A Lie, a Loaf, and a Lesson

S: 1 Samuel 21

O:
David lied to Ahimelek, and that lie ultimately led to the slaughter of Ahimelek and the entire priestly household—though Saul alone bore guilt for the murders themselves. David’s sin was the lie, not the violence.

Later, Jesus appeals to this episode in Matthew 12:1–8, Mark 2:23–28, and Luke 6:1–5 when His disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath and are accused by the Pharisees of breaking the Law. Jesus did not condone David’s lie. Rather, He pointed out that Ahimelek, a trained priest who knew the Law, permitted David and his men, in a moment of urgent human need, to eat the consecrated bread normally reserved for priests.

Jesus’ argument was that Scripture itself shows it can be legitimate to override rigid, technical interpretations of ritual law for higher purposes. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). There are biblical precedents where a strict, wooden reading of ceremonial rules would condemn actions that God did not condemn. David eating the bread in a crisis is one example; priests working in the temple on the Sabbath is another (Matthew 12:5).

In effect, Jesus was telling the religious leaders: when ceremonial regulation comes into conflict with urgent human need, God does not treat merciful action as true lawbreaking. Their interpretation of the Sabbath was therefore wrong, because it crushed mercy instead of serving people. Jesus upheld the spirit of the law, not mere legalism.

It is also worth noting that David later felt the weight of his sin. In the following chapter, he confessed to Abiathar son of Ahimelek that his actions had contributed to the death of Ahimelek’s household.

A:
We need wisdom to discern where the balance lies. Some things are clear-cut: the ends do not justify the means, and lying to secure our own benefit is wrong. Yet there are extreme situations that force moral complexity—for example, when Corrie ten Boom and her family lied to Nazis to protect Jews they were hiding.

Appealing to “the spirit, not the letter” does not loosen God’s moral standards. Rather, it prioritises God’s ultimate good over legalism. Love God; love our neighbour. We must protect the innocent and refuse to aid evil, which is precisely what the ten Boom family did.

P:
Father, give us wisdom when we face difficult situations. Help us to obey Your Spirit and to act with truth, mercy, and courage. In Jesus’ name, amen.

How terrible is terrible?

S: 1 Samuel 13-15; 2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 51

O: Saul got scared that Samuel didn’t show up in time to sacrifice to Yahweh before they  and some of his army were starting to scatter. So he usurped the priestly role of making the offering himself – his role was king, not priest. When Samuel confronted him with it, he made excuses instead of repenting.

Then, later, he got greedy with the plunder from Amalek – kept the best stuff instead of destroying it all as God commanded. And when Samuel confronted him with it, he tried to weasel his way to justify it instead of repenting.

2 Samuel 11-12 David saw someone else’s wife bathing naked and sent for her, then committed adultery with her (or rape, depending on your view – she had no choice, really, since he had all the power) then tried to cover it up, and when that failed murdered her husband. But when Nathan confronted him, he confessed and repented, and wrote Psalm 51 as his repentance psalm, proclaiming his guilt and repentance publicly.

God deposed Saul but kept David on the throne, and even later called him a man after God’s own heart. Though David did suffer several terrible temporal consequences of his sins, he did not lose his relationship with God.

Objectively, one might think that Saul’s sins were more minor – taking unauthorised spiritual authority and being greedy – and David’s more major – adultery and murder. And yet… God accepted David back but did not accept Saul back. The difference? True repentance.

A: When we sin, we must repent. For real, not for show. Not to make us look good, like Saul’s first “repentance”. Only then are we appropriating the blood of Christ to cover our sin, and the grace of God receives us back into fellowship with Him.

P: Father, forgive me for I have sinned. I do not deny my sin; I repent of my sin. I turn 180° to walk towards you again. May I always do this whenever I sin and not allow fake repentance or no repentance in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Serving God When the Story Isn’t About You

S: 1 Samuel 1-9

O: Despite bearing his name, 1 & 2 Samuel are not primarily about Samuel. They are part of the larger Judges–Samuel–Kings narrative, and Samuel’s life is only partially told. We see his mother’s struggle, his dedication to YHVH as a child, God calling him while he is still young, and his leadership in turning Israel back to YHVH.

Then the story jumps forward decades. When Samuel is old, the people demand a king, and the focus of the narrative shifts almost entirely to Saul and later David. Samuel does not disappear, but he fades into the background, becoming a supporting figure rather than the centre of the story.

Samuel is essential to what God is doing, but he is no longer in the spotlight. Saul and David leave behind dramatic, memorable stories; Samuel leaves behind a legacy.

A: The lesson I take from this is similar to the lesson I took back on 12 December about Tola and Jair: faithfulness does not need to be remarkable to be meaningful. God may use us powerfully in one season, and quietly in another. Our calling is not to secure a big story for ourselves, but to faithfully follow YHVH where He places us. Often, the truest legacy is not a dramatic narrative, but the people shaped by our obedience.

P: Father, You see what no one else sees. You used Samuel, Tola, and Jair in their time; use me in mine. I do not ask for a big story, but for a faithful heart. Shape me into someone who listens when You speak, obeys when You command, and trusts You with the results. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Does God really set up people to be condemned?

S: 1 Samuel 2:12-25 

²² Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they slept with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting. ²³ He said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. ²⁴ No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey. ²⁵ If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.

O: At first glance, this sounds like God wanted to kill Hophni and Phinehas, so he didn’t let them listen to their father’s advice and repent.

However, Ezekiel 18:23 says “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?”

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Hophni and Phinehas were priests, raised with the Word of God. They knew that they were abusing the sacrifices, sleeping with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting and other abuses. They had plenty of teaching and warning, yet they continued in open rebellion against God. They’re not confused, badly-informed sinners, but hardened, defiant leaders.

Therefore, this isn’t saying that God wanted to kill them, so he made them not listen to Eli’s advice. It’s saying that God has pronounced the death penalty on them, because they had persistently refused to repent after many warnings. God does not arbitrarily make people stubborn. He hands over already-stubborn people to the consequences of their chosen rebellion.

So, the lesson for us is as stated in Hebrews 3:15: “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.”

A: When God points out our sin, we need to repent immediately and not drag it out. Because of the grace of God, sometimes we feel like, “Sin now and repent later”. But that’s the wrong attitude to have. When we realise our sin, we need to repent now.

P: Father, I know I still sin. I need to repent immediately and not drag it out. Thank You for your forgiveness and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.