Archive for the ‘1st and 2nd Samuel-BibleTrekToday’ Category
Dear Friends,
As God’s people gather for worship and instruction in His word on each Sunday, I am so thankful for the promise of God dwelling with His people. Where two or more are gathered in His Name, He is there with them and delights in His people. He rejoices over us with singing and spins around with delight over faithful people gathering to worship. He indwells the praises of His people! Please find a place of worship and make an effort to be there in person if you possibly can. God is so good but He can also be dangerous!
In this past week’s reading, we came across a story where someone died for touching the Ark of the Covenant. This story reminds us that it is important to come into God’s presence in the proper way. We should not ever try to manipulate the presence of God with man’s ingenuity or ways. We must be aware that God is holy and those in the Bible who disrespected His presence, died young! In Leviticus 10 we read of Nadab and Abihu who took their censers and filled them with strange fire and went before the Lord. They died instantly. In 2nd Samuel 6:6-7, Uzzah acted irreverently towards the Ark and died instantly. In the New Testament in Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Apostle Peter and died instantly during a church service while bringing their offering!
We all long for the presence of God and enjoy knowing that He is with us and indwells us. We must remember that He is holy and must be treated with respect. Worship the Lord today in Spirit and truth, offering Him your best and full attention! God bless you!
In His Love, Pastor John
Scripture reading for March 27th: 2nd Samuel 5-7
King David had a desire to see a house built for God’s glory to dwell in. David had built himself a house of cedar but the Ark of God was still in a tent. (2nd Samuel 7:1-3) God had traveled with His people using the tent and ark as His dwelling place. Of course, all of heaven and earth cannot contain God because He is so awesome! David’s desire for a house for God brought a response and promise back from God that is amazing even today! We are blessed today by this response!
“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. …I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
“I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish His kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for My Name and I will establish His kingdom forever. I will be His father and He will be My son. When He does wrong, I will punish Him with the rod of men with floggings inflicted by men. But My love will never be taken from Him, as I took it away from Saul, who I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me and your throne will be established forever.” 2nd Samuel 7:8-16
All King David could do was respond to God’s personal promises to Him! “You, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.” (2nd Samuel 7:29b) These promises to David were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He is building the “Temple” of God with all who believe on Him. We have His everlasting love and our enemies are defeated forever! Amen, Lord, let Your promises be upon us!
Scripture reading for March 26th: 2nd Samuel 1-4
If someone who hated you and had tried to kill you was taken in death, would you rejoice and throw a party? Would you be tempted to celebrate and judge that they had gotten their just desserts? David was tested with the death of King Saul.
David was visited by an Amalekite who came with news of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. He came in mourning attire and brought to David Saul’s crown and armband. David and his men tore their clothes and wept and fasted till evening in response to this news. David began thinking about the Amalekite finishing off King Saul and called him out. He had him executed for killing the Lord’s anointed! (2nd Samuel 1:8-16)
David had learned to respect the Lord’s authority structure. Even if those in authority are wicked and under the influence of an evil spirit, they still are where they are in the position of authority because God has placed them there. We would do well to learn this lesson quickly. This Amalekite lost his life for what he thought was an act of mercy in putting Saul out of his misery after a mortal wound!
David then composed a lament for Saul and Jonathan, his close friend, and taught this it to the men of Judah. The lament was a tribute to King Saul and his son. “Saul and Jonathan–in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.” 2nd Samuel 1:23 David makes no mention of the many times Saul tried to kill him and chased him mercilessly. He refuses to touch the Lord’s anointed even in death! What a tribute to this man’s heart of forgiveness and respect for God’s anointed!
As we look to this passage, we think about Jesus Christ, God’s anointed one! Jesus died the death of a criminal for us, taking our sins in his body on the cross. The religious leaders of Israel had no respect for their true King and ordered Him crucified. They even asked that His blood be on them and their children! (Matthew 27:25) Their King prayed for their forgiveness even as He died! Just think how many songs of remembrance have been composed about this King!
Scripture reading for March 25th: 1st Samuel 27-31
Occasionally we think we would like to contact those who have gone on before us who were special influences in our lives. Parents, grandparents and spiritual leaders all make lasting impressions on us and when gone, leave us with a deep feeling of loss. God has told us in His word, however, not to seek contact with those who have gone on. (Leviticus 19:31) God Himself is the only one we are to seek for counsel and direction.
Near the end of his time as king of Israel, Saul was under the influence of an evil spirit. As the Philistine army gathered to attack Israel, Saul was filled with fear and insecurity! (1st Samuel 28:4-7) (1st Samuel 16:14-16) Saul had been anointed by the Lord to lead the nation, but chose a path of self-will that brought the evil spirit into his life.
Samuel, Saul’s spiritual adviser, was dead. Saul had given a command to remove all mediums from Israel but when God would not answer his prayers, he sought insight into his future from a medium. Disguising himself, Saul went to a medium in Endor, and asked her to bring up Samuel from the dead! She reluctantly complied and God allowed Saul to see a spirit who looked like Samuel. Samuel’s spirit told Saul that he and his sons would soon join him and that God would fulfill Samuel’s words. (1st Samuel 28:16-19)
This is one of those passages that causes us some difficulty. Here we have God forbidding the use of mediums and yet allowing this medium to actually bring up Samuel or a spirit that looks like him. If this were an evil spirit imitating Samuel, it spoke the truth! According to Jesus, the devil and evil spirits can only lie! (John 8:44) The best we can understand this is that God meets people where they are and often does things in ways we don’t fully understand.
The truth of the matter at hand is that God’s people are to wait upon Him for answers. Rebellion proved to be Saul’s ultimate downfall again at the end. We should learn from our mistakes and listen to God’s word! “For rebellion is like the sin of divination and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” (1st Samuel 15:23)
Scripture reading for March 24th: 1st Samuel 24-26
Revenge is common in our world today. People remember wrongs done and they don’t get mad, they just get even! This thinking is contrary to the word of God! Only God knows the heart of people perfectly. God has made each person and has a purpose for each person. When we destroy another just to get even, it is a very selfish thing to do. We take the place of God when we attempt that. That sounds like original sin and the temptation of the serpent!
David is tempted three times in three chapters and would have been considered “justified” in his actions if he had taken revenge. The first incident involved King Saul hunting him to try and take his life. David and his men were hiding in a cave and Saul came into the cave to relieve himself. David’s men urged him to kill Saul but instead, he went and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Even this act caused David to speak God’s heart! “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” (1st Samuel 24:6)
The second incident involve a man named Nabal. This man insulted David and his companions after they had protected them in the wilds of the Judean wilderness. It was customary to show some gratitude by helping out with food because of the kindness, but Nabal was foolish and selfish. David was insulted and called his men to strap on their swords to get even. Nabal’s wife Abigail was wise and interceded for her foolish husband. David was moved by her humility and God spoke to him again through her about revenge. “May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.” (1st Samuel 25:33)
In the chapter 26, David is again offered the opportunity to kill Saul as he hunts David yet again. David has learned to trust that God will either get even in his own time, or show mercy. (1st Samuel 26:9-11) Would you take time today to examine your own heart for feelings of revenge? “As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble.” (1st Samuel 26:24)
Scripture reading for March 23rd: 1st Samuel 20-23
Close friends are hard to come by. Over the years I have had several close friends whom I have shared my heart and life with. The one closer than any other has been my wife of nearly 42 years. We have shared life together and are friends as well as covenant partners. We share a love and respect for each other and have vowed to be true to one another before God as long as we live.
In today’s reading, we have the story of David and Jonathan and their deep friendship. By the way, some have tried to read into this relationship something sexual. The Bible in no way implies that there is anything sexual about this friendship. Their hearts were knit to one another and they made a covenant of friendship. (1st Samuel 18:1-3) In this covenant, they exchanged clothes and weapons and vowed faithfulness. This covenant friendship was a gift of God that helped save David’s life on more than one occasion.
In our reading today, Jonathan helps David to avoid the wrath of the evil spirit that is on his father Saul. Jonathan and David renew their covenant in a field. Jonathan promises to warn David of the intentions of his own father if he discovers that his father is planning to harm David. (1st Samuel 20:12-16) He later finds that to be true and clandestinely meets David again in the field. They part company with tears and promises to be true to each other, even to succeeding generations! (1st Samuel 20:42)
As we look at this amazing friendship, I am thinking of Jesus Christ and His promise of eternal friendship to us. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:13-14a) Jesus made a covenant of eternal friendship with us through His death on the cross on our behalf. He took the punishment we deserved by taking on our sins and offenses, thereby saving our life. He gives us His robe of righteousness and His weapons in exchange! He promises to show covenant favor to succeeding generations of my offspring if I am faithful to Him! He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother! What amazing love the father has given to us through his Son, Jesus Christ!
Scripture reading for March 22nd: 1st Samuel 16-19
How would you go about finding a king? Would you look for the strongest person you could find? Would your king have to be the perfect man in looks and ability? Would you look for someone who was charismatic and a natural leader? God knows how to choose people He wants to lead for each situation to accomplish His purposes, but His ways are different than ours!
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.” (1st Samuel 16:7)
Samuel was told to go to the house of Jesse of Bethlehem and anoint one of his eight sons as king. Samuel obeyed the Lord, found Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. (1st Samuel 16:5-6) When Samuel saw Eliab, one of the sons, he felt that he must be the one God would choose. This son was evidently tall and handsome and looked like a real leader. God said “no”! The rest of the sons also came before Samuel and God said no to each one. There was one more young son who was tending sheep. This son was sent for and when he arrived, God spoke plainly! “Rise and anoint him; he is the one.” (1st Samuel 16:12b)
God saw David’s character coming from a heart that was after His own. David was known for his ability to sing and to play the harp skillfully. (1st Samuel 16:18) His ability to worship God was in his heart! David was a brave and courageous warrior as well. This courage was in his heart from a trust in the God he worshiped! It was demonstrated as he cared for his sheep and protected them from the lion and bear. (1st Samuel 17:34-35) God was also with David! This made all the difference in the world! Check your heart today! Your character is more important than your looks or outward appearance!
Dear Friends,
Greetings on this day of rest and reflection! May the Lord bless you with refreshing as you worship Him and honor Him by listening to His holy word! Your pastor has a word from the Lord this day that you and your family need to hear and heed! Please don’t miss out on being in the presence of the Lord as His people gather for worship today!
As I reflect on the reading of this past week, yesterday’s reading about Saul’s partial obedience comes quickly back to mind. I find that I, too, can make excuses like Saul did and seek to justify my own way of obeying God. Saul easily got rid of all the damaged goods, but kept the best. He still felt that he had obeyed the Lord’s instructions because he had won the battle and had gotten rid of most of the goods. When confronted, he said he was going to offer the rest as a sacrifice to the Lord. This sounded like a good idea, but was not in line with God’s instructions to destroy everything! What difference could it make if they would be offered to the Lord as a sacrifice? They would still be destroyed?
God doesn’t take pleasure in sacrifices and offerings that are made in disobedience! Our sin shouts loudly against us and grieves God’s heart! He really wants His people to simply obey! This is the best sacrifice we can give Him. A heart of obedience to fully comply with His word brings God more pleasure than any other sacrifice!
As you chose what path you will take today, reflect on your heart! Are you being obedient to what God has shown you is right? Are you completely following God’s instructions, or making up your own rules and thinking God will understand your intentions? Read 1st Samuel 15 again and reflect on Saul and his great loss because of rebellion and idolatry. In His Love, Pastor John
Scripture reading for March 20th: 1st Samuel 13-15
Do you have a stubborn streak in you? I know that I can be stubborn sometimes. I have learned over the years that I must always be teachable and listen to instructions. Sometimes these instruction come directly from the word of God and other instructions come from those in authority over me. Sometimes God uses my wife to direct me and even my children. When I have been stubborn, I have always gotten into trouble!
Saul was given instructions by Samuel to go and destroy the Amalekites. These peoples had waylaid Israel when they came out of Egypt nearly 400 years earlier. God’s timetable is often different than ours but He always repays when there is no repentance. (1st Samuel 15:1-3) Saul was told to completely destroy them and everything that belonged to them. The word was clear that everything must go!
Saul summoned a great army and marched out in obedience. He attacked and the Lord gave him victory. Saul, however, decided to spare King Agag and keep everything that was good in the way of sheep, cattle, and livestock. All the weak and lame he completely destroyed. (1st Samuel 15:8-9)
The Lord spoke to Samuel about Saul’s disobedience and Samuel began to cry out to the Lord on his behalf. The next morning Samuel went to meet Saul, but found that Saul had gone to Carmel and set up a monument for himself there. Saul’s first words to Samuel when they met at Gilgal was “The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.” (1st Samuel 15:13) It is interesting how men sometimes are in denial and convince themselves that they have obeyed fully what the Lord desires! Saul was deceived and his focus was on himself instead of on God!
Saul’s excuse for keeping King Agag and the best sheep was that they were for a sacrifice to the Lord. We often feel that our good motives for disobedience should excuse us from any wrong-doing! Samuel told Saul that God saw his intentions as stubbornness, arrogance, and idolatry! Because Saul rejected the word of the Lord, he would be rejected as king! (1st Samuel 15:22-23)
These truths should give us cause to reflect on our own obedience to the Lord. Are you fully compliant? Have you put your trust in Jesus Christ, the only fully obedient King?
Scripture reading for March 19th: 1st Samuel 9-12
Does God ever get sad at the behavior of His people? Does God ever cry? Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus and cried out in mourning over Jerusalem as he entered it during Passover week. We know that God’s heart is full of love for His people and He is sad when they reject Him and His love.
Samuel had faithfully led the people of God for many years. He had tried to set his sons over them, but the sons were not of the same character as Samuel and the people cried out for a king like the other nations. (1st Samuel 8:5-7) God told Samuel that it was not him they were rejecting, but God Himself! He instructed Samuel to give them what they wanted!
The search for a king went forth under God’s direction and the story of how Saul was chosen is an interesting one. Saul was out looking for lost donkeys and decided to go to Samuel for wisdom. God had spoken to Samuel a day earlier that a man from Benjamin would approach him and that was the man to anoint as king. (1st Samuel 9:15-16) I find it amusing that the man looking for lost donkeys was placed by God over a bunch of lost “sheep”! Samuel told him that his donkey’s had been found and now he had a new job of leading the people of Israel!
As a final act after confirming Saul as king, Samuel confronted the people concerning their wicked request for a king. He pointed out that they had a King in the Lord and had rejected Him. Samuel warned them not to turn away from the Lord but to serve Him with all their hearts. The king and people would be shown the seriousness of their ways by a special sign during the normally dry season of wheat harvest. As Samuel called upon the Lord, He sent thunder and rain upon the land and the people stood in awe of Samuel and the Lord! (1st Samuel 12:15-18)
This thunder and rain reminds me of God’s heart of weeping over His people when they sinned or rejected Him. Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He entered it on Palm Sunday! They missed the time of their King’s coming! (Luke 19:41-44) Would that we would remain true to our King and serve Him wholeheartedly!