Notice on a slight format change:

Except for July 2012, these are mostly a collection of current devotional notes.

July 2012 is a re-write of old quiet times. My second child was born Nov 11, 1987 with multiple birth defects. I've been re-reading my QT notes from that time in my life, and have included them here. They cover the time before the birth and the few years immediately after the birth. They are tagged "historical." I added new insights and labeled them: ((TODAY, dd mmm yy)).

Thursday, October 20, 2022

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.

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