This week we
will continue the study of the entire Book of I Samuel in the Old Testament.
(1) Why did David wish to save the people of Keilah which was among the villages of the western hills of Judah (see Jos. 15:44)?
(2) V. 6 remarks that as the son of the high priest fled to join David, he brought him the ephod. What might be the significance of this to David, especially when he wished to save the people of Keilah?
(3) Why did David feel the need to enquire of the Lord?
(4) Why did he enquire of the Lord again, when his people were afraid to fight the Philistines?
(5) What was the result of this campaign, and what should it mean to the following people?
a. David
b. His followers
c. The people of Keilah
(6) Now Saul and all Israel must have heard of David’s victory over the Philistines in Keilah:
a. What impact should it have on Israel as a whole?
b. What impact should it have on Saul?
c. What impact should it have on the people of Keilah? Do you think they would betray David?
(7) What does it tell you about Saul in that he seemed to pursue David at this time in the name of God?
(8) It is understandable that David would enquire of the Lord. It seems to be his attitude of not making major decisions without enquiring the Lord:
a. But why did he ask if the people of Keilah would surrender him to Saul?
b. Unfortunately, the Lord’s answer was affirmative: Why would the people of Keilah betray the one who had just saved them?
(9) Why did David decide to run, instead of confronting the people of Keilah and/or fighting against Saul?
(10) How many men did he have now, as he hid in the tract of desert that was between Judah and the Dead Sea (the town of Ziph is about 1¾ hours to the south-east of Hebron)?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
本週我們繼續研讀舊約撒母耳記上；請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 為何大衛欲救猶大山地以西的基伊拉人(參書15:44) ？
(2) 第6節提到大祭司亞希米勒的兒子亞比亞他逃到大衛那裡時，是「手拿著以弗得」。這對大衛有什麼重要？
(3) 為何在去救基伊拉人前，大衛覺得需要先求問耶和華？
(4) 為何在跟隨他的人恐懼猶疑之際，他再求問耶和華？
(5) 這次的勝利對以下各人有甚麼重要的意義：
a. 大衛本人？
b. 大衛的跟隨者？
c. 基伊拉人？
(6) 掃羅與眾以色列人得悉大衛這次勝利的消息，該對以下各人有甚麼重要的意義：
a. 全以色列？
b. 掃羅？
(7) 掃羅現在趁機要追殺大衛，竟說：「神將他交在我手裡了」。你有什麼感想？
(8) 我們實在看到大衛是事事都求問耶和華的，但是：
a. 為何他會求問他剛拯救的基伊拉人會否將他交在掃羅手中？
b. 為何基伊拉人會這樣做？
(9) 為何大衛選擇逃跑，而不是去教訓基伊拉人，或與掃羅對抗？
(10) 現在大衛逃到猶大地與死海之間的西弗曠野(西弗希伯侖東南面附近的一個城市) 。他的軍力有多少？
(11) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar, the priest, ‘Bring the ephod'.” (1 Sam. 23:9)
When David was fleeing to the Philistines, he made a stop at Nob which apparently cost the life of almost the entire family of the high priest (22:18-19). However, it was inevitable, because if David was to be made the king of Israel, the priest had no choice, but to change his allegiance from Saul to David. If even Samuel had to fear for his life in anointing another king (16:2), the danger faced by the high priest is understandable.
As it turned out, God protected Abiathar, one of the sons of the high priest, Ahimelech, and he was able to escape and fled to join David (22:20). This meant a lot to David, because with the death of Ahimelech, Abiathar automatically became the high priest. With Abiathar’s presence and his ephod (23:9), David was able to officially enquire of the Lord, which he did before making every military move.
David enquired if he should attack the Philistines to save the people of Keilah (23:2, 4); he enquired if the rumor of Saul’s attack was real (23:11); and he enquired if the citizens of Keilah would betray him (23:12). This not only shows David’s total reliance on the Lord in his battle, it also shows his total obedience to the will of the Lord.
One can imagine what his men would say, knowing that the citizens of Keilah would betray them, “Have we not said we should not attack the Philistines to save the people of Keilah? [23:3] ... Look, now that they are willing to surrender you to Saul, we should not have saved them [23:12]!”
But since, the delivering of the people of Keilah was the result of enquiring of the Lord not once, but twice, David’s men could not make such a remark, and David had the assurance that he acted exactly according to God’s will. David understood that results are never the measuring stick of right or wrong, only obedience is!
「大衛知道掃羅設計謀害他，就對祭司亞比亞他說：將以弗得拿過來。」(撒上23:9)
大衛逃難到非利士地時，他選擇先到挪伯，卻因此連累大祭司一家被掃羅所殺(22: 18-19) 。其實，這是不能避免的，因為若是大衛正式要取代掃羅為王的話，大祭司是要作抉擇，按神的旨意效忠大衛的。甚至撒母耳，當神吩咐他另膏大衛時，他也懼怕被掃羅所殺(16:2) ；所以大祭司所要面對的危險是可以了解的。
不過在神的憐憫下，大祭司其中的一個兒子亞比亞他能逃到大衛那裡(22:20) 。這對大衛是有重大的意義。因著亞希米勒的死，亞比亞他自然就成為大祭司；他既帶同以弗得到大衛那裡，，大衛就能正式的求問神(23:9) 。事實上，我們看到大衛真的事事求問神。
這裡我們讀到大衛連欲拯救基伊拉人也先求問神(23: 2,4)；他也把憂慮到基伊拉人會否出賣他而求證於神(23:12) 。這一切不但顯出大衛對神完全的信靠，更顯出他對神的旨意完全的順服。
其實這樣的事事求問神，對軍心也是重要的。試想如果基伊拉人真的有機會出賣大衛的話，跟隨他的人定會埋怨說：「我們豈不早叫你不要拯救他們嗎？(23:3) 看哪，他們現在要出賣你(23:12)，為何當初要救他們呢？」
但是因為大衛在拯救基伊拉人之前，曾兩次的求問神，跟隨大衛的人就無話可說了；大衛也確知自己實在按神的旨意而行。故此，他也明白到，事情的對與錯，與後果無關；重要的是要尋求，並遵行神的旨意！
(1) While David was running for his life, why did Jonathan show up to see him?
(2) Read carefully the words spoken by Jonathan to David:
a. In what way(s) did his words help David find strength “in God”?
b. In what way(s) are you touched by the words of Jonathan?
(3) Based on the geographical location of Ziph, its people ought to belong to the tribe of Judah, David’s own tribe. Why would even they seek to hand him over to Saul?
(4) How would David feel about it?
(5) How did Saul react to the Ziphites’ offer to help him? How does it speak to you concerning a person who knew the Lord had left and rejected him?
(6) How did God intervene this time to save David?
(7) Who was, in fact, the most important enemy of Saul and Israel?
(8) Did he really have to pursue David? What other options did he have?
(9) Instead of focusing on fighting against the real enemy of the people of God, Saul chose to waste his time fighting against David, creating internal division and turmoil:
a. Is the church today any different from Saul and his supporters?
b. What have you learned from David, especially when you are caught in the middle of a church’s conflict?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 聖經說，在大衛逃難時，約拿單要來找他的原因是什麼？(見23:16)
(2) 請細思約拿單對大衛所說的一番話：
a. 這番話怎樣使大衛「倚靠神得以堅固」？
b. 這番話最感動你的是什麼地方？
(3) 按地理環境來看，西弗人實屬大衛所屬之猶大支派，為何竟會出賣大衛？
(4) 大衛對此會有什麼感受？
(5) 掃羅對西弗人的效忠有什麼反應？你對這自知已被神厭棄的王之良知有什麼評價？
(6) 這一次神是怎樣營救大衛呢？
(7) 其實，掃羅和以色列人真正的敵人是誰？
(8) 掃羅是否必須追殺大衛來保國位？他有其他的選擇嗎？
(9) 掃羅不把精力放在與非利士人的爭戰，反而專心的來追殺大衛，引至國內分裂：
a. 你認為今天的教會與掃羅和以色列的境況相似嗎？
b. 從大衛身上，我們可以學到什麼重要的榜樣？
(10) 今天你得到的提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David in Horesh and helped him find strength in God.” (1 Sam. 23:16)
Jonathan not only demonstrated to us what true friendship is in Christ, but he also exemplified to us what true humility is.
As his father, Saul, continued to seek
after David’s life, the Bible highlights his concern for David by pointing out
that he came to David as “Saul’s son” (23:16). Indeed, as the son of Saul and his capable assistant, Jonathan was sure
to succeed Saul and that was openly affirmed by Saul (20:31). Yet, he totally
disregarded who he was and his future, and was concerned only for the safety of
David and the will of God. This was
fully demonstrated in the following words of encouragement to David in 23:17.
- “My father will not lay a hand on you”: This does not mean that he believed his father will stop pursuing David, but that he would not be able to succeed. Why? Because David “will be king over Israel”. His confidence was not in David’s ability to escape, but in the faithfulness of God’s promise. Jonathan knew that it was God’s will that David would be king, and so no one, including Saul could thwart the will of God.
- “I will be second to you”: No, Jonathan was not trying to secure his future role in David’s kingdom (unlike the sons of Zebedee in Matt. 20:20ff). As the heir-apparent to Saul, this shows his great humility. He was willing to be second to David as his servant.
- “Even my father knows this”: There is no doubt that Saul knew of his rejection by God and the anointing of David in his place. I believe Jonathan was telling David that his commitment to David and his deference to David as his king was known to his father. That means Jonathan was totally on David’s side, even risking his relationship with his father and his own safety. This reminds us of what the Apostle says of the humility of Christ (Phil. 2:6-7), and in a small way Jonathan resembled Christ in that he, being in every essence a king, did not consider equality with his father, Saul, something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very role of a servant. This is true humility!
No wonder, Jonathan told David, “Don’t be afraid” and that he had come to help him “find strength in God” (23:16). No, Jonathan had not brought with him thousands of troops to help David, but he had become the messenger of God to reassure David of God’s unswerving promise, and with his true humility, he had brought David encouragement that was far better than a thousand fighting men.
「掃羅的兒子約拿單起身，往那樹林裡去見大衛，使他倚靠神得以堅固。」(撒上23:16)
約拿單冒著危險到西弗曠野探望大衛，不但顯出他對大衛的真摯友情，更顯出他的謙卑。
聖經特別在這裡刻劃出約拿單不是一個普通人，乃是「掃羅的兒子」(23:16) 。是的，約拿單不但是掃羅的兒子，更是他爭戰中極重要的幫助；而且掃羅自己親口論到約拿單是他的承繼人(20:31) 。但約拿單完全不理會自己的身份和自己的將來，只關心大衛的安危，和神的旨意。他在23:17對大衛說的話，就充份把這些表明出來：
- 「我父掃羅的手，必不加害於你」：這不是說，他相信掃羅會停止追殺大衛，乃是他相信掃羅的追殺是不會成功的。為什麼呢？因為「你必作以色列的王」。他的信心不是放在大衛逃命的能力，乃是放在神應許的信實！他知道大衛作王是神的旨意，沒有任何人、包括掃羅在內，能攔阻神的旨意。
- 「我也作你的宰相(或譯第二位/NIV)」：約拿單在此不是為他自己的將來鋪路，與西庇太的兩個兒子絕然不同(太20:20ff) 。身為掃羅王位承繼人的他，竟願作大衛的僕人。
- 「這事我父掃羅知道了」：當然掃羅是心知自己已被神所厭棄；大衛已被神膏立來代替他。不過我相信約拿單這裡所指，是掃羅知道約拿單對大衛的效忠，他是以大衛作他的王的。換句話說，約拿單已決定站在大衛那邊，甘願犧牲父子的關係，和自己的性命。這叫我想起使徒保羅論到基督的謙卑的一番話(腓2:6-7) 。約拿單是有稍似基督的謙卑，因他本有王的位份，卻不以與王同等為強奪的。反倒虛己，取了僕人的樣式。這是真正謙卑的表現！
故此，約拿單告訴大衛「不要懼怕」，他來見大衛真的是要「使他倚靠神得以堅固」(23:16) 。對，約拿單沒有帶著千軍萬馬來幫助大衛，但他卻成為神的使者來提醒大衛，神的應許是確實的；更藉著他完全的降卑，帶給大衛的鼓勵是遠勝千軍萬馬！
(1) How many men did Saul choose to resume his pursuit of David? He is now in En Gedi which is in the middle of the west coast of the Dead Sea (See Jos. 15:62).
(2) When Saul went into the cave where David and his men were hiding to relieve himself, David’s men saw this as a “God-given” opportunity. Would you agree? Why or why not?
(3) Did David see it as a “God-given” opportunity? What did he do with it?
(4) Why was David conscience-stricken afterwards? Would you be? Why or why not?
(5) Would you not have taken this chance to kill Saul?
(6) What then was the difference between you and David?
(7) If you were one of his men, how would you feel about the following?
a. David’s action
b. David’s conscience
c. David’s rebuke of you
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 現在，大衛藏身在死海西岸的隱基底。掃羅動用了多少精兵來捉拿他？
(2) 當掃羅進洞大解，跟隨大衛的人視為耶和華所賜的良機，你同意嗎？為什麼？
(3) 大衛同意嗎？他決定怎樣利用這良機呢？
(4) 大衛只割下掃羅外袍的衣襟，為何竟會「心中自責」？你會嗎？為什麼？
(5) 你會趁機殺掉掃羅嗎？
(6) 你與大衛有何分別？
(7) 如果你是跟隨大衛的人，你會對以下有什麼感受：
a. 大衛錯失良機？
b. 大衛良心的自責？
c. 大衛對你的責備與攔阻？
(8) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.” (1 Sam. 24:5)
Whether David should waste such a golden opportunity (as far as his men were concerned, it was more than a golden opportunity, but a God-given opportunity) to get rid of Saul is in itself a big question, but for him to feel “conscience-stricken” for simply cutting off a corner of Saul’s robe is indeed unthinkable. But it shows what a soft heart David had — a heart that is so tender and pure that it can feel the guilt of the slightest sin of life! What a rarity, not only in his time, but for all times!
On the contrary, Saul’s heart was growing harder and harder by the day, incapable of genuine contrition even in the face of severe rebuke by Samuel and the obvious rejection by the Lord as king. As we read the rest of 1 Samuel, we see that his relentless pursuit of David did not stop after repeated mercies shown by David in sparing his life (see chapters 24 and 26 of 1 Samuel). What a contrast of conscience!
Perhaps, we should pause and examine our conscience, asking, “Is it more like David’s or Saul’s?”.
- Are we bothered by questionable things that we do, say, see or think?
- Instead of being conscience-stricken, do we attempt to rationalize them?
- Are we so busy that we do not have time even to examine our hearts? Remember busyness hardens one’s heart.
- Have our hearts hardened so that we have not felt conscience-stricken for a long, long time?
No wonder David is called “a man after God’s own heart”! (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22)
「隨後大衛心中自責，因為割下掃羅的衣襟……」(撒上24:5)
大衛是否應該放過這個大好良機，不把掃羅殺掉，相信是跟隨他的人當中極具爭議的問題；何況他們看這個是耶和華所賜的良機(24:4) 。但是對我們來說，大衛竟因單單割下掃羅外袍的衣襟而「心中自責/conscience-stricken」，就更大惑不解了。無可否認，大衛有的是一顆極柔弱、單純的心；對罪的敏感是極其少有、也極其可貴的！
相反地，掃羅的心是變得越來越剛硬了。面對撒母耳的直斥，和神明明的厭棄，卻無動於衷！當我們繼續讀到他對大衛的追殺，雖然多次被大衛反以恩慈對待，饒他的命，他卻心硬如鐵。他的心與大衛的心是何等的不同！
或許，我們應該停下來自省：我的良心，是像大衛的還是掃羅的？
- 我們的良心有否因自己所想、所言、或所作「有問題」的東西而感到不安？
- 我們是因而心中自責，還是找藉口原諒自己？
- 我們是否忙碌到一個地步，沒有停下自省的時刻？(要記得，忙碌是導至心硬化的重要原因)
- 你的心是否已硬化多時，很久沒有被聖靈感動呢？
無怪聖經稱大衛為「合神心意的人」(撒上13:14; 徒13:22) 。
(1) When David showed his face to Saul:
a. How did he address Saul (v. 8 and v. 11)?
b. What was his posture?
c. What does this say about David?
(2) David’s speech to Saul was both heart-felt and honest:
a. Whom did he put the blame on? (v. 9) Why?
b. Did he recognize that it was God who delivered Saul into his hands? (v. 10)
c. What reasons did he give Saul for choosing not to kill him? (v. 10)
d. How did he declare his innocence? (v. 11)
e. Whom did he call on to be the judge between them (v. 12)
f. How did he deprecate himself before Saul? (v. 14) Why?
g. To whom was his appeal ultimately directed to? (v. 15)
(3) Without reading further, what might you speculate as Saul’s response?
(4) Seriously, what options were now opened to Saul?
(5) Consider Saul’s response carefully:
a. How did Saul address David in return? (v. 16)
b. Why did Saul weep?
c. How did he express his repentance, obviously before everyone there? (v. 17)
d. What did David do that had left him ashamed? (v. 18-19)
e. What did he confess about his knowledge of his own fate? (v. 20)
f. What was his plea to David? (v. 21)
(6) Do you think Saul’s actual response was genuine? Why or why not?
(7) “Now Samuel died” (25:1). Let’s use the remainder of our time to reflect on the life of this great man of God:
a. Can you recall how his birth came about? How special was it? (1 Sam. 1)
b. Under what conditions was he brought up as a child? (1 Sam. 2 – 3)
c. What significant and momentous changes were brought by Samuel in terms of (i) the resumption of God’s speaking to Israel (3:19-21), (ii) the resumption of theocracy, (iii) and yet also the beginning of monarchy?
d. If you were Samuel, looking back at what happened in your life, what would you say to the Lord?
e. If you were to write the epitaph of Samuel, what would you put on his tombstone?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 當大衛呼喚掃羅時：
a. 他怎樣稱呼掃羅？(24:8, 11)
b. 他怎樣朝見掃羅？
c. 這表明大衛怎樣看掃羅和自己？
(2) 大衛對掃羅所說的一番話，是出於真誠的，也是動人的：
a. 他把事件歸咎於誰？為什麼？(24:9)
b. 其實大衛是否知曉是神把掃羅交在他手中？(24:10)
c. 他不殺掃羅的原因是什麼？(24:10)
d. 他怎樣證明自己的無辜？(24:11)
e. 他求誰作公正斷定？(24:12)
f. 他怎樣在掃羅前自卑？(24:14) 用意何在？
g. 他表明他最終的倚靠是誰？(24:15)
(3) 如果你尚未讀下文，你猜想掃羅會怎樣回應呢？為什麼？
(4) 老實說，掃羅當時可以選擇作什麼？
(5) 請細思掃羅的回應：
a. 掃羅怎樣稱呼大衛？
b. 為何掃羅當眾放聲大哭？
c. 他怎樣公開承認自己的錯？(24:17)
d. 大衛作了什麼叫他感到羞愧？(24:18-19)
e. 他是否早知自己的命運？(24:20)
f. 他現在向大衛發出什麼請求？(24:21)
(6) 你認為掃羅的反應是出於真誠嗎？為什麼？
(7) 25:1告訴我們「撒母耳死了」。讓我們用一點時間來思想他的一生：
a. 你尚記得他的誕生有什麼特別之處嗎？(第1章)
b. 他是在什麼環境中長大的呢？(第2-3章)
c. 他的出現，帶給了以色列歷史上什麼重大的更新：
i. 在神給以色列的啟示方面？(3:19-21)
ii. 在重新建立對耶和華的敬拜和摩西律法的遵行？
iii. 在以色列建立首次的君主制？
d. 如果你是撒母耳，你會怎樣看自己的一生？
e. 若要為他寫墓碑文，你會寫上什麼的話？
(8) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him at his home in Ramah.” (1 Sam. 25:1)
The death of Samuel happened at a time of great internal uncertainties in Israel, with Saul, the king rejected by God, continuing to pursue the God-anointed king, David. One wonders who was there to intercede for the nation? Who was there to give aid to David? However, I believe Samuel had served his generation well and had left behind a legacy that would continue to steer Israel onto the right path. Allow me to share with you the thoughts of Jamieson, Fausset, Brown about the legacy of Samuel as follows:
“…after a long life of piety and public usefulness, having left behind him a reputation which ranks him amongst the greatest of Scripture worthies. He stamped his own character on that of his age and country, being the foremost man, the great influential leader in the political, ecclesiastical, literary and religious world. As a man, he was remarkable through life for his eminent holiness, his energy, and indefatigable activity, his dignified consistency, and his devotional habits which, commencing in his childhood, grew with his growth and strengthened with his strength. As a magistrate, he embodied in all his public acts the principles of the theocratic constitution; and called as he was to hold the reins of government at a time of newly-acquired liberty and independence from foreign domination, his uniform object was to realize amongst his countrymen the idea of the chosen generation, the holy nation, the royal priesthood, the peculiar people. In relation to the Church, his influence was no less beneficial than lasting; for, at a period of great and prevailing corruption, he effected a thorough reformation of religion, re-establishing the authority of the Mosaic law, by enforcing the regular observance of the ordinances of worship, especially by instituting the schools of the prophets, from which a supply of young teachers duly qualified for instructing the people in sacred knowledge and psalmody, was obtained, and in the formation of as well as subsequent continuance of which a great step was taken in the progressive development of the scheme of grace…In short, Samuel’s ministry was an epoch in Israel (Acts iii, 21; xiii, 20); and many of the lessons taught, or measures contemplated by the prophet, and which David learned while resident in Naioth, were afterwards introduced by that king, amongst other arrangements he made for improving the sacred music.”
(JFB, 199-200)
「撒母耳死了，以色列眾人聚集，為他哀哭，將他葬在拉瑪─他自己的墳墓裡。」(撒上25:1)
撒母耳死亡的時刻，也是以色列內部極不穩定的時刻：掃羅已被神厭棄，但他仍死守王位，並忙於追殺神所膏立代替他的大衛。我們不禁的問：還有誰為以色列禱告？(12:23) ？還有誰能堅固大衛？
不過，撒母耳已盡忠的服侍他的世代，並且留下佳美的腳踪，讓以色列人跟隨神走在正路上。容許我與你們分享解經家Jamieson, Fausset, Brown對撒母耳的評價：
“(撒母耳) 渡過敬虔，對國家有用的一生，並在聖經中留下值得欽佩的名聲。他的品格深深印在他的世代和國家的生命中，是那時代顯赫的人物、具重大影響力的政治、宗教和文學領袖。他的生命刻劃著聖潔、動力、勤勞、信實可靠和禱告的習慣。這些是他從小已開始培養的，且隨著年日，力上加力的增長。作為施法者，他的治國是以神的話語為國綱，被神呼召在這不再受外敵統治的新時代作執政者；他一直以帶領國民成為神的子民、聖潔的國民和祭司的國度為目標。在宗教方面 ，他的影響是既有幫助，也是長久的：就是在那極腐敗的世代，他推行了澈底的宗教改革、重建摩西律法的權威、恢復敬拜的儀式、更設立了先知學校，栽培了一批年青、有資格的教師來教導百姓聖經的知識和詩歌—堅立了後世對恩典的認識……簡而言之，撒母耳為以色列帶來了新的開始(徒3:21; 13:20) 。大衛在拉瑪停留時，從先知所學到的教訓、典範，對大衛日後的施政影響甚深，也影響他對聖樂的貢獻。”
(JFB, 199-200)
Now David moved down to the Desert of Maon (or Paran) which is the northern part of the desert of Arabia which stretches up to the mountains of Judah (Num. 10:12). There, he had an encounter with a man named Nabal of Carmel, which is not likely to be the Carmel in the north-western tip of Israel, but “Kurmul” on the mountains of Judah, “scarcely half an hour’s journey to the north-west of Maon” (K&D, 526).
(1) Given the unsettled time they lived in and given the biblical description of this man, Nabal, what would it take for him to grow into such wealth and to maintain his prosperity?
(2) From the conversations in this story and what we have been told in previous chapters, we know that David had already gained fame: It was public knowledge that Saul had pursued him and that even Saul confessed that David was chosen by God to be king (24:20). Therefore what should Nabal have done to David and his men during this festive time of sheep shearing, given that they were neighbors and that he had benefited greatly from David’s protection?
(3) What does it say about Nabal that David had to send his men to “remind” him of their needs?
(4) What Nabal did that so enraged David:
a. Was it his refusal to give provisions to him and his men?
b. Was it his intentional words of insult?
c. Was it what his words represented?
d. Was he not afraid of David at all? What was he counting on?
e. How did his own servant describe him? (25:17)
f. How would you describe him?
(5) Do you think David would be justified in killing Nabal? (25:21-22) Why or why not?
(6) As we know, the men of David were a bunch of malcontent “losers” (22:2), but from the description given by the servant to Abigail in vv. 14-17, what did these men turn out to be?
(7) What did Abigail do right away upon hearing what her servant said? What was she trying to achieve? Why did she not tell her husband?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
在撒母耳死後，大衛下到巴蘭的曠野，即亞拉伯曠野的北面，延伸至猶大的山區(民10:12) 。在迦密(非以色列西北之迦密山，乃瑪雲西北附近的一個城市) ，他遇見一個名叫拿八的人。
(1) 昔逢在那動盪的時代，和按聖經對拿八的形容，你以為他能至富，並繼續享福的原因何在？
(2) 從這故事的內容和前文所述，大衛的名聲已是傳遍全國；掃羅追殺大衛，卻承認大衛是神所選立的王，是人所共知的(24:20)。故此，大衛既選擇該地為他停留之處，也保護拿八所擁有的一切。據理來說，在剪毛的歡樂季節日子，拿八對這準皇帝應有什麼表示？
(3) 但現在反要大衛主動的派人來向他問安，我們可以看到拿八是個怎樣的人？
(4) 大衛因何故大動肝火：
a. 因拿八拒絕送糧？
b. 因他故意出言侮辱？
c. 拿八這番話代表什麼？
d. 難道他不怕得罪大衛嗎？他是否有所恃？
e. 他的僕人怎樣形容他？(25:17)
(5) 大衛動怒要殺拿八，你認為對嗎？為什麼？
(6) 我們都知道跟隨大衛的人本屬污合之眾(22:2)，但從僕人對亞比該說的話中，我們可以看到他們變成了怎樣的一群？
(7) 亞比該聽了僕人陳說後，立刻怎樣作？目的是什麼？為何選擇不告訴丈夫？
(8) 今天你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was surly and mean in his dealings.” (1 Sam. 25:3)
Many people misunderstand the Bible as a book that puts down women. Nothing can be further from the truth. While God has certainly established a certain social order based on gender (as the Apostle Paul points out in 1 Tim. 2:13), it does not mean that women are inferior in the eyes of God. In fact, time and again, the Bible shows us that women are often the first to come to faith in Christ (e.g. Acts 16:15; 17:12 etc.) and in the Old Testament, some wives are far more pious and discerning than their husbands. The mother of Samson is a case in point (Jdg. 13:23) and Abigail is another. While Samson’s mother alleviated the fear of her ignorant husband, Abagail saved the life of her foolish and wicked husband.
The Bible calls Abigail an intelligent woman (1 Sam. 25:3) and her intelligence was seen in these ways:
- Not telling her husband what she was about to do (25:19): I do not think it was a case of ignoring her husband, but a case of knowing that her husband was “such a wicked man that no one can talk to him” (25:17). If Nabal knew what she was going to do, he would have stopped her to his own demise.
- Pleading with David to let the blame be on her alone (25:24): She knew that David was a God-fearing man and that he would not kill the innocent. By diverting the focus to herself, she knew David would spare her and her family.
- In courageously pointing out the grave sin that David was about to commit: Even David had to admit afterwards that she had kept him from bloodshed, and “from avenging myself with my own hands” (25:33).
Abigail was indeed a caring, intelligent and courageous woman — a true blessing to her husband!
「那人名叫拿八，是迦勒族的人；他的妻名叫亞比該，是聰明俊美的婦人。拿八為人剛愎凶惡。」(撒上25:3)
好些人誤以為聖經是貶低女性的。其實這與事實完全相違。對，神確是在社會裡按性別設立了一些先後的次序（如保羅在提前2:13所指出），但這並不表示女性在神的眼中是次等的。事實上，聖經就常常提到，姊妹們許多時是首先接受主的（如徒16:15; 17:12等等) 。在舊約中，更有很多的婦女，她們的虔敬和屬靈的分辨力是遠勝丈夫的：如參孫的母親（士13:23）和這裡的亞比該。參孫的母親叫無知的丈夫心安；亞比該更救了愚蠢和腐敗的丈夫之性命。
聖經稱亞比該是個聰明人（撒上25:3），這是我們可以從以下的經文看見的：
- 她沒有事先告訴丈夫她將作的事（25:19）：她不是不尊敬她的丈夫，而是她知道丈夫“性情兇暴、無人敢與他說話的(或作能說服他的)”(25:17) 。如果當時拿八知道妻子要作的事，他一定攔阻；
- 她情願罪單歸於自己(25:24) ：她深知大衛是敬畏神的，不會妄殺無辜。她知道這樣的求，大衛必會放過她和她的一家；
- 她更勇敢的指出大衛正陷於犯大惡的邊緣：故此連大衛也被迫同意的說：「妳和妳的見識也當稱讚，因為妳今日攔阻我親手報仇，流人的血」(25:33)
是的，亞比該確是一個有見識和勇敢的婦女—是她丈夫的祝福！
In trying to save her husband’s life, Abigail acted on her own and demonstrated why the Bible calls her “intelligent” (25:3).
(1) How did Abigail describe her husband? (v. 25) Should she have said that?
(2) What were the first words that Abigail said when she met David? Why did she add that she did not see the messengers whom David sent to talk to Nabal? (v. 25)
(3) What she said in vv. 26-31 was of great significance, because it revealed that her action was not aimed to save her husband’s life only, but also for David’s sake:
a. How did she affirm God’s choice of David as the king of Israel?
b. Why did she mention the “sling”? (v. 29)
c. What had she prevented David from doing?
d. Can you see her intelligence in her words and action?
(4) What did David appreciate most in Abigail? Why?
(5) When Nabal was sober and heard his wife’s story, why did his heart fail and become like a stone? What kind of a person does this reveal about him?
(6) The Bible says, “the Lord struck Nabal and he died” (v. 38): Why does the Bible clearly attribute the death of Nabal to the Lord? What might be the message, especially given what David said in v. 39?
(7) The death of Nabal followed by David’s request to take Abigail as his wife obviously shows David’s great admiration of both the intelligence and beauty of Abigail, however, the Biblical author chooses to tell us that David did have another wife named Ahinoam (though his former wife, Michal, had been taken away from him by Saul). What might this additional appendix do to this otherwise beautiful story?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
為要救護丈夫和家人，亞比該獨自行事，卻充份顯出為何聖經說她是個聰明的婦人(25:3) 。
(1) 她怎樣稱自己的丈夫？(25:25) 她是否該如此說？
(2) 亞比該一見大衛，首先說的是什麼？為何卻加上解釋大衛初次派人來見拿八時，她是不在場的？(25:25)
(3) 她在25: 26-31所說的一番話是重要的：
a. 她怎樣提醒大衛他的身份？(25:28)
b. 她為何特別提到「機弦甩石」？
c. 她不單是要救丈夫的性命，也要救大衛。何解？
d. 你看到她的聰明機智嗎？
(4) 你認為大衛對亞比該最敬佩的是什麼？
(5) 為何拿八在酒醒後，聽到妻子的話後，竟然嚇得魂不附體，如石一般？難道這是他料不到的嗎？
(6) 聖經說，「耶和華擊打拿八，他就死了」。為何神要擊殺拿八？這裡的信息是什麼，特別鑒於大衛在第39節所言？
(7) 這故事以大衛娶亞比該為妻作結束，本是美事；為何卻加上註腳說：「大衛先娶了耶斯列人亞希暖」呢？
(8) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel and they both were his wives.” (1 Sam. 25:43)
Undoubtedly, the character of Abigail was admirable, and the admiration of David for her intelligence and beauty was also understandable. The death of Nabal by an act of God allowed David the rightful opportunity to take Abigail as his wife. It was, indeed, a beautiful story, except that the Biblical author chooses to add at this very time the fact that “David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel and they both were his wives" (25:43). I believe this appendix to this otherwise wonderful story is not accidental. Allow me to share with you the thought Matthew Henry has about this appendix:
“Lastly, on this occasion we have some account of David’s wives.
1. One, that he had lost before he married Abigail, Michal, Saul’s daughter, his first, and the wife of his youth, to whom he would have been constant, if she would have been so to him, but Saul had given her to another (v. 44), in token of his displeasure against him and disclaiming the relation of a father-in-law to him.
2. Another that he married besides Abigail (v. 43), and, as should seem, before her, for she is named first, ch. 27:3. David was carried away by the corrupt custom of those times; but from the beginning it was not so, nor is it so now that Messias has come, and the times of reformation, Matt. 19:4.
3. Perhaps Saul’s defrauding David of his only rightful wife was the occasion of his running this irregularity; for when the knot of conjugal affection is once loosed, it is scarcely ever tied fast again. When David could not keep his first wife he thought that would excuse him if he did not keep to his second. But we deceive ourselves, if we think to make others’ faults cloak for our own.”
(Matthew Henry’s commentary, 428-9)
「大衛先娶了耶斯列人亞希暖，他們二人都作了他的妻。」(撒上25:43)
亞比該的品格無異是藉得仰慕的。大衛仰慕她的聰明和美貌，當然是可以理解的。神既擊殺了拿八，大衛便有機會娶亞比該為妻。這實在是一個很美麗的故事。但聖經的作者卻加上註腳說：“大衛先娶了耶斯列人亞希暖，他們二人都作了他的妻。”（25:43）我相信聖經在這原本美麗的故事加上註腳，並不是偶然的。容許我與你們分享解經家Mathew Henry 就此的感受：
“最後，在此(聖經)對大衛的妻子有所交代：
1. 在與亞比該結婚之前，大衛失去了米甲—掃羅的女兒，大衛幼年所娶的妻。如果掃羅沒有將她再許配他人（v. 44），以表示不喜悅與他有任何關係，更不承認與他有岳父的關係，相信大衛是會忠於這妻子的。
2. 在亞比該之前（v. 43），大衛已另娶一妻(27:3) 。看來大衛是受當時社會腐敗風氣所影響。聖經明說神對婚姻在起初並不是這樣，現在基督已來更要改變這風氣 。見馬太福音19:4。
3. 或者掃羅將大衛的原配另配他人，促使大衛對婚姻持放縱的態度。誠然，在婚姻這方面上一有所鬆懈，是難以重新勒緊的。當大衛失去自己的首任妻子，他以為便有藉口來對第二個妻子不忠。其實，如果我們以別人的錯來掩蓋自己的罪，這是自欺。”
(Matthew Henry’s commentary 428-9)
(1) The last time we read about Saul’s pursuit of David, it was in Desert of En Gedi with David sparing the life of Saul, and Saul openly recognizing his wrong (24:17-21). If Saul was sincere about his confession then, why didn’t his “repentance” last? How does it speak about the human heart? (See Jer. 17:9)
(2) How much might Saul be encouraged to pursue David with the repeated betrayal of David by the Ziphites (of Judah)? (23:19-20)
(3) Presumably, Ahimelech, the Hittite, and Abishai, son of Zeruiah (David’s sister — see 1 Chr. 2:16) were close confidants of David:
a. Why did David ask one of them to go with him to the camp of Saul?
b. What did he wish to achieve?
c. Was Abishai aware of David’s plan?
(4) They were able to get rather close to Saul, close enough that Abishai was confident of striking Saul with his spear:
a. We know why David would not harm Saul the first time (24:10); shouldn’t Saul’s breach of his promise change it all?
b. What additional explanation did David give about how he anticipated Saul’s demise and death in vv. 10-11?
c. What great lessons can we learn from David?
d. To what does the Bible attribute such a successfully stealth expedition? (v. 12)
(5) Why did David challenge Abner first, instead of Saul directly?
(6) In his plea to Saul, David (i) once again declared his innocence, (ii) reminded Saul that his action was not incited by God, (iii) lamented that he was forced to flee to a foreign land and to foreign gods, and (iv) likened himself to a flea and a partridge (26:18-20):
a. Can you tell what approach he was taking?
b. What did he ultimately wish to achieve?
c. What can we learn from his example?
(7) Compare Saul’s response here in v. 21 with his previous response in 24:16-21:
a. Can you tell what might be the main difference between them?
b. Do you think that this time Saul will keep his words? Why or why not?
(8) In response to Saul’s “confession”:
a. Did David “go back” as requested by Saul? Why?
b. Whom did he ask to deliver his life in the future? Why?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
請慢慢細心讀每天指定的經文至少兩遍，然後反復思考問題。
(1) 上一次我們讀到掃羅追殺大衛時是在隱基底，結果是大衛饒了掃羅一命、掃羅也在眾人面前大哭認錯(24:17-21) 。如果當天掃羅是真心認錯，為何這「悔改」不能持久？這給我們對人心有什麼的領會？(可參耶17:9)
(2) 你認為與西弗人再次的煽動有關嗎？(23:19-20)
(3) 看來赫人亞希半勒和洗魯雅(大衛的姊姊) 的兒子亞比篩是大衛的親信：
a. 大衛為何要求他們與他同下到掃羅營裡去？
b. 大衛此舉要達到什麼目的？
c. 你認為亞比篩知道大衛的用心嗎？為什麼？
(4) 他們竟能接近掃羅卧處，甚至亞比篩相信只要一揮槍就能刺透掃羅在地：
a. 我們知道大衛為何當初不願殺死掃羅(24:10) 。但這次是掃羅反口，縱然被殺也不能怪怨大衛。你說對嗎？
b. 但大衛卻沒有改變初衷；他在第10-11再加以什麼作解釋呢？
c. 從他這番話，我們可以學到什麼重要的功課？
d. 聖經告訴我們，大衛之能靜靜偷去掃羅的槍和水瓶的原因是什麼？(26:12)
(5) 為何大衛先向押尼珥發出挑戰？
(6) 在大衛對掃羅的陳詞中，他(i) 再先表明自己的的無辜、(ii) 提醒掃羅他自己並非被神所激動、(iii) 慨嘆自己被迫留居在外邦神之地、(d) 並以虼蚤和鷓鴣自比(26:18-20) ：
a. 你可以看到他向掃羅自白的心態是什麼嗎？
b. 他終極的盼望是什麼？
c. 我們可以從他身上學到什麼榜樣？
(7) 至於掃羅在這裡的回應，請與他先前一次(24:16-21) 的回應作比較：
a. 兩次的回應最主要的分別何在？
b. 你以為掃羅這一次真能守約嗎？為什麼？
(8) 大衛怎樣回應掃羅的認錯呢？
a. 他真的回到掃羅那裡嗎？為什麼？
b. 他表明會怎樣處理他們二人之間的事？
(9) 今日你得到的主要提醒是什麼？你會怎樣應用在你的生命中？
“But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed...” (1 Sam. 26:11)
Twice, David had the opportunity to put away Saul for good which would have ended the danger to his life, put an end to his life as a fugitive, and likely enabled him to assume the throne as the anointed king of all Israel. He did not even create these opportunities; they were, as his people made clear, given to him from God.
On the one hand, if he chose to spare Saul’s life, he would be most foolish, because given Saul’s pride, wickedness and influence from the evil spirit, he would only continue to pursue his life till he killed him. Given the difference in number of their fighting men and the general tendency of the people to still obey Saul (the Ziphites were a prime example), the chance of David being killed by Saul was very great. What’s more, David was putting his own men at risk. No sane person, no responsible leader should spare the life of his enemy! But David understood very clearly he was responsible first and foremost to the Lord! He feared the Lord, and no one else!
Repeatedly, he made it very clear that Saul was the anointed of the Lord (24:10; 26:9): We know only kings, prophets and priests were anointed by God in the Old Testament. With such anointing, they were set apart for God and thus belonged solely to God and no one could touch them; even if they sinned against the Lord, they remained God’s property! Yes, David knew that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, but to him, even this did not change the fact that Saul still belonged to God! As a result, he explained to Abishai how one should treat those who belonged to God: “the Lord Himself will strike him, either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish” (26:10). In other words, he fully believed that God would deal with Saul in His own timing and in His own way. If he should lay his hand on the Lord’s anointed, he would be playing God (26:11).
I wonder, in our zeal to deal with the perceived wrongs of God’s servants in the church, what important lessons might we be able to learn from David? Food for thought!
「我在耶和華面前，萬不敢伸手害耶和華的受膏者。」(撒上26:11)
大衛有兩次機會可以除掉掃羅，免去自己生命受危害，也不需要再逃亡，更順理成章的被按立為以色列王。我們要知道，這兩次的機會，不是他自創的，正如他的士兵所言，是神所給予的。
反過來說，若他選擇饒掃羅一命，以掃羅的驕傲、奸惡和受鬼魔的靈的影響，他一定會繼續去追殺大衛的。以他們雙方人數的差距，和以色列人對掃羅的效忠（西弗人是一個很好的例証），大衛被殺的可能性是相當之高。還有，大衛這樣饒掃羅的命，豈不更叫跟隨他的人受到危害？一個正常的人、一個有責任感的人，一定會殺掉危害自己性命的敵人。大衛卻清楚明白，他首要的責任是向神負責；除神以外，他不會畏懼任何人。
他不停的提醒自己，掃羅是神所膏立的（24:10, 26:9）：只有君王，先知和祭司在舊約時代是神所膏立的。這樣的膏立說明他們是分別出來，單單屬神的；沒有人可以踫他們。雖然他們會犯了罪得罪神，他們仍是神的產業！對，大衛知道神的靈已離開掃羅，但在大衛來說，掃羅仍是屬神的！所以他向亞比篩解釋應當讓神處理祂所膏立的人：「他或被耶和華擊打，或是死期到了，或是出戰陣亡」（26:10）。換句話說，他相信神自己會在祂的時候和用祂的方法去對付掃羅。若他伸手去對付掃羅，他就是把自己當作神了（26:11）。
我們常常甚熱衷的要在教會中處理犯了錯誤的神僕；不曉得大衛對掃羅的態度，是否也有我們要學習的地方呢？