1S26-7: Every Hebrew’s Inheritance Is The Land Of Israel

“Please, now, may my lord the king hear what his servant is saying. If it is Adonai who has stirred you up against me, let him receive an offering. But if it’s human beings, then a curse on them before Adonai! — because, as things stand today, they have driven me out, so that I can no longer share in Adonai’s inheritance — they’ve said, ‘Go, serve other gods!’”-1 Samuel 26:19

In the latter half of verse 19, what does David mean when he says “I can no longer share in Adonai’s inheritance.”

Well, we first need to answer the question, what does “inheritance” mean in this context?

Biblically speaking, it means only ONE thing.

It means the land of Israel.

Every Hebrew’s inheritance is the land of Israel.

David is saying because of the unjust persecution he is experiencing at the hands of Saul and his men, he is being denied his fundamental right to live in peace inside of the land God has promised to His Chosen People.

Now what about the part where David says he’ll be forced to ‘Go, serve other gods!’?

What does being kicked out of the Promised Land have to do with bowing down to other gods?

This has to do with the ancient belief of territorialism.

This superstition held that gods only had power in certain areas (David and Saul believed this too).

The idea was that each country had its own gods.

So when you entered a new country, you left the old gods behind and came under the power of the new country’s gods.

So, if David couldn’t live in Israel, he would be forced to move to another nation and worship that nation’s gods because he was operating under a belief system that Adonai only held power in the land of Israel.

Saul, by unfairly chasing one of God’s anointed out of the Promised Land, was committing a capital crime against the God Himself.

Yikes!

Why is this a “capital crime” you ask?

Because the God of Israel owns and rules the land through His anointed king.

So if you go against God’s anointed king, you go against Him, plain and simple.

Ya feeling me here?

David is saying he doesn’t wanna die outside of Israel…

Because to die outside of Israel would be to die outside of God’s presence.

Again this is all connected to ancient superstitions such as ancestor worship that weren’t necessarily Biblical.

God’s authority and power are NOT restricted to one small piece of real estate in the Middle East.

However, there is an awesome takeaway we can extract from this.

As a Jew, David is in a sense correct.

He is right in saying that if He is forced to leave the land God has specially set apart for Him, he will fail to live up to his God-given potential and fulfill the plans the Lord has for His life.

Now couldn’t the same be said for every Hebrew in the Diaspora?

So yeah, today’s takeaway is for my fellow Hebrew or Jewish believers.

If you’re not living in the Promised Land…

What in the heck are you doing man…or woman?

Look, I know it’s not easy just to pick up and leave when you were born in and built a life in some goyim nation.

Life may seem cozy and economically comfortable at the moment.

But has God called you to a life of comfort?

Or a life of obedience?

Remember, God has set apart a holy nation for you…

A land flowing with milk and honey…and lots of tasty hummus and falafel sandwiches (trust me, I was there!).

Plus, here’s another thing to remember.

David was also in a sense correct when he said he’d have to serve other gods if he went into exile.

Why?

Because it’s so darn hard to keep God’s commandments when you’re not in Eretz Y’Israel.

Ya feel me?

Ever tried to keep proper Kosher living in a gentile land?

Freakin’ hard, isn’t it?

For instance, even so-called vegetable curries are flavored with pork and shrimp-based seasonings here in Tokyo where I live.

Or have you ever tried to properly keep Shabbat in a goyim nation?

It can be very, very difficult.

Because nothing closes down.

All of the restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, EVERYTHING is open and enticing you to come in and buy, buy, buy.

So it will never be easier than in the Holy Land to keep God’s holy commandments.

That’s why if you’re a true ethnic Hebrew, I urge you to prayerfully consider making Aliyah.

Especially in the current anti-Semitic climate that we’re living in today.

You have the God-given right to do so.

You will be better off for it.

Israel will be better off for it.

And the world will be better off for it.

So prayerfully consider it.

Be blessed and SHALOM.