READING FOR APRIL 1, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 24, ROMANS 14, PSALM 26:1-6 1 SAMUEL 24 David defeats Saul with kindness.
The picture at left is from the Engedi Nature Reserve in Israel. Notice how the terrain would be conducive to hiding in caves and crevices. After Saul put down an incursion by the Phili- stines, he took 3,000 men to root out David and his men at Engedi. Talk about God working out everything for good (Rom. 8:28), Saul chose the one cave David and his men were hiding in to “relieve himself.” The men thought this was a sign God was handing Saul to David on a silver platter. They misread the situation. In fact, David felt guilty even cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe. David was right that Saul was God’s anointed and he as a mere man had no right to kill or even desecrate him. This was God’s right alone. David did use this opportunity later to prove to Saul that he, David, was no threat to Saul. Saul, at least at this moment, was overwhelmed that David took no vengeance on him.
Isn’t this what Paul has in mind for us: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 8:19-21). Radically Risky Response, but Right!
ROMANS 14 This chapter provides some essential advice for maintaining harmony among the church body. Don’t make a big deal about minor matters! The Greek word is “dialogismos.” Some versions translate this as disputable issues, opinions, or doubtful things. Paul’s lists two items not worth arguing about: eating certain kinds of foods and celebrating certain days. He said these things have no significance, so just go along with whatever causes the least amount of turmoil. Comparable items today might include church carry ins, types of music used, color schemes in the sanctuary, or employing the liturgical calendar. These items are non-essentials that should not be criteria for judging each other. Yet they are often the very issues that cause dissension in the church and people to leave. The Lord must be grieved at our childishness.
This does not mean there are no issues with which to contend. Romans 1:18 says, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” The rest of Rom. 1 emphasizes kind of sins that must be called out in the church. It would be unloving in the extreme not to address them.
READING FOR APRIL 1, 2025 CONTINUED: ROMANS 14, PSALM 26:1-6
Essential doctrine must also be closely monitored. For example, the church must stand up against those who are either not preaching the Gospel or preaching a distorted version it: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:6-8).
PSALM 26:1-6 Although there is not a detailed description of David’s situation, we know David feels the need for divine vindication. Perhaps this happens to us when we feel our lives are not purposeful or when we have failed to achieve certain expectations. David proclaims his integrity, but also invites God’s scrutiny. In the process, David describes his personal value system, which supports his behavior described above in 1 Samuel 24 in today’s reading.
The positive traits to which he points include these virtues: lives with integrity, trusts God, sets his mind on God’s love and kindness, honors truth, voices his thanksgiving to God, declares God’s wonders, and loves worshipping God. He also lists negative traits he avoids: hanging out with deceitful men, planning evil schemes, committing violence, and offering bribes.
Mixing with the “deceitful men” is an interesting issue. We know Jesus ate with those considered sinners (Matt. 9:11). Yet in 1 Cor. 15:33 Paul cautions, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” How does one reconcile these verses? The context helps. In Jesus’s case he was seeking to save the lost. Paul’s comments described a lifestyle unconcerned with eternal life, but only temporary, earthly pleasures. So, our intent makes all the difference.
C.S. Lewis has good insights on this: “I am inclined to think a Christian would be wise to avoid, where he decently can, any meeting with people who are bullies, or lascivious, cruel, dishonest, spiteful and so forth. Not because we are ‘too good’ for them. In a sense we are not good enough. We are not good enough to cope with all the temptations, nor clever enough to cope with all the problems, which an evening spent in such society produces.”
Applying this principle to our time, might the kind of “bad company” we are keeping include the television shows we watch, the Facebook pages we view, the online links we click, or the YouTube videos we view? Every ad we see is designed to make us unhappy with our life.
