QT 29 Jul 13, Trust God even when the answers seem amiss

1 Sam 4:3, 10-11 (NIV) When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."

. . .

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

NOTE: A couple of thoughts arise. One, why did Israel mistakenly view the ark as a good luck piece? Apparently, Samuel's teaching still had a long way to go. This sounds more like the thinking that was prevalent during Judges (which is when the event occurred). The Philistines are the enemy, much as they were the enemy during Samson's days, the last of the judges in the book of Judges.

Two, where is Samuel? Either this event is prior to his teaching, in which case 4:1a merely foreshadows his life, or he is out on circuit when the battle occurred. When Samuel does appear in the story, over 20 years later (7:2), Israel has changed. Israel repents of her sin, and Israel experiences a miraculous victory over the Philistines.

APPLICATION: God doesn't answer our prayers according to our instructions. God does what is best for us, for his name, and with a bigger picture in view. We have to trust. Our anger over the lack of answers is a real emotion, but prolonged only reveals our lack of trust.

QT 23 Jul 13, God is revealed primarily through his word

1 Sam 3:21-4:1a (NIV) The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

4:1a And Samuel's word came to all Israel.

NOTE: Samuel learned about God from the word. That is the primary means that God uses to reveal himself to his people. Samuel was a teacher, and the natural result of his growth in the Lord was his ability to teach Israel. This period of time is during the book of Judges. There are great errors in knowledge and application of God's word during this time. And, as the knowledge of God's word dwindles, the people descend further into sin, repeating the story of Romans 1:18-32. But Samuel's entrance stops the descent, but it is not Samuel, it is the teaching of the truth of God's word.

As my country travels farther away from the teachings of God's word, it is not surprisingly that the culture is collapsing. Actually, it is only collapsing from a spiritual perspective. It is morphing into something that is guaranteed to bring pain, sorrow, and great loss to its people. Life outside of God is empty. Real life is found in a relationship with God through the work of his son on the cross, and through obedience to his word. I have also been called to teach God's word. But my goal is not to fill up people with empty truths but truths that change. I want people to know and do God's word. That is my heart's desire.

QT 16 July 2013, Parents are responsible to train their children, but not for the results

1 Sam 3:11-14 (NIV) And the Lord said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family — from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, 'The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.'"

Note: This is a good verse for parents. We don't control the lives of our children and our parenting skills are not measured by our children. Samuel's children do not turn out much better than Eli's (1 Sam 8:1-5). But Eli is judged and not Samuel. There is a reason. We stand before God on what God requires of us, not on the results. We are to teach our children to walk before God, and generally speaking, they will--Proverbs 22:6 suggests as much. But Proverbs teaches general truths and wise sayings. They are not promises that God is held too (otherwise God would be condoning bribes, 17:8; 21:4). We are required to do the best we can with our children--nothing more, nothing less. Our children stand before God on their own cognizance. God judges us by our actions, not the results. Eli does rebuke his children, but apparently he could have done more. He could have restrained them, but he didn't. He should have removed them from their roles as priests. Samuel's sons are appointed as judges and perverted justice. Apparently Samuel is unaware. And while is not said, the appointment of a King does remove his sons from their roles. Eli is judged because he didn't take any action other than a rebuke. He failed to deal with sin. The same is not said about Samuel. We may not like the choices our children make. While they are young, we are to restrain them. But once they are adults, our responsibility for their sin ends. We hurt, we can pray, we can counsel and rebuke, but we can't control. Like God with Adam and Eve, or the Father with the prodigal son (and other son), the children, when adults, make their own choices. We, as Parents, need to do the best we can, nothing more and nothing less.