I found this part of the Book of Samuel to be the best part yet of the Bible we have read. It was not like the Book of Job that it was just a bunch of men talking but more like an action/adventure story. In the beginning I thought a lot about the opening scene in troy because of the battle David had with the Philistine. In troy Achilles fights with the best warrior of another army and beats him just by the swing of his sword. I kind of pictured David being very small and beating a guy that looked more powerful than him like in the movie.
I have some friends that are short but I have learned that you never underestimate little people. The part when David fights with the philistine made me think that you should never underestimate your opponent. Sure David was weak in the mind of the philistine because he was “but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance” but he battled with a true heart. Instead of going to battle with the armor that they gave him, he decided to go and fight with the elements he knew how to handle and with the mentality that violence with weapons could be avoided. Then all through the reading you see that David preferred not to fight but let things unfold by themselves.
I don’t understand why nations have to overpower each other. What is the dispute between the Israel people and the people from Palestine? Maybe my history isn’t very good but why is there so much tension even today between these two nations? Today its not only these two places that seek to overpower each other but worldwide countries try to prove to each other how much better they are than the other.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.”
This is so typical. Now I think where Hollywood gets all the ideas of jealousy and competition for their movies. David and Saul are a clear example of wanting more and being jealous of those that have what you don’t. Saul to me is kind of desperate because he always guides himself by violent measures just to be approved. Hadn’t he given any thought that maybe if he did succeed in killing David he would have been hated because he killed the good guy?
Jonathan and David remind me of Gilgamesh and Enkidu because of the way they have each other’s back. Jonathan holds his friendship with David as his greatest possession. He even turns his back on his own father to protect David who to him is part of his soul: “David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded”. Gilgamesh had that bond too. The one in which they would do anything for each other. Hardships and dangers were nothing for Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Jonathan and David showed that it was not only Enkidu and Gilgamesh who had each other’s backs: “O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
“ Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 24:14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 24:15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.”
David is so innocent that he doesn’t notice the envy that Saul has. He also holds the power of God over everything and knows that Saul will not die under his hand but the Lord knows when it will happen. David’s character is opposite Saul and in a way I think Saul wishes he was David. David has not only the people’s approval but the Lords approval which makes him a better person. One always wants what one can’t have and Saul is no exception to this rule.
“And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
1:16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’S anointed.”
The quote above was a bit unclear and would like a little explanation on it. The only other part of this reading that gave me trouble was the last part after Jonathan and Saul died. There was all this talk about servants going and sitting by a pool and then they mentioned these other guys that hadn’t been mentioned much. Other than that this has been up to now my favorite story in the Bible.
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