Reading
SAA Notes
Kinsmen of Saul joined David even while he was at Ziklag serving with Achish King of Gath. National leaders began to flock to David in his exile. Some of those serving with the Philistines returned with David. Look again at the list of Jesus’ 12 disciples. You will find similar men.
SJA Notes
* Mighty God, to You we lift up our eyes, You who are enthroned in the heavens!
“… For there was joy in Israel.”
The exiles, a handful of Israelites, had returned to a broken Jerusalem, a temple destroyed and needing to be rebuilt.
What does the Holy Spirit have for them in this passage?
God reminds them of David.
Israelites reading this were no doubt struggling with sorrow, with lamentations. They had spent seventy years weeping by the rivers of Babylon!
Here God points them to joy.
As God raised up David and gave to him a great army, so the foretold Messiah would bring about joy in Israel (see the woman and Jesus in John 4, at the well of Jacob), amongst God’s people – In a deeper and far better way than even David brought.
These passages helped the exiles, and they help us today to look forward!
For us, it is looking forward to that glorious day in the new heavens and new earth – When our God will dwell with us in all fulfilment, we with Him, His people. No more crying, no more weeping and lamentations. The final building of God’s kingdom in truth!
* Father God,
Thank You for pointing us back to David.
You are the one who then and now builds Your kingdom.
Please teach us today, a little more of You.
Amen.