Hero and Horror – Making of a King

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It took nine pages in my Bible. Six chapters, 1 Samuel 18 to 23, tell the story of David’s David052rise from being a hero to the Most Wanted List then to acting like a King.

Drama

This journey is marked with great drama and powerful emotions. Here are some of the action words or ideas that can be found in these six chapters: joy, galled, anger, betrayal, fear, bold rescues, grief, love, friendship, daring escapes, fiend insanity, ruthless pursuit, murder, and jealousy.   Michal, Saul’s youngest daughter, is a big part of this drama. She “loved” David but Saul knew he could use her as a snare to kill him. She helped David make a daring escape but I find it interesting that she never tried to flee Saul and go to David’s side. I believe that since David was a songwriter he used the things in his life to be the inspiration for his songs. I could attribute fifteen psalms to this time of drama.

Keilah

The story of Keilah is the story of David starting to act like a king. In the time it is set with the Feast because a harvest was happening, which is what the Philistines were after – the grain. Keilah must have been an important city because it had “bars and gates” and a population big enough to “hand David over” to Saul. On most maps, David’s hideout is only a few miles from the city. To compare Saul and David here is appropriate; David went to the city and liberated it from the enemy but the Bible never mentions Saul going there to check on the population.

David

In Chapter 23 we see David growing as a leader and David’s men learning to trust him as a leader. There is a difference between saying someone is your leader and then actually following him into battle. David’s habit of asking God for directions is mentioned at least five times in this story. It would seem that David had a prophet named Gad and after the victory in Keilah the priest of God named Abiathar and Aaron’s Breastplate (the ephod) to give Heaven sent answers.

David gained much knowledge and help from his willingness to free Keilah.

  • He found out that just because God had you do something it does not mean the people will be thankful, the citizens of Keilah would have turned him over to Saul.
  • David learned that you follow God just because He says to do it. This will lead to God’s bragging on you and not praise from men.
  • David learned to keep his options open and to ask more than one time for directions.
  • On the practical side, he picked up 200 more men, the Philistine’s supplies, and a new enemy.

Ziphities

David’s new enemy was the Ziphities. They were descendants of Caleb and a leading clan in Judah. They were going to turn David over to Saul even though David rescued Keilah. The reason could have been many but jealousy and fear of losing prominence within the Tribe of Judah possible were factors. David penned Psalm 54 over this incident and with phrases like, “Let evil recoil on those who slander me” verse 6 (NIV); it is clear there was no love loss. The word Ziph deals with flowing asphalt. This was found around the Dead Sea and brings to memory its trapping ability when Bera’s men fled in Genesis 14:10 and fell into tar pits.

Abiathar

He is a priest (Aaron’s family) and a member of the house of Eli (1 Samuel 2:30). He was faithful to David during his life but did not agree with Solomon as king. He sided with Adonijah so Solomon removed him and his family from being a priest (1 Kings 2:22). It is possible that his family being killed was going on at the same time as David rescuing Keilah; compare 1 Samuel 22:20 with 23:6.

Take Away

For me, the BIG thing in this story is that David, acting independent of Saul, showed compassion and concern for the people of Israel. This is the first recorded time that he did what a king would have done, save a city.

http://clipart.christiansunite.com/1379673661/Bible_Characters_Clipart/David_Clipart

The Bible and Science – Scars

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“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20: 27(NIV)

Jesus had scars! This may seem trivial but as part of His resurrection, His wounds went through a process in less than three days that would take us days, weeks, or months. Anytime we have a deep or large wound we will scar. There are several factors that will determine its appearance: age, location, genes, sex, and depth.

Wounds (especially deep ones) lead to scars it is part of the healing process. Applying oils may help if applied during the healing process. Having a physician surgically produce the scar will allow them to use special techniques to change its appearance.

If the healing process is defective a keloid is produced. This is an unsightly scar that is thick, itchy and is a bump.

For the spiritual side of this process let the Holy Spirit (oil) help in the healing process. If the Master Healer is involved let Him do His work so the wound heals well.

∞ Jesus, thank you for healing and for help with the scars. Amen.

http://www.medicinenet.com/scars/article.htm

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/skin/cosmetic-procedures-scars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scar

The Bible and Science – Healing Wounds/Proliferation and Maturation

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He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

Keeping in the “vein” of comparing physical wound healing to spiritual I will combine the last two phases into one topic. These phases do overlap in the real world anyway. NOTE: Caring for the wound is important, cleaning and protecting it will speed healing and reduce infection and reinjury. (See Wounds) and (Inflammation)

In studying healing of wounds you will see the term collagen throughout the entire process. From clotting to scar formation collagen keeps showing up. Collagen is a protein. It forms connective tissue and in healing it is the groundwork for cells to move along as the wound closes and new skin is laid down. The composition of collagen speaks to this whole idea of healing. It is a three-strand helix, two similar in composition and the third one slightly different. What a great picture of the Trinity, at least for me, the Father and the Son very similar and the Holy Spirit similar but to me He always seems something just a little unique. Wounds must have collagen to heal properly as it lays down fibers to strengthen the clot and provides for the wounds ability to pull itself closed and for the cells to attach to in forming skin. These fibers form along stress or tension lines that are natural in our skin. (I thought those terms were interesting in the light of spiritual healing. Also the term collagen comes from the glue making process of old; this is when they boiled animal parts it make glue.)

In the proliferation stage when cells are being made to fill in the wound it seems they comeLeishmaniasis_ulcer from the edges of the wound and are made by hair follicles, nerves, and sweat glands. This is interesting because in a scar there are no hair follicles, nerves, and sweat glands, which does present challenges for the body in terms of temperature control, etc. Spiritually, I think that everything that is needed to heal a wound may not be present after the problem is closed. In this phase the wound contracts the edges closing the injured area. If this contracting continues to long a really ugly scar happens and possibly loss of function. This contraction does not necessarily happen uniformly but that just allows for organization of cells on the collagen. In the spirit if we allow ourselves to “close up” to much it is not good, so if God is not in the foundation of this healing it could have to be “cut out” and allowed to heal again.

As the wound “matures” the collagen rearranges and cross-links. This phase will vary in time depending on the initial wound and the care it received, and it may never be as strong as it was originally. When a spiritual wound is “maturing” people may think all kinds of things like “why aren’t you back to full speed” or “you’re a little touchy” but they are not allowing you to heal at your own rate. It is true that you will have to use the injured area but it may never be the same.

During the maturation phase an interesting term showed up it is “apoptosis.” This is when the body is using a controlled process to kill cells that are no longer needed and it is to the body’s advantage to do this. What is needed during a healing process is not always needed after the healing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wound_healing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collagen

PIC: By Layne Harris.Helsmack at en.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

The Bible and Science – Healing Wounds/Inflammation

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I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. Jeremiah 33: 6b (NIV)

The second phase of healing a wound (there are four) is inflammation. Inflammation means to ignite or set on fire. The process is part of our body’s defense system and actually helps to heal a wound or injury. After a wound has occurred (blood is clotting) the small blood vessels change and allow blood (plasma, blood proteins, and white cells) to enter the area around the injury – it swells. This increase in fluids (blood) accompanies or causes pain, Screen Shot 2015-07-02 at 11.39.12 AMloss of function, redness and a “hot to the touch” sensation. Discharging pus is a part of this process. We tend to try and control/stop inflammation but it is needed after a wound for healing; if inflammation does not get rid of the problem or continues that is chronic inflammation and can lead to other health issues.

The parallels of physical inflammation to spiritual inflammation are noteworthy. After the initial shock of a wound, we will feel pain, possibly stop doing things, and be touchy; these are natural but it is because “life” (blood) is trying to flood back in. We may/should let loose bad stuff (pus) as part of our healing. In this stage, if we don’t get rid of “stuff” it will stay around and cause other more serious problems or at least delay our healing.

∞ Lord Jesus, we know wounds will come but thank you for healing. Holy Spirit thank you for taking ALL things and using them to bring us closer to Jesus and the Father. Amen.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248423.php

Pic:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflammation#/media/File:Wintertenen.jpg