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. . . AND NOW, THE REST OF THE STORY (25 OF 27)

by Keith Krell

Scripture: 1 Samuel 29:1, 1 Samuel30:31
This content is part of a series.


. . . And Now, the Rest of the Story (25 of 27)
Series: Calling All leaders
Keith Krell
1 Samuel 29:1-30:31


Have you ever been watching your favorite TV show, when all of a sudden the episode ends and the screen flashes, ''To be continued . . .''? How does this make you feel? Perhaps disappointed or even irritated, right? Producers use this ploy to cause you to anticipate the next episode. I'm sure they also hope you'll discuss the upcoming episode on their network blog. Regardless, ''To be continued . . .'' episodes keep you coming back for more because you want to see how the episode ends. It is a brilliant tactic that is as old as the book of 1 Samuel.

If you recall, back in 1 Samuel 27-28 David had a severe anxiety attack and decided that Saul was going to kill him. So without consulting the Lord he moved over to the Philistines and even became King Achish's bodyguard. The king then informed David that he would be joining forces with the Philistines and going to war against his own people (28:1). David responded to Achish with the classic, nebulous line, ''Very well, you shall know what your servant can do'' (28:2). Yet, the narrative of 28:2 was interrupted in 28:3 with the words: ''Now Samuel was dead . . .'' The writer doesn't tell you what happened to David. Instead, you are left hanging in his literary noose until chapter 29. The narrator left you hanging with a ''To be continued . . .'' episode. What's worse, the writer did this to you deliberately, for chapter 29 happened chronologically before chapter 28. So now, we're ready for the rest of the story!

1. David's rejection by the Philistine leaders (29:1-11). Our ''to be continued'' episode picks up at the battle scene: ''Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek, while the Israelites were camping by the spring which is in Jezreel. And the lords of the Philistines were proceeding on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were proceeding on in the rear ...

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