CHARACTER IN ACTIONS (21 OF 52)
Scripture: 1 Samuel 26:17, 1 Samuel 27:1
This content is part of a series.
Character in Actions (21 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part 3
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Samuel 26:17-27:1
A leopard cannot change its spots, we are told. That does not mean people cannot change. It does, however, indicate that changes in character are difficult for us at best. How do we deal with people who claim a change we cannot see occurring? We know God calls us to grace and mercy, but what does that look like in regard to people who seem toxic and change-resistant, despite repeated claims of personal renewal and transformation?
The Biblical narratives regarding David are somewhat conflicting at times. We have more than one story attempting to introduce David as Yahweh's anointed, just as we have more than one story claiming to introduce David to Saul. These reflect different narrative traditions preserved for us with no attempt at reconciliation. After all, the purpose of these narratives is not to present the hard, cold, carefully studied facts of history. These are theological narratives concerned with presenting us with the character and identity of Yahweh and Yahweh's purposes for us. In these Davidic narratives, we discover something of what it means to live in concert with Yahweh's purposes, often by the very contrast the narratives present between David and Saul. The history of the accounts is actually accidental to these larger purposes.
However these conflicts originated, we find in these narratives that Saul was at odds with David. Saul saw him as competition for Israel's throne. Saul's ego and insecurity are highlighted time and again as fragile realities, seeing enemies where none existed and purposelessly expending resources to make Saul feel more secure with little thought to what was best for the nation or in concert with the will and priorities of Yahweh. Repeatedly, we find David fulfilling kingly responsibilities for providing national security, while Saul merely sought to defend his position as king.
In today's passage, we enco ...
Series: Discipleship Part 3
Christopher B. Harbin
1 Samuel 26:17-27:1
A leopard cannot change its spots, we are told. That does not mean people cannot change. It does, however, indicate that changes in character are difficult for us at best. How do we deal with people who claim a change we cannot see occurring? We know God calls us to grace and mercy, but what does that look like in regard to people who seem toxic and change-resistant, despite repeated claims of personal renewal and transformation?
The Biblical narratives regarding David are somewhat conflicting at times. We have more than one story attempting to introduce David as Yahweh's anointed, just as we have more than one story claiming to introduce David to Saul. These reflect different narrative traditions preserved for us with no attempt at reconciliation. After all, the purpose of these narratives is not to present the hard, cold, carefully studied facts of history. These are theological narratives concerned with presenting us with the character and identity of Yahweh and Yahweh's purposes for us. In these Davidic narratives, we discover something of what it means to live in concert with Yahweh's purposes, often by the very contrast the narratives present between David and Saul. The history of the accounts is actually accidental to these larger purposes.
However these conflicts originated, we find in these narratives that Saul was at odds with David. Saul saw him as competition for Israel's throne. Saul's ego and insecurity are highlighted time and again as fragile realities, seeing enemies where none existed and purposelessly expending resources to make Saul feel more secure with little thought to what was best for the nation or in concert with the will and priorities of Yahweh. Repeatedly, we find David fulfilling kingly responsibilities for providing national security, while Saul merely sought to defend his position as king.
In today's passage, we enco ...
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