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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Friday, August 25, 2023
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :David’s Wife Bible Verse:1 Samuel 18:20-30 (NLT) "In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. “Here’s another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!” Saul said to himself. But to David he said, “Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!” Then Saul told his men to say to David, “The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don’t you accept the king’s offer and become his son-in-law?” When Saul’s men said these things to David, he replied, “How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?” When Saul’s men reported this back to the king, he told them, “Tell David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.” But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight. David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife. When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. " Message:
Saul is frustrated in so many ways. The people love David. The people believe David to be a greater warrior than Saul. Michal, his daughter, loves David. So Saul devises a plot, to rid himself of this multi-faceted menace in one fell swoop. How many ways does this backfire on Saul? I can count five.
Instead of being killed by the Philistines, David brings Saul double the number of foreskins required. So first, of course, it backfires because David is not killed. Second, the people love David even more; Saul has actually augmented David’s reputation as a warrior. Third, by enlisting servants in the plot, Saul has publicized his promise. He has certainly increased the talk and excitement about the challenge.
Fourth, Saul now has to cement the love Michal has for David by giving his consent to their marriage. And fifth, he has now taken David for a son-in-law.
If you will excuse the five-dollar word, Saul has enabled David’s “optative affiliation” with him, the King of Israel. This practice allowed married couples of the time to choose affiliation with either of their families, and they usually chose the family with the higher prestige, power, or wealth. It was a form of adoption that enabled a husband to stand in for his wife and inherit from her father. Saul has, in effect, put David in line to inherit the throne as Saul’s heir!
Not that it matters in reality, for God has anointed David to be king. But the irony of Saul himself making David a lineal heir (even though second-in-line behind Saul’s own son) is thick.
Another irony is apparent to those who know much about the life of David; for David will ultimately imitate Saul, by sending Uriah the Hittite into battle to be killed, solely to make Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, a widow.
Meditation : Prayer : Now, oh heavenly Father, I ask to be called as a witness to your love by the love I extend to others; a precursor of your justice by my unfailing commitment to what is right and good; a lamp set on a hill, reflecting the light of Christ in my forgiveness, mercy and compassion; and a harvester of souls through my humble and dedicated servanthood. In Jesus’ name, I pray......Amen |
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