Sun.’s Devo - Retribution

Read: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44; John 10:22-42; Psalm 116:1-19; Proverb 15:20-21 Saul had gone home to fight the Philistines but he was right back looking for David. Saul needed to relieve himself and went into the very cave that David and his men were hiding in. *** David’s men tried to get David to kill him but instead, David crept close enough to cut off part of the hem of his robe. When Saul had finished and returned to his men, David went out and held up the piece of his robe. He told Saul that he was tempted to kill him but couldn’t kill God’s anointed. *** Saul thanked him for letting him live and even acknowledged that he would be the next king. He made him swear that he wouldn’t kill his family or destroy his line of descendants. David promised and they parted. *** In the meantime, Samuel died and all mourned his death. He was buried in his hometown of Ramah. *** David moved to the wilderness of Maon where a wealthy man named Nabal lived. It was sheep-sheering time where the owner of the sheep would throw a big party to celebrate the harvest. All who had any help in the process of the sheep would be invited to come and enjoy the feast. *** David’s men were very hungry and since they had protected the sheep from being raided out in the wilderness, he asked if they might come and enjoy the food. Nabal was a very foolish man who had a short temper. He insulted the men of David for asking to come and told them they were not invited. *** When David heard what he said, he gathered his men to go and kill Nabal and his men. Nabal’s servants warned Abigail, Nabal’s wife of what had happened and what was about to happen. She quickly prepared enough food to give David’s men a feast and went to meet them. *** She humbled herself before David and apologized for her husband’s temper and ungratefulness. David accepted her apology and promised not to harm them. *** Abigail returned home and waited till the next day to tell her husband what she had done. When she told him, he had a stroke and died 10 days later. *** David was told what happened and he sent to ask Abigail to marry him. She accepted and he married her as well as Ahinoam from Jezebel. Meanwhile, Saul had given David’s wife, Michal to marry Palti. *** In John, Jesus had retuned to Jerusalem to celebrate Hanukkah. While he was there people kept asking him if he was the Messiah. Jesus told them that he had already told them the answer to that. They didn’t believe because there were not his sheep. Only his sheep hear his voice and can receive eternal life from him. *** The people wanted to stone Jesus for this but he asked them which act they were stoning him for. They told him it was not for his acts, but his words. He had blasphemed claiming himself to be God. Jesus referred them to Psalm 82 where God called the judges “gods” since they judged on God’s behalf. *** His works were evidence that he was sent by God. *** Jesus escaped to the place where John the Baptist baptized. Many followed him realizing that everything John the Baptist had said about the Messiah had been manifested in the life of Jesus. *** Lord, we lift up your name for saving us and caring for us. May we bring you joy.