QT 10/31/2022 1 Sam 7:10-13, Setting up Ebenezers

1 Samuel 7:10–13 (ESV) —

10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out from Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and struck them, as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

 

NOTE: I always get this story confused with the story from Joshua 4 when Israel takes 12 stones from the Jordan river after crossing over it safely, and the pile of stones becomes a memorial to Israel reminding them of how God had removed the flood waters so that they could enter the promised land. It is not a bad idea to set up reminders of specific events. I have some objects on a shelf and writings in this blog that remind me of the things God has done in my life. Because when life gets hard again, and it will, those events of the past can be easily forgotten. And we need to be reminded of God's faithfulness in the past. He has not forgotten us and he will not forget us. We need to trust, lean, and learn.

 

PONDER:

1. What is the most recent example of God working in a miraculous way in my life? What have I done to remember that event?

 

PRAYER: Father, there are many things you have done in my life over the years. If I look at what you have blessed, I would say my involvement in the intentional discipleship groups has been a significant epoch in my life. I need to have a list of all the men I have gotten to know and invest my life in through the years.

QT 10/28/2022 1 Sam 7:1-6, Giving your whole person to God

1 Samuel 7:1–6 (ESV) —

1 And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. And they consecrated his son Eleazar to have charge of the ark of the Lord. 2 From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

3 And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the people of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and they served the Lord only.

5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.

 

NOTE: Twenty years pass between verse one and two. In those years, either because of the oppression of the Philistines, or a prick in their heart which told them something was wrong, life was not working for Israel. It was degenerating in chaos. I hope my country realizes the same thing before it is too late. Samuel then challenges Israel to do two things, 1) put away their idols, and 2) travel to Mizpah and renew your covenant in repentance and fasting. Faith does not require works, but it does require your person. A person is made up of intellect, emotions, and will.

 

Faith in Jesus requires you know that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again (the intellect).  Faith requires you recognize your sin is against God causing you to confess your sin and repent (the emotions).  Faith requires you to call out to God, take the step to acknowledge him as your savior and Lord (the will).

 

PONDER:

1. Have I given my person to God (intellect, heart, and will)?
2. Is my belief only intellectual, or only emotion, or only based on works? Then it is not saving faith.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that my country may feel a heavy hand because of their sin. I pray they will cast off their idols, repent of their evil practices, and turn to you.

QT 10/27/2022 1 Sam 6:10-21, Don't push God away

1 Samuel 6:13–14 (ESV) —

13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord.

1 Samuel 6:19–21 (ESV) —

19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. 20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.”

 

NOTE: How do you understand a passage like this? First of all, it is a historical account. It is true, but not necessarily biblical. Neither the actions of the Philistines nor most of the actions of the Israelites are correct. But it is what happened. It is also after nearly three centuries of rule by judges. The word of God is no longer being taught. They lack prophets and teachers. It is  also the transition to chapter 7 where Samuel begins his ministry.

 

The sad thing about the response of Beth-shemesh is that they were no different than the Philistines. Instead of repentance and mourning over their sin, they try to get rid of the ark. And this is the response of people today, instead of confession and repentance for our sins, we have moved on and eliminated sin, guilt, and shame, to the point where we are proud of our sins. We have moved God out of our lives rather than deal with our sin problem.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there a sin--that I have moved on--rather than repent? Have I given up on confession and repentance?
2. Do I still invite God into every aspect of my life? The Holy Spirit resides in the heart of every true believer, but have we jailed him away somewhere in our soul?

 

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I want you to have free reign in my life. Show me my hidden faults. Reveal my unconfessed sins to me so that I can repent. Have mercy on me.

QT 10/26/2022 1 Sam 6:5-6, Believing the facts

1 Samuel 6:5–6 (ESV) —

5 So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed?

 

NOTE: There is a lot going on in the verses 1-10. The ark had been in the country of the Philistines now 7 months. In the passage above we see that the Philistines are aware of the plagues upon the Egyptians, even though that happened almost 3 centuries ago. In the narrative, the seven months suggests that they thought the plague was by chance and would pass. Then they forcibly remove two cows from their unweaned calves, yoke them for the first time as a team, and see if they will head away from their babies and toward Israel, which they did, crying all the way. And lastly, if the plague goes away, then if all those things happen, it was not by chance but by the hand of the God of Israel. Everything they did was wrong -- the cart, the images of gold, consulting their religious persons (cults). But God, in his mercy, fulfilled everything they did to show them whose hand had been upon them. And the leaders followed from a distance, and returned to Ekron and did nothing. In other words, God's proof did nothing for them.

 

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for crimes he did not commit, and rose again from the grave, ascending into heaven. All witnessed by hundreds and thousands. And today, people act as if nothing happened.

 

PONDER:

1. Jesus was a historical figure who thousands witnessed his life, hundreds witnessed his death, burial, and resurrection. Many went to their death rather than deny what they saw with their own eyes. Do we really believe what happened?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is the most important fact of history, the resurrection. I hang my hat on this historical event. It can't be ignored. It is my proof that there is life after death and that I will enjoy that new life someday.

QT 10/25/2022 1 Sam 5:4-6, What is the hand of God doing in my life?

1 Samuel 5:4–6 (ESV) —

4 But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5 This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

6 The hand of the Lord was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.

 

NOTE: After the capture of the Ark, the Philistines placed the ark next to their god Dagon where it would be one of his attendants. The next morning, the god Dagon is found prostrate before the ark. The following morning it is found prostrate with his hands and head removed -- completely defeated. What followed were plagues in every city they tried to move the ark. The word "hand" is used repeatedly.

 

… hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod (vs 6)

… his hand is hard against us (vs 7)

… the hand of the LORD was against the city (vs 9)

The hand of God was very heavy there. (vs 12)

 

In an interesting irony, Dagon's hands are removed, but God's "hand" is 'hard, heavy, very heavy, and against.' In 1 Sam 5:12, it says "… the cry of the city went up to heaven." God did not hate the Philistines. He hated their sin, their idol worship, and their refusal to turn to him. But God loves the world. The ark of God required special handling. It was to their detriment to keep it. Only the Israelites had the training to properly handle an item that represented the holiness of God. I believe God's judgment is mercy toward the Philistines -- they needed to get rid of the ark.

 

PONDER:

1. God loves me, but hates my sin. Do I have the same attitude toward sin as God?
2. Do I see God as holy and what is the impact in my life? Does it even change my speech or the things I view?

 

PRAYER: Father, you are holy and you are merciful, otherwise I could never come before your throne of grace. Jesus has opened the door to the throne through his death and given his righteousness to us so that we can stand in confidence. But while I have boldness, I know I am completely dependent on mercy. I should not be here except for God's mercy.

QT 10/24/2022 1 Sam 4:19-22, The glory departed long ago

1 Samuel 4:19–22 (ESV) —

19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. And when she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.” But she did not answer or pay attention. 21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

 

NOTE: Phinehas' wife was wrong. The glory had departed from Israel long before the ark was captured. Eli and his two sons had failed Israel miserably. The events only serve to highlight how tragic the Elide dynasty had been. The best thing that could have happened did. God was starting over with the leadership. He had been preparing a new man to lead the nation during a particular time of transition. God knew monarchy was coming. It would not serve Israel much better than theocratic judges had, although it would last a little longer. Ultimately the true need was that the temple reside in the heart and not on a piece of land. We can look back and see how this story and others lead to the Messiah, his death, and the Holy Spirit who resides in the heart of ever believer. And most importantly, the need for the fruit of the Spirit to bear forth in every surrendered believer. Only then can we and the world see the glory again.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my life different because of my faith?
2. Does my life reflect the glory of God to others? If the glory departed, then it never entered.

 

PRAYER: Father, as I seek you, continue to produce the fruit in my life through your Holy Spirit that gives me an attractive witness to others. Help me to understand your purpose for my life in these years. Is a new thing happening? Help me to see your will and to act upon it.

QT 10/21/2022 1 Sam 4:3;4:7, Right concept of God

1 Samuel 4:3 (ESV) —

3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.”

1 Samuel 4:7 (ESV) —

7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.

 

NOTE: The people of Israel have clearly misunderstood the purpose of the tabernacle. They have made the ark into a sort of Talisman. If they also thought as the Philistines did ("A god has come into the camp"), then they have clearly misunderstood God as well as the purpose of the tabernacle. The tabernacle carried God's name, and the Shekinah glory resided above the Ark between the angel wings. God's glory is not the God of the universe. God's name is not the God of the universe. God is far beyond such paltry and human conceptions of him. Israel did not know their God and their treatment of the ark indicates as much. It was not a lucky charm to do their will. Israel had to be defeated to understand how much it had failed God. They needed God, but they also needed to know God.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe in talismans, holy things that will make my life better? For some that might even be church attendance or good works in the church. There are no talismans in the Christian life. God gives and God takes away. Do I know God?

 

PRAYER: Father, our relationship with you is internal, unseen, and real. Things that are external, seen, and also real can distract us from the real you. I pray our worship would never be based on objects or through objects or with objects. I pray to know the real you.

QT 10/20/2022 1 Sam 3:19-4:1, People need the word of God

1 Samuel 3:19–4:1 (ESV) —

19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again at Shiloh, for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the Lord.

4:1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek.

 

NOTE: Samuel is the last of the Judges and a transition to the monarchy. In Israel, the monarchy was not absolute. The monarch is one of three authority structures in Israel. The high priest and Levites care for the tabernacle and provide spiritual guidance. Prophets come and go providing additional spiritual help in the form of warnings.

 

As God prepares for this transition, he raises up a man to restore the spiritual health in Israel. The period of Judges has not been good for Israel. The people have wandered farther from God with each Judge. As far as I can tell, Samuel is the first to have a teaching ministry.

 

1 Samuel 7:15–17 (ESV) — 15 Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 And he went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah. And he judged Israel in all these places. 17 Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the Lord.

 

The people need  to know the word of the Lord. That is the first step, but it is not a sufficient step. The people need to obey the word, which means applying it to their life.
 

James 1:22 (ESV) — 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

 

Religion happens when people only hear and do not apply. A relationship develops when people hear God and obey God.

 

PONDER:

1. What is God saying to me and what am I ignoring?

 

PRAYER: Father, I must always be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer. These times in the morning are so precious. I hear you speak each morning. I pray about what you reveal. And during the day, I have opportunities to obey. For today, I need to write a letter to a friend in a difficult situation. You have made that clear to me. I can't let business stop me from ministering.

QT 10/19/2022 1 Sam 3:1-3, Spiritual perception

1 Samuel 3:1–3 (ESV) —

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.

 

NOTE: When we read and study scripture, good practice is to seek understanding literally or in a common sense view. This is a real story with real characters and real dialogue. It happened just as it is recorded. And yet, it is hard to ignore the symbolism: Samuel tending / or near the lamp of God; Samuel in the temple; Eli going blind; and no one (especially Eli) recognizing that God is speaking. They had religion because religion exists without spiritual recognition. True faith has an object to its faith and can see beyond the surface of things. True faith operates in another dimension, a spiritual dimension. Religion does not require the word of the Lord. It can be rare, even forgotten. True faith demands the regular intake of the word of God, it is the lifeblood. Everything else is show or fake. True faith transforms and changes people. Samuel is about to be transformed.

 

PONDER:

1. How is the lifeline to my faith? Is the intake of the word of God a priority in my life? Do I allow God's word to change my thinking?

 

PRAYER: Father, I need this daily time with you. I don't want to play religion. I want to live in a relationship with you that completely transforms who I am and who I will be. Lead me and guide me. Protect me from my flesh.

QT 10/18/2022 1 Sam 2:30-34, We need sensitive hearts

1 Samuel 2:30–34 (ESV) —

30 Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. 34 And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day.

 

NOTE: In the story of Jonah, one of Jonah's complaints was that God was merciful and forgiving. Jonah did not want to warn Nineveh, because he was afraid they would repent. Nineveh was the capital city of the nation that had destroyed the northern ten tribes. Was it possible that there was still time for Eli and his sons to repent? Yes. Did they? There is no record of anything to suggest that they repented or changed their lifestyles. His two sons do die in a battle on the same day, and Eli, a very heavy man, upon hearing the news, falls over and breaks his neck.

 

We need to repent when our sin is revealed to us. We must never give up on repentance and forgiveness. We are weak and our flesh will never improve, but the Holy Spirit can change us if we do not give up on him.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I given up on certain sins? Or do I sincerely confess and repent of my sins every time?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is important our hearts remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit and his work in our lives. I pray that you protect me from a hardened heart. I pray that your spirit would search me and reveal to me my sin, especially those things that I am not even aware. I want to be a clean vessel for your use.

 

QT 10/17/2022 1 Sam 2:22-26, We can't blame others for our poor choices

1 Samuel 2:22–26 (ESV) —

22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.

26 Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man.

 

NOTE: There is a clear contrast given between Samuel and the sons of Eli who would not listen to the voice of their Father. It is common to blame parents for the sins of their children. And, Eli certainly has shown character qualities that would put some blame on him. But you can have terrible parents and turn out great, and great parents and turn out terrible. The prodigal son stories portrays God as the father with two prodigal children (one who actively opposed his father, and the other who passively opposed his father). God created Adam and Eve, and they rebelled against him. Later God refers to Israel and Judah as his daughters who prostituted themselves to other lovers. It doesn't matter who the Father is, a person has free will and makes their own choices. The sons of Eli chose to do evil. They did not care. They were spiritually dead and had always been. And while Fathers can help, it is not our parents who make our choices. We are responsible for our choices.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do I blame for my circumstances? Or do I take responsibility for my own circumstances? At a minimum, I can choose how to respond.

 

PRAYER: Father, I have responsibility how I live before you. No one makes those decisions. Circumstances are not an excuse. Thankfully, my salvation is secure. When I fail, I need to repent, pick myself up, and go forward again. Holy Spirit, I need your help to avoid my particular weak spots. I could easily be one of Eli's sons, but you have changed me from the inside out. I thank you and praise you.

QT 10/14/2022 1 Sam 2:12-17, It's about the heart

1 Samuel 2:12–17 (ESV) —

12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. 13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14 and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15 Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16 And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17 Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.

 

NOTE: As I was reading this passage, I did think that I would like the fat too and not just boiled meat. Apparently the writer includes this description so that the reader can understand the custom of the times (at Shiloh) since it was not normal or biblical. 

 

Leviticus 10:14–15 (ESV) —

14 But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons’ due from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel. 15 The thigh that is contributed and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the food offerings of the fat pieces to wave for a wave offering before the Lord, and it shall be yours and your sons’ with you as a due forever, as the Lord has commanded.”

 

Numbers 18:18 (ESV) —

18 But their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours.

 

There was not a three-pronged fork, random choice, or no-fat rule for the priests (although the fat was burned on the altar, but it did not mean there was no fat on the meat). This is what I call religion, that is, when we add rules to the scripture with the thought that if it is harder it must be better. I think Adam did this to Eve, when he told her that if you even touch the fruit, you will die. God only said not to eat it to Adam. But Adam had to start religion.

 

So if it was not wrong to have un-boiled meat or fat, what are the sons' fault? Their problem was that they did not care what was right or wrong. They treated the offering with contempt. And the root cause is verse 12, they did not know God.

 

In other words, it was an issue of the heart, not so much the actual practice of their so-called faith. And technically, no matter what your practices are, they don't matter. It is an issue of the heart. Your practices (works) can indicate a changed heart, but practices don't cause a changed heart. Only the Holy Spirit, received by faith, can change a heart.

 

PONDER:

1. Has my heart been changed? Or do I rely upon works for salvation?

 

PRAYER: Father, I fail you in many ways. And yet, I've seen change from the inside out. I know it is not me but your Spirit using the word to change me. Thank you that I am different, not because of anything I've done (other than feed my soul the word) but because of the power of the Holy Spirit in my life.

QT 10/13/2022 1 Sam 2:7-8, Understanding God's sovereignty

1 Samuel 2:7–8 (ESV) —

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,

and on them he has set the world.

 

NOTE: Who and what we are, at least from a worldly point of view is God's doing. And even right choices that we might make, are augmented by the Spirit, and by the Spirit result in a changed lifestyle. We can pray. We can try. But God is the final arbiter. But how much does he really arbitrate? Wicked men make decisions that appear to bring them much success. Evil appears to be winning. And in the end times, the saints (the tribulation saints) will be trampled down. So, while God is sovereign, he does not intervene in all situations. He allows what does not interfere with his will and he allows what he can use to bring about good in the lives of believers. When he does intervene, it is to accomplish his will, in response to our prayers, or because there is some good in our life that is needed. Ultimately, we must trust God even when his hand seems to be missing.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I trust God when things are not going the way or my prayers or desires are not being met?

 

PRAYER: Father, today lead and guide me by your spirit. Help me to see your hand. Help me to understand you will. Make your work clear. Protect me from my sinful desires. May I put your work and your will ahead of my desires.

QT 10/12/2022 1 Sam 1:27-28, Letting go of our children

1 Samuel 1:27–28 (NIV84) —

27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

 

NOTE: Hannah's response, her fulfillment of her vow, was to "give over" her son to the Lord's service. Some versions use the word "lent" but I don't think that conveys the right thought. Studying the word and its roots, a better understanding is "to set apart something for sacred uses." Samuel wasn't "lent" with the idea of getting him back. Samuel was dedicated to the Lord's service. It is clear too in Hannah's statement that she thought that way too, "his whole life will be given over." How could you "lend" someone for their whole life?

 

When we dedicate our children, this should be our attitude in any case. We don't control their future. And we don't make their adult choices. God is their father, and they must deal with him in the choices they make. We need to let go of our adult children.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I let go of my adult children or am I out there constantly fixing their mistakes?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't want to interfere with your work in my children's lives. I want to pray for them. I want to be a support. I want to be a coach to the degree they desire. But I need to let them be adults.

QT 10/11/2022 1 Sam 1:15-17, Waiting is hard

1 Samuel 1:15–17 (ESV) —

15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 17 Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.”

 

NOTE: The important person in this story is Hannah. It is certainly not Eli who may be the worst example of a high priest in the bible. He certainly shows no spiritual acuity and he observes things from the surface, not from the heart. Additionally, he assumes the worse of a person, rather than the best. Eli is depicted in other passages with even more poor character qualities. He is not the hero of this story, it is Hannah. Hannah does what Sarah (Abraham's wife) is not recorded as having done, she prayed, whereas Sarah manipulated things in her power.

 

It is not hard to pray, but it is hard to wait. And I suppose it is hard to trust, because trusting involves waiting. Was that the first time Hannah prayed for a child? I doubt it. But she prayed, and she waited, and God answered. God always answers, the problem is he doesn't answer the way we want and we have to trust that his answer is best. It is not easy.

 

PONDER:

1. What do I need to pray about?
2. What do I need to wait for God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the reminder to pray and the reminder to wait. That is what it means to trust. I may have to wait a long time and I may get a no, but I still need to pray and trust you for the answer.

QT 10/10/2022 1 Sam 1:5-8, What are we living for?

1 Samuel 1:5–8 (ESV) —

5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. 7 So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

 

NOTE: I suppose that there are two main issues here. It is not clear that Elkanah truly understood his wife's pain. His argument, while rationale, is not what she needed. She didn't need extra portions either. She needed someone to empathize with her pain. In some ways Elkanah is also at fault for having two wives. He brought some of the pain upon himself.

 

The second main issue is debatable (some may disagree with me). Some women never have children. I do believe it is good to pray to God and open up one's heart in tears. But, one needs to rejoice in what God has given, otherwise there is always one more thing to brood over. First, it is to marry, then to have children, then for children to get schooling, then to get a good job, and then to have grandchildren. When are we ever satisfied? And for that matter, what does it mean to be satisfied? Should we be satisfied? Should we always yearn for more?

 

At some point, what Elkanah said is partly true -- can we rejoice in what God has given?

 

PONDER:

1. What should I always yearn for and what should I just rejoice in?

 

PRAYER: Father, you have given me so much. But life does not consist in possessions. Life is about people and relationships. It is more important the number of people I have influenced toward God than the size of my retirement fund. Father, help me to make wise decisions in the days ahead. How do you want to use these last 20-30 years?

QT 10/7/2022 Gal 6:12-16, Wash ideas in the word

Galatians 6:12–16 (ESV) —

12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

 

NOTE: It seems as if some Jewish Christian were more interested in the statistics of their ministry than the truth of the gospel. They used a key performance indicator (KPI) of "Gentiles circumcised" to track their ministry progress. There were certainly a group of those ultra-legalists in the Jerusalem church as evidenced in Acts 15.

 

Acts 15:1 (ESV) — But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

 

They may have been entirely committed, well-meaning, and believers as well, just completely wrong in their theology. I suppose it is good to see that doctrinal purity was just a struggle then as it is today. It is sad to see so many churches that disagree in theological matters. Some are understandable and minor, but it is the cults (Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc)  that disagree on major areas. Maybe they started with well-meaning believers, and maybe there are a few within them, but they are not advancing  the gospel of Christ but hiding the truth from view. Counterfeits will be seen. No one counterfeits a three-dollar bill or a $1003 bill, because there is no real underlying truth. The evil one counterfeits faith because he knows truth exists.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I doing to protect myself from developing counterfeit truth in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, the only true protection from falsity is a deep and abiding relationship with you built and sustained on the word of God. When our truth comes from the world, it will be wrong in time. But when our truth comes from the word, it might be wrong at first, but daily washing of the word and spirit exposes falsity.

QT 10/6/2022 Gal 6:1-3, True spirituality is knowing I am still a sinner

Galatians 6:1–3 (ESV) —

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

NOTE: There seems to be two possibilities in understanding this text.  First, people who emphasize the law tend to be the same type of people who over scrutinize others.  They have a tendency to hold people to a standard that they do not keep themselves, but they think that they do. And so with overwhelming pride because of "some" laws that they are meticulous at, they look down upon the person who fails. They are always looking for the failures, so that they can point out those failures, and then feel good about themselves. These are the most dangerous of people in a church and probably do not deserve to be called Christian since they are only religious and certainly cannot have a personal relationship with the savior.

 

The second group of people more closely resemble Isaiah (who recognized his sinfulness) or Paul (who increasingly saw himself as a worse sinner every decade of his life). These people know that they fall far short of the holiness of God and are wholly dependent upon Jesus' righteousness. They recognize the insidious nature of sin. They hate the sin, but love the sinner, and in a spirit of gentleness help the person to repent and be restored. They are gentle because they know, that only by some undeserved grace, they are not caught in their brother's trap.

 

PONDER:

1. Which group do I most represent, the proud "Holy Joe" or "Pious Polly," or am I the one who knows what it means to be a sinner and is helping others to repent and renew?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive my pride and any tendency to look down upon others. I am a sinner saved by grace. There is no reason or good in me for my salvation. There is only your love, unjustly received. Help me to treat kindly those who come to me in their struggles. Give me wisdom to help and encourage them.

QT 10/5/2022 Gal 5:22-26, Changing our life for good

Galatians 5:22–26 (ESV) —

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

NOTE: I never noticed the three groups of three.

 

1. Love, joy, peace.
2. Patience, kindness, goodness.
3. Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

 

The first group seems to reflect my relationship with God. The second, my relationship with others. The third group, my internal character, or my relationship with myself. The singular nature of the fruit of the spirit indicates that it comes whole from the Holy Spirit and it is the goal of the sanctification process in my life. God intends to produce the fruit described above in every believer, not some or part, but all of it.

 

We never arrive. We are never complete in this life. The Holy Spirit is working to produce all nine qualities. And there are no excuses. I can't say "I am just that way." Making a statement like that suggests that we do not believe God has the power to change me.

 

PONDER:

1. Where have I give up? Where am I no longer growing? I need to repent and recommit that area of my life to the Holy Spirit, daily if needed.

 

PRAYER: Father, you know my failures. There is nothing I can hide from you. I admit my sins. I desire greatly to change. Continue to change me from the inside out, so that I am a witness of Jesus' life changing power to others.

QT 10/4/2022 Gal 5:16-21, How to walk with the Spirit

Galatians 5:16–21 (ESV) —

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

NOTE: Paul has spent much of his letter arguing against the person who accepts circumcision or other aspects of the OT law, that they are not really saved. They are in bondage to a system that only enslaves. And yet, Paul is not saying that there is no law or that our liberty allows us to do anything. The key is the Holy Spirit. T. George highlights the four verbs that give us some insight into his role in our life:

 

… Paul used four distinct verbs to designate the Spirit-controlled life of the believer, all of which are roughly equivalent in meaning: to walk in the Spirit (v. 16), to be led by the Spirit (v. 18), to live by the Spirit (v. 25a), and to keep in step with the Spirit (v. 25b).[1]

 

So how is that lived out? What does it mean to be walk in the spirit? George's commentary on the passage suggests four other verbs:

 

In Paul’s vocabulary, to walk in the Spirit or be led by the Spirit means to go where the Spirit is going, to listen to his voice, to discern his will, to follow his guidance.[2]

 

All of these verbs carry implications in regard to his word. I have a QT each day. I spend a few hours each Saturday doing bible study. I've started praying through scripture verses recently. About the only other thing I could do is restart my nightly reading program, where I seek to read through the entire bible every year or few years. But then I need to obey, because listening is deceiving. And who of us does not struggle in some way with the list of sins. As Calvin put it …

 

For who is there who does not labor under one or other of these sins? I reply: Paul does not threaten that there shall be excluded from the Kingdom of God all who have sinned, but all who remain impenitent. The saints themselves are heavily burdened, but they return to the way. Because they do not surrender, they are not included in this catalog. All the threatenings of God’s judgments call us to repentance, for which pardon is always ready with God; but if we continue obstinate, they will be a testimony against us.[3]

 

If we do not repent but continue in these sins then we need to call into question our rebirth. Because, while we will always struggle with sin until Jesus returns, they should not characterize our life.

 

PONDER:

1. Is there any area that I have become hardened or desensitized toward? I need to repent -- every time -- meaningfully -- in tears if necessary.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your word and how it has changed my life. While I might think I do more than most, that is just pride, I too struggle and too must obey. My time in the word is good and helpful, and maybe I need it more than others, but I must always humble myself and repent when I fail you.

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[1] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 386).

[2] George, T. Ibid.

[3] Calvin, CNTC 11.104–5.

QT 10/3/2022 Gal 5:13-15, Living in peace, not grumbling

Galatians 5:13–15 (ESV) —

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 

NOTE: While we are no longer under the law, it is not as if we are not under a law. In 6:2, Paul calls it the law of Christ, and equates it to the idea of bearing other's burdens, or if could characterize the law of Christ, I would say, "caring for others." And that is also Paul's argument in the above verses that the law is summed up in one thing, "love your neighbor as yourself." We all care about ourselves -- can we show the same care for others? Those without Christ bite and devour one another and allow themselves to be consumed by this hatred. There is great peace in not falling for this dart of Satan, which is the need to be avenged for some hurt another has done to you. I have a close relationship who can't let go of her pains, and so she is always in pain, and she is always bringing pain upon others. She is never truly at peace. She spends her life complaining about others and what they have done to her. How I pray that her eyes could be opened before she destroys another person.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a complainer? We need to be honest with ourselves. We need to listen to ourselves. The first step down a path of pain is the inability to let go, and the second is the inability to love our enemy.

 

PRAYER: Father, I'm sure I struggle in this area as well. I can think of hurts although I don't think I dwell upon them. It would be easy to grumble and complain, and please show me when I am doing those things. I want to be at peace with you and with my fellow man.