1 Sam. 23
Things I notice:
- David inquired of God before taking action. David did not ignore his men’s fears but sought God again to reassure them, and they followed him in spite of their fear. It was God who kept David and his men safe.
- Jonathan was completely willing to turn his right to the throne over to David and to ‘play second fiddle’ to him.
- The people were in a tight spot. Was it right for them to serve and support Saul, their king, or David, God’s chosen who did not yet have any authority over them?
Ps. 54
In this Psalm, David acknowledges that it is God who protects and vindicates him.
Ps. 63
In this Psalm, David compared God to both water and to food – God is his total sustenance. And he says, “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.” (Ps 63:3)
Luke 22:47-71
I wonder how the servant of the high priest felt about arresting Jesus after his ear was healed? The mob of religious leaders was obviously so focused on getting rid of Jesus that they were beyond seeing or hearing anything else, so they were completely untouched by Jesus’ attitude and actions at the moment of His arrest. But this one man…it was his ear that was cut off and then healed. It doesn’t get any more personal than that. I wonder if Peter’s (not named here in Luke) rash action may have ultimately saved this one man’s life?
And Peter…I’m sure the pang of conviction when that rooster crowed and brought to mind Jesus’ prior words about him was sharp enough. But at the instant the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked at him. Though Jesus likely wasn’t in a position to have heard what Peter said those three times, He knew. And the pang of that conviction may well be what drove Peter to bitter tears. We aren’t in a position when we fall short, as Peter was, to see whatever look was on Jesus’ face (I’ll wager it was a sad one), but we can be sure that He knows exactly when we do fall short. His spirit dwelling in us lets us know that. But it might do me well, whenever I am tempted to make the wrong choice (or have just gone and made that choice without thinking), to picture Jesus looking at me, as He looked at Peter here.