1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:13

Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.

Waitasec, what?!?  A household idol?  David, the man after God's own heart, had a household idol?  What's going on here?  I thought David did all right before God, except for Bathsheba.  What is he doing with an idol in his home?  I'm now very confused, and somewhat concerned.

The thing I have to wonder here is if it wasn't David's idol, but Michal's.  We already know Saul wasn't particularly well-known for keeping to God's commands, so I can believe that he passed that apathy (or whatever you want to call it) along to his children.  So maybe it was Michal's, but still, why did David permit it to stay?  Why did he not get rid of it in order to keep his home pure?  Maybe he was never home, or she kept it hidden?  Yet another question about the perceived purity of God's "favorite" king.

1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:1

Now it came about that when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

I've often wondered what is meant to knit souls together.  Obviously, the literal meaning is silly, but what does it mean?  I've head some people say that it means they were lovers, which is also ridiculous (even later in the chapter it says that David fell in love with and married Jonathan's sister).  So what does knitting two souls together mean?

I think part of it must be in the final statement of the verse, that Jonathan loved David as himself.  If this were written in the New Testament, it would probably use the term "agape" which we all like to throw around.  As would later be proved, Jonathan cared about David's well being at least as much as his own, and probably more so, given the risks he took for David.  To have that high a mutual esteem for each other, and know the other has it as well, is the only way I can think of that these two were joined.

1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:26

Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel?  For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?"

This chapter had a toss-up on which verse to use, but I settled on this one.  The thing that caught my attention is how David uses the term "the living God."  I don't recall that term being used before, though I could just not be remembering.  It is certainly best known for being used by David.

The term shows two things of significance, in my opinion.  First, it reveals that David knows that God is not passive or hiding.  He is living and active, real and influencing daily life.  He is someone David believes and trusts deeply, someone who cared about him.

By contract, there is an implication here that whatever gods the Philistines are serving, they are not living.  They are dead, unable to care, and unable to influence anything.  The Philistines want them do help, but they can't, because they do not exist.  Since God does exist, and does act, His people immediately have the advantage.

1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

This is a verse that both gives me heart and gives me fear.  The encouraging part is fairly obvious.  God does not care what we look like, how tall we are or how attractive we look.  The Israelites already had that once, with Saul, and we know where that got them.  Physical appearance, in the end, has very little to do with character.

However, that's the part that scares me.  I know my character, and it's far from perfect.  In fact, there are many times when I would not even call it all that good.  I am deeply familiar with my flaws and the places where I fall short.  And I know that as familiar with them as I am, God knows them even better.  The fact that He can work through those flaws seems to seldom comfort me.  I know that everyone has flaws and mistakes, but it sure seems mine are worse than others'.

1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 15:21

But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal."

Two things that are interesting in Saul's statement here.  First, he blames the people for keeping spoil, as if he were powerless to stop them.  He's the king, and he was to have issued a command.  In an entire army, it shouldn't be that difficult to notice a big herd of livestock.  If he had wanted to follow God's command, he should have been able to easily, without some excuse.

The second thing that hit me was that he doesn't talk about "the Lord our God," or even "the Lord their God," he says "the Lord your God."  In other words, assuming this is translated accurately, he doesn't really believe all this claptrap about God's power or the need to follow His commands, and he doesn't think the people really do, either.  He only thinks Samuel believes it, and that the people are just kinda following along to humor him, or at least have divided loyalties.  If it ever came down to it, Saul certainly doesn't believe that God is supreme, he just puts on the airs.

1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:21

Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines previously, who went up with them all around in the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.

I wonder who these Hebrews were.  It's interesting they're referred to as Hebrews, not Israelites.  Is this just to signify that they were on opposite sides at the time, collaborating with the enemy?  Or did this signify some greater division among the people, where those called Hebrews were longer-term allies, attendants, or slaves to the Philistines?

If this was a temporary alliance, why did they go to the Philistines?  Was it simply to save their own necks, seeing the odds were hundreds to one and not wanting to die?  Was it because they didn't believe that Saul could win?  Was it they didn't believe in God or His ability to triumph?  Or did they actually favor the Philistines and their point of view?  Did they want the Philistines to win?  If so, was it to some gain of their own besides survival, or because they had abandoned God and shared the Philistines belief system?

1 Samuel 13

1 Samuel 13:12

therefore I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the Lord.'  So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering."

This  passage is well known as Saul's downfall, so I'm not going to focus on that so much.  However, this verse caught my attention for two points.  First, Saul knows that he needs God's blessing before any attack.  He knows he won't win on his own strength, for he is vastly outnumbered and underarmed.  So he recognizes that his only hope lies in God, and has apparently made arrangements with Samuel to come and give offerings to God for their victory.  This is a hopeful sign, which we all know he messes up.

Also, Saul says that he forced himself.  What does that mean?  He forced himself not to wait any longer before making the offering, because the battle is at hand (though it's not)?  He forced himself to take Saumel's place?  He forced himself to do something that he knew was wrong?  He forced himself to take action before the last of the people abandoned him?  In what is he forcing himself, and why?

1 Samuel 12

1 Samuel 12:23

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

Prayer is something I've never been good at.  I don't know if it's my ADD, or just natural laziness or wariness, but I have never been able to pray for any length of time.  I find myself drifting off down mental blind alleys, and feel terribly guilty about it.  So I generally don't pray much, because I feel I can't do it "properly."

I also am not very consistent about praying for people; most of my prayers are self-centered.  Then I read a verse like this, where Samuel is saying that it is a sin not to pray for people.  Again, I realize I'm not doing it right, and that I need to change. Instructing I can do, and am halfway good at.  But I now realize that I need to begin focusing more once again on praying for others, however I am able and whatever small chunks I need to break it into.

1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:15

So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal.  There they also offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the Lord; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

This is an interesting turnaround from what occurred in the previous chapter.  Before, there were some who did not believe that Saul could be king.  In fact, it appeared that Saul himself either did not believe or did not want to be king.  But now, after a great victory and rallying of the entire people, there seems to be no doubt with anyone that he is the right man.

As the true start of his rule, he does set out to do things right.  He goes to the tabernacle, and there is "crowned" before God.  They also start anew as a people, offering sacrifices and peace offerings.  God has given Saul the ability to lead the people, and they give Him thanks for that.

1 Samuel 10

1 Samuel 10:16

So Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found."  But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom which Samuel had mentioned.

Why did Saul only tell his uncle par of what Samuel had said to him?  He's just been shown that Samuel's prophecy is true, and been given many signs of Samuel's veracity.  Now he seems to be trying to avoid the most important part, his coming ascension to the throne.  Why is he hiding this?

It appears that Saul does not want what is about to come to him.  Whether it be from some kind of low self-esteem or fear, or perhaps more lack of faith despite what's already happened, he is not convinced that he should be the new king.  He does not trust that God has shown him a proper path for himself and his nation.  If he had had more faith, how would the rest of Israel's history have been different, I wonder?

1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:6

He said to him, "Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true.  Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out."

It's amazing how God will direct people's courses to His will, and who He will use to bring that will about.  God had said that He would give the people a king, and told Samuel the previous day that he would meet him.  Yet the man chosen was not found by Samuel, like David would be.  He did not come from noble lineage; in fact, he considered his family to be the least of the nation.

Instead, he was looking for his dad's missing donkeys.  They'd wandered off, and he was hunting (fruitlessly, as it happened) for some draft animals for days.  Then, to top it all off, it's not even Saul's idea to go see the prophet, but his dad's servant.  Whether Saul didn't know or didn't realize this was where Samuel was, or whether he simply didn't think that he could/would help, the idea apparently hadn't been given serious consideration.  The servant seemed to have a better understanding (or at least respect) for God than the man who would soon be the king.

1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:7

The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

I can sympathize with Samuel's feeling here, as can most people.  He feels he has failed the people, because they want to go a direction he has told them they should not.  They aren't listening, and he feels that they are rejecting him.  However, God shows that he is taking it personally, when he should not.  In fact, the people aren't going against Samuel, they're going against God Himself.

They know that He commanded that they not take a king like the nations around them, but have decided that they don't have any other choice.  They don't think God can take care of them, or that He can't bring up a new judge, if Samuel's sons are corrupt.  They think that because they have a couple bad judges, that they are doomed forever, and God can't/won't help them, so they have to take their fates into their own hands.

1 Samuel 7

1 Samuel 7:3

Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the Lord and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."

Again, we see the promise of salvation.  God did not ask for some kind of major recompense, or days of mourning, or send a plague as judgment.  All he asked is that the people turn back to him.

I'm not saying that that change was without cost.  They had to give up their crutches, the idols they had thought would be their relief.  Now all they can have is God, and they have to trust that He is enough for all they require.  That is still a huge cost today, and I have no doubt it was just as great back then.

1 Samuel 6

1 Samuel 6:9

Watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil.  Bit if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance."

This is an interesting demonstration of how all cultures of the time apparently tested their gods.  The Israelites have done this sort of thing many times before, with Gideon's fleece being the best known.  I wonder if they got the idea from the cultures around them, or vice versa?

Also, it is fascinating to see that they do understand, in the superstitious way, how the scientific methodology works.  They think that God is responsible for their afflictions, but aren't positive, so they devise a test.  If it is God, then He will guide that ark back to where it belongs.  If not, then it will probably go some other way, and they'll know God is no responsible.  It is good to see them consider that He is the cause, and I wonder how this affected their thinking on His power long-term?  Obviously it wore off within a generation or two, since Goliath obviously had no fear of Him.

1 Samuel 5

1 Samuel 5:3

When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord.  So they took Dagon and set him in his place again.

Interesting how Dagon, an idol, is referred to as a person here.  I wonder if this is part of a story that was told by the people of Ashdod, and it's being told more-or-less verbatim.  That would explain why the idol is treated as a person, and its temple as a house.  Either that, or the culture of the Israelites has truly been contaminated to the point where they don't recognize the difference.

Either way, this does show how God will show His power when desired.  The ark's mere presence causes idols to collapse.  However, the collapse happens at night, when there is no one around to see.  It's possible the hand of God truly did come down and bow the idol low before the ark.

1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:8

Woe to us!  Who shall deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?  These are the gods who smote the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

At this point, it almost seems that the Israelites are going to win before the battle even begins.  Just the Philistines knowing that the Israelites have brought the Ark to the battlefield scares them.  This is a pagan society, and that believes in the presence of deities.  They don't understand God, obviously, since they refer to Him in the plural.

I also like how they know what God has done for the Israelites, even if the stories appear to have been skewed a little in the telling (back to the whole plural thing).  They know enough about the Israelites and the Egyptians that they have fear of God, so they aren't completely hopeless.  Unfortunately, they take that fear and channel it, rather than submitting to God.

1 Saumuel 3

1 Samuel 3:1

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli.  And word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent.

There's so much implied in this verse, that I don't know quite where to start.  I guess the first thing is that the author actually has to say that direct communication from God was rare.  Today, we take that as a given.  I personally believe I've heard the voice of God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit exactly once, and only one word.  I don't know what I would do if I heard it more often, though I'd certainly be willing to find out.

However, there was apparently a time when God's word or vision was not an uncommon occurrence.  Once upon a time, God spoke with some frequency to His people, giving direction on how they should go.  What would it be like to have that sort of certainty?  To know that you are being told by God Himself which way to go down the path?  What is needed to bring that sort of direction about?  Is it a matter of being properly holy?  Or of disobeying so badly that you need that personal 2x4 to make you pay attention?  Which was it that they are contrasting about at this time?

1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel 2:33

Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life.

I honestly don't know what to make of this verse.  It sounds both hopeful and distressing at the same time.  One the one hand, He starts out by saying that He will not destroy Eli's family.  This in itself is encouraging, for they have definitely sinned terribly, and deserve punishment.  But God will keep his promise to maintain their line, and so some will be spared.

However, the rest of the verse makes me wonder what that hope is going to look like, because the situation of what he isn't going to do is rather grim.  Someone losing eyesight because of their crying, and the household members dying in their prime doesn't sound like a good future, so it's gratifying to know this isn't going to happen.  But what will happen, instead?

1 Samuel 1

1 Samuel 1:13

As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.  So Eli thought she was drunk.

I can certainly sympathize with Hannah at this point.  It's not often that I come to a point where I am truly crying out to God, but when I do, it often looks odd.  I remember one time it happened several years ago, in an outside worship service at night, and several people thought I'd fallen asleep.

However, I can also understand Eli's reaction.  I've seen people do a lot of things in church services which I consider disrespecful of God.  It sill irritates me to this day when someone just gets up and walks out, then comes back in a few minutes later after having gotten coffee or some such.  I've had to restrain myself from rebuking friends who do this.  If I get that irritated at a coffee run, how much more angry would the high priest get at someone being drunk while at the tabernacle?

Ruth 4

Ruth 4:7

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter:  a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

Somehow, I don't feel too bad about needing this explanation.  I'm used to getting to passages and not being quite sure why an action is being described, or what the significance of it is.  But that's me, looking back on something that happened the better part of 3,000 years ago.

From what I recall, this book was written around David's time, so we're dealing with his grandparents.  I like the fact that the customs have changed so radically in a couple of generations to where they needed explanation for this also.  It helps me to understand better how in flux things were at this time, how shifting traditions were.  But from this simple custom comes confirmation of an eternal dynasty.

Ruth 3

Ruth 3:18

Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."

There's apparently some cultural context in the whole threshing floor thing that I don't understand.  However, Boaz made a promise to Ruth, and Naomi knows that that promise will be dealt with quickly.  In fact, she is sure that he will not even wait one day before reaching its fulfillment.

Boaz comes across as a successful businessman, but he is also an honest one.  He's not one to let grass grow under his feet; he's moving too quickly for it to even try.  He has made a promise to Ruth, in the middle of the night, possibly while a bit drunk or hung over.  However, he still will move to satisfy it that day.  He does not leave her hanging, waiting for an answer one way or the other.  He immediately goes to conclude the matter, one way or the other.

Ruth 2

Ruth 2:15

When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do no insult her.

I'm not sure what the significance of the first part here is, so I'm going to have to skip over that.  My attention was caught by the second part of the command.  Apparently, the servants had been insulting her, or maybe that they often would insult gleaners.  In some ways this isn't surprising, as gleaners were the poorest people around.

We have an unfortunate tendency to look down on those less fortunate.  Even servants here, not exactly of high status themselves, apparently were dismissive of Ruth.  This is something that I've recently been somewhat convicted of with my attitude toward the poor, and am trying to be mindful of and correct myself.  I can't say that I always succeed, but I'm trying to be more sensitive to their needs and see what I can do to assist, without becoming a support that is relied on instead of their own work.  I can't say I've found an answer to striking that balance yet, but I am seeking one, and hope this verse will help me in my efforts.

Ruth 1

Ruth 1:16

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

What interests me in this statement is who is making it.  Ruth is a foreign woman, who has been widowed after about ten years of marriage.  Her sister-in-law, also widowed, has already turned back to follow Naomi's instructions.  Her mother-in-law is leaving to return to her own people.  She is free to return to her own family, and find another husband.

Despite all this, she decides to leave her homeland, leave her family, probably never see anyone else she has ever known, and go with Naomi to her old home.  She's intentionally going into a place where she will probably be seen as an outsider, even though she married an Israelite man.  She does this without any hesitation, and forsakes all of her own culture in the process.  We don't know how things were in her house, but it's doubtful that they worshiped God exclusively, since most faithful Israelites would not have moved to a foreign land in the first place.  Yet something has caused her to decide that she owes Naomi a debt of loyalty, and she will do anything to fulfill it.

Judges 21

Judges 21:22

It shall come about, when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, that we shall say to them, 'Give them to us voluntarily, because we did not take for each man of Benjamin a wife in battle, nor did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'"

How messed up can this situation get?

The people have decimated Benjamin.  Now they can't repopulate, because the other tribes have sworn not to give their daughters in marriage.  So the other tribes' elders come up with a scheme whereby the men of Benjamin kidnap themselves wives.  Then when those girls' fathers come and complain, the elders talk them into letting it be?

I see the point they're trying to make.  The fathers didn't give the girls in marriage, so they're not breaking their oaths.  But to use such double-talk and legal hair-splitting to get around an oath is just disgusting to me.  While I understand their concern, I don't see how this should be acceptable before God as not violating their oaths.  If they went to fight for their girls and lost, then I might understand, but to basically get a wink and a nod, and let it go at that?  No way.

Judges 20

Judges 20:13

Now then, deliver up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove this wickedness from Israel."  But the sons of Benjamin would not listed to the voice of their brothers, the sons of Israel.

I commend the Israelites on what they did here.  They didn't just go for the throat, attack without warning to purge the people who had done this great wrong.  Instead, they first tried to negotiate with the Benjamites, to be reasonable and give them the chance to do right.  The entire tribe wasn't culpable, so why should they all suffer?

Unfortunately, the tribe did not comply.  They stood with their brothers who had sinned, against their cousins who were calling for proper justice.  If only they had simply accepted the offer they were given, then perhaps this very sad bloodshed would not have been necessary.  If the people of Benjamin had done what was right and turned the guilty over for judgment, then many lives would have been saved on both sides.  Instead, they chose civil war.

Judges 19

Judges 19:24

Here is my virgin daughter and his concubine.  Please let me bring them out that you may ravish them and do to them whatever you wish.  But do not commit such an act of folly against this man."

Why does this sound so familiar?  Oh, yes, someone else tried this a long time before.  It happened in a place called Sodom, to angels who were guests of Lot.  He made the same offer with less success, but the angels intervened.  This time, the guest wasn't an angel, and no intervention occurred.

How far had the people of this town fallen, to be degraded to the same low level as Sodom? What has happened during the time that the Israelites took the land, to where these people now consider this to be acceptable behavior?  The story of Sodom would presumably be as well known to them as it is to Christians today.  Did they know nothing of God, or nothing more than I do about, say, Baha'i beliefs?  Why are the people not being taught, or why are they ignoring the teachings?