Jesus – Page 2 – Old Testament Survey

1 Samuel 18-19

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50).

A review of the regression of Saul seems appropriate here. He is chosen by God as a result of the disobedience of the people (1 Samuel 10, cf. Jeremiah 2 particularly verse 13 and Isaiah 50). He receives the Holy Spirit temporarily. Remember that this is an Old Testament phenomenon. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit permanently indwells believers. After his willful rebellion against God, God replaces him with David (1 Samuel 16.13-14). The Spirit is removed from Saul and placed on David. This sets the stage for all that is to come through the rest of 1 Samuel. Our passage today begins in this milieu. David and Jonathan become great friends. Saul seems pleased with all that is occurring. The three of them battle the Philistines and are victorious. The people proclaim God’s work in and through both Saul and David. Saul becomes enraged, jealous, and seeks to kill David from that moment. He does not see God’s work but his. This returns us to the opening verses of 1 Samuel 17 where Saul is focused on himself, not God. When we focus on what we are doing and not on what God is doing, envy, jealousy, strife, anger, rage, etc. (Galatians 5.16-26) become our “fruit.” This is what happened with Saul.

God gives us over to our desires. Since Saul desired to disobey God and not walk in the Spirit, God gave him a spirit that was likened to his desires–an evil one. It is evidence here that Saul has gone crazy. The rest of his career is characterized by vengeance and violence against one who seeks Saul’s best. The remainder of Saul’s life is in pursuit of killing the one who refuses to kill him. What primary goal do you have in life? Is it pursuing your passions or God’s will? When we pursue our desires apart from God, we live insanely (reread Galatians 5.16ff). When we follow God’s will, we are blessed with the life we desire because we are in alignment with His will for us (Matthew 6.33 and 16.24-26).

We see Saul desiring to be part of David’s life in that he admired David’s accomplishments. But his desire to be number one consumed him and he demoted the one who was able to help him. Even in this demoted state, David grew in popularity, was successful, and even Saul stood in awe of him because David was walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This motif continues throughout this chapter and the rest of the book. Saul tries to defeat David with many snares, David is victorious, and Saul gets angrier. At times, although sad, it is comical. Think about someone you know that became angry and then began to act foolishly. This is Saul.

He thinks if he can trick David into wanting to marry any daughter of his that David will die by the hand of the Philistines. His logic, “I don’t want David as a son-in-law, but if I can get him to want to marry my daughter he will have to pay a dowry. He won’t be able to afford it. So, I will make it the death of one-hundred Philistines. He will die in the battle. My daughter won’t have to marry him because he will be dead.” Foolish. If God is for us, who can be against us? No one! His planned failed, of course. David defeated the Philistines, his daughter Michal loved David, David became more famous, and Saul’s anger grew.
To make matters worse, Saul’s son Jonathan became David’s best friend. Jonathan even knew that David would take the throne from him. Jonathan was joyful about his because he knew this was God’s will. He didn’t think that because he was a prince that he had a right to the throne, it was in God’s hand. This is in line with what Christ did for us in Philippians 2.5-11.

In chapter 19 Saul’s family intercedes for David and helps him escape from the evil Saul planned for David. David flees to Ramah (just north of Jerusalem) to spend time with Samuel. This is where David begins his career fleeing for his life from the hand of Saul. The end of chapter 19 is odd and gives evidence of the Spirit coming and going while not permanently indwelling in the Old Testament.

Are we willing to stand for God no matter the cost like David, Jonathan, and Michal? Or, like Saul, do we try to sway the situation in our favor where people will like us and applaud us? What is the measure of your success?

1 Samuel 17

This chapter is not only a commentary on David’s replacing Saul as the military leader it is also a comment on the army and on Saul. Saul and his army shrink in fear before Goliath. I don’t think it is a spoiler alert but David slays the giant in God’s strength for His glory.

Map of Israel before David was king. This map shows the place where David met Goliath.

It seems from verses 1-11 that the people of Israel forgot an important part of their existence; they are the people of God, making them the army of God, and making them invulnerable as long as they are working toward His purpose. God called them to rid the nation of Philistines. It seems they could not remember that God promised them the land and promised that He would be with them. Partly because of Saul and his rebellion against God, partly due to their preoccupying their mind with the circumstances of the day, and partly because they were listening to the taunts of their enemy and believing what he said. Goliath reminded them each day that he was a Philistine, who the Israelites were to drive out, and that statement is true. He then told them a lie. He told the Israelites that they belonged to Saul’s army, not God’s army. The lie was enveloped in the truth and the Israelites did not take every thought captive. In so doing, they believed the lie.

Our enemy does this to us as well. He will tell us truth. For example, you are a Christian. He then will tell the lie that we cannot be accepted by God because of sinful habits. The only way to get closer to God is by breaking those habits before we attempt to get closer. We believe the lie that is in the truth and are crushed in despair. The truth is you are a Christian (if you have accepted Him into your life). The truth is you sin (we all do). The truth is you have sinful habits. The lie comes when he tells you that you have to get better before God wants you to come to Him. We cannot get better outside of Him. It is He that we go to get better. This same scheme was used on Adam in the Garden and on Jesus in the Wilderness. One fell because he relied on his own word and the other overcame because He relied on God’s Word. We need to know the truth to be free. John 17 reminds us that God’s Word is Truth and John 14 informs us that Jesus is the Truth (the Word personified in John 1). Zechariah 3 presents this truth as Satan accuses Joshua, the High Priest, of not being acceptable to God. God then rebukes Satan with the truth. Are you accurately handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2.15)?

Goliath asks for a man to do battle with him. There is no answer, merely an interlude on what David is doing. If you recall, David was anointed as king in 1 Samuel 16. This chapter is historically out of place to confirm that David, not Saul, is the true king of Israel. After this chapter, the troops and the citizenry of Israel hail David as greater than Saul, which produces the fugitive motif of the remaining chapters. David is the hero, and Saul is the zero. The latter seeks to destroy the former.

David is obedient to his father which is a godly character trait based on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). He does even the menial tasks his father asks him to do. He tends the sheep, plays for Saul, and takes lunches to three of his brothers. Where were the other four?

It is in this chapter we begin to see another character trait of David. He is full of passion that leads him to the heights of glory as he slays Goliath and the depths of corruption as he murders his best general because of his adultery. His passion for God’s glory is clear here. Each day for forty days Goliath taunts not just God’s army but God as well. David needs to do something about that. When God is being dishonored, do you step up and demand it stop, even preparing in your mind for battle? Have you already prepared your mind with words for such instances? You should. Peter commands us to be ready for times such as these (1 Peter 3.15).

A moment with Goliath. He is more than nine feet tall. His job is to battle other strongmen from other armies and to strike fear into the hearts of those who see him. He has four brothers (2 Samuel 21.18-21) which would explain the five stones and not one. He was ready to take out Goliaths’ entire family. He went ready.
We know the rest of the story. David asks permission to fight Goliath. He actually begs Saul for this privilege. He gives testimony of all God has done in and through him. David prepares to battle Goliath. Saul gives David his armor. David refuses because he does not know how to use them. He walks out with his sling and his stones. Goliath mocks not David because he is not a man and mocks God, again. David proclaims that his power is not in his sling nor in the stones. He states his power to defeat Goliath is in God; the God of Israel will defeat Goliath. This is where David did not believe the lie. He knew this was God’s army going in God’s strength, under God’s guidance, not Saul’s nor his. He killed Goliath. The Philistines did not surrender as promised. They ran away. David took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. Legend has it that he buried it on a hill outside the city and this is where the name “Golgotha” or “Place of the Skull” came into being. This is also the place where Christ was crucified (Matthew 27.33).

A point of interest, in 2 Samuel 21.18-22 another Bethlehemite kills another Goliath of Gath. This could be one of the brothers of Goliath. The phrase states that David and his servants killed all them. I wonder if he carried the other four stones for such a time as that. After that moment, David sings a song of thanksgiving for God’s deliverance from them and other enemies (2 Samuel 22).

The Israelites chased the Philistines, killed them. David was brought before Saul. David submitted himself to Saul’s authority. This is another character trait of David that is evident in the remaining chapters of 1 Samuel.

David and Saul’s character are compared. One followed the truth, was obedient to the Word, was submissive to authority, the authority both of his father and of Saul, and was victorious. The other lived in fear of the lies he believed and was defeated. Who would you rather be like?

1 Samuel 8

I was going to read and comment on 1 Samuel 8-10 and the crying out of the people with the choosing and the coronation of Israel’s king. However, 1 Samuel 8 proved to be too much.

First Samuel 8 is a chapter full of insight into the human psyche or, better, sin-nature. This book has already presented Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, who chose to follow their own desires and rules while forsaking the way of their father and of his God. In this chapter we are introduced to Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abijah, who also rejected the way of their father and of his God. This should bring parents to their knees. Samuel named his children after God. Joel means “to whom Jehovah is God” and Abijah means “my father is Jehovah.” He taught them the ways of God and they still rebelled (2-3). This is an example of the saying: “God has no grandchildren.” Our children need to make a profession of faith on their own because they are not children of God because they are in our family. There is no guarantee that a family that follows God will have children who believe because salvation is a personal expression of faith not a familial profession.

These four children thought they could control and manipulate God and His gifts. They missed the central meaning of salvation. What about my children? How am I raising them? Do they see the central need for their salvation to be lived out in the presence of the family, the school, church, and the world? Or, do they merely state they believe. The older two profess salvation, but Joseph doesn’t as of now. I need to continually be on our knees for them, and for Karen and me.

The lifestyle of the two sons of Samuel did not escape the leaders of Israel and they demanded a king in response to the actions of Joel and Abijah. From our studies of Joshua and Judges we have noticed that Israel is always seeking to conform to the patterns of this world by pursuing the Canaanite religion and lifestyle rather than being transformed by their fellowship with God (Romans 12.1-2). This is syncretism.

The book of Judges shows us that Israel first desired the Canaanite religion and, 1 Samuel shows, they desire their political institutions as well. Although God pronounced that Israel would have a king in Deuteronomy, it was more as a judgment than a blessing (Deuteronomy 17.14-20; 28.36). God never intended Israel to be an oligarchy, an aristocracy, a monarchy, or even a democracy, but rather a theocracy in which God was their king. They forgot who their king was in God.

Israel s request for a king is a rejection of the entire ministry and career of Samuel. They rejected everything he had worked for during his entire life. More than this, it was a rejection of the God he represented to the people. When people reject us for living like Christ, they are essentially rejecting Him for it is He whom we represent.

In the books we have studied this far, God presents himself like the father of the prodigal son. He lets the son go on to follow his evil desires. He allows him to do what is right in his own eyes (Proverbs 14.12). Romans 1 informs us that God gives us over to our sinful ways to suffer the consequences of our choices. This is the worst kind of judgment God can bring. He leaves us to our own sinful natures.

God gives Israel their request for a king but has Samuel warn the nation of the negative consequences which were already stipulated in the Torah. I think I would have given more thought in the decision after the warning Samuel gives. It doesn’t seem too exciting.

Even though the beginnings were steeped in sinful desire, God uses the monarchy in Israel to bring glory to Him (Romans 8.28-29). God will use this beginning, this institution, to bring the one true King, Jesus. Who is of the tribe of Judah (Jacob prophesied that kings would come from the tribe of Judah in Genesis 49.10) and whose name is Jesus.

Even though it had a bad beginning, God still used it for His glory and for His kingdom. Sometimes we start things due to our sinful nature. God doesn’t promise that He will bring good because of our sin but that He will be glorified through all things. What have we begun that needs to be turned for His glory?

A lot to pray over today.

Judges 13-14

Since I am not covering all the life of Samson today, the cyclical pattern of his life will be seen as complete today and completed tomorrow.

Since I am not covering all the life of Samson today, the cyclical pattern of his life will be seen as incomplete today and completed tomorrow.

Relapse: The people did evil in the eyes of God
Retribution: the Philistines ruled over the Israelites for 40 years
Repentance: Manoah and his wife called out to God for a child. God gave them Samson

Samson takes more space in the book of Judges than any other judge. He is mentioned only in 1 Samuel 12 and Hebrews 11 after chapter 16 of Judges. For a man of such importance and great life lessons it seems odd that he is not even used as an example of what happens when syncretism pervades a person’s life.

Here is a map to help see where the Judges ruled.

Under Jephthah the Israelites had six years of peace. Then came forty years of oppression at the hands of the Philistines. God appointed these people to rule over His people as disciplinarians. If we remember, God allowed the Israelites not to destroy all the people just for this purpose.

When the Old Testament mentions “the angel of the Lord,” as it does here, it is referring to a pre-incarnation of Christ. This is called a Christophany. Read verses 15-23 to see this played out, remembering that only God is to be worshiped and only God’s name is too wonderful. The angel of the Lord informs a barren woman that she will have a son and he should be separated or made holy (a nazarite) to God who will be raised for a specific purpose and that is to deliver Israel from th hand of the Philistines. Wouldn’t it be great if God did this for every mother? He does, but not so specifically. He tells us that we are made to bring Him glory, to choose to let His light shine through us so others will know Him better. Very great calling. How are you doing in your area of influence?

When Manoah, the husband, asks the angel of the Lord what to do, He gives a simple command: don’t drink alcohol and to watch what she eats. I know I would want to know what to do and would question the simplicity of this command. I would question why the command God gave was so basic. We do this today, don’t we? God commands us to read the Word and pray to grow closer to Him. We feel there must be more that we need to do to accomplish fellowship with Him. He tells us that belief in His Son is all that is needed for salvation and the works will follow because we are in His Word and in prayer [in fellowship with Him]. We seem to think we must do something else to be saved (the basis for many cults in this world) or that we must do something beyond what He has done to “keep” ourselves saved when it is He who does all this. Oh, that we were like Manoah and his wife and believe the simplicity of the commands of God.

The story continues in Judges 14 with Samson getting married to a non-Israelite. At first it appears as though Samson is spoiled and demanding. However, we read that God placed this act in the heart of Samson as a pretext to begin the destruction of the Philistines through Samson. In doing this Samson breaks many laws found in the Torah. He marries outside his nation, he touches a carcass, and he eats food from the dead carcass. There are probably more, but I just haven’t seen them yet.

All seems fine until he starts partying too much at the wedding. Is he drunk or what possesses him to make such a wager? Remember, he is not to drink alcohol either for he is a Nazarite. His riddle is good and he is right that no one should have known the answer. The result is the deliverance from the Philistines begins. Samson goes to a nearby Philistine town and kills the inhabitants, takes their clothes, and gives it to the inhabitants of Timnah.

Because his wife proved unfaithful in his eyes, he left her and his best man married her. This will play out in the next chapters.

Sometimes we are called to do strange things that God has called us to do. None of the things Samson was called to do were immoral. They broke ceremonial laws but not moral laws. When God asks us to do things, it will be within His moral laws. We will be mocked and ridiculed by our own group of friends or family because they may see that we are breaking their moral code. We need to realize that we need to obey Him and His Word not that of those around us.

Joshua 22-24

Joshua 22-This seems to be the key to living the life God commanded us to live. The questions I have: “Are we doing this? Do we even know what these commands mean?”

5 Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

I think the remainder of chapter 22 gives us a glimpse of this. The 9.5 tribes west of the Jordan River remembered the sins of their fathers and grandfathers and themselves and obeyed God’s directive to rid themselves of all who were apostates. When the heard the other 2.5 tribes built an altar they immediately readied themselves for war in order to purge the nation of idolatry. When they arrived, they allowed an explanation. When the explanation glorified God, they relented from attack. How quick are we to misjudge and not give opportunity for explanation? How often are we more likely to let sin continue rather than confront it?

It is also interesting that the 2.5 tribes were willing to be ridiculed (killed) for taking a stand of remembrance of God’s grace in their life. How often do we quickly pray or cower for fear of being found out that we are believers and want to always remember the great things God has done? I think of examples of when non-believers ask us how our day went and we merely tell them that it has been good. We purposely don’t tell them of the blessings God has done for us that day for “fear” of being exposed as a Christian.

Chapter 23-Not all the land was taken under Israelite control by the death of Joshua. If the Israelites obeyed, God would still take care of the enemies in the land. God is still in control and powerful, yet calls us to obedience for that power to manifest itself. God keeps all His promises and will bring His curses (for they are promised) to those who turn from Him. It is interesting that Joshua tells us to avoid syncretism. This is the very sin they commit. What areas of our lives do we live syncratically (I looked it up and it is a word)?

Joshua 24-Joshua’s great challenge to the Israelites (and us) and his death are presented here. Even here, 14-15, Joshua is calling against syncretism and is challenging us to serve only one. Do we serve God or what we have made important in our lives–our little god? Some translation of verses 19ff imply that God was telling Israel that even though they now claim to serve Him, they will turn because it is truly impossible to serve Him 24/7. Only Jesus, who fulfills the Law, could and did.

The book closes with good news of the nation following God. The next book, which we will begin after Jude, shows they turn from Him once the nation has forgotten what God has done.

If you noticed, these chapters were remembrances of what God has done. When we remember, reflect, and proclaim what God has done for us, we will remember His goodness and grace longer and follow Him more closely. It is when we forget Him and focus on our troubles, as in Judges, that we tend to walk away from Him doing what we think is right (and at times proclaiming that it is what He wants).

There are many thoughts to ponder in these chapters. Let’s walk closer to Him as we attempt to recall all He has done for us.