Day 59 Reading Schedule: 2 Samuel 14-18

1 Samuel 14: King Saul's Pride

[Overview]

It shows the battle of Michmash against the Philistines that started on the battlefield and progressed in earnest. Israel, who confronted the Philistines at Michmash, defeated the Philistines and gained an advantageous position through the courageous actions based on the faith of Saul's son Jonathan (verses 1-23). ​​On this day, Saul gave an order that no one should eat food until the Philistines were completely defeated. However, Jonathan, who did not hear this, ate honey from the forest, and the people, unable to bear their hunger, committed the sin of eating meat with the blood (verses 24-35). This clearly shows Saul's failure to make the right judgment as a leader. Because of this incident, Jonathan almost died at the hands of Saul (verses 36-46). However, through this battle, Saul laid the foundation for a monarchy and began to value it (verses 47-52).

[Explanation]

The main text specifically mentions the development of the battle of Michmash following the battlefield. Saul committed a sin of blasphemy before God by personally performing a sacrifice to avoid a Philistine counterattack at the beginning of the battle. Now, in the text, Saul makes a great mistake by giving another reckless order, putting the army in danger and even putting the life of his son Jonathan in danger. 

1 Samuel 15: The Parting of King Saul and Samuel 

[Summary]

Saul's actions of disobedience and arrogance from the beginning and his sins before God continue in this chapter. Saul, who received the order to destroy the Amalekites through Samuel, disobeyed God's command by capturing the Amalek king Agag and taking the spoils (verses 1-9). Samuel, enraged by this, rebuked Saul and prophesied that God would remove Saul from the throne (verses 10-23). Saul finally repented his wrongdoings and asked Samuel for forgiveness, but Samuel refused and killed Agag, the king of the Amalekites, instead of Saul, and returned to Ramah, where he did not see Saul until the day he died (verses 24-35). 

[Explanation] 

The text shows Saul attacking the Amalekites at God's command. Saul, who had been dethroned twice before for disobeying God, was given one last chance to repent before God. However, he failed to take advantage of this opportunity and ended up being abandoned by God. 

1 Samuel 16: David is Anointed 

[Summary] 

Saul, who disobeyed God with his disobedience and arrogance, was eventually abandoned by God on the battlefield. This chapter records the incident where God told Samuel to choose David to become the new king of Israel in place of Saul. God, who had decided to dethrone Saul, ordered Samuel to go to Jesse’s house and choose a new king (vv. 1-5). Samuel anointed David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, as king (vv. 6-13). Meanwhile, Saul, who had been abandoned by God, was possessed by an evil spirit and showed signs of schizophrenia. One of his servants brought David to play the harp to calm Saul, who was possessed by an evil spirit (vv. 14-23). ​​

[Explanation] 

The text shows a scene where David was anointed as king after Saul was dethroned. Saul, who had once been anointed king because of his humble nature, later became arrogant, turned away from God’s will, and acted according to his own will. As a result, he suffered the misfortune of being dethroned. 

1 Samuel 17: David and Goliath 

[Summary] 

This chapter records the first and most dramatic battle of David, who had spent his entire life in war, the battle with Goliath. Israel, who had started a war with the Philistines again in the Valley of Eli, became discouraged and a laughing stock because of the Philistine warrior Goliath (vv. 1-11). At this time, Jesse's sons also participated in the battle, and David, who had come to inquire after his brothers, was indignant when he heard Goliath mocking God and Israel (vv. 12-30). So David asked Saul to fight Goliath and received permission (vv. 31-40). David, who had no armor and only had a slingshot to kill animals, finally killed Goliath with the help of God. Empowered by this, the Israelite army defeated the Philistines and achieved a great victory (vv. 41-54). After earning the merit of the victory, David was called before Saul and met him again (vv. 55-58). 

[Explanation] 

The text shows a historical event in which David, who was anointed as king, appeared in the society of Israel. That is the battle between David and Goliath. In this battle, David, despite being a young boy, easily defeated Goliath, the invincible general. Through this historical event, we vividly discover the amazing development of God’s providence in establishing the boy David as the king of Israel. We can truly feel that God is a living and omnipotent being who works in history like this. 

1 Samuel 18: The Friendship of David and Jonathan 

[Summary] 

After killing Goliath on the battlefield, David gradually emerged as a new protagonist in Israel. However, the relationship between Saul and David, who both became kings of Israel but faced the opposite results of God’s judgment and blessing, resulted in various conflicts. When David met Saul again, he developed a true friendship with his son Jonathan (vv. 1-5). However, when people praised David more, Saul hated him and tried to kill him with a spear, but failed (vv. 6-16). Then, this time, he tried to send David to the battlefield against the Philistines and kill him by using the bait of making him his son-in-law (verses 17-21). However, with God’s help, David won the victory and became Saul’s son-in-law, and his reputation grew even higher (verses 22-30). 

[Explanation] 

David’s fame for killing Goliath spread throughout Israel. So David became more famous and popular in Israel than Saul. The text contains scenes of Saul, who hated David’s popularity, plotting various schemes to kill David. In this way, God’s workers are constantly hindered by enemy forces in various ways.