1 Samuel 25
Samuel dies and is mourned by all of Israel 1. (The last 'judge' of Israel is now gone). David and his men come to Carmel. They protect the herds of Nabal who was a descendant of Caleb, though he certainly did not act like him. Nabal was wealthy, selfish, and mean 2-3. David asks for some provisions, since he and his men protected Nabal's stuff 4-8. Note: I do not know if this was customary to provide in this way or if they had a spoken or unspoken agreement that Nabal refuses to keep. Nabal rejects David and his men comparing them to slaves who run away from their masters 9-10. David, in anger, is about to destroy Nabal for this kind of treatment 12-13. Abigail (Nabal's wise wife) prepares a gift for David 14-19. Note: The wealth Nabal must have been much for her to put together such a large gift so quickly. So would Nabal really have missed any of these things in providing for David, if she gives them so freely ? Abigail comes to David and intercedes, pleading with David not to avenge himself in this matter, lest he have bloodshed on his hands as king 20-31. David responds correctly to the wise pleadings of Abigail as he discerns the Lord's hand in this as well 32-34. David accepts the gift she offers 35. Abigail informs Nabal of her doings 36. He has a heart attack and the Lord strikes him down 10 days later 37. Thus, the Lord avenges David 39. Note: Nabal is indeed a fool and a wicked man, just look at his actions and what others saw in him 10-11,17a,21b,28,36. David asks Abigail to marry him, which she does 40-44. He also takes another wife also. (I guess one was not enough). Note: Several truths I see illustrated here: some, not all, who gain wealth do so because they are wicked; the principle that the Lord will avenge the wrong doers when a system of justice fails; also it is wise to wait on the Lord to act in such cases, lest in haste, we sin by taking matters into our own hands. (see: Deuteronomy 32:34-35 & Romans 12:16-21)

1 Samuel 26
The Ziphites tell Saul where David is hiding. This stirs him to action, seeking David in order to put him to death 1-2. David learns where Saul is camping with his 3,000 choice men 3-4. Saul is surrounded by his men and the commander of the army 5. David and Abishai enter the camp as the men sleep. He comes right to Saul and takes the spear that was stuck in the ground near Saul's head. David refuses to take Saul's life but defers to the Lord who will take care of Saul in the manner He chooses 6-12. They were able to enter the camp because the Lord caused a deep sleep to come on the men 12b. David calls out to Abner, who he says was negligent in protecting the king 13-16. Saul recognizes David's voice 17. David responds with questions for Saul as to why he is pursuing him ? David could accept this if it was from the Lord but if incited by men, he curses them 18-19. He asks for Saul not to kill him 20. Saul 'repents' 21. David shows, again, how he spared Saul's life by displaying the Saul's spear (which he could have used to kill him while he slept) 22. But David knows that his life, as well as Saul's is in the Lord's hand 23-24. Saul blesses David and they go their own ways 25. Note: We have more insight into the character of David who refuses to over step the bounds that the Lord has put in place. He will not touch the Lord's anointed, but commits Saul to the Lord and lets Him dealt with him. Oh, how I need more faith and confidence in the Lord to be like David. Noye: While I am not being pursued by an enemy, I still need to commit all my ways to Him; waiting on God to fulfill some of His promises to me in Christ.

1 Samuel 27
The account in this chapter appears out of character for David since he goes and lives among the Philistines. Was he becoming discouraged, weary in fleeing, loosing faith ? I notice the self focus of the opening verse (1): 'thought to himself' 'Saul will on day destroy me' 'The best thing I can do is escape to the land Philistines'. Note: Even a man after God's own heart can face dark and trying days where his faith grows weak and his confidence in the Lord grows dim. Achish, king of Gath gives David Ziglag as a place for him to live 5-6. David lived in Philistine territory for one year and four months 7. He kept busy raiding various places that God had told Israel were to destroy 8-9. He did not tell this to Achish lest he turn on David 10-11. Achish trusted David and thought that his own people had rejected him and would serve him 12. I do not know the significance of this account. I have more questions than insights. Help me to understand this Lord.

1 Samuel 28
The Philistines once again come against Israel to wage war with them. David is with Achish and the Philistines. Achish makes David his bodyguard for life 1-2. Meanwhile, Saul comes to what I consider the lowest point in his life. Israel camps at Gilboa and Saul seeks the counsel of the Lord. The Lord does not answer him at all 3-6,15b. Saul then stoops to consulting a medium who lived at Endor 7. (This was an abomination to the Lord, Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Saul disguised himself but ends up being recognized. The medium is asked to bring up (contact) from the grave. I would suggest, in this case, that the Lord allowed this medium to be able to do this considering her reaction 12-14. Nothing that Samuel says appears deceptive. In fact, the words of the Lord are reaffirmed and Saul and his sons' death are foretold 16-19. Saul is filled with fear at this words and his strength left him 20. The woman urges Saul to eat. She prepares him and the men food. They eat and leave that same night 21-25. Note: When one abandons God to go his own way; nothing is off limits or beyond what that person will do. Just read Romans 1:18-32. It is always a depraved and downward progression. The more one opens himself to the lies of Satan, the more he will be deceived and sink lower into sin. Also, this should warn everyone to never consult a medium or spiritist.

1 Samuel 29
The Philistines ready for battle against Israel and David and his men are with Achish and the Philistines 1-2. The Philistine rulers do not trust David and tell the king to send him away, lest he join Israel and attack them 3-5. Note: They know David's reputation 5. Achish explains this to David, who surprisingly objects 6-8. Note: What was in David's mind that he would call his own people (Israel) enemies 8b ? Would he really have fought against his own nation ? Achish, though praising David, sends him and his men away 9-11. Note: We see in this account how the Lord can work even when He is not named. It is my opinion that the Lord used these objections to keep David from fighting against His (God's) people. What 'roadblocks' does the Lord set up in our lives to keep us from doing evil or wrong ? Maybe we should stop and consider, 'maybe the Lord does not want me to do this'.

1 Samuel 30
As David and his men arrive back at Ziklag they find that their town had been raided by the Amalekites. They took captive all their families and along with their things. The city was burned 1-5. The men talk of stoning David 6. They probably reached a breaking point. David 'found strength in the Lord His God' 6b. Had David been ignoring the Lord to this point or was this his practice all along ? I suggest this was a turning point for David and he gets his focus back on the Lord. Note: The Lord is gracious in that He answers when we turn to Him and call upon Him. He will never leave us nor forsake us ! The Lord assures David of victory 7-8. Some of David's men (200) are too exhausted to go on and fight. They remain at Besor 9. An Egyptian is helped by David and becomes a guide to them 11-15. David shows grace. David and his men fought and recovered everything. Everything is recovered, nothing is lost is repeated 16-20. Note: The Lord is able to restore  in full that which was lost. As they return to the men left at Besor David gives them a share of the plunder over the objections of some. The statute David established is 'share and share alike' 21-25. David also sends gifts to over 14 peoples and places where he and his men had roamed 26-31. In the message David sent with the gift he notes this is 'from the plunder of the Lord's enemies' 26b. Which makes me wonder if he regained a proper perspective (the Lord's) on what he was to be doing. Note: David shows kindness and grace in this account which indicates the Lord's work in his heart.

1 Samuel 31
The Philistines fight against Israel and win. Saul is critically wounded in battle and commands his armor-bearer to kill him, He refuses so Saul takes his own life by falling on his sword 1-4. What a sad end to a life that was lived in defiance of the Lord. He continually rejected the Lord at every opportunity given to him by God to obey and do what was right. Note: Without being insensitive or overly simplistic, I suggest that those who take their lives are individuals who have lost all hope, as did Saul. Before getting to that point, call out to the Lord, who in mercy and grace, hears and can rescue from the 'deepest waters' and lowest of points.
The Israelites fled and abandon their cities 7. (The land God gave them is now in the hands of their enemies, just as He said -Deuteronomy 28:25). The Philistines behead Saul and hang his body and those of his sons on the wall at Beth Shan. They celebrate by putting Saul's armor in the temple of their idols 10. Note: When the enemies of the Lord win a victory it appears that He can be defeated. However, the defeat is not of God, but His people who suffer as a result of disobedience. The Lord is never dethroned nor overcome. The valiant men of Jabesh Gilead remove their bodies and give them a proper burial at Jebesh 11-13. They also fast for seven days as part of their mourning 13. Saul the first king of Israel had no heart for God and his dynasty end. David, the next king, is a man after God's own heart and his kingdom is established and endures because the Lord Himself will build and uphold it. This we will read about as we enter the book of 2 Samuel.