to purify themselves. And they were looking for Jesus. And as they stood in the temple they were saying to one another…

”What do you think, that Jesus is not coming to the feast?”

Jesus: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if he walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

How do we turn on the light within each of us?

Day 96: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Lazarus Came Forth; How do we turn on the light within each of us?

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapter 11.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 11:  Christ hears of Lazarus’ illness; Christ decides to go to Judea; Christ says that Lazarus is dead; Martha meets Christ; Martha’s faith; Mary’s faith; Jesus mourns for Lazarus; Lazarus restored to life; The Jews plot against Jesus; The words of Caiphas; Jesus withdraws to Ephrem; The last Passover.

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his fee dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent to him, saying “Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick.”

Jesus: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that through it the Son of God may be glorified.”

Jesus remained two more days in the same place.

Jesus to his disciples: “Let us go to Judea.”

Disciples: “Rabbi, just now the Jews were seeking to stone thee; and dost thou go there again?”

Jesus: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if he walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Jesus: “Lazarus, our friend, sleeps. But I go that I may wake him from sleep.”

Disciples: “Lord if he sleeps, he will be safe,”

Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought he was speaking of the repose of sleep.

Repose—Noun: the state of reposing or being at rest; rest; sleep; verb: to lie dead:

His body will repose in the chapel for two days.

Jesus: “Lazarus is dead; and I rejoice on your account that I was not there, that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Thomas, the Twin: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus therefore came and found him already four days in the tomb.

??? Two days Jesus stayed in the same place plus a day of travel for messenger to and Jesus from where he was???

Now Bethany was close to Jerusalem, some fifteen stadia distance…

Stadia—an ancient Greek and Roman unit of length, the Athenian unit being equal to about 607 feet (185 meters)—that’s close 30 football fields!

Martha to Jesus: “Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever thou shalt ask of God, God will give it to thee.”

Jesus to Martha: “Thy brother shall rise.”

Martha: “I know that he will rise at the resurrection, on the last day.”

Jesus to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he die, shall live; and whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die. Dost thou believe this?”

Martha: “Yes Lord, I believe that you art the Christ, the Son of God, who hast come into the world.”

Martha to Mary: “The Master is here and calls thee.”

As soon as she heard this, Mary rose up quickly and came to Jesus… they followed her, saying “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell at his feet, and said to him, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died,”

When, therefore, Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he groaned in spirit and was troubled, and said “Where have you laid him?”

They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” And Jesus wept.

Jews: “See how much he loved him.”

Some of the Jews: “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that this man should not die?”

Jesus: “Take away the stone.”

Martha: “Lord, by this time he is already decayed, for he is dead four days.”

Jesus: “Have I not told thee that if thou believe thou shalt behold the glory of God?”

Jesus: “Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me. Yes, I knew that thou always hearest me: but because of the people who stand round, I spoke, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.”

When he had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus come forth!”

And at once he who had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with bandages, and his face was tied up with a cloth.

Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Many therefore of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what he did, believed in him.

Chief priests and the Pharisees: “What are we doing? For this man is working many signs. If we let him alone as he is, all will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

But one of them, Caiphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all; nor do you reflect that it is expedient for us that one man die for the people, instead of the whole nation perishing.”

This, however, he said not of himself; but being high priest that year he prophesized that Jesus was to die for the nation. And not only for the nation, but that he might gather into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. So from this day forth their plan was to put Jesus to death.

Jesus therefore no longer went about openly among the Jews, but withdrew to the district near the desert, to a town called Ephrem; and there he stayed with his disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand; and many from the country went up to Jerusalem before the Passover, in order to purify themselves. And they were looking for Jesus. And as they stood in the temple they were saying to one another,”What do you think, that he is not coming to the feast?”

 

WOW, what an interesting story, I am definitely sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen to Jonathan and his armorbearer! But that is only the beginning, the teaser, for what is to come in this part of First Kings!

Not it came to pass one day… Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armor: Come let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines which is on the other side of yonder place…And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone… the young man that bore his armor… garrison of the uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us, because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few. And his armorbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth the mind: go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind… because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands… the Hebrews… Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel… the first slaughter… was of about twenty men… and it happened as a miracle from God.

Jonathan walked into his enemies’ hands and the Lord delivered the enemy into his hands! Truly a miracle from God and one I did not know about or fully understand as it involves killing of human beings for what purpose? We human beings, or is it nations, are still doing this 2,000-plus years later.

I thought when I read “do all that pleaseth the mind,” this story would end tragically for Jonathan with the message being do first what The Holy Spirit is calling you to do and then use your mind to implement God’s Will.

Then there was the story of Saul’s son Jonathan eating some honey breaking an oath his father had said but did not hear. The people of Israel saved Jonathan through praying to God for wisdom. Saul warred with the Philistines all the days of his kingdom of Israel—nobody found peace with their neighbors in Saul’s time.

Saul got a little too big for his britches, at least from the perspective of the Lord. Instead of completely annihilating Amalec as the Lord had commanded he took King Agag captive and took the spared the best sheep for a sacrifice to the Lord. Pretty much did the job but not completely as the Lord had directed.

Saul rationalized his conduct well, as we all do, but the Lord held him accountable as an example for us to learn from:

Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifice: and to hearken rather than offer… Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.

What is it exactly that one is supposed to learn from this, in Old-Testament-style of violence and an authoritative, do not question me, God? How can we apply this knowledge to our lives today where we live in the New-Testament-style of love? Or beyond today, as spiritual beings first, and human beings second?

There was repentance by Saul but no forgiveness by the Lord. There was repentance by the Lord for making Saul king.

Saul to Samuel: I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the people, and obeying their voice. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.

Samuel to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag the king of Amalec. Agag said: Doth bitter death separate in this manner? Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Galgal.

And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that he had made him king over Israel.

The moral of the story? If you are to be a leader at home or at the office, remember to fear the Lord and versus fearing the children or the subordinates. Obey God’s voice and no one else’s when it is in conflict with God. But above all act in accordance with love and our commonality, our unity, of us all being spiritual beings first in life and beyond.

And then the story gets better as the Lord uses Samuel to identify the king to replace Saul and this person is David and comes to be Saul’s armorbearer and play the harp for him to ward off the evil spirit of the Lord.

Evil spirit of the Lord, yes three times references in this passage of the Bible as

And what are the specifications when the Lord chooses a new king?

Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear. But the Lord beholdeth the heart.

For man seeth those things that appear but the Lord beholdeth the heart…

There remained yet a young one (David), who keepeth the sheep. Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he… and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.

But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. .. seek out a man skillful in playing the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayst bear it more easily.

Saul to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.

One servant to Saul: Behold I have seen a son of Isai the Bethlehemite, a skillful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and Saul loved him exceedingly, and made him his armorbearer.

So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit departed from him.

Plays right into the modern day corporate catch phrase of ‘keep your friends close and your enemies even closer!’

And the war saga between Saul and the Philistines continued. It would be decided by a fight in the valley in between the armies between David and Goliath:

Choose a man of you, and let him come down and fight hand to hand. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.

Now the Philistine (Goliath) came out morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

David: For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.

Saul to David: for thou are but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.

David to Saul: I caught them (a lion and a bear) by the throat and strangles and killed them. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall also be one of them… who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?

Saul to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.

Began to try if he could walk in armor: for he was not accustomed to it… and he laid them off, and he took his staff… and choose five smooth stones out of the brook… and he took a sling in his hand and went forth against the Philistine.

Goliath to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff?

David to Goliath: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.

David made haste and ran to the fight to meet Goliath… took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck Goliath in the forehead, and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face on the earth. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine.

A boy killed a giant warrior with a sling and a smooth stone out of the brook.

And it came to pass… the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul… it also came to pass that the battle between Saul and David for the kingdom of Israel had begun. David, accosted with evil spirits from the Lord and knowing the Lord was with David and not him, turned to trickery and gamesmanship to be rid of David’s threat to his kingship.

Now when David returned after he slew Goliath, the women came out of all the cities in Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

Saul: What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul did not look at David with a good eye from that day forward… the evil spirit from God came upon Saul… and Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself… Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.

David: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king’s son-in-law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability (biggest understatement of the Bible after all he killed Goliath and the Lord was with him!)

The king desired not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.

And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David… And Saul became David’s enemy continually.

Day 97: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Israel Kings: Samuel to Saul to David who kills Goliath; the Lord looks to Our Hearts.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 14-18

Bible Notes:

This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 14: Jonathan advances toward the Philistines; Jonathan miraculously conquers; The flight of the Philistines; Jonathan violates Saul’s oath; The sin of the Israelites; Jonathan is saved by the people; Summary of Saul’s reign; Saul’s family.

Not it came to pass one day… Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man that bore his armor: Come let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines which is on the other side of yonder place…And the people knew not whither Jonathan was gone… the young man that bore his armor… garrison of the uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us, because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few. And his armorbearer said to him: Do all that pleaseth the mind: go whither thou wilt, and I will be with thee wheresoever thou hast a mind… because the Lord hath delivered them into our hands… the Hebrews… Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of Israel… the first slaughter… was of about twenty men… and it happened as a miracle from God.

 Saul: Bring the ark of the Lord… And there were with Saul about ten thousand men. And the Lord saved Israel that day.

Saul: Cursed be the man that shall eat food till evening, till I be revenged of my enemies… came into a forest… there was honey on the ground… For the people feared the oath. But Jonathan had not heard when his father adjured the people…he carried his hand (with homey) to his mouth, and his eyes were enlightened… My father had troubled the land: you have seen yourselves that my eyes are enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey… And the people were wearied exceedingly… And falling upon the spoils… and the people ate them (sheep, oxen, calves) with the blood… And they told Saul that the people had sinned against the Lord, eating with blood. And he said: You have transgressed: roll here to me now a great stone… bring me every man his ox and his ram, and slay them upon this stone… and Saul built an altar to the Lord…as the Lord liveth who is the savior of Israel, if it was done by Jonathan my son, he shall surely die… O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by which we may know, what the meaning is… This must not be… So the people delivered Jonathan, that he should not die.

And Saul having his kingdom established over Israel, fought against all his enemies… And there was a great war against the Philistines all the days of Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 15: Samuel tells Saul to destroy Amalec; Saul allows King Agag to live; The Lord rebukes Saul through Samuel; Saul’s humiliation; Samuel slays Agag; God repents that he made Saul king.

Samuel to Saul: thus said the Lord of hosts… now therefore go, and smite Amalec… and Saul took Agag the king of Amalec alive… the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying: It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath forsaken me, and hath not executed my commandments… Saul erected a triumphant arch… Saul was offering a holocaust to the Lord… Saul said to Samuel: Bless be thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the word of the Lord… for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the herds that they might be sacrificed to the Lord thy God… and hast thou done evil in the sight of the Lord? Saul: Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord… as the firstfruits of those things that were slain, to offer sacrifice to the Lord their God… Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifice: and to hearken rather than offer… Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.

Saul to Samuel: I have sinned because I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words, fearing the people, and obeying their voice. But now bear, I beseech thee, my sin, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord.

Samuel to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

So Samuel turned again after Saul: and Saul adored the Lord. And Samuel said: Bring hither to me Agag the king of Amalec. Agag said: Doth bitter death separate in this manner? Samuel said: As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Galgal.

And Samuel saw Saul no more till the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, because the Lord repented that he had made him king over Israel.

1 Kings Chapter 16: Samuel sent to anoint a new king; Samuel anoints David; An evil spirit troubles Saul; Saul sends for David; David becomes Saul’s armorbearer.

Lord to Samuel: How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, whom I have rejected from reigning over Israel? Come, that I may send thee to Isai the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Samuel: How shall I go? For Saul will hear of it, and he will kill me.

Lord to Samuel: thou shalt say: I am come to sacrifice to the Lord

Is thy coming hither peaceable?

Lord said to Samuel: Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature: because I have rejected him, nor do I judge according to the look of man: for man seeth those things that appear. But the Lord beholdeth the heart.

There remained yet a young one, who keepeth the sheep. Now he was ruddy and beautiful to behold, and of a comely face. And the Lord said: Arise, and anoint him, for this is he… and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.

But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. .. seek out a man skillful in playing the harp, that when the evil spirit from the Lord is upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayst bear it more easily.

Saul to his servants: Provide me then some man that can play well, and bring him to me.

One servant to Saul: Behold I have seen a son of Isai the Bethlehemite, a skillful player, and one of great strength, and a man fit for war, and prudent in his words, and a comely person: and the Lord is with him.

Saul: Send me David, who is in the pastures.

Isai sent gifts ‘by the hand of David his son’ to Saul.

And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and Saul loved him exceedingly, and made him his armorbearer.

So whensoever the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, David took his harp, and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and was better, for the evil spirit departed from him.

1 Kings Chapter 17: War with the Philistines; The challenge of Goliath; David returns to his father’s house; David is sent to the camp of the army; David hears Goliath’s challenge; Eliab is angry with David; David offers to fight Goliath; David prepares for the fight; David and Goliath taunt each other; David slays Goliath; The Israelites defeat the Philistines; Saul takes notice of David.

And there went out a man baseborn from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath…

Choose a man of you, and let him come down and fight hand to hand. If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, we will be servants to you: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, you shall be servants, and shall serve us.

Now the Philistine (Goliath) came out morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

David: For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

And the words which David spoke were heard, and were rehearsed before Saul.

Saul to David: for thou are but a boy, but he is a warrior from his youth.

David to Saul: I caught them (a lion and a bear) by the throat and strangles and killed them. For I thy servant have killed both a lion and a bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall also be one of them… who hath dared to curse the army of the living God?

Saul to David: Go, and the Lord be with thee.

Began to try if he could walk in armor: for he was not accustomed to it… and he laid them off, and he took his staff… and choose five smooth stones out of the brook… and he took a sling in his hand and went forth against the Philistine.

Goliath to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff?

David to Goliath: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, which thou hast defied.

David made haste and ran to the fight to meet Goliath… took a stone, and cast it with the sling, and fetching it about struck Goliath in the forehead, and the stone was fixed in his forehead, and he fell on his face on the earth. And David prevailed over the Philistine, with a sling and a stone, and he struck, and slew the Philistine.

1 Kings Chapter 18: The friendship of Jonathan and David; Saul’s envy of David; Saul attempts to kill David; Saul appoints David a captain; Saul tries to trick David; David slays two hundred Philistines; Saul’s hatred for David increases.

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Now when David returned after he slew Goliath, the women came out of all the cities in Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets. And the women sung as they played, and they said: Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

Saul: What can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul did not look at David with a good eye from that day forward… the evil spirit from God came upon Saul… and Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself… Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.

David: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king’s son-in-law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability (biggest understatement of the Bible after all he killed Goliath and the Lord was with him!)

The king desired not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.

And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David… And Saul became David’s enemy continually.

We all Must Learn to Love Life or be Condemned for Life Everlasting!

It is right there in the Bible. Certainly we know this in our hearts if we are able to come out of denial, justification, or rationalization about the meaning of life and our purpose in the world during our brief visit here.

He who loves his life, loses it; and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting.

But Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life, loses it; and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting. If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am there also my servant be. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him. Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say?  Father, save me from this hour! No, this is why I came to this hour. Father glorify thy name!”

He who loves his life, loses it; and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting.

But how do you learn to love life and experience life on a blissful spiritual level? To the nonbelievers, how do we convince ourselves to believe in the light and become sons of light?

Jesus therefore said to them: “Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Now though he had worked so many signs in their presence, they did not believe him, that the word which the prophet Isaias spoke may be fulfilled. “Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” This is why they could not believe, because Isaias said again, “he has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their mind, and be converted, and I heal them.”

And yet, even among the rulers, many believed in him; but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

I believe it is a personal, meditative, and prayerful journey within for each one of us. There is no stamp of belief one can easily apply and become a believer and to love life no matter what so that the love itself becomes our everlasting life whether walking on this earth or in the heavens above. That journey within finds our soul and releases the light of our soul so that we walk in the light as Jesus alluded to. We have to love the glory of God—the light inside each of us—more than we love the glory of man. We become spiritual beings living a human life of peace, joy, unity, and freedom here—spiritual love—and an everlasting life of love beyond.

Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment and Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to show that our time in the light with Jesus may be brief and that we must seize any opportunity we have to seek Him. That journey of seeking is saturated with humility, the humility Jesus demonstrated by washing the feet of His disciples, including his betrayer Judas Iscariot. As Peter learned and accepted, there is no other way, certainly not through position and power alone in this world.

Jesus: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed shall you be if you do them.”

 

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: that as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Peter: “Lord, where art thou going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow later.”

Peter: “Why can I not follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.”

Jesus answered him, “Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee, the cock will not crow before thou dost deny me thrice.”

We may not be able to go to be with Jesus of our own free will and power but we can end up in the same place as Jesus—heaven—even if we deny him as Peter did.

We are all on a journey through life but be sure to take that inward journey, too, to find you own light within—Jesus’ light within you!

We all must learn to love life or be condemned for life everlasting!

 

Day 98: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; We all Must Learn to Love Life or be Condemned for Life Everlasting!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapter 12-13.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 12:  The supper at Bethany; The anointing of Jesus’ feet; A great crowd gathers; Triumphal entry into Jerusalem; The Pharisees are worried; Certain Gentiles seek to meet Jesus; Christ’s hour has come; Unbelief of the Jews; Fear of those who believed; Christ, the light of the world.

Jesus therefore, six days before the Passover , came to Bethany…Mary therefore took a pound of ointment, genuine nard of great value, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and with her hair wiped his feet dry.

Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he who was about to betray him, said “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denari, and given to the poor?” Now he said this, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and holding the purse, used to take what was put in it.

Jesus therefore said “Let her be—that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also. For on his account many of the Jews began to leave them and to believe in Jesus.

The great crowd which had come to the feast… took the branches of palms and went forth to meet him. And they cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!”… as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Sion; behold, my king comes, sitting upon the colt of an ass.”

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “Do you see that we avail nothing? Behold, the entire world has gone after him!”

Now there were certain Gentiles… these therefore approached Philip… “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

But Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. He who loves his life, loses it; and he who hates his life in this world, keeps it unto life everlasting. If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am there also my servant be. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him. Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say?  Father, save me from this hour! No, this is why I came to this hour. Father glorify thy name!”

There therefore came a voice from heaven, “I have both glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Others said,”An angel has spoken to him.”

Jesus: “Not for me did this voice come, but for you. Now is the judgment of the world; now will the prince of the world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from earth, will draw all things to myself.”

The crowd answered: “We have heard from the Law that the Christ abides forever. And how canst thou say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

Jesus therefore said to them: “Yet a little while the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

These things Jesus spoke, and he went away and hid himself from them.

Now though he had worked so many signs in their presence, they did not believe him, that the word which the prophet Isaias spoke may be fulfilled. “Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” This is why they could not believe, because Isaias said again, “he has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their mind, and be converted, and I heal them.”

And yet, even among the rulers, many believed in him; but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God.

But Jesus cried out and, and said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me, sees him who sent me. I have come a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. And it anyone hears my words, and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and does not accept my words, has one to condemn him. The word that I have spoken will condemn him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but he who sent me, the Father, has commanded me what I should say, and what I should declare. And I know that his commandment is everlasting life. The things, therefore, that I speak, I speak as the Father has bidden me.

John Chapter 13:  Washing of the feet at the Last Supper; Peter objects; Need for humility; The betrayer leaves the Supper; The new commandment of love; Peter’s denials predicted.

Jesus, knowing the hour had come for him to pass out of this world to the Father… and during supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot… to betray him, Jesus…. Rose from supper and laid aside his garments, and taking a towel girded himself. Then he poured water into the basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples, and to dry them with the towel with which he was girded.

Peter: “Lord, dost thou was my feet?”

Jesus: “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shall know hereafter.”

Peter: “Thou shalt never wash my feet!”

Jesus: “If I do not wash thee, thou shalt have no part with me.”

Peter: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus “He who has bathed needs only to wash, and he is clean all over. And you are clean, but not all.”

For Jesus knew who it was that would betray him. This is why he said, “You are not all clean.”

Jesus: “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If, therefore, I the Lord and Master have washed your feet, you also ought to wash the feet of one another. For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you also should do. Amen, amen, I say to you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed shall you be if you do them. I do not speak of you all/ I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ I tell you now before it comes to pass, that when it has come to pass you may believe that I am he. Amen, amen, I say to you, he who receives anyone I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.

When Jesus had said these things he was troubled in spirit, and said solemnly, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

The disciples therefore looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking.

Peter: “Who is it of whom he speaks? Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is he for whom I shall dip the bread, and give it to him.”

And when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot… and after the morsel, Satan entered into him.

And Jesus said to Judas Iscariot: “What thou dost, do quickly.”

But none of those at the table understood why he said this to him.

When, therefore, Judas Iscariot had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified with him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and will glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and, as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so to you also I say it now. A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: that as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Peter: “Lord, where art thou going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow later.”

Peter: “Why can I not follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee.”

Jesus answered him, “Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee, the cock will not crow before thou dost deny me thrice.”

The saga of King Saul trying to kill David, the slayer of Goliath, the Philistine, continues fueled by Saul’s jealousy over his loyal subject David’s popularity.

Saul’s own son, who loved David exceedingly, patched things up at first. Saul was appeased, swearing that “as the Lord liveth David shall not be slain,” until the evil spirit of the Lord came upon him and he tried to kill David with a spear but missed. David’s wife Michol helped him escape, allegedly under a threat that David would kill her if she didn’t.

So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy… Saul sent other messengers: but they also prophesied… and again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they prophesied also…

Saul became exceedingly angry and went also himself… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied… and he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! Is Saul too among the prophets?

The saga continues with Jonathan pledging his support to David:  “Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.”

Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David’s enemies. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.

Then Saul became angry at Jonathan… therefore fetch David to me: for he is the son of death… so Jonathan rose from the table in great anger… for he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion.

After secretly signaling David to leave for his own safety, Jonathan once again pledged that: “The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.”

David fled, first to Achimelech the priest who was surprised David came alone: “Why are thou alone and no men with thee?”

David was deceitful and lied a good lie to Achimelech: “The king hath commanded me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me…”

The priest therefore gave David hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, but only the loaves of proposition. I believe this also may be a sin committed by the future King of Israel?

Then David asked Achimelech for a weapon: “Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword?” And in an odd twist of faith, the only weapon Achimelech has he gives to David: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou slowest…

And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Gath whose servants wondered: “Is this not David the king of the land?”

And David changed his countenance before them… and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard… and King Achis questioned his servants: “You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?”

Now why on earth would David pretend to be mad?

David fled to the cave of Odollam and when his brethren, and all his father’s house… and under the affliction of mind gathered themselves unto David: and David became their prince, and there were with him about four hundred men.

And David left his father and mother under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.

And Gad the prophet said to David: Abode not in the hold, depart, and go into the land of Juda.

And Doug the Edomite, the chief among the servants of Saul said “I saw David with Achimelech…

Then the king sent to call for Achimelech the priest… and they came all of them to the king and Saul said to Achimelech: “Why have conspired against me, thou and David?  And thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, continuing a traitor to this day.

Achimelech lied to Saul: Far be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father’s house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.

King Saul did not believe Achimelech and said: Dying thou shall die, Achimelech, thou and all thy father’s house.

 

King Saul to his messengers: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, for their hand is with David… and the King’s servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the Lord.

King to Doug the Edomite: Turn thou and fall upon the priests. And Doug the Edomite turned, and fell upon the priests and slew in that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod.

But one of the sons of Achimelech… escaped, and fled to David and told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord. Saul realized his role in this tragedy: I have been the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father Achimelech’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life also, and with me thou shall be saved.

The game of ‘cat and mouse’ continued into the mountains and deserts with both Saul and David feeling that the Lord had delivered the other into his hands.

And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.

And Jonathan… went to David… and strengthened his hands with God: and he said to David: “Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this. And the two made a covenant before the Lord.

And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain… wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines. I guess no bear went over the mountain to see what he could see or who was on the other side of the mountain?

Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek after Israel. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave. And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayst do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes.”

To ease nature…

Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.

David to his men: “The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”

David to Saul: My lord the king… I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed… Reflect and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou list in wait for my life, to take it away.

The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee. As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.

Saul to David: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Thou are more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil… the Lord has reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day. And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand; swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. And David swore to Saul.

This is truly an amazing story of forgiveness and make up but is it too good to believe? Is this going to be the first orderly transfer of power in biblical times? We will see…

Far be it for me to say but King Saul was an evil man to kill 85 priests.

Day 99: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Far be it for Me to Say but King Saul was an Evil Man to Kill 85 Priests.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 19-24

Bible Notes:

This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 19: Jonathan reveals Saul’s murderous plans; Jonathan reconciles Saul and David; Saul again attempts to kill David; Michol tricks Saul and saves David; David flees; Saul pursues him; Saul prophesies.

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, the son of Saul loved David exceedingly. And Jonathan told David, saying: Saul my father seeketh to kill thee…

And Jonathan spoke good things of David to Saul his father; and said to him: Sin not, O king, against thy servant, David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and his works are very good towards thee.

And when Saul heard this he was appeased with the words pf Jonathan, and swore; As the Lord liveth he shall not be slain.

And the evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul…

David played (the harp with) his hand. And Saul endeavored to nail David to the wall with his spear. And David slipped away out of the presence of Saul; and the spear missed him, and was fastened to the wall, and David fled and escaped into the night.’

(His wife Michol) let him down through a window. And he went and fled away and escaped… and Michol answered Saul (as to why she deceived him) and Michol answered Saul: Because he said to me: Let me go, or else I will kill thee.

So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy… Saul sent other messengers: but they also prophesied… and again Saul sent messengers the third time: and they prophesied also…

Saul became exceedingly angry and went also himself… and the spirit of the Lord came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied… and he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! IS Saul too among the prophets?

Prophesy—to foretell or predict; to indicate beforehand; to declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration; to utter in prophecy or as a prophet; to make inspired declarations of what is to come; to speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God’s stead; Archaic: to teach religious subjects.

1 Kings Chapter 20: David and Jonathan consult; Jonathan renews his pledge to David; Jonathan’s method of signaling David; Saul seeks to kill Jonathan; Jonathan signals to David; Jonathan sends David away.

David to Jonathan: But truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and death.

Jonathan to David:  Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee.

Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David’s enemies. And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul.

Then Saul became angry at Jonathan… therefore fetch David to me: for he is the son of death… so Jonathan rose from the table in great anger… for he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion.

Jonathan to the little boy and David: Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee… Make haste speedily, stand not… and when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place… and kissing one another, they wept together, but David more…

Jonathan to David: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Kings Chapter 21: Achimelech gives holy bread to David; David takes Goliath’s sword; David feigns madness before King Achis.

And David came to… Achimelech the priest: and Achimelech was astonished at David’s coming: “Why are thou alone and no men with thee?”

David to Achimelech: The king hath commanded me a business, and said: Let no man know the thing for which thou art sent by me…

The priest therefore gave David hallowed bread: for there was no bread there, but only the loaves of proposition.

David to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword?

Achimelech to David: Lo, here is the sword of Goliath the Philistine whom thou slowest…

And David arose and fled that day from the face of Saul: and came to Achis the king of Gath.

Is this not David the king of the land?

And David changed his countenance before them… and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard…

King Achis: “You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?”

1 Kings Chapter 22: Many  join David at Odollam; David’s parents dwell with the king of Moab; David goes to the forest of Haret; Saul accuses his servants of conspiring; Doeg accuses Achimelech of feeding David; Saul orders the splaying of the priests; Abiathar escapes and informs David.

David therefore went from thence and fled to the cave of Odollam. And when his brethren, and all his father’s house… and under the affliction of mind gathered themselves unto David: and David became their prince, and there were with him about four hundred men.

And David left his father and mother under the eyes of the king of Moab, and they abode with him all the days that David was in the hold.

And Gad the prophet said to David: Abode not in the hold, depart, and go into the land of Juda.

Saul: my son Jonathan hath raised up with my servant David against me, plotting against me to this day.

And Doug the Edomite, the chief among the servants of Saul said “I saw David with Achimelech…

Then the king sent to call for Achimelech the priest… and they came all of them to the king.

Saul to Achimelech: “Why have conspired against me, thou and David?  And thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast consulted the Lord for him, that he should rise up against me, continuing a traitor to this day.

Achimelech to Saul: Far be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father’s house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.

King Saul to Achimelech: Dying thou shall die, Achimelech, thou and all thy father’s house.

King Saul to his messengers: Turn, and kill the priests of the Lord, for their hand is with David… and the King’s servants would not put forth their hands against the priests of the Lord.

King to Doug the Edomite: Turn thou and fall upon the priests. And Doug the Edomite turned, and fell upon the priests and slew in that day eighty-five men that wore the linen ephod.

But one of the sons of Achimelech… escaped, and fled to David and told him that Saul had slain the priests of the Lord.

Saul: I have been the occasion of the death of all the souls of thy father Achimelech’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life, seeketh thy life also, and with me thou shall be saved.

1 Kings Chapter 23: David plans to help Ceila; David consults the Lord and conquers; Saul prepares to besiege David in Ceila; God warns David; David escapes to Ziph; Jonathan encourages David; The Ziphites conspire to betray David; David narrowly escapes Saul.

And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shall smite the Philistines… for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

Saul: The Lord hath delivered David into thy hand…

Lord to David: Saul will come down… and Ceila will deliver you up!

David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departing from Celia…

And Saul sought him always: but the Lord delivered him not into his hands.

And Jonathan… went to David… and strengthened his hands with God: and he said to David: “Fear not: for the hand of my father Saul shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee, yea, and my father knoweth this. And the two made a covenant before the Lord.

And Saul went on this side of the mountain and David and his men were on the other side of the mountain… wherefore Saul returned, leaving the pursuit of David, and went to meet the Philistines.

1 Kings Chapter 24: Saul falls into David’s hands; David spares Saul; David pleads his innocence; Saul acknowledges David’s innocence.

Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek after Israel. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave. And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayst do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes.”

Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.

David to his men: “The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”

David to Saul: My lord the king… I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed… Reflect and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou list in wait for my life, to take it away.

The Lord judge between me and thee and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee. As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.

Saul to David: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Thou are more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil… the Lord has reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day. And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand; swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father. And David swore to Saul.

 

 

Jesus is our friend and yes he loves as the Bible tells me so… “No longer do I call you servants, because the servant does not know what his master does.”

And what does a friend do but give us good advice that we can count on, trust in that it will make our lives better.

Jesus: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do the things I command you. No longer do I call you servants, because the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. These things I command you, that you may love one another.

Wow, I always took for granted, without really thinking about it, that the ‘Golden Rule’—to love one another as we love ourselves—was one of the Ten Commandments, which were first written and listed in the Bible in Exodus Chapter 20. But it wasn’t—No other gods, No idols, Don’t use the name of the Lord in vain, Keep the Sabbath holy, Honor your father and mother, Don’t kill, Don’t commit adultery, Don’t steal, Don’t commit false witness against your neighbor, and Don’t covet anything of your neighbor’s—no ‘love one another as we love ourselves!’

Which makes sense as the law only did not work out the way that God intended the law only to work out. So He sent His only Son Jesus Christ into the world and Jesus is our human example of how to make life work out according to God’s Ten Commandments.

As God sent Jesus into the world so too did he take him out of the world as a Savior for us and our human sins, then, now and forever.

Forever, because as revealed in these chapters of the Gospel of John, Jesus promised us that he will go to the Father and ask Him to give us another Advocate—The Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit to dwell with us forever.    

Jesus: “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, The Spirit of Truth to whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you shall know him, because he will dwell with you, and be in you.

Jesus also informed us that, like He, the Holy Spirit will be a teacher of all things and a reminded of what He has said to us through the disciples.

Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you while yet dwelling with you. But the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, or be afraid.

Jesus cautioned us not to be dismayed with the world of worldly ways or their likely hatred of us for God and Jesus will be bearing witness through The Holy Spirit: But when the Advocate has come, whom I will send you from the Father, The Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness concerning me. And you also bear witness, because from the beginning you are with me.”

And as though he is explaining things in as simple ways as possible, not different than a parent explaining to a child that they must go to sleep if Santa Claus will come Christmas morning, Jesus reassures us that he must go to make the world a better place per the plans of His Father. We must take action to demonstrate Jesus’ presence in this world.

Jesus: “But I speak the truth to you; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he has come he will convict the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me; of justice, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; and of judgment, because the prince of this world has already been judged.”

Jesus: “Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear then now. But when he, The Spirit of Truth, has come, he will teach you all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he will hear he will speak, and the things that are to come he will declare to you. All things that the Father has are mine. That is why I have said that he will receive of what is mine, and will declare it to you. A little while and you shall see me no longer; and again a little while and you shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

The Holy Spirit can guide us through eternity and for sure through the duration of any individual life here on earth.

But the disciples were sad that Jesus was leaving them, no different than how we feel when a close friend or cherished relative passes on. Or even when we are on the decline and aging towards our own death, Jesus and The Holy Spirit will be our great comfort when needed, always when needed.

Jesus: “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. Were it not so, I should have told you, because I go to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again, and I will take you to myself; that where I am, there you also may be. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

How comforting, how meaningful, with so much hope and joy. When I first read this early one abstinent morning it completely changed me—my thoughts, my feelings, and my perspective of life and of the day, this day that I have awakened to so blessed by God to be here to live another day with those I love and the life I love! I am so grateful for God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit. To truly know Their Love, Their Will for the rest of my life, and Their Power to carry out that will. Truly blessed. TROML Baby!

Day 100: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Commandment of Jesus, Our Friend: Love One Another!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapter 14-16.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 14:  A word of comfort; Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; He and the Father are one; Promise to send The Holy Spirit; His love for His disciples; The Holy Spirit will teach us all things.

Jesus: “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. Were it not so, I should have told you, because I go to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again, and I will take you to myself; that where I am, there you also may be. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas to Jesus: “Lord, we do not know where thou art going, and how can we know the way?

Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. If you had known me, you would also have known my Father. And henceforth you do know him, and you have seen him.”

Philip to Jesus: “Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for me.”

Jesus: “Have I been so long a time with you, and you have not known me? Philip, he who sees me sees also the Father. How canst thou say, ‘Show us the Father’? Dost thou not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not on my own authority. But the Father dwelling in me, it is he who does the works. Do you believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? Otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do he shall also do, and greater than these shall he do, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Jesus: “If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to dwell with you forever, The Spirit of Truth to whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you shall know him, because he will dwell with you, and be in you.

Jesus: “I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world no longer sees me. But you see me, for I live and you shall live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. But he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Lord, how is it that thou art about to manifest thyself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus: “If anyone love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you have heard is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.”

Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you while yet dwelling with you. But the Advocate, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, or be afraid. You have heard me say to you, ‘I go away and I am coming to you.’ If you loves me, you would indeed rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it has come to pass you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the prince of world is coming, and in me he has nothing. But he comes that the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do as the Father has commanded me. Arise, let us go from here.

John Chapter 15:  Union with Christ; Love for one another; The world’s hatred.

Jesus: “I AM the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that bears fruit he will take away; and every branch that bears fruit he will cleanse, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remain on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he shall be cast outside as the branch and wither; and they shall gather them up and cast them into the fire, and they shall burn. If you abide in me, and if my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done to you. In this is my Father glorifies, that you may bear very much fruit, and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love, as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Jesus: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love than this no one has, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do the things I command you. No longer do I call you servants, because the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. These things I command you, that you may love one another.

Jesus: “Of the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love what is its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I have spoken to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name’s sake, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had come and spoken to them, they would have no sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them works such as no one else has done, they would have no sin. But now they have seen, and have hated both me and my Father; but that the word written in their Law may be fulfilled, ‘They have hated me without cause.’ But when the Advocate has come, whom I will send you from the Father, The Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness concerning me. And you also bear witness, because from the beginning you are with me.”

John Chapter 16:  Persecution predicted; The role of Advocate; Christ speaks of a little while; They wonder at His words; His explanation; Christ will now speak plainly.

Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you that you may not be scandalized. They will expel you from the synagogues, Yes, the hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering worship to God, And these things they will do because they they have not known the Father nor me. But these things I have spoken to you, that when the time for them has come you may remember that I told you. These things, however, I did not tell you from the beginning, because I was with you.”

Jesus: “And now I am going to him who sent me, and no one of you asks me, ‘Where art thou going?’ But because I have spoken to you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. But I speak the truth to you; it is expedient for you that I depart. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he has come he will convict the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in me; of justice, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; and of judgment, because the prince of this world has already been judged.”

Jesus: “Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear then now. But when he, The Spirit of Truth, has come, he will teach you all the truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he will hear he will speak, and the things that are to come he will declare to you. All things that the Father has are mine. That is why I have said that he will receive of what is mine, and will declare it to you. A little while and you shall see me no longer; and again a little while and you shall see me, because I go to the Father.”

Some of the disciples: “What is this he says to us, ‘A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me’; and, ‘I go to the Father’? What is this ‘little while’ pf which he speaks? We do not know what he is saying.”

Jesus: “You inquire about this among yourselves because I said, ‘A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me.’ Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned to joy. A woman about to give birth has sorrow, because her hour has come. But when she has brought forth the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for her joy that a man is born into the world. And you therefore have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you. And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you. Hitherto you have not asked anything in my name. Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you in parables. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in parables, but will speak to you plainly of the Father. In that day you shall ask in my name; And I do not say to you that I will ask the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again I leave the world and go to the Father.”

His disciples: “Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and utterest no parable. Now we know that thou knowest all things, and dost not need that anyone should question thee. For this reason we believe that thou camest forth from God.”

Jesus: “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each one to his own house, and to leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have affliction. But take courage, I have overcome the world.”

 

During a hiatus of the King Saul, future king David scenario there was a changing of the guard with the death of Samuel.

A sort of odd married couple was introduced—Nabal, a churlish, and very bad and ill-natured fellow and his wife Abigail who was prudent and a very comely woman.

David had a squabble with Nabal about how he took care of some of Nabal’s belongings in the desert and Nabal was not receptive to his urging for him to treat his servants a little better.

Nabal disregards the future king of Israel and his prudent wife secretly makes amends to David by bearing and bringing him some gifts.

Abigail to David: Let not my lord the king, I pray, regard this naughty man Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him.

David to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech… Go in peace to thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, and have honored thy face.

Later that night… Abigail came to (her husband) Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal’s heart was merry: for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning. But early in the morning when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became a stone. And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

And then there was some wife swapping…

Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife… and five damsels went with her, her waiting maids… and Abigail became David’s wife.

Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.

But Saul gave Michol his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was of Gallium.

The cat and mouse between David and King Saul continues with David once again, by the Lord’s grace, able to be in a position to kill King Saul but out of respect for the Lord and His anointed leader not taking advantage of the situation.

David: Kill him not: for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and shall be guiltless… the Lord be merciful unto me, that I extend not my hand upon the Lord’s anointed.

So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul’s head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

And Saul said: I have sinned, return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeared that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in many things… Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail.

Perhaps the Lord is saying to David that I am the one providing you access and I am doing it because I want you to be the next King of Israel.

David decided to flee from Saul and Israel and found exile with the Philistines and pillaged and did harm to his home country of Israel.

And David said in his heart: I shall one day or another fall into the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in the land of the Philistines… and six hundred men.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months.

And David pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecities… and left neither man or woman alive.

And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people Israel: therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

But why was David only with the Philistines for four months?

Now the fight is not Saul against David but Saul against David and the Philistines.

And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed. And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.

And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land yet he went to a witch: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee… Bring me up Samuel.

And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival… and to morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

Not the type of news you want to hear… lose the war, lose your and your sons lives too.

Yet David, who once killed Goliath, the Philistine and ten thousand more, seemed to be trying to serve two masters: Saul in Israel and Achis with the Philistines. Isn’t there a Bible passage that says one cannot serve two masters—for either you will hate the one, and love the other; or else you will hold to the one, and despise the other—you cannot serve God and man, or God and two men (Matthew 6:24).

Princes of Philistine to Achis: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads.

Achis to David: As the Lord liveth, thou art upright and good in my sight… I have not found any evil in thee… but thou pleases not the lords… Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the eyes of the princes of the Philistines.

David to Achis: But what have I done?

Achis to David: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of the God… but… up before day… go on your way.

So David and his men headed back to Siceleg, the place that Achis had given to him only to find it devastated and the wives and children gone too.

Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg… the Amalecities had made an invasion… and had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire… they had not killed any person, but had carried them with them, and went on their way.

David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, and wept till they had no more tears… but David took courage in the Lord his God.., And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shall surely overtake them and recover the prey.

And they found an Egyptian in the field… and when they had eaten them his spirit returned… I am a young man of Egypt, the servant of Amalecite… And David swore to him that he would not kill him if he brought them to his company.

And when he brought him, behold they were lying spread upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and as it were keeping a festival day… And David slew them all… and he rescued his two wives… and whatsoever they had taken David recovered all… And David came to Siceleg…

And the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fell from before the Philistines… and the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sons of Saul… And the weight of the battle was turned upon Saul… and he was grievously wounded by the archers… then Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it.

An anticlimactic end to say the least as when David, who was loyal to Saul, was with Saul he was slaying giants like Goliath and Israel was a prosperous and safer place. Seems like jealousy and madness came to Saul and as the result of one man, the country was overtaken by the Philistines.

The First Book of Kings is about the rule of Samuel. The Second Book of Kings is about the rule of David, the grandfather of Jesus…

Day101: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Philistines Defeat Israel, Kill Saul; David is Living.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The First Book of Kings Chapters 25-31 (END)

Bible Notes:

This and the following Book are also called the Books of Samuel, because they tell of Samuel and the two kings, Saul and David, whom he anointed. After the history of Heli and Samuel, the last of the Judges, this book records the beginning of the Jewish monarchy and the rule of the first king, Saul.

1 Kings Chapter 25: The death of Samuel; Nabal and Abigail; David sends to Nabal for food; Nabal refuses food to David; Abigail learns of Nabal’s refusal; Abigail sets out to see David; Abigail asks David’s forgiveness; David thanks Abigail; Nabal dies; Abigail and Achinoam marry David; Saul gives Michol to Phalti.

And Samuel died, and all Israel was gathered together, and they mourned for him, and buried him in his house at Ramatha.

Nabad… her husband was churlish, and very bad and ill natured…

Abigail, Nabal’s wife was prudent and a very comely woman….

David to Nabal via ten young men: Whatsoever thy hand shall find give to thy servants, and to thy son David….

Nabal: Who is David? And what is the son of Isai? Servants are multiplied now a days who flee from their masters… and give to men whom I know not whence they are?

Nabal’s servants to Abigail: Behold David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Nabal…

David: Truly in vain I kept all that belonged to this man (Nabal) in the wilderness… and he hath returned me evil for good. May God do so and so, and add more to the foes of David…

Abigail to David: Let not my lord the king, I pray, regard this naughty man Nabal: for according to his name, he is a fool, and folly is with him.

David to Abigail: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me, and blessed be thy speech… Go in peace to thy house, behold I have heard thy voice, and have honored thy face.

And Abigail came to Nabal: and behold he had a feast in his house, like the feast of a king, and Nabal’s heart was merry: for he was very drunk: and she told him nothing less or more until morning. But early in the morning when Nabal had digested his wine, his wife told him these words, and his heart died within him, and he became a stone. And after ten days had passed, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

Then David sent and treated with Abigail, that he might take her to himself for a wife… and five damsels went with her, her waiting maids… and Abigail became David’s wife.

Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.

But Saul gave Michol his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti, the son of Lais, who was of Gallium.

1 Kings Chapter 26: Saul again seeks David; Saul again falls into David’s hands; David again spares Saul; David again declares his innocence; Saul confesses his sin.

And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And David arose secretly, and came to the place where Saul was…

David: Kill him not: for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and shall be guiltless… the Lord be merciful unto me, that I extend not my hand upon the Lord’s anointed.

So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul’s head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

And Saul said: I have sinned, return my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeared that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in many things… Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail.

1 Kings Chapter 27: David dwells at Geth; Achis gives Siceleg to David; David pillages the various cities.

And David said in his heart: I shall one day or another fall into the hands of Saul: is it not better for me to flee, and to be saved in the land of the Philistines… and six hundred men.

And it was told Saul that David was fled to Geth, and he sought no more after him.

And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines, was four months.

And David pillaged Gessuri, and Gerzi, and the Amalecities… and left neither man or woman alive.

And Achis believed David, saying: He hath done much harm to his people Israel: therefore he shall be my servant for ever.

1 Kings Chapter 28: Achis appoints David his bodyguard; The Philistines assemble to war on Saul; Saul consults a witch; Samuel appears; Samuel’s prophecy frightens Saul; Saul is refreshed with food.

Achis to David: I will appoint thee to guard my life forever.

And Saul saw the army of the Philistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed. And he consulted the Lord, and he answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by priests, nor by prophets.

And Saul had put away all the magicians and soothsayers out of the land.

Saul to a witch: Divine to me by thy divining spirit, and bring me up him whom I shall tell thee… Bring me up Samuel.

And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? Why askest thou me, seeing the Lord has departed from thee, and is gone over to thy rival… and to morrow thou and thy sons shall be with me: and the Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.

1 Kings Chapter 29: The Philistines mistrust David; David is dismissed by the Philistines.

David and his men were in the rear with Achis.

Princes of Philistine to Achis: Let this man return, and abide in his place, which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest he be an adversary to us, when we shall begin to fight: for how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads.

Achis to David: As the Lord liveth, thou art upright and good in my sight… I have not found any evil in thee… but thou pleases not the lords… Return therefore, and go in peace, and offend not the eyes of the princes of the Philistines.

David to Achis: But what have I done…

Achis to David: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of the God… but… up before day… go on your way.

1 Kings Chapter 30: The Amalecities despoil Siceleg; David pursues the Amalecities; An Egyptian slave offers to help David; David recovers the Amalecite booty; David’s law for dividing booty; David sends presents to his friends.

Now when David and his men were come to Siceleg… the Amalecities had made an invasion… and had smitten Siceleg, and burnt it with fire… they had not killed any person, but had carried them with them, and went on their way.

David and the people that were with him, lifted up their voices, and wept till they had no more tears… but David took courage in the Lord his God.., And the Lord said to him: Pursue after them: for thou shall surely overtake them and recover the prey.

And they found an Egyptian in the field… and when they had eaten them his spirit returned… I am a young man of Egypt, the servant of Amalecite… And David swore to him that he would not kill him if he brought them to his company.

And when he brought him, behold they were lying spread upon all the ground, eating and drinking, and as it were keeping a festival day… And David slew them all… and he rescued his two wives… and whatsoever they had taken David recovered all/// And David came to Siceleg…

1 Kings Chapter 31: Philistines slay the sons of Saul; Death of Saul and his armorbearers; The Philistines dishonor Saul’s body; Funeral of Saul and his sons.

And the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fell from before the Philistines… and the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua the sons of Saul… And the weight of the battle was turned upon Saul… and he was grievously wounded by the archers… then Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it.

 

 

 

 

These pages of the red stuff (mostly all Jesus’ spoken words in red) in John’s Gospel can easily be a written book on each and every word, phrase, sentence, or certainly each and every lengthy undivided paragraph. The full text of Jesus words are to be found in the notes below and excerpted here with my personal insights and reactions.

Glorification and praise is consentual and reciprocal in a unified and free self and a unified and free world. It is a peaceful experience amidst a being of peace and a world of peace. Jesus and His Father were a prime example—“Glorify thy Son, that thy son may glorify thee.” If you want to receive praise, give praise continually starting with our overwhelming gratitude to God for this day of life!

Jesus continued as His eyes rose to heaven: “Glorify thy Son, that thy son may glorify thee, even as thou hast given him power over all flesh, in order that to all thou hast given him he may give everlasting life.” Jesus is the truth and the way to have power over all flesh, over all worldly desires, especially overcoming addictions and the ultimate power over flesh, over the death of our flesh, our body—everlasting life!

 

Jesus continues His prayer to God with confidence that God will bring Him home to heaven and everything will be alright, that he will not die a human life and die forever but be resurrected to be with God side-by-side again:

“Now this everlasting life, that they may know thee, the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified thee on earth; I have accomplished the work that thou hast given me to do. And now do thou, Father, glorify me with thyself, with the glory that I had with thee before the world existed.”

What have we manifested with our lives that glorifies God and His Son Jesus Christ?

Jesus prayed to God Our Father for his disciples of biblical times and his disciples of modern times:  “Holy Father, keep in thy name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one even as we are… I do not pray that thou take them out of the world, but that thou keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. Even as thou hast sent me into the world, so I also have sent them into the world. And for them I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

That we all may seek truth and unity in our time in order to selflessly and humbly glorify God, Jesus, and ourselves. Yes, humbly and in truth we are glorified too!

Jesus: “Yet not for these only do I pray, but for those also who through their word are to believe in me, that all may be one, even as thou, Father, in me and I in thee; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory that thou hast given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me; that they may be perfected in unity, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and that thou hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.”

But for those also who through their word are to believe in me… that they may be perfected in unity…

I pray that I will be perfected through TROML and my Splendid Spiritual Self and live a life of peace, joy, unity and freedom here and forever more!

The red lettering turns to mostly sorrowful black in Chapter 18 as Jesus is arrested in the garden and eventually brought to Pilate. Peter, His disciple has denied knowing him three times and the cock crowed. Before the beatings begin, Jesus’ final answer to Pilate inquisition is this:

“Thou sayest it; I am a king. This is why I was born, and why I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”

Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice…

Day 102: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapter 17-18.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 17:  Christ’s prayer; Prayer for His Apostles; Prayer for their unity; Prayer for the whole Church; Conclusion of Christ’s prayer.

Jesus, rising his eyes to heaven: “Father, the hour has come! Glorify thy Son, that thy son may glorify thee, even as thou hast given him power over all flesh, in order that to all thou hast given him he may give everlasting life. Now this everlasting life, that they may know thee, the only true God,., and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified thee on earth; I have accomplished the work that thou hast given me to do. And now do thou, Father, glorify me with thyself, with the glory that I had with thee before the world existed.”

Jesus: “I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. They were thine, and thou hast given them to me, and they have kept my word, Now they have learnt that whatever thou hast given me is from thee; because the words that thou hast given me I have given to them. And they have received them, and have known of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.”

Jesus: “I pray for them; not for the world do I pray, but for those whom thou hast given me, because they are thine, and all things that are mine are thine, and thine is mine; and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep in thy name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one even as we are. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou has given me I guarded: and not one of them perished except the son of perdition, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, in order that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that thou take them out of the world, but that thou keep them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. Even as thou hast sent me into the world, so I also have sent them into the world. And for them I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Jesus: “Yet not for these only do I pray, but for those also who through their word are to believe in me, that all may be one, even as thou, Father, in me and I in thee; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory that thou hast given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me; that they may be perfected in unity, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and that thou hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.”

Jesus: “Father, I will that where I am, they also whom thou hast given me may be with me; in order that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me, because thou hast loved me before the creation of the world. Just Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have made known to them thy name, and will make it known, in order that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John Chapter 18:  Jesus enters the garden; The soldiers come to Jesus; Peter draws his sword; Jesus arrested; Peter’s denial; The high priest questions Jesus; A soldier strikes Jesus; Peter again denies Christ; Jesus before Pilate; Pilate and the Jews; Pilate and Jesus; The Jews prefer Barabbas.

After saying these things, Jesus went forth with his disciples… now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place since Jesus had often met there together with his disciples.

Jesus therefore knowing all that was to come upon him, went forth and said to them:

Jesus: “Whom do you seek?

Soldiers: “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus: “I am he.”

Jesus: “Whom do you seek?”

Soldiers: “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus: “I have told you that I am he. If, therefore, you seek me, let these go their way.”

That the word might be fulfilled, “Of those whom thou hast given me, I have not lost one.”

Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest (Malchus) and cut off his right ear.

Jesus to Peter: “Put up thy sword into the scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

The cohort (Judas, attendants/servants from the chief priests and Pharisees) therefore and the tribune and the attendants of the Jews seized Jesus and bound him. And they brought him to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiphas, who was the high priest for that year. Now it was Caiphas who had given the counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man shall die for the people.

But Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple… The maid who was portress, said therefore to Peter, “Art thou also one of this man’s disciples?”

Peter said, “I am not.”

High Priest (Annas) therefore questioned Jesus…

Jesus answered: “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all Jews gather, and in secret I have said nothing. Why dost thou question me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, these know what I have said.”

One of the attendants… struck Jesus a blow, saying, “Is that the way thou dost answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered: “If I have spoken ill, bear witness to the evil; but if well, why dost thou strike me?”  

And Annas sent him bound to Caiphas, the high priest.

They therefore said to Peter: “art thou also one of his disciples?”

Peter denied it and said, “I am not.”

One of the servants of the high priest… said, “Did I not see thee in the garden with him?”

Again, therefore, Peter denied it; and at that moment a cock crowed.

They therefore led Jesus from Caiphas to the praetorium. Now it was early morning, and they themselves did not enter the praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

Pilate therefore went outside to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

They said to him in answer: “If he were not a criminal we should not have handed him over to thee.”

Pilate: “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”

The Jews: “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

This was a fulfilment of what Jesus had said, indicating the manner of his death.

Pilate to Jesus in the praetorium: “Art thou the king of the Jews?”

Jesus: “Dost thou say this of thyself, or have others told thee of me?”

Pilate: “Am I a Jew? Thy own people and the chief priests have delivered thee to me. What hast thou done?”

Jesus: “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my followers would have fought that I might not be delivered to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate: “Thou art a king?”

Jesus: “Thou sayest it; I am a king. This is why I was born, and why I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”

Pilate: “What is the truth?”

Pilate to the Jews: “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you wish, therefore, that I release to you the king of the Jews?”

Jews: “Not this man, but Barabbas!”

 

 

This Second Book of Kings tells of King David’s reign. By many successful wars he consolidated his kingdom and made Jerusalem his capital. His serious sins endangered the kingdom; but after he had repented, he conquered his enemies.

David is finally made the King of Israel. Through all the ‘cat and mouse’ war games with Saul, David never killed the king while he had the chance to do so out of respect to the Lord who had appointed Saul.

Now the Philistines had done killed Saul yet not in an honorable way so David killed the killer. The Philistines also killed his dear friend Jonathan, Saul’s son.

David grieved and gave a eulogy for both Saul and Jonathan:

David: “Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places… the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions… I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan; exceedingly beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.”

 

David always consulted the Lord at turning points in his life:

David to the Lord: Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda?

And the Lord said to him: “Go up.”

And David said: “Whither shall I go up?”

And the Lord answered him: “Into Hebron.”

And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there (in Hebron), to be king over the house of Juda.

And it was told David that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.

But Abner… general of Saul’s army, took Isboseth the son of Saul… and made him king over all Israel.

So David, an Israelite himself warred with other tribes in Israel:

And Abner and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul… And Joab… and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon…and Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us… twelve in number… And every one catching his fellow by the head, thrust his sword into the side of his adversary, and they fell down together… And there was a very fierce battle that day; and Abner was put to flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.

And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael was a most swift runner… and Asael pursued after Abner… And Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot.

Abner cried out to Joab: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? Knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair?

Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.

But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and one of the men that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.

And six sons were born to David in Hebron—Amnon, Cheleah, Absalom, Adonias, Saphathia, and Jethraam.

A fight over a women split the non-David Israel. Abner no longer supported Isboseth, the king, and allied with David. But Abner was killed for revenge by some of David’s servants. David was quick to distance himself from the killing to the people of Israel. After two assassins killed King Isboseth, David killed them and then became King of Israel himself:

Isboseth to Abner: Why didst thou go in to my father’s concubine?

Abner: as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him…

And Isboseth could not answer him a word, because he feared him.

Abner to David: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.

The Joab going out from David, stabbed Abner there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.

David: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner… but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall.

And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s doing that Abner… was slain.

Rechad and Baana his brother stabbed Isboseth in the groin and fled away… they struck him and killed him: and taking away his head they went off by the way of the wilderness, walking all night.

But David answered the assassins: …when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?

And David commanded his servants and slew them…

Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years and only the house of Juda followed David.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying that the Lord said to thee… “Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shall be prince over Israel”

The ancients also of Israel… made a league… before the Lord; and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

And the number of days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months. David was thirty years old when he began to reign all of Israel, and he reigned forty years.

And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David… and he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.

And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem.., and there were born to David other sons also and daughters—Samua, Sobab, Nathan, Solomon, Jebagar, Elisua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elisama, Elioda, and Eliphaleth—eleven total here plus six sons in Hebron for a grand total of 17 children!

And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into my hand?

Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into my hand?

Lord Answered David: Go not up against them, but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines.

David anointed to be King over Israel was now the father of 17 children!

Day 103: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; David Anointed to be King over Israel.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Kings Chapters 1-5

Bible Notes:

This Book tells of King David’s reign. By many successful wars he consolidated his kingdom and made Jerusalem his capital. His serious sins endangered the kingdom; but after he had repented, he conquered his enemies.

2 Kings Chapter 1: David mourns for Saul and Jonathan; David kills the Amalecite who slew Saul; David’s lamentation for Saul and Jonathan.

Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.

A man who came out of Saul’s camp… I am an Amalecite… So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither to thee, my Lord.

And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

David: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord’s anointed?

David, after his servant killed the son a stranger of Amalec: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

David: “Consider, O Israel, for them that are dead, wounded on thy high places… the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return empty. Saul and Jonathan, lovely, and comely in their life, even in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions… I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan; exceedingly beautiful, and amiable to me above the love of women. As the mother loveth her only son, so did I love thee.”

2 Kings Chapter 2: David anointed king of Juda; David blesses Jabes Galaad; Abner makes Isboseth king of Israel; Joab defeats Abner; Abner kills Asael; Abner and Joab make peace; Burial of Asael.

David consulted the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into one of the cities of Juda?

And the Lord said to him: “Go up.”

And David said: “Whither shall I go up?”

And the Lord answered him: “Into Hebron.”

And the men of Juda came, and anointed David there (in Hebron), to be king over the house of Juda.

And it was told David that the men of Jabes Galaad had buried Saul.

But Abner… general of Saul’s army, took Isboseth the son of Saul… and made him king over all Israel.

Isboseth the son of Saul was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years and only the house of Juda followed David.

And the number of days that David abode, reigning in Hebron over the house of Juda, was seven years and six months.

And Abner and the servants of Isboseth the son of Saul… And Joab… and the servants of David went out, and met them by the pool of Gabaon…and Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us… twelve in number… And every one catching his fellow by the head, thrust his sword into the side of his adversary, and they fell down together… And there was a very fierce battle that day; and Abner was put to flight, with the men of Israel, by the servants of David.

And there were the three sons of Sarvia there, Joab, and Abisai, and Asael was a most swift runner… and Asael pursued after Abner… And Abner struck him with his spear with a back stroke in the groin, and thrust him through, and he died upon the spot.

Abner cried out to Joab: Shall thy sword rage unto utter destruction? Knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair?

Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the army stood still, and did not pursue after Israel any farther, nor fight any more.

But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin, and one of the men that were with Abner, three hundred and sixty, who all died.

2 Kings Chapter 3: David grows stronger; Sons born to David in Hebron; Isboseth and Abner quarrel; Abner offers to join David; David asks Isboseth to return Michol; Abner joins David; Joab warns David about Abner; Joab kills Abner; David curses Joab’s family; David mourns for Abner.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: David prospering and growing always stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul decaying daily.

And six sons were born to David in Hebron—Amnon, Cheleah, Absalom, Adonias, Saphathia, and Jethraam.

Isboseth to Abner: Why didst thou go in to my father’s concubine?

Abner: as the Lord hath sworn to David, so I do to him…

And Isboseth could not answer him a word, because he feared him.

Abner to David: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.

The Joab going out from David, stabbed Abner there in the groin, and he died, in revenge of the blood of Asael his brother.

David: I, and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord for ever of the blood of Abner… but as men fall before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall.

And all the people, and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s doing that Abner… was slain.

2 Kings Chapter 4: Assassination of Isboseth; The head of Isboseth brought to David; The assassins are executed.

Rechad and Baana his brother stabbed Isboseth in the groin and fled away… they struck him and killed him: and taking away his head they went off by the way of the wilderness, walking all night.

But David answered the assassins: …when wicked men have slain an innocent man in his own house, upon his bed, shall I not require his blood at your hand, and take you away from the earth?

And David commanded his servants and slew them…

2 Kings Chapter 5: David becomes king of all Israel; David reigns forty years; David captures Jerusalem; A house is built for David; Sons born to David in Jerusalem; David defeats the Philistines; David again defeats the Philistines.

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying that the Lord said to thee… “Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shall be prince over Israel”

The ancients also of Israel… made a league… before the Lord; and they anointed David to be king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

And David dwelt in the castle, and called it, The city of David… and he went on prospering and growing up, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

And David knew that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom over his people Israel.

And David took more concubines and wives of Jerusalem.., and there were born to David other sons also and daughters—Samua, Sobab, Nathan, Solomon, Jebagar, Elisua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elisama, Elioda, and Eliphaleth—eleven total here plus six sons in Hebron for a grand total of 17 children!

And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into my hand?

Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into my hand?

Lord Answered David: Go not up against them, but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines.

The telling of the trial of Jesus by Pontius Pilate, the abandonment of Jesus by the Jews, and His crucifixion on the cross is always a difficult one for me to read. How could a man that did so much good in the world be put to death? How did it happen back then? Could it happen today?

Out of denial, rationalization, and justification; with a clear mind of truth, it certainly did and certainly can. We see in recent history, people who have been falsely accused, convicted, imprisoned and then set free based on new DNA evidence that substantiates their claims of innocence.

Out of denial, rationalization, and justification; with a clear mind of truth, anyone of us, myself included has the potential to sin and is a sinner of omission at a minimum. We fall short of bring like Jesus in our lifetime even though on a good day, in a good moment, we can be just like Jesus, as the Scriptures say, hopefully, exactly when we need to do so, so that God’s Will for our lives might be fulfilled.

So I read it with acceptance of myself, the world and the reality of life. We are not perfect although we must try to be in a reasonable sort of way. Our hopes in Jesus die along with him momentarily in Scripture. My wish for myself and you is that sin is only a momentary experience in our lives and that it isn’t a habit that self-imprisons ourselves from our destiny here and our eternal life in heaven with God The Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and The Holy Spirit—all of which have come to resurrect me and save me at various times in my life.

I close in great sadness, dismay and guilt; and reprint the crucifixion of Christ as told in the Gospel of John in Chapter 19:

And the soldiers, plaiting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head, and arrayed him in a purple cloak. And they kept coming to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him.

Pilate to the Jews outside: “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” Jesus therefore came forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. “Behold, the man!”

Chief priests and attendants saw Jesus and cried out: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate: “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”

Jews: “We have a Law, and according to that Law he must die, because he has made himself Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this statement, he feared the more. And he again went back into the praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are thou from?”

Jesus gave him no answer.

Pilate therefore said to him, “Dost thou not speak to me? Does thou not know that I have power to crucify thee, and that I have power to release thee?”

Jesus answered, “Thou wouldst have no power at all over me were it not given thee from above. Therefore, be who betrayed me to thee has the greater sin.”

And from then on Pilate was looking for a way to release him.

Jews: “If thou release this man, thou art no friend of Caesar; for everyone who makes himself king sets himself against Caesar.”

 Pilate therefore, when he heard these words, brought Jesus outside, and sat down on the judgment seat, at a place called Lithostrotos, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Pilate to the Jews: “Behold, your king!”

Jews: “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate: “Shall I crucify your king?”

The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar.”

 

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified, And so they took Jesus and led him away.

And bearing the cross for himself, he went forth to the place called the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side and Jesus in the center.

And Pilate also wrote an inscription and had it put on the cross. And there was written, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

The chief priest of the Jews said therefore to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments and made of them four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven in one piece from the top. They therefore said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be.” That the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They divided my garments among them; and for my vesture they cast lots.” These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother,

“Woman, behold, thy son.”

Then he said to the disciple,

“Behold, thy mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”

Therefore, when Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is consummated!”

And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

The Jews therefore, since it was the Preparation Day, in order that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a solemn day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they night be taken away… But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs; but one of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who saw it has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he tells the truth, that you also may believe. For these things came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall you break.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look upon him whom they have pierced.”

Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although for fear of the Jews a secret one), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission. He came, therefore, and took away the body of Jesus. And there also came Nicodemus (who at first had come to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, in weight about one hundred pounds. They therefore took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, after the Jewish manner of preparing for burial. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. There, accordingly, because of the Preparation Day of the Jews, for the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus.

Day 104: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; It is Consummated: Jesus is Crucified and Laid in a Tomb.

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint John Chapter 19.

Bible Notes:

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

Saint John, the disciple and Apostle whom Jesus loved, was the brother of James and the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome.

First a disciple of John the Baptist, he was called to follow Christ.

The purpose of his Gospel he states as follows: “these are written that you may believe the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you may have life in his name.”

John Chapter 19:  The scourging and crowning; The Jews demand His death; Pilate again speaks to Jesus; Pilate’s cowardice; Pilate condemns Christ; The Crucifixion; The Inscription; Dividing His garments; At the foot of the Cross; The death of Jesus; Piercing His side; The burial.

And the soldiers, plaiting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head, and arrayed him in a purple cloak. And they kept coming to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him.

Pilate to the Jews outside: “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” Jesus therefore came forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. “Behold, the man!”

Chief priests and attendants saw Jesus and cried out: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Pilate: “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”

Jews: “We have a Law, and according to that Law he must die, because he has made himself Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this statement, he feared the more. And he again went back into the praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are thou from?”

Jesus gave him no answer.

Pilate therefore said to him, “Dost thou not speak to me? Does thou not know that I have power to crucify thee, and that I have power to release thee?”

Jesus answered, “Thou wouldst have no power at all over me were it not given thee from above. Therefore, be who betrayed me to thee has the greater sin.”

And from then on Pilate was looking for a way to release him.

Jews: “If thou release this man, thou art no friend of Caesar; for everyone who makes himself king sets himself against Caesar.”

 Pilate therefore, when he heard these words, brought Jesus outside, and sat down on the judgment seat, at a place called Lithostrotos, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

Pilate to the Jews: “Behold, your king!”

Jews: “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate: “Shall I crucify your king?”

The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar.”

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified, And so they took Jesus and led him away.

And bearing the cross for himself, he went forth to the place called the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgitha, where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side and Jesus in the center.

And Pilate also wrote an inscription and had it put on the cross. And there was written, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”

The chief priest of the Jews said therefore to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but ‘He said, I am the King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments and made of them four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven in one piece from the top. They therefore said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots for it, to see whose it shall be.” That the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They divided my garments among them; and for my vesture they cast lots.” These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus, therefore, saw his mother and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said to his mother,

“Woman, behold, thy son.”

Then he said to the disciple,

“Behold, thy mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”

Therefore, when Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is consummated!”

And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

The Jews therefore, since it was the Preparation Day, in order that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a solemn day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they night be taken away… But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs; but one of the soldiers opened his side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he who saw it has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he tells the truth, that you also may believe. For these things came to pass that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of him shall you break.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look upon him whom they have pierced.”

Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, because he was a disciple of Jesus (although for fear of the Jews a secret one), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission. He came, therefore, and took away the body of Jesus. And there also came Nicodemus (who at first had come to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, in weight about one hundred pounds. They therefore took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, after the Jewish manner of preparing for burial. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. There, accordingly, because of the Preparation Day of the Jews, for the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus.