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CHAPTER 22 (ESV)
11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house.” 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword.
REFLECTION:
- Saul didn’t obey God’s command by refusing to destroy the Amalekite king Agag, and the best animals, everything that was “good”. But here, because of his own jealousy and hatred, he wiped out 85 priests and their families. This shows clearly the decline and inconsistency of Saul’s reign.
- When, if ever, have I been consumed with a desire for revenge? If looks or thoughts could kill, how many of my friends would be dead by now? Am I still bearing any hateful grudges?
- What are the things or people that would easily trigger my anger? Ordinary things such as driving, workplace, family… How can I handle it in a Christian way?
PRAYER:
Confess to God the emotions inside me: hatred, jealousy, anger, bitterness…. Stay quiet for a while, then begin to read this passage. Read it as if God is speaking to me right now. Listen quietly, meditate on it, have a conversation with God.
Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.
Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top. Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse. (Ps 37:5-8, MSG)
