 |
| David, Abishai and Saul |
Amici, Americani, Compatrioate,
We had a visiting priest from Columbia, SC at our parish, Our Lady of Grace, while Father Kirby was on pilgrimage to give a talk out of town at a Divine Mercy conference. When we have had substitute priests from St. Matthew’s in nearby southern Charlotte, invariable we receive liberal progressive Catholicism-lite with the usual anecdotal stories on the priest’s family or his favorite football team or whatever. Little if any exposition of Sacred Scripture is provided, and what does issue forth is along the theme of “Jesus is your buddy” instead of “Jesus is the Lord God Almighty.” But thanks be to God yesterday’s Vigil Mass with this visiting priest was refreshingly different. The gentleman was older, perhaps retired. He gave us his name and sadly I didn’t hear it well. He ran a very reverent and respectful Novus Ordo Mass. And he gave a barely five minute talk on the Gospel passage for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time that was so packed full of truth that I had to go back to my Bible at 4 am this morning to study what he meant. Below are my notes on that study.
You can read today’s Scripture passages here:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022419.cfm
David Spares Saul a Second Time: 1st Samuel 26
The Lord Kind and Merciful: Psalm 103
Earthly and Heavenly Beings: 1st Corinthians 15:45-49
Love Your Enemies: Luke 6:37-3
To get a proper view of what the visiting priest was saying about turning the other cheek, I also read:
Esau Sells His Birthright: Genesis 25:29-34
Birth of Amalek: Genesis 36:12
The Amalekites Attack the Israelites: Exodus 17:8-16
The First Time David Spared Saul: 1st Samuel 24
Nabal and Abigail: 1st Samuel 25
Saul Consults a Medium: 1st Samuel 28
Saul’s Death: 1st Samuel 31
Nabal and Abigail: 1st Samuel 25
Saul Consults a Medium: 1st Samuel 28
Saul’s Death: 1st Samuel 31
Haman the Agagite in Esther
Father explained to us that when the Lord told His disciples to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek, He didn’t intend for them to become doormats and not defend themselves against unlawful aggression. Rather, Father explained, we must have an interior heart of forgiveness, not holding grudges and not seeking revenge. With that briefest of explanation, he ended the homily. What he said however, only makes sense if you look at the relevant Old Testament readings which Jesus’ audience, being devout Jews, would have known and understood intimately.
You see, Saul was the first King of Israel. But he disobeyed God. He was supposed to defeat and destroy the Amalekites. These people were descendants of Esau (son of Isaac and brother of Jacob) who had sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. The Amalekites had harassed and attack the Israelites after Hebrew exodus from Egypt and during the wandering in the desert. So, God’s wrath burned against the Amalekites and He ordered Saul to wipe all of them out. But when Saul had won victory over them in battle, he spared their king, Agag and while he did destroy everything that was worthless, he took for himself the best of the Amalekite livestock and provisions as his spoil. By doing this, he allowed the eventual rise (hundreds of years later) of a descendent of Agag named Haman who was a vizier in the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). This man plotted the genocide of the Jews but was thwarted by Queen Esther. King Saul’s disobedience almost led to the extermination of God’s Chosen People.
So how does this all tie into “turn the other cheek.” Well, you have to understand that the prophet Samuel had told Saul that the kingdom of Israel had been torn away from him because of his disobedience and given to another – obviously David. Saul was filled with jealousy at that and pursued David throughout the land, intending to kill him. During one such pursuit, Saul had to relieve himself in a cave which was the vey place where David and his men were hiding. But Saul was unaware of it, and as he went about his business, David cut the hem of his cape off. David’s men urged him to slay Saul (since David was destined by God’s will to be the new king anyways), but David said no, he would not touch the Lord’s anointed. This is very important: even though Saul had disobeyed God and was under the sentence of defeat and death, he remained the Lord’s anointed. So David turned the other cheek and after Saul left the cave, David came out with his men and said, “What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!” Saul, feeling foolish and humiliated, then asked David to spare his descendants when he would become king and David so promised. But consistent with what the visiting priest told us at Vigil Mass, David and his men went separately from Saul to their own stronghold. They didn’t trust Saul and they defended themselves.
The story of Abigail and her husband Nabal (whose name means fool) is likewise interesting. Nabal was a rich landowner whom David and his men had protected. Being hungry and worn out from all the conflict, David sent his men to ask Nabal for provisions but was rejected. So David was filled with wrath and intended to exact vengeance. But Abigail heard about this and gathered provisions to help David and his men. When David met her and saw her intent, he spared both her and Nabal. He turned the other cheek. But in the end, God had the last word. Nabal had gotten drunk that night at a party, so Abigail waited till morning to tell him that David would have come to wipe him and his possessions out if it were not for her intercession. Scripture says, “At this his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. About ten days later the LORD struck Nabal and he died.” Being merciful to one’s enemies doesn’t mean that justice won’t be served.
Then for a second time Saul sent out in pursuit of David. Saul was never a man of his word. One night during the pursuit, Saul and his 3000 men made camp to sleep. David and Abishai stole into Saul’s camp under the cover of darkness. Seeing Saul’s spear and water jug beside his head as he lay sleeping, Abishai asked David to allow him the plunge the spear through him just once; he wouldn’t need a second try. David again said not for Saul was still the Lord’s anointed until the Lord Himself removed him. But David did take Saul’s spear and jug of water, and after leaving the camp, awoke everyone by crying out to Abner, Saul’s servant, that he had both spear and water jug and thus Abner deserved to die for failing to provide adequate protection for his master. Again, Saul admitted, “I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will not harm you again, because you considered my life precious today even though I have been a fool and have made a serious mistake.” But even though David had turned the other check, he still didn’t trust Saul’s entreaty to return. So, Scripture says that David and his went their way, and Saul returned to his place.
Scripture goes on to explain that Saul seeks to talk with Samuel (who is now deceased) visits the Witch of Endor, asking her to conjure up Samuel’s spirit. The witch does so, and Samuel declared to Saul, “Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel, and you as well, into the hands of the Philistines. By tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will have delivered the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” The last chapter in the book of 1st Samuel records that Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines. And the 1st chapter in the book of 2nd Samuel says, “David seized his garments and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.” David always defended himself and his men, but David likewise always turned the other cheek. That’s what the visiting priest at Our Lady of Grace meant yesterday evening.
Be a forgiving and merciful David, not a vengeful and spiteful Saul. But don’t be a doormat. Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16
Father explained to us that when the Lord told His disciples to love their enemies and to turn the other cheek, He didn’t intend for them to become doormats and not defend themselves against unlawful aggression. Rather, Father explained, we must have an interior heart of forgiveness, not holding grudges and not seeking revenge. With that briefest of explanation, he ended the homily. What he said however, only makes sense if you look at the relevant Old Testament readings which Jesus’ audience, being devout Jews, would have known and understood intimately.
You see, Saul was the first King of Israel. But he disobeyed God. He was supposed to defeat and destroy the Amalekites. These people were descendants of Esau (son of Isaac and brother of Jacob) who had sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. The Amalekites had harassed and attack the Israelites after Hebrew exodus from Egypt and during the wandering in the desert. So, God’s wrath burned against the Amalekites and He ordered Saul to wipe all of them out. But when Saul had won victory over them in battle, he spared their king, Agag and while he did destroy everything that was worthless, he took for himself the best of the Amalekite livestock and provisions as his spoil. By doing this, he allowed the eventual rise (hundreds of years later) of a descendent of Agag named Haman who was a vizier in the Persian empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). This man plotted the genocide of the Jews but was thwarted by Queen Esther. King Saul’s disobedience almost led to the extermination of God’s Chosen People.
So how does this all tie into “turn the other cheek.” Well, you have to understand that the prophet Samuel had told Saul that the kingdom of Israel had been torn away from him because of his disobedience and given to another – obviously David. Saul was filled with jealousy at that and pursued David throughout the land, intending to kill him. During one such pursuit, Saul had to relieve himself in a cave which was the vey place where David and his men were hiding. But Saul was unaware of it, and as he went about his business, David cut the hem of his cape off. David’s men urged him to slay Saul (since David was destined by God’s will to be the new king anyways), but David said no, he would not touch the Lord’s anointed. This is very important: even though Saul had disobeyed God and was under the sentence of defeat and death, he remained the Lord’s anointed. So David turned the other cheek and after Saul left the cave, David came out with his men and said, “What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!” Saul, feeling foolish and humiliated, then asked David to spare his descendants when he would become king and David so promised. But consistent with what the visiting priest told us at Vigil Mass, David and his men went separately from Saul to their own stronghold. They didn’t trust Saul and they defended themselves.
The story of Abigail and her husband Nabal (whose name means fool) is likewise interesting. Nabal was a rich landowner whom David and his men had protected. Being hungry and worn out from all the conflict, David sent his men to ask Nabal for provisions but was rejected. So David was filled with wrath and intended to exact vengeance. But Abigail heard about this and gathered provisions to help David and his men. When David met her and saw her intent, he spared both her and Nabal. He turned the other cheek. But in the end, God had the last word. Nabal had gotten drunk that night at a party, so Abigail waited till morning to tell him that David would have come to wipe him and his possessions out if it were not for her intercession. Scripture says, “At this his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. About ten days later the LORD struck Nabal and he died.” Being merciful to one’s enemies doesn’t mean that justice won’t be served.
Then for a second time Saul sent out in pursuit of David. Saul was never a man of his word. One night during the pursuit, Saul and his 3000 men made camp to sleep. David and Abishai stole into Saul’s camp under the cover of darkness. Seeing Saul’s spear and water jug beside his head as he lay sleeping, Abishai asked David to allow him the plunge the spear through him just once; he wouldn’t need a second try. David again said not for Saul was still the Lord’s anointed until the Lord Himself removed him. But David did take Saul’s spear and jug of water, and after leaving the camp, awoke everyone by crying out to Abner, Saul’s servant, that he had both spear and water jug and thus Abner deserved to die for failing to provide adequate protection for his master. Again, Saul admitted, “I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will not harm you again, because you considered my life precious today even though I have been a fool and have made a serious mistake.” But even though David had turned the other check, he still didn’t trust Saul’s entreaty to return. So, Scripture says that David and his went their way, and Saul returned to his place.
Scripture goes on to explain that Saul seeks to talk with Samuel (who is now deceased) visits the Witch of Endor, asking her to conjure up Samuel’s spirit. The witch does so, and Samuel declared to Saul, “Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel, and you as well, into the hands of the Philistines. By tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the LORD will have delivered the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” The last chapter in the book of 1st Samuel records that Saul and his son Jonathan died in battle against the Philistines. And the 1st chapter in the book of 2nd Samuel says, “David seized his garments and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.” David always defended himself and his men, but David likewise always turned the other cheek. That’s what the visiting priest at Our Lady of Grace meant yesterday evening.
Be a forgiving and merciful David, not a vengeful and spiteful Saul. But don’t be a doormat. Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16
No comments:
Post a Comment