Tuesday, May 12, 2009

1 Samuel 22-23; Luke 1:67-2:7

1 Samuel 22-23

As Saul's opposition to David continues, it also increases, to the extent described here. David fears for the lives of his family, hence he sends them to live in Moab (remember David descended from Ruth). In addition, Saul's enmity extends to anyone who has helped David or might have helped David. Even though David has done nothing against Saul, nor has he done anything worthy of Saul's enmity, yet it is there. So likewise the enmity of the world against the sons of God is always there, even though no offense may ever have been given. Note also the sorrow that David expresses, knowing that his approach to Ahimelech has occasioned the deaths of all those slain by Doeg.

In chapter 23, it is apparently fear of Saul and what he might do that occasions the men of Keilah (whom David had saved from the Philistines), and the men of Ziph (to whom David had done no harm) to seek to hand David over to Saul. It is only when the Philistines launch a new offensive against Israel that Saul is forced away from his maniacal pursuit of David. Thus faithfulness to God may engender opposition to us that is unreasonable both in its origin and in its continuation, but as David, we are to trust to the Lord for protection against those enemies. This also is a type of the opposition that Christ faced from his enemies, in that it was entirely irrational, in that the work of Christ was no threat to his enemies, unless they persisted in their sin.

Luke 1:67-2:7

The Song of Zechariah: As with the Song of Mary, this song sets out themes formerly seen in the Old Testament in the work of the prophets. Note the similarity between Luke 1:80, and 1 Sam 2:26. All of these things together point to God's doing a new work, fulfilling the promises made by the Old Testament prophets.

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