1 Samuel 16-31 and 2 Corinthians 1-6

The account of Eli to Samuel to Saul and eventually David had always been fascinating to me and I’m not sure why- maybe because it just fits together so nicely.

Last week we left off where Saul and Samuel stopped talking to each other. Have you ever had a big fight with a close friend before? Or maybe even the hole left behind after a break up? Several years ago, I had a big falling out with one of my very best friends. We went from seeing each other multiple times each week and texting or calling daily to all of a sudden nothing, we’re talking absolute crickets. I still remember exactly how it felt to just suddenly be without someone that I had previously been that close to. When something funny happened, my first instinct was to text her. When I was bored, I wanted to reach out to go shopping or grab lunch. When I felt down, I wanted to go talk it out in the rocking chairs on her front porch. But instead- I was stubborn, she was stubborn, and we went 4 months without talking AT ALL; it was hard and it hurt. So here I’m sure we can all somewhat imagine the tension, awkwardness, and emotional hurt going on between Samuel & Saul- previously they worked closely together, they made decisions together, they went into battles together, and now all of a sudden they aren’t talking.

Then to make matters worse, not only does Samuel stop talking to Saul, but Samuel also goes out and finds the one God has chosen to replace Saul. 😬 Here David enters the story. We meet this handsome baby brother, working as a shepard for his father. Fast forward just a little and we learn that one day while David is taking lunch to his brothers on the battlefield, he steps up and volunteers to kill the giant Philistine that the rest of the Israelite army is afraid of. Davis kills Goliath with a stone he picks up from the nearby stream and ends up serving the king, Saul. He starts out playing the harp for Saul to help Saul when the evil spirits torment him but quickly gets promoted up through Saul’s ranks because God is with David and granting him success in all he does. David ends up marrying Saul’s daughter, Michal, and being best friends with Saul’s son Jonathon. Regardless, Saul’s jealousy gets the better of him and he ends up chasing David and trying to kill him multiple times. Saul’s own kids help David escape and David is able to always elude Saul’s attempts. Lots of things transpire- David marries 2 more women, lives among the Philistines, raids the Geshueirites, Girzites, and Amekites; Saul visits a medium and summons Samuel; the chapter ends with Saul and his sons dying in battle against the Philistines. So much we could really spend LOTS of time on- maybe next time.

The thing that really pops out to me here, actually comes to light after reading the 2nd part of this week’s passage. We flip back to the New Testament and again we’re in a letter from Paul to the Corinthians. The overall, 10,000 foot, big picture I’m seeing in this letter is this- as Christians we aren’t always comfortable. There are stumbling blocks in our path, even when we are following God. Hardships are inevitable. BUT (here’s the kicker) it’s all for the purpose and glory of God. When we’re comfortable, He shares in our comfort. When we’re struggling, He shares in that too, as He is teaching us to solely rely on Him. Isn’t that exactly what David is having to do- fighting a giant, running for his life, hiding from the king/ his father in law? David’s account has some great triumphs and probably did include some times of great comfort, but there are also lots of times of hardships- and in it all, he leans solely on God and gives God the glory.

What a message for my own life! Rely solely on the only living God. Cling to and glorify our Lord, Jesus Christ. Fully aware that it may not be comfortable- but my life has most certainly been a lot easier than the hardships Paul and David went through. God led them through and comforted them through stoning, being on the run, surviving death threats from people in high positions of authority, so what in the world could I possibly be worried about?