Day 141

1 Samuel 29:1–31:13; John 11:55–12:19; Psalm 118:1-18; Proverbs 15:24-26

IN OUR READING from 1 Samuel today, we experienced all the chaos foretold in yesterday’s reading. David and his men marched as Philistines toward battle with the Israelites, but before the battle began, they were sent away.

“Send him back to the town you’ve given him!” the Philistine commanders demanded. “He can’t go into the battle with us. What if he turns against us in battle and becomes our adversary? Is there any better way for him to reconcile himself with his master than by handing our heads over to him?” (1 Samuel 29:4).

After they received leave, David and his men began the long march back to Ziklag, only to find that raiding parties from the Amalekites had burned their town to the ground and taken everything and everyone as plunder.

Meanwhile, the battle in the north began, and the Philistines crushed Israel. By the time David and his men returned from pursuing the Amalekites and recovering their wives, children, and belongings, the battle was over. Saul and his sons (including Jonathan) had been killed, and the Israelite army fled. The Philistines took Saul’s body and hung it from the walls of Beth-shan. The walls of this ancient city are still visible today.

In John’s Gospel, we began reading of Jesus’ final days. This will be the last time we cover this territory in the Bible, and it gives us an opportunity to give the story the gravity it deserves. Allow the impact of the retelling to invade the busyness of today. There are plenty of things that produce stress and anxiety, but there is only one story that offers eternal hope. May we let our hearts ponder what Jesus went through as He entered Jerusalem on a colt, and may our hearts sing the ancient song: “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!” (John 12:13).

MEDITATION:

In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?