in laws

Good morning sisters and brothers,
We've read a little bit about how David came into the royal household, first on a part-time basis as a singer for Saul. Later, after killing Goliath, he was with Saul all the time as a military commander and general advisor. At the same time, Saul was jealous and afraid of David, making for a dangerous situation. Today we find out that Saul's younger Daughter, Michal, falls in love with David. Instead of bringing Saul and David closer, this too is a threat to Saul.

Blessings,
Sam

1 Samuel 18:20-29

²⁰Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him. ²¹Saul thought, “Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” ²²Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’” ²³So Saul’s servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?” ²⁴The servants of Saul told him, “This is what David said.”

²⁵Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. ²⁶When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, ²⁷David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. ²⁸But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David, and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him, ²⁹Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy from that time forward.

trouble begins

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Yesterday we finished a sermon series on women in the Bible. On Wednesday Lent begins with a prayer vigil from noon to noon Thursday and a short and simple Ash Wednesday service at 6:45. In Lent we face our mortality, we reflect on areas we need to improve on, and we follow Jesus' journey to the cross. The theme for our Lent sermon series is "Facing the Darkness." We start on Sunday with a reflection on difficult relationships. If you have any questions or thoughts or particular areas you'd like to reflect on under that heading, I'd love to hear from you. 


We begin with a classically difficult relationship: the relationship between David and his father in law, King Saul. Our story picks up after David has killed Goliath and has become part of the royal entourage. As we'll see, David immediately connects with Saul's son, Jonathan, but Saul feels threatened by David's success. Behind the scenes we know that God has abandoned Saul and has chosen David to be the next King of Israel, so Saul's fears are actually well founded.

God bless,
Sam

1 Samuel 18:1-12

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ²Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. ³Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. ⁵David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.

⁶As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. ⁷And the women sang to one another as they made merry, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” ⁸Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹So Saul eyed David from that day on.

¹⁰The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; ¹¹and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. ¹²Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.