Guided

Yesterday we heard Gad tell David to get up out of the stronghold and to go to the dangerous place where Saul lived in Judah. And if he had not pay heed, the Keliahites would not have been able to send word to request his help.

So even in the midst of crisis and trials God may still be calling us to rise up and come to the aid of others. The Lord may call us out to a more dangerous place than where we are, so we can serve and bless His people more effectively.

In 1 Samuel 23, David could have excused himself from this call for help immediately, without even seeking God. Afterall, it was Saul's job, not his own.

Or he could have seen it is a great opportunity to gain a following and usurp Saul from his kingly position by playing the hero.

But instead, David shows wisdom and inquired of the Lord.

And the Lord guides him...into more trouble. He already had one enemy in Saul, now he was just adding oil to the fire by stirring up the ire of the Philistines.

And of course, as soon as the Philistines are routed, all Israel (including that murderous king) would know where he was. But the command of God and the need of the people compelled David to endanger himself.

Saul's premises were correct:

• God did lead David to Keliah
• Being in Keliah exposed David to Saul's attack

But it was not true that the Lord had delivered him into my hand,

David was in a bad place, and he was in a bad place because the Lord led him there. Some might be angry with the Lord, and even give a “I told You this would happen!” to God. Instead, David did the right thing - he inquired of the Lord again!

Jonathan strengthened his hand in God.
Jonathan could not rescue David, but he strengthened his hand in God.
Jonathan couldn’t give David all the answers, but he strengthened his hand in God.
Jonathan couldn’t stay with David, but he strengthened his hand in God.
What a precious gift Jonathan gave David!

Saul knew that David would be the next king, that the Lord had ordained it. Yet, he fights against the will of God with everything he has. Sometimes we do the same thing; we know what God’s will is, but we oppose it by not doing it.

This was the last time David and Jonathan would ever see each other on the earth, and their relationship was still confirmed in the commitmen.

O Great Guide, thank You for Your guidance, protection and deliverance. Just as You led David, I pray that You will direct me by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus, for praying me home!

David Takes the High Road

A lot has happened in David's life in the last 6 chapters.

• After heroically slaying Goliath and
• the ensuing fame that came with it,
• David became the son-in-law of the king as well as
• best buds with the Crown Prince.
• He valiantly confronted the many dangers from the Philistines,
• survived several attempts on his life by that psychotic king Saul,
• bid farewell to his kindred spirit and confidant Jonathan, and
• then exchanged everyday life for the life of a fugitive,
• and that for an unknown period of time.
• Compound this with David's brief but intense period of backsliding,
• and his return to the Lord.

How he must have been longing for those days of shepherding!

1 Samuel 22 opens up in that cave named Refuge (Adullam).

O Lord, be my cave of Adullam in times of confusion and uncertainty!

The original motley crew! Rebels looking for a leader to guide them into an overthrow of that fraud of a king.

They may have come looking for David, who was unjustly persecuted, to utilize them to revenge himself upon Saul, but David choose to take the more difficult, yet more honorable road. There was not to be a coup d'état.

• Men in distress...their lives could scarcely bear the weight of life, nigh onto snapping.
• Men in debt...men who had not had much success in past, and those failures hampered their future, burdened by debt.
• Men discontented...or bitter of soul. Dissatisfied with life, and with Saul being their king.

“These are the kind of men who came to David: distressed, bankrupt, dissatisfied. These are the kind of people who come to Christ, and they are the only people who come to Him, for they have recognized their distress, their debt, and bankruptcy, and are conscious that they are utterly discontented. The sheer pressures of these frustrations drives them to the refuge of the blood of Christ that was shed for them.” --Alan Redpath

I wonder if, after having come to David, if they remained men described in terms of 3D's.

Though David may not have hand-picked these men, I'm sure he was thankful that when he was down and discouraged that God brought people around him to strengthen him.

Lord, You know I could be described in 3D as well. I pray You will transform my life, like David did with his men. To be changed from malcontents to mighty men of valor!

Remember in 1 Samuel 16 when Samuel come to offer sacrifices with Jesse and his family? And David was not even invited to the special visit by the prophet? Or how about the jealous snobbish way his brothers unjustly accused him in 1 Samuel 17?

Well, they seem to have finally gotten on board, his brothers even taking refuge with him in Adullam. And as David prepares for many unknown battles in the future, he first wants to take care of his parents. So he took his parents to Moab where his great-grandmother was from (Ruth 4:13-22).

What wonderful love. The he cares for his parents when he had plenty of problems of his own. I sometimes think that when I am going through trials, I have a license to be unloving and selfish. But David cared about others instead of becoming self-focused in times of trial.

Lord, let me love like David loved. Let me love like Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 13.

Later in the chapter, Gad visits with David who is holed up in a "stronghold" (perhaps Masada?!). He counsels David to leave his fortress and return to the Judean region where Saul kept his throne.

I'm sure David was hoping Gad was only tricking him and shout "NOT" at the end of all his advice...but David had to learn to trust God in the midst of danger, not merely wait out the years until Saul passed away. "Go to Judah!" I'm sure no one thought it sounded right!

Oh dear Shepherd, where You lead I want to follow. Just make it so clear where it is I am to go. And if it be through the valley of the shadow of death...so long as Thou art with me...I will go to Jerusalem where a raging lunatic seeks my life.

Just one note here on Saul's manipulative tactics (which are many).
Look at how Saul refers to David as "the son of Jesse" when talking about him to his servants. He didn’t say, “The Man Who Killed Goliath,” or “The Man Who Killed 200 Philistines,” or “The Man Anointed by God.” Akin to name-calling!

Living Word, You have taught that the tongue has the power of death and the power of life...help me spread vitality!

And as Saul's reckless paranoia continues, he even manages to think himself as a victim. Though he is the one tossing spears around looking for heads to kabob. How often I have tried to hide behind the victim-facade!

Author of Truth, grant me, I pray, heaven's perspective. Keep me in touch with Your reality and not my fears or my false peace. Let me walk in Your ways.

An Era David would just as soon Forget

1 Samuel 21 opens up with David, in leaving on a bleak road where all what is certain is behind him, and all what is uncertain is ahead of him, does a great thing -- he goes to the house of the Lord.

Lieing.
I would love to excuse David's lying here as I would have done the exact same thing, except with a bit more embellishment.

Of course he didn't want Ahimelech to inform Saul of his whereabouts, nor did he want to risk Ahimelech being harmed by having seen him.

So though David's first step was right on the mark by going to the house of the Lord, the lying took him into a maddening tailspin with devastating results discovered in 1 Samuel 22:22 (we read about Doeg in that chapter too!)

And though David may have only intended to mention a lie in passing to Ahimelech, as he told it, things began to become elaborate, to the point he even puts false words in the mouth of Saul and "my young men".

Lieing has, by nature, a snowball effect. And that alone is enough to warn us that there is no such thing as a "little white lie".

Lord Jesus, help all my words to be life-giving and encouraging. Daily, I pray Thee, keep a cenurion over my lips that will protect me from lies and complaining.

“It is painful to the last degree to see one whose faith towered to such a lofty height in the encounter with Goliath, coming down from that noble elevation, to find him resorting for self-protection to the lies and artifices of an impostor.” (Balikie)

Healthy Relationship

Well, I missed my time with God Saturday night to look over 1 Samuel 20 together. I was going to do and try two of them tonight, but because of the extremely busy weekend, and the extremely late start I'm getting on today's rendevouz, I may try to make up the chapter tomorrow instead. (Aside from the fact, my head is bobbin like a V8 piston!)

Hear Jonathan's heart towards David!

Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.

Jonathan loved David loyally and earnestly, so much so that he could write David a blank check, and really not care what amount was put in the register.

What complete surrender and willingness. I think I will pray it daily to the Lord, all the while knowing it is the Holy Spirit who will enable me to do it!

Jonathan was the Crown prince of Israel. Everyone thought he would be the next king -- everyone except David and Jonathan. Jonathan knew that David was called by God to be the next king, and he was willing to step aside so that he would not be resisting the will of the Lord. Jonathan not only loved David, he loved the Lord God!

I admire their relationship. While David is discouraged, Jonathan continues to try and encourage him. He reassures David with words of his love for him, as well as with his help, to search the matter out for him.

A healthy spiritual relationship involves mutual blessing, such as it was between David and Jonathan. Sometimes David was stronger spiritually, and sometimes Jonathan was stronger. But there was a bond in the Lord between the men that could not be broken.

David will not return to "normal life" until Saul is dead and David is king. This is a pretty bleak road for David to walk, but it is God’s road for him. Yes, God often has His people spend at least some time on a bleak road. He wasn't out of God's will by being on the run!

Lord Jesus, whatever You Yourself wants, I give it to You. Thank You for friends who seem to have Your mind on many topics. Help me to know, that even on the bleak road of life You are there!

Just a little bonus tidbit:
"the worthiest of minds are least suspicious and most charitable in their opinions of others." Matthew Poole, 1600's Bible Commentator

Family Full of Emotions

Seems like where ever Saul is there is a wide range of emotions. 1 Samuel 19 isnt any different!

I'm struck by the conundrum Jonathan finds himself. Not only does he have a strong covenantal friendship with David, but he also has a clear understanding that David is to be the next king. But the present king is his father, who is instructing him, and all his staff, to bump-off David.

But what an encouragement it is to see Jonathan's loyalty to David. Despite the threat of his father's fury Jonathan risks warning David of Saul's plan to kill him. Jonathan took to himself the principle that "we ought to obey God rather than men...even if it is our king and our father!"

I'm sure everyone must desire to have a friend who will stick up for them with such fortitude and faithfulness. Someone to "greatly delight" in you? How thankful I am that I have such a friend in Jesus Christ!

Jonathan didn't just NOT help Saul, he proactively assisted David. He didn't play a Pilate in this deadly plot, but actually got his hands dirty to help his best friend escape from Saul's rage.

So Jonathan didn't just warn David, but he went to the king himself and interceded on David's behalf and attempted to convince Saul that he really should appreciate David and treat him well.

After Jonathan's sound reasoning brought Saul to a point of reconciliation, war breaks out again with the Philistines. And with the success of David victoriously slaughtering the Philistines, Saul's ire is resurrected.

The distressing spirit descends on Saul again, and it seems to be intimately connected to jealousy. The reason Jesus was crucified, according to Matthew, was because of envy. Oh the strength of jealousy and envy.

I would love to look more closely at Michal and the reason she protected David from her father's wrath. But an early morning tomorrow with Bill Glass Ministries is compelling me to take leave and go to bed!

If anyone is reading this before Saturday 8-3pm, please pray the prison ministry outreach. That the women there will understand a little more the joys of Jesus Christ and have their lives changed by Him.

Lord Jesus, protect me from jealousy, envy and any other negative emotion that can create irrational and deadly thoughts. Thank You for the kind of faithfulness and love that protects us from all the wiles of the enemy.

In God's Hands...Peace!

Though I do so enjoy today's chapter of 1 Samuel 18, I will be compelled to make a short entry today on it, since I'm hoping to get a good night's sleep tonight before heading to Austin this weekend.

I cherish the friendship between David and Jonathan.

We know Jonathan to be a hero in his own right who had great confidence in God (chapter 14), so it only seems suitable that he should be knit to the soul of David after seeing him take vengeance on the Philistine who defied God!

• They were both bold.
  
• They both had great trust in God.
  
• They both were men of action.
  
• They were from the same generation.
  

Because these two young men were of one mind spiritually, they could share the same armor. Saul's was too weighty, but Jonathan and David were on the same page, with the same pure motive to serve God.

Jonathan chose David for a friend after he heard him reveal his heart to Saul. Perhaps David's longing for God's glory rang true to Jonathan as well. And at that point, Jonathan probably knew that David would be the next king of Israel.

All the tokens given to David by Jonathan is more than just tokens of love. It was a handing over, a surrendering of the kingdom to David. 

Jonathan being the son of the king, was everyone's expectation to be king of Israel. But Jonathan must have discerned, that David was God's man.

I love that they made a covenant of friendship that would prove stronger than jealousy, stronger than envy, stronger than ambition or parental disapproval. 

They loved each other more than the throne of Israel, because they loved the Lord more than the throne of Israel!

So Jonathan knew that the heir to the throne to the King of Israel was in God's hands, and he had peace with that!

Saul on the other hand, knew the same thing about the throne going to someone other than his son, yet he responded so differently...fueled by envy. 

He attempted to skewer David once, and shishkabob him another time. He then schemed to have David thrust into a deadly battle, but God was his shield and protected him in all he did.

Did you notice that? 

David escaped his presence twice:

Perhaps the most remarkable word in this chapter is twice. 

This means that Saul threw the spear twice. 

This means that Saul missed twice. 

This means that after the first miss, David came back and played again!

This is where many of us will draw the line. “Look, I’ll sit with the bulls-eye on my chest once, and I’ll dodge the spear. I’ll even leave the spear on floor and resist the temptation to throw it back. But one spear whizzing by my head is enough. One miss and I’ve paid my dues. Once is submission to the Lord. Twice is stupidity!”

Gene Edwards, in his wonderful book Tale of Three Kings, says that David understood something that few of even the wisest men in David’s day understood, and even fewer today. 

David understood that “God did not have, but wanted very much to have, men who would live in pain. God wanted a broken vessel.”

“In doing this small feat of returning thrown spears, you will prove many things. 

You are courageous. 

You stand for the right. 

You boldly stand against the wrong. 

You are tough and can’t be pushed around. 

You will not stand for injustice or unfair treatment. 

You are the defender of the faith, 

the keeper of the flame, 

detector of all heresy. 

You will not be wronged. 

All of these attributes then combine to prove that you are also obviously a candidate for kingship. 

Yes, perhaps you are the Lord’s anointed.... 

After the order of King Saul.”

David was never a victim. He looked like a victim, because he was attacked. When there are spears stuck in the wall behind you, and laying about on the floor, you sure look like a victim!

But David behaved wisely in all his ways, so he did not give into the victim’s state of mind, thinking that his fate was in the hands of the one attacking him. David knew his fate was in God’s hands, and could have peace in that.

Lord Jesus, thank You for wonderful, life-giving friends and a wonderful church family. I pray You will assist me to know what it is to have the circumstances of my fate in Your hands...and to have peace with it!

Giants CAN BE Slain!

The chapter for today, 1 Samuel 17, could possibly be one of the best known Old Testament stories.

Goliath, was anywhere from 8’5” to 9’2” with armor and weapons to match his size. And he spoke such demoralizing and fear-producing challenges, that the Israelites were defeat by words alone. 

Oh the power of words, Lord let me bring life with them!

Forty days (40 is the number for testing and trials...try to think of a few examples!) of listening to the Philistines scorn and challenge. I can hardly bear 30 seconds of listening to my old tapes that resound with Goliath-type words. 

Jesus Christ, grant me to partake of the sweet words of grace that fall from Your mouth.

[Trinka, do you know that verse in Isaiah that talks about His words being trained and His lips sweet or gracious...I'm without my Sword here]

The situation had become so desperate, the Saul needed to offer a bribe -

• a cash award,
  
• a princess, and
  
• a tax exemption -
  

to induce someone, anyone to fight and win against Goliath.

And though the Lord may kindly give fringe benefits for doing things His way, what purity of heart there is if we can arise to the occasion focused alone on the reputation of the Children of God and the honor of the living God. 

Living Fire, You say blessed are the pure in heart, and I confess it can't reside in me save You put it there. Consume all impurities and refine until it pure gold You see in me.

He saw the problem in spiritual terms, not in material or fleshly terms.
When the men of Israel said, “This man,”
David said, “This uncircumcised Philistine.”

When the men of Israel said, “Surely he has come up to defy Israel,”
David said, “That he should defy the armies of the living God.”

When the men of Israel said, “The man who kills him,”
David said, “The man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel.”

David saw things from the Lord’s perspective, but the men of Israel saw things only from man’s perspective.

Father, there are many trials in life where I'm stuck seeing them through man's perspective, (and I even have plenty of friendly eyeballs sharing that same perspective). But show me Your view point, Your perspective, especially when it comes to the giants in my life.

What a Cinderella Story this is! Even his brothers snarl at him!

There is no doubt that what his oldest brother Eliab said hurt David, but he would not let it hinder him.

What have I done now? Is there not a cause?

What helped David to nearly ignore his brother's jabs? He was more concerned with God’s cause (Is there not a cause?) than with his own feelings.

When David was misunderstood and rebuked, publicly, by his own brother, probably amid the laughs of the other soldiers, he could have blown it. But he showed the strength of God in his life, and replied rightly. 

He didn’t care about his glory or success, but only for the glory and success of the Lord’s cause. 

This is where the battle was won for David! If Eliab’s hurtful words can get David in the flesh, and out of the flow of the Spirit of the Lord, then David’s strength is gone. But when David ruled his spirit and answered softly, he was more in step with the Spirit of the Lord than ever. 

Father, help me to see every hurt, even the seemingly little ones, as opportunities to walk in the Spirit and strengthen me for larger victorie

David seems to be increasing in boldness as the story progresses.

• First, he said someone should fight Goliath.
  
• Then he said he would fight Goliath.
  
• Then he reports to Saul, he will beat Goliath!
  
• And now he tells Goliath that he will kill him him, and
• even adds for emphasis, "I will strike you and down and take your head!"
  

Jehovah, I pray that each baby step I take towards You and away from evil, will strengthen and embolden me more and more.

I remember after reading David Brainerd's biography, a godly missionary in the times of Jonathan Edwards (1700's), that I thought to employ his methods of godliness in hopes it would do my heart good. 

So I attempted to pray the hours he prayed and when he prayed. It was an absolute utter failure. His armor did not fit me at all. 

Or once a prominent homeschooling administrator and teacher convinced me that classical music would enhance my study time. And I can say, as I mull this passage over today to the tune of some techno music, his armor didn't fit me either! 

Dear Captain of my soul, I pray You'll be the One who suits me up to face my Goliath's and not my admiration of others or the lust for people to think me spiritual because of how my armor looks!

David took the head of the Philistine. He made certain he was dead!

Lord Jesus preserve me from the error of messing around with my sin and spiritual enemy. Help me to slay each temptation...to the death.

David’s victory over Goliath is a “picture in advance” of the victory Jesus won for us.

i. Both David and Jesus represented their people. Whatever happened to the representative would happen to God’s people also.

ii. Both David and Jesus fought the battle on ground that rightfully belonged to God’s people, ground that they had lost.

iii. Both David and Jesus fought when their enemy was able to dominate the people of God through fear and intimidation alone.

iv. Both David and Jesus were sent to the battleground by their father (1 Samuel 17:17).

v. Both David and Jesus were scorned and rejected by their own brethren.

vi. Both David and Jesus fought the battle without concern with human strategies or conventional wisdom.

vii. Both David and Jesus won the battle, but saw that their enemies did not then give up willingly.

viii. Both David and Jesus fought a battle where the victory was assured even before it started.

Thank You Conqueror of my Soul, that Your love has captured me and taken me prison by the bonds of grace! I pray that everyone who faces a giant in their lives will experience a David-like victory because of what the battle You won on Calvary!

Charles Spurgeon cannot be ignored, for I've it heard it said (as I am saying it all the time!) that "a Spurgeon sermon a day, keeps the blues away!"

“Immediately before the encounter with the Philistine he fought a battle which cost him far more thought, prudence, and patience. The word-battle in which he had to engage with his brothers and with king Saul, was a more trying ordeal to him than going forth in the strength of the Lord to smite the uncircumcised boaster. Many a man meets with more trouble from his friends than from his enemies; and when he has learned to overcome the depressing influence of prudent friends, he makes short work of the opposition of avowed adversaries.” (Spurgeon)

Hearing the Word of the Lord

Just picture Saul in yesterday's chapter (1 Samuel 15) clinging to Samuel's robe pleading for a blessing. The robe tore.
So too the thing he loved and idolized the most was clutched in his stubborn and prideful fist. That idol was torn.

God seems to be putting His finger on an object in my life that I might be clinging to a bit too much to. 

God give me open hands, I pray.

In the opening verses of today's chapter (1 Samuel 16) we see Samuel still mourning over Saul's failure. Oh how our enemy would want us to remain trapped in mourning over the tragedies of the past. To be stuck there, unable to move on with the Lord.

Jesus, lead me onward and upward, I pray.

The way God deals with Samuel's fear of Saul is very gracious; and it is a great example of what is meant by "Be wise as serpents but innocent as doves."

Though Samuel may have looked a tad weak in fearing for his life from Saul, I'm so impressed and moved by his actions in the remaining verses.
God tells him that

"I have provided Myself a king among the sons of Jesse."

Yet, the seven sons of Jesse are all reviewed and none of them are the chosen one by God. No one volunteered that there was yet another. For some reason, none thought it important for David to be attending the sacrifices!

And yet...Samuel knew God's word was true, he knew there must be another son of Jesse who was not at the sacrificial feast. And so he asked:

Are all the young men here?

Samuel was a prophet, and knew how to trust the word of the Lord given to him.

• I would have said, "I guess the Lord was wrong when He told me it would be one of Jesse's sons," but he didn't say that.
  
• I might have said, "It has to be one of these seven sons, so pass them by me again," but he didn't say that.
  
• Most probably I would have said, "I totally misunderstood the Lord. I'm reading way too much into my inner thoughts," but he didn't say that!
  

He had confidence in the word of the Lord!

We are getting a glimpse at the low regard David seems to have in his family. 

• Jesse doesn't even answer Samuel with David's name, but simply says, "there remains the youngest."
  
• And how is it that one of the sons should be counted dispensable from the congregation of those offering sacrifices with that prophet of God Samuel? Why wasn't David invited?
  
• Would David had ever made it to see Samuel, if Samuel, hearing the word of God in his heart, did not insist that he be brought?
  

1 Samuel 13:14 describes David this way

The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord had commanded him to be commander over His people.

God’s choice of David shows that

• We don’t have to quit our jobs and enter into full-time ministry to be people after God’s own heart.
  
• We don’t need to be famous or prominent to be people after God’s own heart.
  
• We don’t need to be respected or even liked by others to be people after God’s own heart.
  
• We don’t need status, influence, power, the respect or approval of men, or great responsibilities to be people after God’s own heart.
  

David did not have to manipulate his way into the palace or into Saul’s favor. He allowed the Lord to open the doors for him. David didn’t have to wonder, “Is this of the Lord or is of me?” because he let the Lord open the doors for him.

I fear manipulating things so much that I often neglect that which should be rightfully pursued.

Lord, grant discernment. Let me discover that beautiful balance between manipulation and total neglect.

And just a little excerpt from my all-time favorite preacher, Charles Spurgeon,

“David was none of your strutting peacocks who cannot be content unless all eyes are upon them; he sang God’s praises as the nightingale will sing in the dark when no human ear is listening and no eye is admiring. He was content to bloom unseen, knowing that the sweetness of a renewed heart is never wasted on the desert air. He was satisfied with God alone as his auditor, and he coveted not the high opinion of man.”

Full Obedience...Without Excuse

This chapter could very well be entitled Excuses, Excuses vol. 2

No matter how I may struggle with the command in the opening of our chapter today (1 Samuel 15), one thing we can all agree on....the command was clear!

utterly destroy all that they have and do not spare them

and if that were not enough

kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey

If there are any questions, it is not about what was said, but why it was said. Saul had the opportunity to be used by God to fulfill what was sworn by the Lord in the days of Moses in Exodus 17:14-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19.

The beginnings of the attack looked so good.

• He shows an ability I wish I had, that of gathering and organizing a large number of people.
• And a word not commonly associated with Saul in our previous accounts...he waited.
• He even shows proper wisdom and mercy in letting the Kenites go, after all, God's judgment and call was not upon them.
• He even attacked the Amalekites, as the Lord commanded.

Such a good start, but...

He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive...

But Saul and the people spared Agag AND

the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good and were unwilling to utterly destroy them

Saul and his men obeyed as far as suited them. They did not obey God at all then, but rather their own inclinations. Is it submission, to submit only when it accords with my will?

I am prepared to obey the Word of God up to a certain point. But just as soon as "the best and choicest" portion of my life begins to be touched, how often I draw the line and refuse further compliance. What a challenge!

Just because I experience no guilt or shame in my disobedience, but rather perhaps even a sense of pride for my chosen disobedience (enough pride to "set up a monument for himself") does not clear me!

My lack of guilt perhaps just shows the my conscience needs an awakening and my heart needs a fresh touch from God. To disobey God and make a monument to honor it...I think I know what the looks like in my life ;-(

How blinding pride is. Saul probably really believed what he told Samuel

I have performed the commandment of the Lord

How often my own rationalization and upside down pride has led to blinding self-deception!

And another question from this claim of Saul's...if true obedience had been exercised, would it have been so quick to boast of it?

Just as lies grow exponentially, even so Saul's disobedience provokes him to yet more and more excuses.
1) He blames the people, not himself

they brought them...the people spared the best

2) He includes himself in the obedience

the rest we have utterly destroyed

3) He justifies what he has kept because of the quality

the best of...

4) He claims to have done it for spiritual reasons

to sacrifice to the Lord YOUR God

It all made perfect sense!

Even as Samuel gives yet another command "Be quiet!"
Saul must disobey again, and pridefully say "Speak on!"

Saul will indeed see the Amalekites again due to his disobedience now (2 Samuel 1:8-10)
If we don't radically deal with that which troubles us, it may come back and kill us!

For Saul, it was all about the people! Whether he was blaming them or hungering to be revered in their sight. His image, in the minds of the people, became his god and idol.

Saul and Samuel lived a mere 10 miltes apart, but Saul did not seek the advice of his radical, godly friend, until the strange situation in 1 Samuel 28!

Lord Jesus, enliven my conscience, give me ears to hear, and a heart that fully obeys. I confess some of Your ways seem radical and illogical, but I desire to be a woman after Your own heart. Search me O God, and try me. See if there be any wicked way in me, and where there is...help me to utterly destroy it!

A Few Notes about the War
This was not to be a war for plunder but for the judgment of God against the terrible sin the Amalekites committed agains His people while they were the weakest and most vulnerable, without provocation. Deuteronomy 25:17-19; & Exodus 17

(How thankful I am that the Lord has the same jealousy for me, that He desires everyone of mine enemies [spiritually, mind you] be fully overcome)

God's judgment is not about plunder or a time of happiness or joy. God brought it reluctantly, and even afforded nearly 400 years for Amalekites to repent, and yet all Israel, following their king's lead, treated it as opportunity to ravage and benefit.

God still judges nations today (though not everything that happens is a judgment), but He does not use Christians to implement it.

For Christians, the Lord made it clear in John 18:36 that His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom, not a political or a military kingdom.

Just as Paul made it clear that the enemies of my soul and the Church are not material, but spiritual in Ephesians 6:12.

We do indeed want to win the world for Jesus, but by through the influence of individual lives being transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ one at a time.

So read this story with Amalek representing the flesh. To spare Amalek is the equivalent of sparing some root of evil, some plausible indulgence, some favorite sin, for self-gratification.

The Great Swearer

Well, we find out that Saul was doing more than just "sitting under the pomegranate tree" in today's reading of the rest of the chapter of 1 Samuel 14:24-52. He was busy making as if he was doing something...by being a great swearer!

Can't you just picture him there in the middle of the corporate meeting with all the religious folks and what not, without a plan, and yet saying:

Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.

I mean verse 16 tells us the only reason Saul even goes out to meet his enemies, is because the watchmen were observing the results of what Jonathan had done.

On a day when God is routing the confused army, Saul had to get in there and put the emphasis on himself (and all in the name of spirituality...just a clue...we'll be seeing this modus operandi from him again)

....until I have taken vengeance on my enemies.

Even in the midst of something and Godward as fasting should be, Saul manages to put the focus on himself, not the Lord!

Is Saul, by this curse he has placed on everyone, being manipulative and yet again robbing his son the credit due his name?

On a day when the morale of Israel should have been the highest and the physical energy of the men the strongest...the army was "distressed", "fear", "faint", "troubled", "very faint", "sinning". All because of Saul's facade in the form of spiritual swearing.

An opportunity to partake of the goods from the land flowing with milk and honey by the hand of God on a day of victory...and yet!

Right in front of the eyes of the weary soldiers of Israel! They want the honey. They need the honey. God provided the honey. But a foolish, legalistic command from Saul kept it from them. How this must have discouraged and embittered the soldiers!

As a result of trying to adhere to Saul's foolish legalistic command, the people were so hungry that they broke God's clearly declared command (Deut 12:16, 23-25; Lev. 3:17; 17:10-14; 19:26; Gen. 9:4) in regards to the bleeding of the animals.

I certainly don't want to excuse the people for their hand in this sin regarding the blood, but what about a little ownership from Saul regarding his provocation of it? Instead he wags his finger at them with a sneering "tsk, tsk, tsk" as it were

You people have dealt treacherously

When Saul consults the Lord, the Lord does not answer him.
So what would you do?
What would I do?

Saul, in his ever impatient self (are you listening Deborah?) takes matters into his own hands and makes yet another crazy oath:

For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die

(I suppose he's going to blame this oath on the Lord for being late, like he blamed chapter 13's sin on Samuel for being late)

and again, he swears:

God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan

Have ever so many "so-help-me-God, cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die, stick-a-needle-in-my-eye" kind of promises been made in a single day?
And have so many of those "swearings" been so wrong?

Lord, Saul can keep his highly spiritual legalism, I pray that You will deliver me, and then preserve me from such a facade. I want the real Spirituality that comes from a relationship with You. That I may have patience to wait on Your answer rather than moving forward with holy-sounding ideas.

Also, I pray I may be like Jonathan, partaking from the sweet honey You have provided in Your Word and become strengthened by it to slaughter more of my sinful temptations, and enlightened by it to walk in the way of victory. You are so patient.

No More Excuses!

Today's reading, if you follow the 3-Year Reading Plan along with St. Philip's is 1 Samuel 14:1-23. And despite the stolen glory from yesterday's exploits in chapter 13, Jonathan is still determined to free God's people from the oppression of the Philistines.

So Jonathan makes what most would deem as a rash and foolish decision to confront the Philistines himself with his armor-bearer. It was not just social suicide (see Ruth 1) but physical suicide to boot!

And what can be said of his armor bearer? Two lessons immediately come to mind:

1) He had such implicit trust in Jonathan, that he was willing to risk his very life to follow him into this apparently definite losing situation.

I'm challenged by Jonathan's assistant's willingness to trust a man with his very life, and yet I hesitate to show that same kind of trust in God...with every aspect of my life. Do I have as much faith in God's judgment and direction as the armor bearer did in Jonathan?

2) God was going to use Jonathan, but He wasn’t going to use Jonathan alone. Almost always, when God uses a person, He calls others around that person to support and help them. They are just as important in getting God’s work done as the person God uses.

So, if you can’t be a Jonathan, then find a Jonathan - and attach yourself to him as like Jonathan’s armor bearer. Be an encourager to the Jonathans around you!


Another irony of this story is

"Jonathan boldly goes over to the Philistine garrison"

while his father

"Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree"

(I imagine him having a productive corporate meeting, I'm sure!)

Oh Lord, make me like Jonathan, "be up and be doing" rather than like the slothful man who talks himself to death.

It seems to me that Jonathan's secrecy in going over to the enemy's stronghold only confirms that he is not doing this out of personal glory to vindicate his name from yesterday's chapter.

Looking at the situation, he probably realized if he had run it by his pop, Saul would have said "no" and given a million excuses why it is not the right path to take.

But Jonathan felt called, and entrusted his armor-bearer with his strategy. They were both 100% committed to the call of God for deliverance.

For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few:

What wise courage in God! I believe this as a theological truth. But do I believe it enough to do something? Or am I like Saul who did not engage in battle until it seemed like a "sure thing". It seems he is so afraid to fail, that he didn't want to do anything. Me too :-(

Then after God answered the sign to Jonathan, what must his heart have felt? The jubilation of it all! Or was it rather the temptation to quit or ignore the sign?

It was a steep long climb to get up to the Philistines, a perfectly good excuse not to go up (at least in my book!)

But Jonathan got on "his hands and knees and climbed!"

Lord help me to either be a Jonathan full of bold trust, or an armor-bearer who is willing to support those who valiantly go forward against all logic, rationalization and reason. And grant that just as both Jonathan and his assistant undertoke the hardship to get down on their hands and knees to climb, that I too would find myself empower by You to do likewise.

Excuses, Excuses!

Well, I had a slumber party last night at a friend's house and missed the opportunity to spread 1 Samuel 13 before the Lord. So we'll do that this morning!

This is the first time we read of that brave, sensitive, amiable man, Saul's son, named Jonathan.

Not surprisingly, he is introduced taking the initiative to protect the Israelites from their enemy the Philistines. He could clearly see that there was something more for the children of God than the peace of being a subjected people under their enemies.

He was certainly a can-do kind of guy, not spending much of his time in corporate meetings discussing the need or the possible solutions, but just getting out there and doing it! He's in the same camp as Biblical Deborah...definitely not a procrastinator.

And what a bee's nest Jonathan did stir! As soon as he starts trying to break from the bondage of life, everyone get's in a cafuffle and makes things harder for him and the Israelites than they were before. They end up in caves, rocks, holes and pits. (that's a cost to consider if you plan on breaking from harmful habits and old chains)

Verse four is a little disconcerting:

All Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines.

There's Saul taking credit from his son. Insecurity is starting to seep into this man's life.

I'm so prone to this sin, of taking credit for things I had no part of it, that I've kind of reacted to the other side of refusing credit for even things that I may be a part of. I think if I have to error on one side or the other, I'll stay right where I am.

Interesting isn't it, where this simple little lie (not correcting the rumor that it wasn't him who attacked the garrison) led him to sin in other areas of his life.

From not redirecting the praise to the appropriate person, to actually engaging in sacrifices which, in the Old Testament, can only be mediated by a priest. The Lord is very specific. And Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, did not even come close to qualifying.

Look at poor Saul, seeing the logic in striking against the Philistines quickly, he dares to engage in the activities of a priest. And in his little pea brain, it makes perfect sense.

• We need to attack now.
• People are losing heart and
• need a rallying cry.
• We need God on our side.
• Samuel is running late.
• I don't want to be a procrastinator!

And off he goes, doing his own thing according to his own logic!

I'm plagued with the question arising from his actions "can there be any devotion in disobedience?"

Samuel gives Saul an opportunity to repent by asking "What have you done?"

Instead of confessing and repenting he starts to give excuses why it was "impossible" to trust in God in this situation.

"I had to do something to impress the people and gain their support back."
And I'm sure there were many Israelites who admired Saul for offering the sacrifice. "My, there's a man of action! He gets things done! I never understood why the priests were so special anyway."

"You see Samuel, it was really your fault. If you would have kept your word and come earlier, I wouldn't have needed to do this." Is there ever a time that someone else's sin (even if Samuel was totaly in the wrong) justifies our own?

"We really needed God's help against the Philistines and we needed it now...so I HAD to do it." Of all the avenues available to the general population to cry out to God, why did he engage in the one thing he must not do: offer a sacrifice?

"I FELT compelled." A great example of why we ought not to be ruled by our feelings.

Was God's judgment on Saul's sacrifice, an over-reaction to what some might think was a rather small sin? “To disobey God in the smallest matter is sin enough: there can be no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against.” (John Trapp)

Lord, I don't want to engage in anything, bad or good, that isn't Your plan for me. Protect me from my excuses and deliver me from the dominion of my Feelings.

One Wrong Turn Does Not Disqualify

Reading of Samuel's legacy in 1 Samuel 12 during the hubbub of primaries and elections, makes me wonder, who, at the end of their term (much less their whole life) would be able to invite people to report of any wrong-doings in his reign, and have everyone in, in one accord, declare...

“You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”

This is a priceless testimony for any leader. How precious to stand before your own people, and to hear them affirm the integrity of your leadership!

But the more personal and comforting word from this passage is how Samuel wanted it clearly known that it was not his idea to appoint a king over Israel. This idea began in the hearts of Israel, not in the heart and mind of God. Yet God allowed it, and even directed its execution. But it was the voice of the people that prompted it.

So even after this blatant disobedience in their desire for a king, Samuel presents Israel with an important choice. If they would fear the Lord and serve Him, God could still bless them.

One wrong turn had not put them out of God’s plan forever. Yes, Israel should have never sought a human king. But now they had one, Samuel simply calls them to serve the Lord where they are at now.

We need to know that one wrong turn doesn’t wreck our lives before God! Instead of agonizing over the past, we can get right with God today. I choose to fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice today. God will bring good even out of yesterday’s wrong turn.

So just as Samuel puts the choice before Israel after they had made a wrong turn, we face the same fork in the road. On one side is submission to God and obedience; on the other is rebellion and disobedience.

Eventually, after it is all said and done, Israel sees their sin of wanting a king. They see it too late; if only they had realized it in 1 Samuel 8, when Samuel first warned them!

Now they are stuck with a king, yet God can still turn it for good if Israel will repent and seek the Lord. The Lord is well-able to get us on the His path of righteousness no matter where we are coming from.

And though Samuel did not minimize Israel’s sin, he does not want them to dwell on the sin of the past. He wanted themto get on walking with the Lord today.

The Living Bible puts it this way:

Make sure now that you worship the Lord with true enthusiasm, and that you don’t turn your back on Him in any way. We can’t do anything about yesterday, and at the present moment we can’t serve God tomorrow. At the present moment, all we can do is not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all
your heart.

Satan would love for us to live in the past or in the future; to do anything but serve the Lord with all we have right now!

Gracious God, thank You for Your unending patience and Your gracious power that will help me return to You no matter where I find myself today. I pray You will help me to live in the present moment...not grieving and groaning over yesterdsay's sin, nor fearing or fretting over tomorrow's problems. I agree with Samuel when he said "What great things You have done for me!"

Our Enemy & Our Saviour

In 1 Samuel 11, Nahash (which means snake or serpent) the Ammonite was coming up against Jabesh Gilead of Israel, just like our enemy Satan does with us.

Jabesh Gilead is on the outskirts of Israel, far from the heart of Israel, and bordering the enemy territory of Ammon.

A. Our enemy approaches us, 1) either where we are the weakest, or 2) the area we pay the least mind to.

B. Our enemy may attack us, but cannot do anything against us without our agreement or consent. He asks for, and requires our cooperation.

C. Our enemy wants us to serve him, and will attempt to rationalize and intimidate us into giving in to him.

D. Our enemy wants to humiliate us, and exalt himself over us. Through humiliating one believer, Satan can bring reproach on all of Christianity.

E. Our enemy wants to take away our ability to effectively fight against him (ie, blinding the right eye, which peaks from behind the shield being held by the left hand).

F. Our enemy wants to blind us, and if he cannot blind us completely (cannot see God exists), he will blind us partially (cannot see God is good).

The Gileadites are in a good position if you look at through the eyes of recovery!

First of all, we need to have our denial crushed. Why don't we just submit to Nahash and become their slaves (as opposed to crying out to God)? Seems like such a peace-keeping thing to do!

Once the Ammonites cruelty rears its ugly head and Nahash's proposed covenant is seen for what it really is, the Gileadites realize...they are powerless!

They realized they had a need, and that there is no hope in and of themselves. Is there a savior to be found?

Saul did arise to the occasion for his first kingly duty. And sobriety was accomplished because of the outside power of the Saviour!

One last piece of this chapter which is a real challenge...

10:27 we read of rebels who doubted "How can this man save us?" So they despised him.

And even then, Saul "held his peace."

“The Hebrew is striking. ‘He was as though he had been deaf’ - he pretended not to hear. He did hear; every word had struck deep into his soul, but he made as though he were deaf. It is a great power when a man can act as though he were deaf to slander, deaf to detraction, deaf to unkind and uncharitable speeches, and treat them as though they had not been spoken, turning from man to God, leaving with God his vindication, believing God will mend the situation." --F.B. Meyer

Then in this chapter, the opportunity arose for Saul to finally "speak his peace", as it were.

At this moment of great victory, the supporters of Saul wanted to expose and kill those who rebelled against Saul's appointment as king in 1 Samuel 10:27.

Who is he who said, “Shall Saul reign over us?” Bring the men, that we may put them to death!

Yet Saul, in his humility would not have any of it!

Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel!

Saul wisely knew this was no time to take revenge on his opponents. Satan, having failed in the attack through Nahash, was now trying to attack Israel - even in victory - by dividing the nation against each other. Our enemy will attack us anyway he can, and often use times of victory to attack.

Lord Jesus, draw every part of me so close to You that there is no "Jabesh Gilead" lingering near the enemy's territory. And yet Lord, for those areas that I am under attack and struggling, I ask for Your deliverance. Be my Saul.
Also Father, make me a Saul...as he is in this chapter...bold, active, and humble, willing to give all the glory to You!

Spirit of the Lord--A New Heart

Yesterday we were introduced to Saul, with much more fanfare about his fleshly qualifications, than any mention of his relationship with the Lord. When we saw him engaging in something even possibly spiritual...it was at his servant's prompting.

So no wonder that in 1 Samuel 10, we see people amazed that he should somehow be counted amongst the prophets. How is it that he has gone from secular to spiritual?

But as it was with Saul, so it can be with us:

• God picked Saul just as he was, even though he was not a particularly spiritual man.
• Yet God did not want to leave Saul just as he was.
• For God to use Saul to the fullest, He had to be turned into another man
• by the filling of the Spirit of the Lord.

The difference between Saul's yesterday and today was the Anointing! Not just the physical anointing of oil by Samuel onto Saul's head, but what it depicted. That of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. That anointing is what turned Saul into a different man.

In Women's Bible Study today we learned a lot about the Holy Spirit, but one of the most securing, and yet challenging truths, was that as Christians under the New Covenant, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20).

We are filled with, and blessed by, the Holy Spirit. This is something that is the common property of all Christians, but something we can and should become more submitted and responsive to.

Also, from this chapter, we see that Saul started out his reign with so much promise.

• He was chosen and
• anointed by God
• He was filled with the Holy Spirit
• He had the support of a man of God like Samuel
• He had been given gifts appropriate to royalty
• He had the enthusiastic support and goodwill of most all the nation
• He had valiant men around him, men whose hearts God had touched to support him
• And, he had the wisdom to not regard every doubter, or every critic, as an enemy

What will Saul do with these great advantages?

But even more closer to home, what will I do with the great advantages given me?

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for choosing the unspiritual, the disinterested, as it were. And for the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is daily making me into a different woman. Father, You have blessed my life with so many earthly advantages as well. Help me to move up to higher ground because of them!

An Annoyance Led to a Crown!

Tall, Dark, and Handsome...but looking for lost donkeys! Yes, let's pick him to be the king!

The first 2 verses 1 Samuel 9 talk plenty about Saul's family, his heritage, his wealth, his appearance, his stature and how he compared with others ... but nothing about his relationship with God. And isn't that just like the Israelites spiritually? Wanting the image of religion regardless of the reality?

Oh Lord, let my image be sacrificed so long as I can have the real substance of a royal life.

I wonder if the donkeys had never gotten lost, or if Kish had sent another son to search for them, if Saul would have become king? Just think about that.

Going about the ordinary business of life (actually, I suppose it was a bit worse than the “usual” life...the donkeys ended up running away and I'm sure Saul had to be annoyed by the whole ordeal of going out looking for them) and closing out the day notified that you'll be ruler over all the people of God!

Like there's this fender bender, you might say, that disrupts ordinary life, and the next thing you know, Saul is on the ascent to the throne! Talk about a bad thing turned good! If the beasts had not meandered away, Saul would have never met the person who could change his life!

Charles Spurgeon (my all time favorite) said, “Saul went out to seek his father’s asses, he failed in that search, but he found a crown!”

Lord Jesus, Editor of my life, help me to see every Disappointment as “His appointment”!

Can you imagine coming to a “man of God”... “an honorable man” ... a man that “all he says surely comes to pass” ... asking for help to find...donkeys? I wonder if some of my requests seem that way to Jesus, small and so much less than what He wants to provide for me! Excuse me, Warren Buffet, could you loan me a dime!

Oh Lord, let me drink of Your fullness, and experience Your wholeness, rather than spend time with donkeys!

If I had the choice to either follow God's lead by chasing after jackasses or hearing Him talk in my ear...I'd rather be a Samuel!

Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus.
To reach out and touch Him
To show Him I love Him

Open my ears,Lord
And help me to listen
Open my eyes, Lord
I want to see Jesus

Parenting, Prayers & Ripples

Who can tell just how far-reaching our influence may be? Because of Eli's parenting skills (or perhaps, better stated, lack of them) many people's lives were affected.

To think of everyone who was abused by his two boys as they violated the women, pillaged the men, and robbed from God, and the ripple effect from there on out, is mind-boggling.

1 Samuel 8 is just a microcosm of the ill-effects that Eli's decisions regarding his children impacted world history.

(now don't get me wrong, this isn't a blog from a single gal blasting someone else's child-rearing tactics. I'm more convicted by the question, “is there anything I am doing that will have a negative impact on someone else's life?”)

The Israelites suffer through a number of years under High Priest Eli's reign as his boys plunder the countryside. Samuel brings a reprieve and recovery is enjoyed by the children of God.

But apparently, though Samuel could lead a nation (perhaps due in part to his mother's prayer for her son in 1 Samuel 2), he seemed most influenced by Eli when it came to parenting.

The first 3 verses of chapter 8 sound very reminiscent of the Phinehas and Hophni days.

“but his sons did not walk in the ways of Samuel; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.”

As a result of the boys behavior, the elders of Israel demand a king. Its as if they were driven to the request because of how they were being treated by Sam's sons. And just like a script right out of Hollywood, a lot of previewing for the chapters ahead are given to us in verses 10-18. The 400 years of kingdom-living will reek with everything described in those 9 verses!

But I like what Samuel did when people asked something of him. (Oh, how I wish I responded like him more often).

“The elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' So Samuel prayed to the Lord!”

• I need to do this when I hear displeasing news.
• I need to do this when I'm requested to do something.
• I need to do this when confronted by a number of people on all sides.
• I need to do this when someone attempts to manipulate me into thinking it's my fault (see verse 5).
• I need to do this when I am criticized or evaluated.
• I need to do this all the time!

Oh Lord God, how many times I could have saved myself heartache and wasted time, if I had only prayed to You first. Teach me to come to You with every decision I make (that sounds like a lot of times in any given day Lord, but I don't suppose there is such a thing as communicating with You too much!) And if I have started any negative ripples in this pool of life, I pray that You will intervene and convert them into splashes of joy instead!

Hitherto has the Lord Helped Us!

Isn’t Samuel a breath of fresh air after the last judge we read about? (Remember the exploits of “faithful” Samson?) He had plenty of dysfunction in his surroundings and circumstances, and yet, it is he that the Lord used to bring the nation of Israel back to Himself!

In 1 Samuel 7 we see a battle that is won, after Samuel had the children of Israel tend to their idolatry and sin issues. It seemed his first concern was a reviving of the heart whether in war or peace time. That is a good reminder to me, that I should draw near to the Lord before I go about my day or confront my struggles head on.

But there is a word in all of this chapter that ministers to me most…Ebenezer.

Not because it was at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. first preached his message of nonviolence.

Not because Mr. Scrooge discovered what it is to have a heart and live for others after three visits from Christmases.

But it’s because of its meaning and principal.

An old hymn by William Wilberforce’s spiritual mentor, John Newton, says it succinctly.

His love in time past forbids me to think
He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink;
Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review,
Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through.

How good it is for me to argue from the faithfulness of God in the past. David was able to face Goliath as he reminded himself of God’s protection in the past (1 Samuel 17:31-37):

The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philipstine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, the Lord be with you!”

Why would I waver in doubt and fear, if I remember His kindness in leading me these past 20 years?

O Lord, here the Israelites were afraid of the Philistines, and yet with Your intervention, there was recovery! Help me to remember the wondrous works You have done, to encourage me to face the Philistines of my life today. And just like in the days of Samuel, help me to recover lost ground and to enjoy years of peace with all those around.

Kine-kind of Faith

Didn’t you find 1 Samuel 6 to be a POWERFUL chapter! I am exceedingly challenged by the cows.

It is very interesting how the Philistines reason about the Lord God of heaven.

“give glory to the God of Israel, perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.”

They are so close in their thinking to touching eternity, and yet…


And just a quick note on the rats…though it doesn’t mention rats in our translation of the Bible in chapter 5, in the Septuagint 1 Samuel 5:6 it reads:

“But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors and in the midst of their land rats sprang up, and there was a great death panic in the city.”

But enough about rats, let’s talk about cows!

The Ark of the Lord was the presence of God. Though no one would glorify Jehovah, He would glorify Himself wherever the Ark was.

* Two milk cows (mommas)
* With babies
* Who had never been yoked before

And what did they do with these two milk cows? They hitched them to a cart. They took their babies and sent them home, away from the kine.

Then they put the Ark of the Lord (which had been plaguing everyone else) and hitched it up to these two mommas. And then they sent it away.

The “fleece,” or test of this whole venture was this:
1) if they milk cows did the natural thing and returned to the barn to nurture their calves, the Philistines would be convinced that everything up to this point was coincidental. That the plagues and tumors only seemed to follow the Ark of the Lord.

2) but if the momma cows did the very unnatural and very painful thing of leaving their babies behind to go away from home…then the Philistines would be convinced that it was the hand of the Lord that produced these “loud” plagues.

Now, if I were the cows, I would most certainly turn back to my cherished loved ones and let those prideful Philistines get their due. But not these two.

Verse 10-12 are so heart-wrenching:
“Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them in the cart, and shut up their calves at home. And they set the Ark of the Lord on the cart…then the cows headed straight for the road (away from their babies) to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left.”

Here the cows are separated from their calves. And we know that for ourselves that separation hurts, and rips apart the tightest bonds. For myself, having experienced separation, I don’t wonder but that they lowed all the while as they went.

• The wonder of it is that they choose to separate from their calves.
• That they did not turn aside to the right hand or left.
• That they did not procrastinate (straight also carrying the connotation straightway, or quickly).

As a result of this very unnatural separation, they brought healing to the Philistines, joy to the Israelites, and glory to God.

But that’s not all. They didn’t return home to their darlings. Rather, the cows were offered as a burnt offering to the Lord. They had willingly sacrificed everything (remember, nobody drove them to leave their calves), even their dearest and choicest loved ones, to do the Lord’s bidding. It cost them their lives.

Now, though I love animals, what makes it so exceptionally moving, is to think of people who may have done the same thing. Perhaps even to the shouts of others yelling “you’re abandoning your children. You are being irresponsible.” But they had heard the call, the call to separate.

Oh Lord God, there is no way I could ever separate from my choice idols, or even dearest loved ones if it not by Your enabling. Help me to have the kind of kine-faith, that will sacrifice all, everything, enduring any hardship that might come as a result of trying to follow You. I do desire You would use me to “heal the Philistines & bring joy to the Israelites” (whatever that may look like).

Dagons of My Life

The Israelites had treated the Ark of the Lord as a good luck charm in chapter 4, and today in 1 Samuel 5 we see the Philistines creating a religious ritual of not treading on the threshold of Dagon’s temple. There is a vital element missing in the choices that the Israelites and the Philistines made regarding the Ark of the Lord...God Himself...I certainly don’t want to miss it!

Though the glory of God may have departed from the midst of Israel, God’s glory did not cease to exist! While the Ark of the Covenant stood as a trophy in the temple of Dagon, God’s glory began to shine.

God is not simply trying to show that He is better than Dagon, but He is reaching out to the Philistines themselves. Yet, even after the Philistines recognize that the Lord God of Israel is superior to their headless, handless Dagon, they refuse to turn to the Almighty.

Instead, they make a religious tradition of it. They would rather glue the pieces of their god together than worship the Lord and have their lives and thinking changed.

How often do I do that with my pet sin? How often must the Lord demonstrate the weakness and insufficiency of my choice idols? What do I do with my little powerless, witless little Dagon? Why do I keep erecting it in my heart, thinking it is as necessary to life as air itself? What a mercy it is that the Lord dealt with the idol.

But when we close our ears to God, He often finds another way to speak to us. And it wasn’t a pleasant form of communication!

So even the tumors, hemorrhoids, and destructions were God reaching out to display His glory in such a way, that men would repent and enjoy the benefits of a right relationship with the Lord. But alas! Instead of submitting to the God of Israel, they decided to get rid of Him.

Lord Jesus, You are so merciful how You grace us with Your glory, even when we refuse to acknowledge it. I invite You in to my life to deal radically with my Dagons and strengthen me to turn to You even in the midst of pain and confusion. I don't want You to ever go away.

The Ark of the Lord

We had the Word of the Lord in 1 Samuel 3, and today the emphasis seems to be on The Ark of the Lord in 1 Samuel 4.

But one things seems to have become quite clear...that without the Word of the Lord to guide the going forths of even the very Ark of the Lord...we can end up getting ourselves into some very messy trouble!

Having read the about Hophni and Phinehas in chapter 2, it seems a terrible blight to the glory of the Lord to have them possessing the ark of the covenant of God. The Mercy Seat (which resided in the Ark of the Lord) morphed into a rabbit's foot or a good luck charm.

I sure hope I don't treat prayer, or Bible Study, or going to church or tithing like the Ark of the Lord was treated in this chapter...they didn't even take the time to seek God's mind on the matter.

What kind of testimony am I leaving behind? Is my life one that people will look back and actually draw conclusions from. What I mean is this...look in verse 7-8:

So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp. Woe to us! Woe to us! Who will deliver us? This is the God who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues."

They are using the events of the Exodus that occurred 400 years earlier as an argument for their conclusion in the present. Apparently, even up until this time, the dealings of God with the Egyptians and the Israelites still spoke loudly as a testimony to those surrounding the area.

The glory of God has departed.

Can you think of sadder words than these? Perhaps we may feel as if the presence or cheer of God has left us, but it is never true. For He promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Thank You Jesus for securing us from the departure of Your glory.

Lord, I so desire to have a heart in tune with Your cares, and Your glory. Make me a bright and bold witness for You. Protect me from ever treating You as, or thinking of You as, a vending machine or good luck charm.

The Word of the Lord

I certainly want to emulate 1 Samuel 3 in that aside from Samuel, “The Word of the Lord” seems to be most prevalent. I certainly know what it feels like in my own life to have “the word of the Lord” be rare with no widespread revelation.

But there is much to take heart about.

1) Look at how many times it takes Eli and/or Samuel to realize “God is talking!”

A woman shared at Bible Study this morning that “if you don’t think God speaks, you won’t hear Him when He does speak to you!” That seems to be Eli’s problem in today’s passage.

And yet, as I’m beginning to see a little more clearly, God is ever patient with him, and keeps calling ole Eli until he finally gets it (I’m so thankful He gives me more than one chance to follow His calling)!

2) As I attempt to go through the 3-Year Bible Reading Plan with St. Philip’s a little more faithfully than I have other reading plans, I’m encouraged by verse ten where it connects knowing the Lord with the Word of the Lord:

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.

I so desperately desire to know the Lord, to go from a personal relationship with God to an intimate relationship with Him. And this blog has been a GREAT aid for me in that regard.


3) The word of the Lord had not been revealed to Samuel prior to this. This was a new thing for him. So it is excusable that even though Eli gives him a script to say, Samuel neglected a word in the excitement of it all.

• Eli’s script, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”
• Samuel recites, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

But it is a very key word, at least in my life. That is one area I don’t want to mess things up. I don’t want to forget the Lord in whatever I am doing. I need Him to be in, and central to, everything I do.

4) Oh what faithfulness Samuel demonstrates in this chapter. I am such a banana-back that I don’t know if I could have spoken all the words from God to Eli like Samuel did. He was a faithful messenger, even when the news was difficult or confrontational.

“Samuel told everything and hid nothing…so Samuel grew.”

5) Repeats the encouraging tidbit found in #2, namely, the Lord reveals Himself by the Word of the Lord. And it has proven true that the Word of God leads to The Living Word of God Jesus Christ.

Thank You dear Lord, for Your precious, revealing Word. It is indeed eternal life to intimately know You. I desire to have ears to hear, and a heart that knows You do communicate!

Hannah's Choice of Faith

Well, I guess today's chapter of 1 Samuel 2 gives a little explanation as to why Eli's immediate thought about Hannah praying so feverishly, was drunkenness...apparently he had been seeing a lot of inebriated behavior from his boys!

Can you imagine being Hannah? Finally being a mother of a long-longed for miracle child, nursing and bonding with it for a few years, and then end up giving him away, sort to speak? Chapter one closed with these very moving and sacrificial words:

"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.

Those words are powerful all by themselves. But then chapter two makes the giving up of that child even more...well, what shall we say? Makes it even more ludicrous? More insane?

I mean, look at the household to which Samuel was to be nurtured in (2:12-36). The same man that raised the likes of Hophni and Phinehas (who had no problem raping people of food and body, or even from robbing from God), was to be the caretaker of Samuel (earthly-speaking).

Hannah gave her son over to Eli, all the while her and Elkanah read the morning papers reporting on Hophni and Phinehas' criminal behavior. "What will become of Samuel? I thought I was giving him to the Lord?"

But look at her song, her prayer. One thing is very apparent...she knows the Lord to be sovereign and in control, even when it doesn't look like it.

She knew God to be her Joy, her Salvation, her Refuge, her Righteous Standard, her Defender, her Provider, her Rewarder, etc. Just look at all the traits she comforts herself with as she makes a decision that looks like "social suicide" for Samuel!

What a stark contrast Hannah and Samuel are to Phinehas and Hophni!

Lord Jesus, spare me from just being religious like those two priests P&H. Put in me such a strong confidence in You that You could ask anything of me, and I would march forward with the same unwavering resolve as Hannah did...to give my best, to what seems to be the worst, in Your name.

God's solution for a national problem is sticking a little boy in the midst of the uproar:

• Little boy Samuel in the corrupt house of Eli
• Little boy David in the corrupt house of Saul
• Little boy Jesus in the corrupt house of mankind

His plans seem to work!

heard in a sermon, I think by J.B. Nicholson