Day 55 Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 25-29

1 Samuel 25: The Wise Woman Abigail 

[Summary]

This chapter introduces the wise actions of Abigail, Nabal's wife, as an episodic introduction that occurred between the pursuit of David and Saul that continued from chapter 19. After Samuel died, David went down to the wilderness of Paran and asked for help from a rich man named Nabal (verses 1-8). However, Nabal ignored David's request and insulted him. David was furious and tried to strike me (verses 9-13). Upon hearing this news, Nabal's wife Abigail hurriedly went to David with food and asked for forgiveness for her husband's mistake and blessed him (verses 14-31). Upon seeing Abigail's wise actions, David let go of his anger and sent her home (verses 32-35). After that, Nabal died as a judgment from God, and David took Abigail as his wife. Also, David took a woman named Ahinoam as his wife, and Saul gave David's wife Michal to another man (vv. 36-44).

[Explanation]

The text describes an incident that occurred during David's time on the run. It is the death of Nabal and David's marriage to Abigail. As we can see here, Nabal was a very wicked and ignorant man, but David endured Nabal's wickedness of trying to repay kindness with enmity with patience and self-control. As a result, Nabal died in God's wrath, and David was blessed with Abigail, whom he had learned in the process, as his wife. This scene clearly shows what kind of results a person with patience and self-control can enjoy.

1 Samuel 26: David Saves Saul Again 

[Summary]

Saul, who had reconciled with David due to the En Gedi Cave incident, changed his mind again and began to pursue David. This chapter shows David, who was once again pursued by Saul, paying back evil with good. Saul, who had been informed by Ten men, pursued David and camped at Mount Hachilah (verses 1-5). David, who had infiltrated Saul’s tent at night with Abishai, rejected Abishai’s argument and saved Saul’s life again (verses 6-12). After safely escaping from Saul’s camp, David rebuked Abner for failing to properly protect Saul and once again asked Saul for reconciliation (verses 13-20). Upon learning of David’s second good deed, Saul reconciled with David and returned home (verses 21-25).

[Explanation]

Saul’s pursuit of David continues. The text mentions the incident at Hachilah, which occurred during David’s last pursuit by Saul in the land of Israel. Saul, exhausted from pursuing David who was hiding in Hachilah, fell asleep in a cave, and David had another opportunity to kill Saul. Nevertheless, David spared Paul’s life and pleaded his innocence in a meek and humble manner. Indeed, David did not take revenge in a human way, but pleaded his innocence in a very religious way, as befitting a child of God.

1 Samuel 27: David in the Land of the Philistines 

[Summary]

David was reconciled with Saul by saving his life at Mount Hachilah, but he could not rest easy. Saul, with whom he had been reconciled in the past, tried to kill him again. So David left the land of Judah and sought refuge in a foreign country. This chapter shows David living in exile in a foreign country. Worried that Saul would change his mind and try to kill him, David finally took his family and fled to Achish, the king of Gath, the Philistines’ enemy. When Saul heard the news, he stopped pursuing him (verses 1-4). After settling in Gath, David received Ziklag as a city from Achish and lived there (verses 5-7). Meanwhile, David became a mercenary soldier for the Philistines, defeated the Amalekites, and gave the spoils to Achish. At this time, David succeeded in gaining Achish's trust by deceiving him that it was spoils of war from his native land of Judah (vv. 8-12).

[Explanation]

After the surprise attack on Hachilah, David left Israel completely to escape Saul. Faced with a crisis where he could no longer find refuge in Israel, David finally had no choice but to go into exile in the Philistines, a neighboring country with Israel. After that, David lived in exile for 16 months until Saul was killed in battle with the Philistines.

1 Samuel 28: Saul in his later years, seeking a witch 

[Summary]

Saul, who had turned away from God, fell further and further into the path of unbelief. This chapter foretells the end of his era through Saul’s dependence on a medium. Finally, the Philistines and Israel came into a head-on conflict, and David was asked by King Achish to participate in the battle against Israel. The prophet Samuel died, and Saul, fearing the Philistines, sought God’s help directly, but received no answer (verses 1-6). So Saul disguised himself and went to see a medium to meet Samuel’s spirit (verses 7-14). Samuel, who appeared, instead foretold Saul’s downfall (verses 15-19). Disappointed, Saul returned to his dwelling in despair (verses 20-25). This chapter shows through Saul that those who turn away from God will eventually meet a miserable end.

[Explanation]

The text up to the last chapter of this book, chapter 31, mentions the Battle of Gilboa, which was related to Saul’s end. This battle was fought between the Philistines and Israel, and Saul and his sons were all killed in the battle. As a result, Saul and his family were abandoned by God, and David ascended to the throne as king. In the end, the text can be said to be an introduction to the Battle of Gilboa, which depicted Saul’s end.

1 Samuel 29: The Philistine Lords Distrust David 

[Summary]

David, who abandoned God's land to pursue Saul and went to a foreign land, finally faced a major crisis due to his own wrongdoings. When the Philistines and Israel came into a head-on conflict, David, who was a Philistine mercenary, was faced with a situation where he had to fight against his own people, Israel. However, the Philistine lords opposed David's expedition because they were afraid that David would betray them and attack the Philistines instead, so David avoided the crisis of fratricide. This was God's grace to protect David, who would become the future king of Israel (verses 1-5). Faced with the lords' opposition, Achish explained the situation to David and reluctantly returned to his quarters with his men (verses 6-11). However, this incident became an opportunity for David to realize how wrong his actions were in leaving God.

[Explanation]

Finally, a battle began between the Philistines and Israel. For this battle, which would later be called the Battle of Gilboa, the Philistine generals and their soldiers were encamped at Aphek in Israel, and Israel was encamped in the Jezreel region in response. But at this time, a problem arose. The Philistine lords showed great distrust toward David and his men, who had gone into battle with King Achish. In other words, they said that it would be extremely dangerous for the Philistines for David or the Israelites who had fled with him to go into battle. So David was naturally exempted from the war against his own people. In this way, God is an almighty and merciful God who provides a way of escape for His chosen people when they are in danger in a very surprising and mysterious way.