DAVID, A TEMPORARY PHILISTINE
1 Samuel 27-31

This is the last session in our study of The First Book of Samuel. In a minute, we’ll look at all four chapters, although the quarterly focuses only on parts of one or two. But first:

Think through the entire story of the book if you will. It presents Samuel as a towering figure, the last judge, a ruler, and a crowner of kings! The book begins with his birth and ends with the death of Saul.

Samuel replaces Eli, who must himself have been awesome as a younger man.The people clamor for a king, so with the Lord’s leadership he anoints Solomon and l ate selects him publicly. A young man named David shows up at court as a troubadour, soothing the moody king. Later he shows up to rescue Israel from the giant Goliath. Saul makes him an officer and a leader, and his victories make him more popular than Saul. Out of jealousy and paranoia Saul begins to try to kill David, forcing the younger man to flee. Prince Jonathan helped him escape to become an outlaw with around 600 rebels following him.

Lessons from the month:
God has a plan for our lives. We are not accidents.
David demonstrated with Goliath that with God’s help we can tackle giants!
If you fail to fulfil God’s plan, he can and will replace you.
Friendship is of huge importance, as is loyalty to one’s friends.
Above all, in this book David has the patience to believe God will bring His will to pass in His own time and way.
Recognize to that this is sacred history, revealing how the Lord acts in history to bring about his purposes. He is here fulfilling his covenants with Abraham and Moses and beginning a new covenant with David.

In today’s lesson, we cover several chapters, although the quarterly shows only a part of two. In Chapter 27 David,has avoided Saul narrowly at least twice, so he escaptes to Gath, one of the five major Philistine cities.