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� Reading 3 - 1 Sam 21-22; 1 Chron 5

21 - Chapter 21 is not a good chapter for David. David lies to Ahimelech (verse 2) and eats what is not lawful for him to eat (violating express law - Exodus 29:32-33; Leviticus 22:10-16; 24:5-9) in verse 6. Psalms 34 and 56 may come from this episode, as David flees (verse 10). Why he goes to Philistia is a mystery. Did he think he would not be recognized? He is, and nearly dies as a result!

22 - Chapter 22 is a terrible chapter. David is collecting to himself all kinds of troubled people (verse 2). We probably do well to think of this group as thugs and ruffians. This becomes the nucleus of his band of “toughs” that are not to be trifled with. Note that David listens to God (verse 5), something Saul refuses to do. The contrasts in the two men become ever clearer. Saul’s delusional paranoia (verse 8) seems to rage out of control, and Saul directly attacks God by having the priests murdered (verses 16-18). The massacre of the priests at Nob stands as the low point in Saul’s reign. It is incredibly wicked and leaves Saul with no one to consult with God for him (as if the Lord would speak to him anyway). Meanwhile, David takes re- responsibility for what he has done (verse 22). Remember how Saul refused to take responsibility for failure in chapter 15. David is nothing like this morally bankrupt man who will wear the crown for only a little while longer!

5 - 1 Chronicles 5 gives the genealogy of the tribes that settled on the east side of Jordan. Note God’s faithfulness to His people when they call to Him (verse 20).

Psalm 52

Some would classify this as a wisdom psalm (teaching about God’s judgment) but it really seems to be a psalm of great trust. It is the opposite number to Psalm 15. This is the man who hates who God instead of seeking after him. It is attached to 1 Samuel 22, where Doeg the Edomite not only tells Saul about David and the priests he then (acting on Saul’s instructions) massacres the innocent priests of God. What bothered David was not only the act, but the boldness and shamelessness of the evil done. It could only come from a man who didn’t care about God one bit! His values are upside down (verses 3-4). God must and will deal with such evil (verses 5-7). Meanwhile, David continues to rest in God, trusting in Him (verses 8-9). Olive trees (verse 8) were extremely important in the Bible lands (see Deuteronomy 8:8). They grow well in the Mediterranean climate, and had an abundance of uses, including food, cooking oil, medicines, lamp oil, and even worship. The contrast is clear: the wicked man is like an uprooted tree (verse 5), while the godly remain firmly planted and productive like an olive tree.

15 - The Jerusalem Conference is a crucial event in the early church’s history. For some twenty years, Christianity has been viewed by some as simply a party or sect of Judaism. The increasing acceptance of Gentiles has made this more and more complicated to pull off. Christianity appears to some to be a break-away movement of its own that needs to be reined in (verse 5). Peter, Paul, and Barnabas all cite examples to prove God doesn’t require Gentiles to become Jews first before becoming Christians (verses 7-12). James cinches it by citing Scripture, showing that God always desired all people to come to Him (verse 17). What of the regulations bound on Gentiles (see especially verses 20 and 29)? These are probably best understood as the means to make social interaction between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians possible. Gen- tiles need not become Jews but they could not act like full-fledged pagans either.