1 Samuel 23-24 & Mark 16

While on the run, David does not lose sense of who he is and what is called to do, when he hears that the Philistines have come against the people of Keilah in 1 Samuel 23, he seeks to respond and act. While David is eager to respond, those with him are less so. They realize that they are presently outlaws against Saul so if they pick a fight with the Philistines, who will they be able to turn to for help down the road? But the presence of Abiathar comes in handy as he is able to seek oracles for David. From these oracles, David is told to go against the Philistines. He does and drives them away.

Saul hears of David exploits and prepares to against David and trap him inside the walls of Keilah. Again the priest Abiathar comes in handy and David determines through an oracle that the people will surrender him so he flees from Keilah and enters into the hill country to hide. While in hiding Jonathan comes to David and again they renew their covenant of friendship.

Unlike Jonathan, the people of Ziph come to Saul to give aid in his search for David. With their aid, Saul is able to close in on David and without a providential invasion of Philistines into the region of Israel, Saul probably would have captured David. David takes advantage of the distraction and again flees.

After dealing with the Philistines, Saul returns to the chase of David in 1 Samuel 24. During the chase, Saul chooses to relieve himself in a cave in which David and his men are hiding. David, encouraged by his men, sneaks up on Saul to kill him but instead just cuts off a corner of Saul's cloak. David cannot bring himself to kill on of God's anointed.

After Saul leaves the cave, David appears and calls to Saul and asks why Saul is pursuing him. He then produces the corner of the cloak proving that he could have killed Saul. Saul, in a moment of clarity, recognizes that David is the just one and asks David to pledge to not kill Saul's family when he becomes king. David agrees and Saul relents and leaves the region. David retreats back into his stronghold.

Mark 16

The ending of Mark and abrupt. The tomb is empty, only a messenger in white sits there. He tells the women that Jesus is not there he has gone ahead to Galilee, just as he said. This should spur the women to action, but it does not. Instead, it is believed that the end of Mark comes in vs 8, the women tell no one for they are afraid.

This ending, however, does not sit well with early members of the church and two endings are added; a shorter one that adds on to vs 8 and a longer one that adds vs 9-20.

It is clear though that the invitation at the end of the Mark at 8 lies with us, as readers. Do we choose to go in search of the Risen Lord? Or are we afraid? Which is it?