Day 1 (Monday)
1 Kingdoms 25:1-44 (Death of Samuel, David & the Wife of Nabal)
Last time we saw David acting more as the king of Israel than Saul, saving a city being attacked by the Philistines, and then fleeing when they prepared to hand him over to Saul in exchange for that good deed. We saw him have an opportunity to kill Saul, and we saw him refuse to take this opportunity, unwilling to raise his hand against the Lord’s Anointed (and we noted that this phrase could as easily be translated as “The Messiah of Yahweh”). This time, we will see what transpires afterward, and (possibly) we will see the first place where David doesn’t quite get it right.
Death of Samuel
25 Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah.
Then David got up and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
David and the Wife of Nabal
2 There was a man in Maon, whose property was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was clever and beautiful, but the man was surly and mean; he was a Calebite. 4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
5 So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. 6 Thus you shall salute him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. 7 I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they were in Carmel. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your sight; for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”
9 When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David; and then they waited. 10 But Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters. 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and the meat that I have butchered for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
12 So David’s young men turned away, and came back and told him all this. 13 David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every one of them strapped on his sword; David also strapped on his sword; and about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he shouted insults at them. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we never missed anything when we were in the fields, as long as we were with them; 16 they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil has been decided against our master and against all his house; he is so ill-natured that no one can speak to him.”
18 Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys 19 and said to her young men, “Go on ahead of me; I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 As she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them. 21 Now David had said, “Surely it was in vain that I protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; but he has returned me evil for good. 22 God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.”
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and alighted from the donkey, and fell before David on her face, bowing to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25 My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
26 “Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, since the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like Nabal. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant; for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.”
“29 If anyone should rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living under the care of the Lord your God; but the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 When the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for having saved himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”
32 David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today! 33 Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand! 34 For as surely as the Lord the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.” 35 Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; he said to her, “Go up to your house in peace; see, I have heeded your voice, and I have granted your petition.”
36 Abigail came to Nabal; he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the morning light. 37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him; he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.
39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who has judged the case of Nabal’s insult to me, and has kept back his servant from evil; the Lord has returned the evildoing of Nabal upon his own head.” Then David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife. 40 When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” 41 She rose and bowed down, with her face to the ground, and said, “Your servant is a slave to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 42 Abigail got up hurriedly and rode away on a donkey; her five maids attended her. She went after the messengers of David and became his wife.
43 David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel; both of them became his wives. 44 Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out that the star of this story is Abigail, not David, and certainly not Nabal. The reason that we are given this story is not overtly clear, in terms of David’s story, but the discretion and wisdom of Abigail indicates that this story may simply be given to us so that we can see an example of a prudent, faithful and discrete woman. Abigail is generally remembered in both the Christian and the Jewish tradition as an example of righteousness and holiness; among the Jews, she is counted as one of seven women prophets, along with the likes of Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Sarah, and Esther). Her son with David, is the only one of David’s older sons to not ever be mentioned again in the Scriptures, unlike his brothers and half-brothers, who all raised rebellion against David. His name, perhaps significantly, is Chileab or Daniel, and one might speculate that perhaps the Daniel of the exile is a descendant of David through his line. As for David, however, in this passage we see him taking a 2nd and a 3rd wife, besides Michal the daughter of Saul. The taking of multiple wives is a custom of the heathen tribes, and is not what a good and faithful king is supposed to do (cf. Deut. 17:14-1714 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.”). In this mismanagement of his household, we see the seeds of David’s eventual great sin and the trouble that afflicts him in his later years.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 2 (Wednesday)
St. Anthony the Great – 7
Last time, we saw St. Anthony speak about the weakness of the demons’ in their attacks upon us, and also give a guide for how to discern whether a spiritual experience is a demonic attack or not. In that instance, he speaks of the fear, and reminds us that when we are visited by an angel or other messenger of God, they will move quickly to alleviate the fear, but the evil spirits will never do so. We should refuse to give in to fear of them, but if they do not comfort that fear, then we may know by that who they are. He then begins to give some of his own experiences, as illustrations of these principles, and he will continue with this, and with some final advice for those troubled by evil spirits, in our selection for today as we come to the end of his discourse.
St. Anthony the Great on the Evil Spirits
Reading 7
40. “Once a very tall demon appeared in an apparition and had the daring to say, ‘I am the Power of God,’ and ‘I am Providence; what do you wish that I would give you?’ But then, especially, I puffed at him, and speaking the name of Christ I made an attempt to strike him. I seemed to have hit home, and at once, with the mention of the name of Christ, this giant figure vanished, along with all his demons. Once while I was fasting, the cunning one even came as a monk, having the semblance of loaves of bread, and he offered me counsel, saying, ‘Eat, and stop your many labors; you too are a man, and you are about to grow weak.’ But perceiving his strategy, I rose to say my prayers, and he could not stand it, for he fled, and he had the appearance of smoke that passes through the door.
How many times he presented the illusion of gold to me in the wilderness, in hopes that I would just touch and gaze on it! But I sang psalms in resistance to him, and he melted away. Many times he whipped me, and I said, ‘Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ’ (Romans 8:35). After that they lashed each other instead. But I was not the one who stopped them and nullified their actions—it was the Lord, who says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). And, my children, mindful of the Apostle’s word, I have applied all this to myself (1 Corinthians 4:6), so that you might learn not to falter in the discipline, nor to fear the devil and the apparitions of his demons.
41. “And since I have become a fool in describing these events, receive this as well for your protection and fearlessness, and trust me, for I am not lying. Once someone knocked at the door of my cell. And when I went out, I saw someone who seemed massive and tall. When I asked, ‘Who are you?’ he said, ‘I am Satan.’ I said, ‘What are you doing here?’ And he asked, ‘Why do the monks and all the other Christians censure me without cause? Why do they curse me every hour?’
When I replied, ‘Why do you torment them?’ he said, ‘I am not the one tormenting them, but they disturb themselves, for I have become weak. Haven’t they read that the swords of the enemy have failed utterly, and that you have destroyed their cities (Psalm 9:6)? I no longer have a place—no weapon, no city. There are Christians everywhere, and even the desert has filled with monks. Let them watch after themselves and stop censuring me for no reason!’
Marveling then at the grace of the Lord, I said to him: ‘Even though you are always a liar, and never tell the truth, nevertheless this time, even if you did not intend to, you have spoken truly. For Christ in his coming reduced you to weakness, and after throwing you down he left you defenseless.’ Upon hearing the Savior’s name, and being unable to endure the scorching from it, he became invisible.
42. “Now if even the devil himself confesses that he is able to do nothing, then we ought to treat him and his demons with utter contempt. For his part, the enemy with his dogs has treacheries of the sort I have described, but we are able to scorn them, having learned of their weakness. Therefore let us not be plunged into despair in this way, nor contemplate horrors in the soul, nor invent fears for ourselves, saying, ‘How I hope that when a demon comes, he will not overthrow me—or pick me up and throw me down—or suddenly set himself next to me and cast me into confusion!’ We must not entertain these thoughts at all, nor grieve like those who are perishing.
Instead, let us take courage and let us always rejoice, like those who are being redeemed. And let us consider in our soul that the Lord is with us, he who routed them and reduced them to idleness. Let us likewise always understand and take it to heart that while the Lord is with us, the enemies will do nothing to us. For when they come, their actions correspond to the condition in which they find us; they pattern their phantasms after our thoughts.
Should they find us frightened and distressed, immediately they attack like robbers, having found the place unprotected. Whatever we are turning over in our minds, this—and more—is what they do. For if they see that we are fearful and terrified, they increase even more what is dreadful in the apparitions and threats, and the suffering soul is punished with these.
However, should they discover us rejoicing in the Lord, thinking about the good things to come, contemplating things that have to do with the Lord, reflecting that all things are in the hand of the Lord, and that a demon has no strength against a Christian, nor has he any authority over anyone—then seeing the soul safeguarded by such thoughts, they are put to shame and turned away.
It was for this reason that the enemy, seeing Job so defended, departed from him, but finding Judas unarmed with these, took him captive. So if we wish to despise the enemy, let us always contemplate the things that have to do with the Lord, and let the soul always rejoice in hope. Then we shall see the antics of the demons to be like smoke, and we shall see them in flight rather than pursuit. For, as I said earlier, they are very cowardly, always expectant of the fire that has been prepared for them.
43. “For your fearlessness against them you have for yourselves also this sure sign. Whenever some apparition occurs, do not collapse in terror, but whatever it may be, ask first, bravely, ‘Who are you and where do you come from?’ And if it is a vision of holy ones, they will give you full assurance and transform your fear into joy. But if it is someone diabolical, it immediately is weakened, finding your spirit formidable. For simply by asking, ‘Who are you and where do you come from?’ you give evidence of your calmness. So when the son of Nun asked, he learned (Joshua 5:13); and the enemy did not go unseen when Daniel questioned him (Susanna 51-59).”
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should recommend all this advice, but emphasize in particular the final guidance that St. Anthony gives, that we should challenge any spiritual visitation, whether in dreams or in waking, asking who they are and where they come from. In this way, we may find that we are indeed blessed to have been visited by a saint or an angel; but more likely, we will by this, entrusting ourselves to the Lord, find that we are under attack. In that case, or in any case of doubt, what we must do is to turn toward the Lord, and deny and ignore the attacks of the evil spirits. It is not for us to argue with the demons, or to convince them of their error, or to refute their temptations or their stories. The Lord has already conquered them…we must simply entrust ourselves to the Lord.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?
Day 3 (Friday)
John 10:22-42 (Jesus is Rejected by the Jews)
Last time we saw Jesus continue to speak of Himself as the Good Shepherd, and end by speaking clearly of His power to lay down His life and to take it up again, and that this is the will of the Father. The people of Judaea who are listening to Him remain divided about what He is saying; some believe He has a demon, but others understand from the signs that He does, opening the eyes of the blind, show Him to have far greater authority and power, and specifically creative power for good, than any demon-possessed man. Only God can create; demons can only destroy. (although they don’t go that far in their reasoning). We shall see this week the final encounter with the people of Judaea before the Lord’s approach to His Passion begins.
Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.”
34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.
40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41 Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.
Discussion questions:
1) What did you notice in today’s reading? What surprised you or what was memorable to you? (The Leader should point out first how the mystery of the Trinity is indicated here. First, the Lord says that “He and the Father are one,” but then He speaks of Himself as the one that the Father “has sanctified and sent into the world.” The one phrasing indicates a close and absolute identity between Him and the Father, while the other indicates the preeminence of the Father, as the One Who makes the Son Holy and sends Him into the world. The temptation for us is to double down on one or the other, but in fact we are required to take both at once, to confess both the distinction between the Father and the Son, and their unity in the glory and preeminence of the Father. The Leader can also point out that the Lord’s quote from Psalm 82 “I said, you are gods” is a point of profound complexity, but the basic gist here is that Jesus is showing how it is not unknown in Scripture to speak of human beings as called to be divine, sons of the Most High, but that how this is to happen is not made clear, and thus it is not a thing that they speak of. The only way for humanity to be raised up to become truly sons of the Most High is for the Most High Himself to come to them and to sanctify and save them. This is the ultimate connection between His statement that He and the Father are One and the quoted Scripture.)
2) Where do we see Christ in this text; what is He saying or doing here?
3) Do we see ourselves and the Church in this text; what does it say about us?
4) What do you find difficult about this reading? Is there anything confusing about it, or anything that you dislike? (This is an open question, as always. )
5) Does this reading make you think that you need to change anything in your life?