The Tragedy of King Saul

The Tragedy of King Saul

Eric Hamilton
Jealousy

After David defeated the giant Goliath and rallied the armies of Israel to attack and defeat the Philistines, a song was popularized and sung by the women of Israel:

“Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Samuel 18:7)

We learn later on that this song was so popular that it even spread among the Philistines (21:11), the very people who were the thousands and ten thousands being struck down in the song. Upon hearing this song, King Saul grows jealous of David’s growing popularity. “What more can he have but the kingdom?” (18:8) Saul asks rhetorically. After this point, Saul attempts to pin David with a spear multiple times, sends David out on suicide missions (all of which David returns victorious and even more popular than before), and eventually leads to multiple periods of time where Saul pursues David across Israel to kill him.

It shouldn’t have been that way, of course.

Gather Around Me, Children

Gather Around Me, Children

Mike Johnson
Peace, Control

In Psalm 34:11, David says, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” In the previous verses, he has been encouraging the readers but now turns to instruction. He has pointed out how he has experienced many good things from God and now explains that it is necessary to fear Him to receive these things.

Buy Food Without Price

Buy Food Without Price

Eric Hamilton
Priorities

In Isaiah 55:1 God commands, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” But how can someone without money buy food? And what kind of food is priced for free? Here, Isaiah is foreshadowing the Gospel that will be ushered in by the coming Messiah.

Taming the Tongue

Taming the Tongue

Cody Hairston
Control, Maturity

In James 3, the writer uses some very emphatic language to illustrate the power of the tongue. When we can control the tongue, we can do incredible things, but when we don’t watch what we say, we can do incredible damage.

Surprised by Joy

Surprised by Joy

Carl Witty
Joy, Persecution

Surprised by Joy, a phrase from the poet Wordsworth, was the title C.S. Lewis gave to his book, published in 1955. I confess that although I bought the book in the early ‘60s, I did not read it until recently. It is the story of his conversion from Atheism to Christianity and the amazing joy that came with that conversion. This book helped me understand more the nature of joy. While Lewis had experienced moments of joy – “stabs of joy” he called them – throughout his life, he had never experienced the joy that came to him as a believer in God. His comments about the gospels are priceless. His later books: Miracles, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain, etc., reflect the incredible joy he came to have in his ever-expanding acquaintance with God, His Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit and His plan for our eternity with Him in heaven.

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