The Rev. Jacob Hercamp, pastor of St Peter Lutheran Church in LaGrange, MO, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Samuel 29.

David, the fugitive king-in-waiting who is in hiding amongst his enemies, finds himself in a tight spot as he and his men march with the Philistines to attack Israel. But the Philistine lords don’t trust him. So, they appeal to King Achish to send he and his men away. David avoids having to fight against his own people, but this isn’t the end of David’s troubles with the Philistines or the other enemies of God’s people.

The Book of 1 Samuel beings with the unique birth of Samuel, the last judge of Israel. Soon, the people of Israel begin to press upon the aging prophet Samuel to anoint a king over them like the other nations. YHWH assures Samuel that the people are rejecting their God, not Samuel. He advises Samuel to give the people what they want. What follows is the rise and fall of King Saul, the eventual anointing and coronation of David as king, the forerunner of Jesus. It’s a true story of political intrigue and warfare, but it’s also more than that. 1 Samuel shows us God working to save his people from their enemies and even from themselves.