Today's Reading:

1 Samuel 28
1 Samuel 29
1 Samuel 30
1 Samuel 31
1 Chronicles 10

The Bible can be challenging when not read in chronological order. Some of the Scripture can seem to overlap and feel redundant, for good reasons. In the book of 1 Samuel, we read more of an eyewitness, emotional account, and in 1 Chronicles, we read a “newspaper article” report on the same event. Saul’s final days in the battle with the Philistines and his death along with his sons death was foretold by a medium, in which he consulted. The contrast is seen in 1 Chronicles 10, which retold the very same battle and defeat, but in a factual summary. The focus was more on the core facts: victory, suicide, stripping the armor, and placing Saul’s head (on the Philistine god) in the temple of Dagon. It was plainly stated that Saul died due to his unfaithfulness and disobedience. Over the course of the next few months, the parallel passages show biblical events and weave together the larger picture of human failures, God’s sovereignty, and the purpose behind His plans, which led us through David to the Messiah. So, when the stories seem to feel redundant, we find the nuances that make each one special. When I started reading chronologically, it was a game-changer for me. I absolutely love it, as it takes books that feel disconnected and arranges them into one seamless story of real historical events that show God working across the generations. He patiently pursues His people even with their failures, weaving the chaos into one grand finale through Jesus fulfilling each promise.

So, let’s take a poll: Have you ever read the Bible chronologically? Do you enjoy reading the Bible in timeline order? Then, if you have read the Bible in chronological order, post what you enjoyed or disliked about it. Many Blessings on your readings!

 

King Achish of Gath made David his permanent bodyguard. Per the laws of God, Saul had displaced all the mediums and spiritists from Israel as they were not to be consulted (Leviticus 19:31). Due to the laws, and with Samuel deceased, Saul felt he had no one to turn to for guidance. He understood the Lord was no longer with him since He did not answer, there was no prophet, and Saul was not having dreams, therefore he decided to consult a medium. Saul could have repented of his sins, but chose to wear a disguise and find a woman medium. She did not want to help Saul, knowing the implications could mean death. Saul insisted anyway, and when she was able to pull up Samuel’s spirit, it was quite a shocking surprise to her. (Maybe she was faking her abilities to others, but God had allowed Samuel to be called upon). Samuel asked Saul why he had been disturbed, as he had prophesied to Saul that God would leave due to the disobedience and not carrying out God’s wrath on the Amalekites. Samuel warned that Saul and his sons would die the next day.

The medium noticed Saul was shaken and offered him a meal of a fatted calf and unleavened bread. This was usually kept for hospitality and special guests, since Saul was a king and she looked to seek his favor after illegally helping him. How ironic that Saul’s last supper would be so lavish.

The Philistines were off to fight with the Israelites when the commanders of Achish’s army demanded that David not be allowed to join in the fighting, as he might turn on them. King Achish found no fault in David but had him return to Ziklag to appease his army. David had fled from his own homeland of Israel to escape King Saul, his own king and now personal enemy, who sought to kill him. David sought refuge among the Philistines, a second long-standing enemy. He lived in their territory under the

protection of King Achish and received the town of Ziklag as his base. In a turn of events, David was helped by a fourth “enemy” (Egyptian man, Egypt was considered enemies to Israel) when tracking down the Amalekites.

The Amalekites had attacked Ziklag, while David was returning from being let go by Achish. The town of Ziklag was destroyed, and the women were carried off, including David’s two wives. David and 400 of his men pursued the Amalekites, leaving 200 exhausted men back at camp to watch the supplies. But 400 of the Amalekites escaped on camels. David recovered every person and all the plunder. Notice that David treated those who stayed behind due to exhaustion the same as those who went into battle; everyone was equal with equal plunder. We can see Jesus do the same through the parable of workers in the vineyard- paying the same wages to those who worked from first light to those who were hired late in the day (Matthew 20:1-16). David even sent plunder back to his allies in Judah. God had protected David’s reputation by not letting him fight Israel with the Philistines (his current alliance) against Saul. This helped to set him up as a future king.

In the midst, the Philistines fought Israel at Mount Gilboa. The Israelites fled, and Saul's three sons- Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, were killed. Saul himself was severely wounded by Philistine archers. Rather than be captured, Saul asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but the man refused. Saul then fell on his own sword and died. The next day, the Philistines found Saul’s body, cut off his head, and took it to the temple of their gods, placing his head on Dagon (1 Chronicles 10:10). In this way, the Philistines made a statement that their gods won the battle. Remember, Dagon had fallen over, and his head and hands popped off when the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant and placed it in their temple (1 Samuel 5:1-5). The people of Jabesh Gilead removed Saul's body to properly bury him, in gratitude for his early reign, helping the city and keeping them from having their eyes gouged out by the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11). God was sovereignly weaving His hand through Israel, granting them a king in Saul, rejecting him for disobedience, raising up David, and empowering him through the Philistines to advance His will toward Israel's ultimate good. God had established the dynasty and David’s destiny throughout the book of Samuel.

Today's Discussion question: 

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