I went back to Berkeley today on the intercampus shuttle in the afternoon. After arriving I settled back in and organized my stuff. I didn't have classes today, so I hung out with Dwight people and explored the buildings my classes will be in. At night Derrick, Esther and I played volleyball for a couple hours.

For dinner, Sang made the junior guys kimchi fried rice. We had to eat it quickly to get to the RSF in time for volleyball at 8pm.

When we got back from volleyball, derrick, joseph and I played some Settlers.

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As I'm typing this, I'm sitting in Shields library waiting for the intercampus shuttle. It's 1:58pm. The bus should leave in about 15 minutes. At Dutton Hall, I was planning on buying five bus tickets, but found out they only accept cash or checks. I only had enough cash for a single ticket.

After Dutton, I walked over to Shields and sold a book I used for comparative literature 4 (Midnight's Children) to a guy named Rod for five bucks.

This morning I spent a really long time fixing my brother's Playstation 2. Recently it started having disk read problems, and displayed an error on the screen. It would also make some pretty horrible sounding scratching noises when trying to read the games.

I took some tools and opened up the Playstation. After looking around, I cleaned the optical lens thing, adjusted the disk read height, and lubricated the various metal parts that the lens moves about on. While I made these adjustments, I had the Playstation hooked up and tested it repeatedly. Finally, after many failed attempts, everything seemed to fall into place and it started working perfectly again.

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Devotion questions:

1 Samuel 22

What can I learn from the fact that it was “those who were in distress or in debt or discontented” who gathered around” David?

God didn't provide David with mighty warriors, but instead outcasts and the dregs of society.

1 Corinthians 1:27 says,

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

What happens in our lives might not meet our expectations, but we need to trust God's plans.

Reflect on the things that David has to do during this time when he’s on the run (Chapter 21). How is God shaping David during this time as Israel’s future king? What perspective does this give me regarding times of personal difficulty and uncertainty?

David is patient and humble, not taking matters into his own hands but doing anything to obey the will of God. David refuses to raise his hand against Saul, the Lord's anointed, instead trusting that God's timing for things is greater than his own. Though this time of running and hiding is difficult for David, it helps him build important qualities that will help him later in life, including faith in God and obedience.

I need to keep in mind that even the most difficult of circumstances in life can help build me up in faith and character.

What can I learn about David’s faith in God during this uncertain time from the statements “until I learn what God will do for me” and “So David left and went?”

David trusts in God and obeys immediately. We can all imitate David's faith and obedience in how we respond to wisdom and advice God delivers us via his word and people in our lives.

What must David have felt as a timely word of guidance from God came through the prophet Gad?

Refreshed and encouraged. David had resolved to seek God's will, and God did not fail in making his will known to David.

Why does it make sense that Saul, who has wronged David, rejected God, and refused to adjust to reality, winds up becoming paranoid?

God was the source of Saul's kingship and, having rejected that, Saul can only struggle hopelessly to keep the throne. He does not trust anyone, so all he can do is separate himself from them and doubt them.

Reflect on the statements “you have all conspired against me,” “No one tells me,” “None of you is concerned about me or tells me.” What is Saul failing to see in this state of self-pity, full of victim complex?

In his state of self-pity, all he can thing of is himself. Since his eyes are so focused on himself, he is blind to the people and circumstances around him.

What application does this have for me?

I need to remember to keep myself from being self-focused, even in times of trials and difficulties.

Saul tragically rejects the very reasonable and plausible explanation of Ahimelech regarding his innocent provision for David. What does Saul risk if he believes him? What does he risk if he holds onto his suspicion and acts on it? Why would Saul choose as he did?

Saul reminds me of the prostitute in the famous case brought before King Solomon. Rather than keep the baby, the fake-mother would rather have the baby killed so that neither would have it. In the same way, Saul chooses to have the priests of the Lord killed, rather than risk the possibility of having them side with David. He probably feels that this is one of the greater threats to his throne.

When I am faced with circumstances that cause me to suspect something, how ready am I to reject my own theory and believe the reasonable explanation of others?

I need to avoid being so prideful that I'm not willing to accept something that contradicts my own views on a situation.

Which do I want to avoid more: being “duped” or believing something false about someone?

The latter, because pride and arrogance cause a person to choose the second in order to avoid the first, like Saul does here.

Contrast Doeg the Edomite and the king’s officials “who were not willing to raise a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.” What kind of person was Doeg the Edomite?

Doeg doesn't seem to think twice when murdering innocent priests, women, and children. He obeys Saul rather than God.

Reflect on the progression of Saul’s insecurity and jealousy towards David.

It reminds me of a dam that springs a leak. If it's not fixed and stopped in time, it can grow bigger and bigger until the torrent of water impossible to contain. In the same way, Saul allows his jealousy towards David to grow until he is consumed by it.

What can I learn about David from his response to Abiathar?

He is humble enough to take responsibility for the death of Abiathar's family, even though he caused it indirectly. He also tells Abiathar that he will be safe, reflecting reflecting his own belief that God will surely protect his life and fulfill his promise of putting David on the throne.