His Own Royal Robe and Weapons

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.)

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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

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“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.

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“…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: