04 | February | 2019 | This Year's Bible Reading Guide

On the drive to church, David and I were daydreaming about improvements to the house. We could:

Add another garage stall.
Add dormers to the roof.
Add window boxes.
Add a brick overlay to the foundation.

“I have enough of the discontinued brick for the foundation at the front of the house,” David suggested. (He’s suggested this before.)

As I climbed out, I replied, “If we can’t do the entire foundation, I don’t want to do it at all. You can see the side of the house when you come up the street!”

I turned and saw the sound man 3 feet from me. I leaned into the van to get my music and said, “We can’t argue now. Cam can hear us!” Then I laughed. (We weren’t arguing but our discussion had increased in volume!)

I could not get angry. I had to choose to let it go. I just can’t play when I’m mad.

* * * * * * *

Saul was a good object lesson. We read that Saul got angry. I could see that everything got worse and worse as he held on to his anger.

Saul became angry, 18:8.
He took it as a personal insult, 18:8.
He became quite beside himself, raving, 18:10.
He tried to kill David – twice, 18:11.
He feared David, 18:12.
He sacrificed his children, promising Merab to David, 18:17.
He reneged on his promise, 18:19.
He used his second daughter, Michal as bait, 18:21.
He ordered his servants to lie and manipulate David, 18:22.
His fear increased and turned into hate, 18:29.
He ordered his son and servants to murder David, 19:1.
He tried again to kill David, 19:10.
He sent men to kill David in his own bed, 19:11.
He told his men to bring David in his bed to him and he would kill him, 19:15.
He stripped and rambled gibberish before Samuel for 24 hours, 19:24.
He exploded in anger, 20:30.
He called his wife a slut, 20:30.
He tried to kill his heir and best friend, 19:33.

1 Samuel 20:32-33, “Jonathan stood up to his father. ‘Why dead? What’s he done?’ (33) Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. That convinced Jonathan that his father was fixated on killing David.” The Message

* * * * * * *

2 Samuel 1:23, “Saul and Jonathan – beloved, beautiful! Together in life, together in death! Swifter than plummeting eagles, stronger than proud lions.” The Message

What can I do with my anger? Take it to God.

Psalms 34:5, “Look at Him, give Him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from Him.” The Message

To keep from dwelling on it, I need to do something else. I need to keep my peace.

Psalms 34:14, “Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace – don’t let it get away.” The Message

How do you diffuse your anger?

#bible

David drove to Des Moines for our niece’s birthday party. We had a great time and lunch at the “Cheesecake Factory.”

While we were in town, I picked up a few things at Office Max, Hobby Lobby, and Penney’s. After driving home, David limped back into the house at 4:45 p.m.

The Volunteer Banquet was at 6 pm in Mt. Pleasant. Derek and Rachel rode with us. I volunteered to drive.

Driver’s Ed started as I backed out of the garage. (David and Derek were my instructors and they didn’t even agree with each other!)

As I turned on to the bypass, one of them said, “I would have waited for that oncoming car.”

“Me, too,” the other quipped.

“Why aren’t you using the cruise?” (There were wet areas on the highway and we ran into fog earlier. I dutifully turned it on.)

I noticed a car coming up behind me pretty quickly. I was overtaking the pickup in front of me. I switched lanes. The pickup sped up! (Boy, did I get harassed.)

“It’s illegal to drive in the left lane.”

The pickup slowed back down on a hill and I easily passed him without increasing my speed. I switched back to the right lane and the car behind me whizzed by.

A car tailgated me as I exited to Mt. Pleasant. I lowered the cruise to the correct speed limit and ignored him.

At the light on the square, a van came up to his red light too fast. I swerved instinctively. He managed to stop before the intersection but blocked the crosswalk. Both instructors yelled at me.

I stopped at the door to let my passengers out. One of the ushers asked if David had lost his license. (No.)

* * * * * * *

The banquet had a Carnival theme. David headed for the corner and rang the bell with the sledgehammer.

I decided to try it. I swung the sledgehammer behind my back and hit the lever. It surprised me how far the marker went up. I tried again.

The third time, I widened my stance. I put all my frustration from my backseat drivers in that swing and tinked the bell.

“Congratulations! You are one of the few women who rang the bell!” (I’ve been lifting weights – 8-pound weights.)

A sledgehammer is not a tool I normally use. I use a claw hammer. But, if I keep working with heavier and heavier weights, the next time I will ring that bell.

1 Samuel 18:3-4, “Jonathan, out of his deep love for David, made a covenant with him. (4) He formalized it with solemn gifts: His own royal robe and weapons – armor, sword, bow, and belt.” The Message

* * * * * * *

“There was more to Saul’s offer of the royal armor and sword to David than meets the eye (1 Samuel 17:38-39). …when Saul offered David his armor, he would have been understood by Israelite culture as offering David his own position as king of Israel. The transfer of clothing signified a transfer of status. …(1 Kings 9:19)… But David could not wear the armor or the sword; he was not ready to rule, even though he already had the favor of God and the courage to defend Israel. By returning the military gear, David showed that he did not intend to replace Saul as king. …Eventually, however, David would be king. When Saul’s son Jonathan covenanted with David, the transfer of clothing and armor was repeated, but with a different result (1 Samuel 18:1-4).” Chronological Study Bible Notes.

* * * * * * *

“…with the acceptance of the sword of Jonathan, David became who Jonathan was. David was now the heir apparent to the throne. …Jonathan acknowledged that God’s decision had been made: David was to rule rather than himself and he was willing to step aside. …Saul began sending out David to battles he had previously fought himself. …(1 Samuel 18:5). …Saul began to refer to David as ‘my son’ (1 Samuel 24:16; 26:21).” Chronological Study Bible Notes

I was not ready to combine my blogs in 2017. I will get another opportunity.

Social media pulls me into too many directions: