The Dirty Dowry
One Year Bible (May 16)
I Samuel 18:5-19:24
The Dirty Dowry
Today’s reading poses gigantic questions for me!
There really are not enough question marks available to begin to cover today’s topics…The passage that we read today is “Rude and Real, Barbaric and Brutal”.
This is NOT “Classic Cozy Hallmark”. This is “Horrific History”!!
People in this day and time lived by the sword and died by the sword. They also brought home “Human Trophies” to show that they had CONQUERED!
These people lived life with “SAVAGE on SPEED DIAL”!
There is a certain pharmaceutical commercial that regularly plays on T.V. involving “Bent Carrots”. They are selling prescription meds for male dysfunction in the middle of your movie. Let me just say that commercial is wayyyyyy toooo much for my comfort level. The beginning of today’s story follows the very same theme/anatomy and is also over my comfort level and then some…
While Saul is offering his daughter in marriage to David, he is really planning a burial, not a wedding! How will Saul accomplish the death of David? He has a plan, a VILE one at that!
WHY does Saul ask David to deliver 100 foreskins from their enemy, the Philistines? (Worst Dowry…EVER!)
This was a period when the chosen people of God were marked by an outward covenant called “circumcision”. They were considered “CLEAN” physically and spiritually. This was for hygiene and their heritage as Israelites.
Perhaps you have read where they have referred to the Philistines as ‘uncircumcised’, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (David’s words about Goliath) They were a VILE, barbaric nation who killed, ravaged, and tortured others in line with their IDOL WORSHIP PRACTICES. The Philistines were known for their “Phallic Symbol Obsession”.
They were “Uncircumcised” in body, mind, and soul. Saul was once again making himself “Prophet, Judge, and King”. He was going to wipe out ALL of his enemies, including David, who was a threat to his position as king.
This would be a “Two for One” win for Saul. He could take out “100 of his vilest enemies” and have David killed at the very same time! That was the VILE PLAN!
There was only one little problem with Saul’s evil plan… David came back ALIVE with the “TWO FOR ONE WIN” as he brought back a DOUBLE PORTION of what was asked of him. He brought 200 trophies of DEGRADATION.
Saul’s plan was to HUMILIATE and DEGRADE David. However, once again his evil plan will not stand. The people would continue to sing David’s praises and Saul would literally be “Out of His Mind” with RAGE!
WHO in their “Right Mind” thinks that “cutting off the outside skin of male parts” as a “Trophy From War” is a great idea?
SAUL DOES!!!!! THAT answers THAT question!
Saul is NOT in his “RIGHT MIND” as he has been given over to an “Evil, Tormenting Spirit”.
Some would ask, “How can a loving, caring God do this to Saul?” “Does Saul have free will in his decisions or is he now captive to the evil spirit?
Others will ask, “Why was Saul allowed to torment and hunt down David (the Lord’s Chosen) for such a long period of time?” “Why didn’t God just take Saul out?”
Perhaps others are asking, “How have I never heard of this Dirty Dowry until now?
Saul’s core sin was found in questioning God and then doing things “his own way”. Saul was warned that “The kingdom would be taken away from him” by the appointed judge of God, Samuel.
What does Saul do about this warning? Weep? Repent? Confess? No, he does THIS…This Vile Plot! Saul will continue to fight against God to the point that he will try and kill his very own flesh and blood and those who have faithfully served him.
Thus, God has removed HIS spirit from Saul, and the enemy of God moves right on in!!
There is a price for SIN that involves SEPARATION from God.
This is the “DIRTY DOWRY".
