May 18- A Band of Merry Misfits

May 18, 2011

Scripture Readings:
I Samuel 22:1-23:9; John 10:1-21;
Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19


I Samuel 22:1-23:9

English folklore has given the world the legend of Robin Hood.  Robin Hood was a skilled archer and swordsman, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. He did this with his band of "merry men," who were also outlaws of questionable character.  The point of the story of Robin Hood is that his actions helped the community and were a counter to the behavior of the evil king and aristocracy of his day.

Today, David has his own band of merry misfits, who are on the run from the evil King Saul.  They, too, fight the Philistines and benefit the nation of Israel with their victories. But in contrast to Robin Hood, David is never disloyal to King Saul. David is a mistreated and misunderstood commander of this paranoid king's army. As our story begins, Saul has found out that David visited Ahimelech, the priest, and received food and Goliath's sword from the priest.  David also received consultation about God's will for him.  Saul is convinced that David is trying to overthrow him for the throne of Israel. 

Saul commands Doeg the Edomite to kill Ahimelech and the eighty-five priests associated with Ahimelech. In an act of pure evil, Doeg not only kills the priests, but all the women, children, babies, cattle, donkeys, and sheep that they owned.  One son gets away and reports the mayhem to David.  David promises to protect the remaining priest.

David mobilizes to go attack the Philistines, and Saul mobilizes to attack David and his men. Just as Saul is about to overtake David, Saul gets word that Israel is being attacked by the Philistines. This saves David from likely death.

Saul is a thorn in David's side. The Lord God has sent the tormenting spirit to Saul that is causing all of this trouble. What lessons is God calling David to learn through this experience? God's sovereign plan trumps our desire for ease and conflict-free living.  Can you accept this?

David accepts his suffering with humility.  He leans on God and does not lash out at Saul. I find his behavior amazing. It is grace-filled and Jesus-tinged. David has his heart in the right place. The psalms show us his struggles, fears, and willingness to cope with suffering through praising God. Is it any wonder he is called a man after God's own heart?

John 10:1-21

I love Jesus' illustrations today. He says that people are sheep.  Ain't that the truth. Sheep tend to blindly follow. Jesus says that some of us are HIS sheep.  He indicates that his sheep enter through him to heaven. He is the gate to heaven through which HIS sheep pass. Jesus does not indicate that there are multiple ways to get into heaven. This would counter teachings that you can follow Mohammad to heaven or Buddha to heaven.  Jesus is saying that he is the only way to heaven. Jesus says that his sheep recognize his voice and follow his voice. We have all had animals who recognize our voice as their master. This is the picture that Christ is painting. We uniquely hear his voice and are compelled to follow him only.

Jesus says that in this story (God's grand story) there is a thief who tries to steal his sheep and kill them.  But he gives life to his sheep.  He also defines himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. This is a picture of Christ's death on the cross, which provides the payment of death for our sins. His death insures our eternal life.  Jesus says the following about this concept:

• There are other sheep, besides the sheep in the flock of Israel, who also hear Jesus' voice and join the flock.  He is speaking of Gentiles.
• God the Father loves Jesus because he is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
• No one takes Jesus' life.  He voluntarily lays it down.
• Jesus has the power to take back his life again, after his death.
• God the Father has commanded Jesus to do this.

After this teaching, some people think Jesus is crazy or demon-possessed.  Other people believe him.

What about you?  What do you think?

Psalm 115:1-18

Our God is in the heavens and He does as He wishes...  Nice.  So true.

Here is a statement about idols...they are shaped by human hands, cannot talk, even though they have mouths, cannot see with their eyes, cannot hear, smell, feel, walk, or utter a sound.  Why would you pray to something like that?  Good point.

Proverbs 15:18-19

A hothead starts a fight.  Saul is a hothead.  Do you know any hotheads?

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton
@ 2011