READING FOR MARCH 28, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 22, ROMANS 12, PSALM 25 1 SAMUEL 22 This chapter is frighteningly relevant to our current polarized and toxic political environment. David found refuge from Saul in a cave. Somehow, word of his location reached Jesse’s household, who then traveled there. Likely they felt at risk given their relationship with the fugitive David. Several hundred societal misfits also connected with David, forming sort of a private militia. Feeling the weight of family responsibility, David asked the King of Moab, Israel’s enemies but also distantly related to David through Ruth, to protect his parents temporarily from Saul. Following the advice of a prophet, David then left for Judah.
Saul, at this time in Gibeah, complained to his servants that they were being disloyal to him by not informing him about the actions of David. Doeg the Edomite, another enemy nation, then shared his observations of David receiving help from Ahimelech, the priest of Nob. Summoned before Saul, Ahimelech made the excellent point that, given Saul’s past support for David, he assumed Saul would want him to help David. Unfortunately, such logic was not persuasive to the paranoid Saul. He ordered his servants to kill the priest. To their credit, Saul’s servants refused such an ungodly order. They serve as an example to us today who might be given an order that is unbiblical. Doeg the Edomite, however, had no such value system and killed 85 priests along with other residents of Nob. One son of Ahimelech escaped to inform David, who accepted some responsibility for this massacre and awarded the son safe haven. Our actions today also have far more ramifications than we can ever know. We must live constantly and prayerfully under the Lordship of Jesus and leading of the Holy Spirit.
ROMANS 12 This chapter is a good answer to Job’s feelings of uselessness and maybe David’s uncertainty about his future as he flees from Saul. Even the first word “therefore” is helpful because it means that, because of God’s magnificent mercies of the Gospel discussed in Romans chapters 1-11, we now should respond in certain ways to this wonderful Gospel.
Step One: As opposed to the old Jewish sacrificial system, we now offer our total selves to God. It is completely turning ourselves over to Him, not a way for Him to further our agenda!
Step Two: We must intentionally avoid the world’s ways of life. For example, what does the world typically recommend for our retirement years? Likely it is not God’s plan for us.
Step Three: Our minds, including our desires and value system, will be transformed and renewed. Aside from steps one and two, what can we do to allow God to renew our minds so
READING FOR MARCH 28, 2025 CONTINUED: ROMANS 12, PSALMS 25 that we can know His perfect will for us? Ask God and read His Word: “Let my cry come before You, Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word” (Psalm 119:169).
Step Four: As we prayerfully consider our future in the ways described above, the Lord will be giving us certain desires or bringing certain needs to our attention. Still, we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought (vs.3). Is this truly God’s desire for us or our own natural and self-centered desire? Use a combination of sound judgment and faith.
Step Five: Finally, God’s will for our lives is always embedded in the Body of Christ. As we act in alignment with what God is showing us to meet the needs of the church, our brothers and sisters will have the honor of affirming our gifts or gently guiding us in other directions.
The rest of this chapter gives us ways to act, regardless of age but as health allows. We don’t have to guess if we are gifted in these areas because they are meant for all believers: full of integrity, opponent of evil, advocate for good, deferential, passionate, service oriented, joyfully hopeful, persevering during troubles, constantly prayerful, generous, and hospitable. Finally, always repay any real or perceived insults with total good. It is God’s way to overcome evil and will get others’ attention like hot coals being dumped on their heads. God’s upside-down approach to spiritual warfare.
PSALM 25 What a beautiful Psalm and how perfectly it speaks to walking with God as we age. We have the promise that as we lift up our souls to God, or as Romans 12 says, as we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, we will not be ashamed. Can we claim that promise? Can we, as the Psalmist, wait on the Lord for his compassionate guidance (see 5 steps above)? Can we trust that the Lord will forget our previous missteps and be faithful in giving us purpose now for His Kingdom purposes? Are we humbleenough to follow His lead and not insist on ways we think we should go? Are we obedient to His Word as we seek to know how to serve Him best. Do we really believe that the Lord will direct our ways in these last years, or have we given up because we cannot see a way? “He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are faithfulness and truth to those who comply with His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25:9-10).
