Today, I am reading and commenting on  1 Samuel 28-31.

When I read today’s passage two questions cross my mind.  The first one: would David have fought for the Philistines and against the Israelites if the other Philistine rulers had not demanded that Achish send him away from the battle?  Second, why is the account of Saul consulting the medium in Endor included here?  I do not think that we can answer the first question with any more than a guess.  While David lived under Achish’s rule, he was careful to never attack any Israelite settlements but told Achish that he had.  As to the second question, I think we can reach a few conclusions about why it was included.  First, it gives us an idea about how desperate Saul had become as he heads into his final battle.  Additionally, it tells us that at least some of those who claim to speak with the dead are indeed able to do so.  Finally, we learn that if we turn aside from God we will be left with nowhere to turn when things inevitably go wrong.

On the other hand, David consulted God whenever he had a decision to make.  So, when he was about to feel compelled to fight against his own people, God arranged for the Philistines to send him away from the battle, just in time for him to return to his home base to discover that his wives and possessions, and those of his men, had been taken by bandits.  Again, David consulted God before setting off in pursuit of those bandits.  With God’s help David was able to overtake the bandits and recover not only all of the goods and people which the bandits had taken from him and his men, he also recovered that which they had taken from other towns and villages nearby.  He shared some of this plunder with the elders of Judah who had provided him supplies and support while he was hiding from King Saul.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.