Political Treachery

Love for One Another Inclusive Love Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Love and Devotion to Others 1 Samuel 18:12-18 New International Version 12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did, he had great success because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in their campaigns. 17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” 18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”   For Reflection As if David didn't have enough troubles, he wonders, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” Perhaps a challenge to King Saul, David's question reflects Saul's deviousness. Hoping that someone might kill David in battle, Saul gave David a command to lead the troops in their campaigns. The move backfired. David returned alive, victorious, and loved by all of Judea and Israel. Because Saul feared David's popularity among the subjects, he proposes a marriage of political convenience. Saul thought that the union of David's clan and the King's family would put pressure on David to be loyal to the Crown. Moreover, Saul could keep a close eye on David. In reality, it put God's confederate in a powerful position to serve God. God working through his voluntary confederate, David, influences the outcome. Pray Praise God and be amazed at God's wisdom and strength. Praise God for working through the every-day-walking-around activity of God's children. Forward to a friend