Chapter 13
Saul ~ continued from Chapter 13 | Anointed for War
The war priest began his story:
“So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel and fought against all his enemies on every side: against the Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned he harassed them. And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab and the name of the younger, Michal. The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle. Kish was the father of Saul and Ner, the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.”
Saul appeared and went up to the altar and the army camp erupted with cheers. Yazan, Shimea and Aron jumped up and down and yelled wildly at the scene while David smiled broadly. The Scorpion stood silently behind David.
Judah looked calmly upon the scene from his chariot.
“Will this united front hold,” he said to his armor bearer.
Saul stood beside the war priest and bent his head as the war priest blessed him and said:
“Therefore stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your loins; put on righteousness for a breastplate and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the good news of YHWH’s Shalom. Always carry the shield of trust with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil. And take the helmet of deliverance along with the sword given by Spirit, that is, the Word of YHWH; as you pray at all times with all kinds of prayers and requests in the Spirit vigilantly and persistently for all of Yahweh’s people.”
Two nights later The Scorpion stood in the shadows of the quartermaster’s tent as he kept his ear to the barn door where Saul and his men whispered.
The bald warrior priest kept one hand on his little stinger tucked into his robe.
“What of him?” Saul whispered.
“He is a good warrior,” came a reply. “The people like him and come to know of him as your servant.”
“They sing his praise?” Saul said.
“Yes, my King.”
“Even over my victories?” Saul asked.
“Yes, he is one with the Lord.”
The Scorpion tightened his grip on his sword.
“He is one with the Lord,” Saul said slowly. “One with the Lord,” he whispered.
Saul was lost in his hatred.
“I could win a thousand battles and take town after town but his name would still be over mine.”
Saul gritted his teeth and smashed his fist into his glove.
“His songs would be greater than mine.” He breathed harshly. “I see no relief.”
“A scouting mission perhaps,” another man said. “He may never come back.”
Saul turned back to the group of men.
“Yes, perhaps.”
The Scorpion released his grip and turned away quickly from the dark whispers. He returned to the small house that Saul had given David and his men and stood outside for a long time listening and watching the night by torchlight.
“Master,” he whispered.
The Scorpion walked around the house bending low three times and then took a stick and made markings in the mud and sand around the tiny dwelling.
“Oh, Sekhmet, one who tightens the throat,
Protect this house and Master as you protect all from evil. Lady of the Burning Sands,
Sekhmet, Mistress of Terror!
May no enemy find me,
May no harm approach me,
Your sacred fire surrounds me,
No evil can withstand Your Eye.”
He walked three times more around and then stood in the cold night watching the war camp that was fast asleep. He entered and went to each corner of the front room where the spears and armor were kept.
The priest sat cross-legged in the middle of the room quietly rocking until he fell into a trance.
“Sekhmet,” he whispered in the dark, “Sekhmet.”
He continued rocking and coughed. He covered his mouth and continued coughing in the dark. He then repeated his prayer:
“Lady of the Burning Sands,
Sekhmet, Mistress of Terror!
May no enemy find me,
May no harm approach me,
Your sacred fire surrounds me,
No evil can withstand Your Eye.”
The Scorpion continued coughing and began to choke on something. With his hand on his throat he fell prostrate on the threadbare rugs and began to roll in agony across the hard floor. He grabbed his throat with both hands and his face began to turn blue. He sat up and hit his back.
“Sekhmet,” he gasped. “Sekhmet.”
He fell to the floor again and was able to breathe slightly. The Scorpion lay quietly for a long time regaining his strength while staring at the ceiling. His eyes transfixed on something crawling above him.
Finally, he put his hand to his mouth and began to pull some- thing from his lips. He held a small scorpion in his hands and watched the insect crawl down his robe and disappear into a corner. The priest did this seven more times until each creature had buried itself in a corner of the room.
He took a sharp stone from his pocket and began to draw a circle in the middle of the room with a woman’s face adorned with a crown in the shape of a scorpion on top. He bowed his head to each corner and continued rocking.
“Master,” he breathed once more before he fell asleep in the darkness of the small war house that was all that stood against Saul’s poisoned mind.
Continue reading… Chapter 13 | I Am The Message
[…] Chapter 13 Saul ~ continued from Chapter 13 | One With The Lord […]