QT 22 Oct 13, Don't be weighed down by the externals, focus on God

1 Sam 17:26, 31-37 (ESV) And David said to the men who stood by him, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" . . .

31 When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth." 34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you!"

NOTE: This is still a story of perception. Everyone looks upon Goliath and measures themselves to him physically. David sees it differently. Goliath is defying the armies of the living God. David is genuinely angry. He sees it as reproach against Israel and against God. Saul sees David, a boy, probably around 17, and does not see the physical ability or training to stand up against Goliath, who has trained for war since youth. But David views Goliath no differently than a lion or bear which has taken a lamb. It is wrong and the wrong needs to be corrected. And even more importantly, if God who can deliver him from the lion and bear, God can surely deliver him from this Philistine. Surprisingly, Saul listens to the argument, and agrees with David. Clearly, David shows spark and vitality. And who knows what might happen? David seems to remind Saul of trust in God, and Saul blesses him. Does Saul remember him as the harpist? Possibly, since the men might not have brought David so quickly to Saul without some connection. On the other hand, the previous passage on David becoming Saul's armor bearer may have more to do with the big picture overview of Saul and David, and now we get into the details. In which case, this event may be the actual event that results in David becoming Saul's armor bearer.

The application is not to focus on the external things, but to look to God for solutions. He can do more than we can ever accomplish.

QT 21 Oct 13, The world sees the external, the believer can see so much more

1 Sam 17:3-11 (ESV) And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.6 And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

NOTE: "Saul and all Israel … were dismayed and greatly afraid." It makes sense. Goliath is nine feet nine with a bronze helmet, mail armor weighing  156 pounds. His legs are covered with bronze armor. His spear's head weighed eighteen pounds. He was either incredibly slow with a short range attack, or incredibly strong. The latter seems to fit with the story most closely. Everyone was frightened because everyone viewed the problem from the external, with the perspective of the world. And that would seem the prudent thing to do. But the real answer to a problem that is surmountable is to go to God. And if God has called you to tackle the monster, then go in faith. Stop looking at the externals and start looking at the unseen. Israel's fear paralyzed them. And none seem to consider that God is on their side (and in this case, he is really is on the side of the Israelites). Another danger, and equally as great, would be too ignore God because the enemy is small and weak. This was Saul's problem when Jonathan started a rout in the Philistine army. It was too obvious and so he decided he did not need to inquire of God after starting to inquire of God. In all things, we need to present our requests to God. Whether big or small, we need to make an integral part of our lifestyle, not an add-on or an afterthought. I have been guilty of both extremes. Going to God in the difficult times and forgetting God in the easy times. Lord forgive me for such arrogance and selfishness. I need you all the time.

QT 15 Oct 13, God's idea of leadership is different from man's idea

1 Sam 16:1-3, 10-13 (ESV) The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you."
. . .

10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen these." 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

NOTE: Fascinating that Jesse does not even include all of his sons. It is as if he only had seven sons, and the eight son was just a servant. Later on, even the attitude of the sons toward David suggest some lesser respect. I could be, as some have suggested, that David was illegitimate. If that was true, and that is a big IF, it would make the story much more interesting. God chooses what the world rejects or sees lowly to be important. But without this side story, he is still the youngest and the shepherd, hardly the stock of kings. But in God's economy, that is exactly the leader he was looking for--someone who did not think too highly of himself, someone who served others, someone who knew how to shepherd, and (as we will find out later) someone who love God deeply. That is God's idea of the perfect leader. There is a lesson for us here. If I get this job that I hope to get, and if it leads to leadership opportunities, I want to imitate David. 1) I don't want to act as if I'm important (ever). Everyone is just as important as me, from lead analyst to secretary to vice president to janitor. We are all human beings. 2) I want to serve others as a servant-leader. I live not to be served but to serve. And I want to set that example. 3) I want to care for others under my authority. I want to know what is happening in their lives. I want to pray for them. I want to help them achieve their goals. 4) I want to continue to put a priority on my relationship with God. I want to always make my time with God and my prayer time and important part of my day.

QT 9 Oct 13, If all God's commands made sense, then we would have to be God

1 Sam 15:1-3, 7-12a, 15-16 (ESV) And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

. . .  7  And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

10 The word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11  "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning . . . 15 Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak."

NOTE: It is another test. Previously, chapter 14 ends with success on every front as Saul subdues the enemies of Israel. At the height of his success, God tests him. Saul reverts to applying worldly wisdom over and above the commands of God. In other words, doesn't it make more sense to do this than what God commands? Surely, God would see the wisdom I have applied versus the folly of his command. Maybe, God did not understand. Maybe God did not know. As I write these sentences, we are so foolish when we use our understanding to trump a command of God. His wisdom and knowledge far exceeds our puny brains. The fact that we don't understand what seems to be foolishness on God's part does not condemn God, but rather us and the limitations of our knowledge and understanding. Of course it might not make sense, we are comparing the knowledge of the infinite God against the puny .05 cubic foot of the largest human brain. Of course, it does not make sense, logically it probably shouldn't. It is a whole lot like trying to explain quantum mechanics to a two year old. If it does make sense, then something is wrong.

Secondly, Samuel starts to rebuke Saul, and Saul takes it very poorly. Samuel interrupts the king and tells him to "stop!" repeating his justification for disobeying God's command. Saul obviously takes it wrong, because he is the king. So, to reaffirm his authority over God's authority (and more specifically Samuel), he gives Samuel permission to continue, "speak." As if God needs our approval to rebuke us. That is what power does to us. It subtly pushes above everything that we recognized as authority before. The rules don't apply to us, only to others. And that is wrong. Father, forgive me when I let the sin of pride think that I am better than some rule of some other person. Forgive me for my pride.

QT 7 Oct 13, Religion is NOT the answer

1 Sam 14:24-30 (NIV) And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food this day.'" And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, "My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great."

NOTE: The obvious question regarding so much of Saul's actions is "why?" First, we see the ark traveling with the HQ unit, and now Saul adds a curse, as if by making things harder, Saul can curry the favor of God. Saul is the example of the religious guy. He doesn't really believe, but he is superstitious enough to go through all the motions of religion. He brings along good luck charms. He seeks God only when he is completely unsure of the next move. He adds pains to appease spiritual authorities.

Additionally, Jonathan's reaction is somewhat surprising. He does not berate his Father, but he does respond critically "my father has troubled the land … the defeat among the Philistines has not be great." He clearly disagrees with the false spirituality of his Father. And in contrast, his life exhibits an unwavering  trust of God. He goes into battle alone on the basis of one small sign, absolutely convinced that God would give him victory. His small battle causes the rout of the entire Philistine army. No wonder he becomes close friends with David -- they have the same spirit -- an enthusiastic belief that God was incredible and enjoyable. They are infection in their spirit and I'm sure their spiritual fellowship encouraged both of them to walk more deeply with God.

God calls religion dead (Rev 3:1). Yet so many are fooled by it. Lord, wake us up from our stupor. Revive our hearts. Let us live wholly sold out to the Lord Jesus.

QT 3 Oct 13, Go to God in the good times, just as much as in the bad times

1 Sam 14:14-19 (ESV) And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there.  17 Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Count and see who has gone from us." And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 So Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here." For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.  19 Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

NOTE: This passage gives us an interesting insight into Saul. Unbeknown to him, his son and armor bearer start a rout in the camp of the Philistines. Saul, who is carrying the ark around with them (you would have thought they would have learned that was wrong), asks the priest for divine guidance. He is either hesitant, scared, or genuinely wants to know God's will. But as it is obvious that a rout is occurring, he backs off on his need for divine guidance. Now one could say, God has given him his answer, and so his reaction is appropriate. And seeking God is never to be faulted. But Saul's actions could also be viewed as very worldly. As long as things look bad, he turns to God, but when things look good, he doesn't need God any more.

We always need God. We should never make choices without his involvement. Prayer should be part of the natural fiber in our life. Even a simple prayer said right in the moment is worth it, because it acknowledges the Lord in all things. Saul only looks to God to fix things which are out of his control, like the people leaving because Samuel doesn't show. Saul needs to place his trust in God in the good times as well as the tough times.

QT 2 Oct 13, Waiting upon God is hard

1 Sam 13:7b-13a (ESV) Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. 8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.

10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, 11 and Samuel asked, "What have you done?"

Saul answered, "When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12 I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the Lord's favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."

13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you.

NOTE: At first blush, it might appear that Saul did what was right. The problem was that he did not wait the full seven days. He started the sacrifice while they were still within the seventh day. That is confirmed by Samuel's words "… you have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you." Apparently, God used the opportunity to test Saul. Yes, it did look bleak; yes, the troops were deserting; yes; Samuel had still not arrived and it was the seventh day. It went to the limit because it was a test. Would Saul trust God even when things were falling apart all around him?

Saul was given a fairly specific instruction. Often, we are not given such specificity in our own walk with God. How long do we wait? What is prudent action versus getting your sticky fingers involved? What is trust and what is my role in making something happen? In my current job situation, it is easy to wonder and struggle with my role. I'm not sure what it means to "wait upon the Lord." It is frustrating. But it might also be a test in much the same way as God tested Saul. God give me strength to hang on and to see you work your perfect will.

QT 1 Oct 13, Teaching with prayer is life- and community-changing

1 Sam 12:19-25 (ESV) And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king." 20 And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22  For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24  Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king."

NOTE: 1 Sam 12:23 has always been a favorite verse for me. But having studied Samuel again and realized that his circuit teaching helped to turn Israel around, I now see verse 23 in a different light. It wasn't just the teaching, but it was his unceasing prayer for the people combined with the teaching that made the difference. I think sometimes I see the key as good teaching and forget that just as important is the need to pray for the people I teach. In one way, it would be a sin to think that just good teaching can change hearts. There is a need for the work of the HS in the hearts of the hearers so that they don't deceive themselves by just filling up on knowledge without actually applying truth to their life. Teaching without prayer is marginally effective. Teaching without application is deceptive. Teaching with prayer is life- and community-changing.

QT 30 Sep 13, Even being perfectly in the will of God does not mean there will not be opposition

1 Sam 10:24-27 (ESV) And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people." And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!"

25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.

NOTE: Even in the midst of great victories, there are always the Sanballat's and Tobiah's, men who opposed the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem during Nehemiah's time. The description of them men during Saul's time is apt, "worthless fellows." They are good at criticism. They may even be right, and to a certain extent they are right concerning Saul. But they really have no information. There negativism is based on "not created here" or envy for not being selected. There will always be those people in any undertaking. Likewise, things do not always work out well in new undertakings, not because the choice is wrong but for many reasons: attack of the enemy, a test of faith, and just sin in the world. I am facing some interesting new aspects to my life. What I thought was secure is not as secured as I hoped. Will I trust God or fret? Is something new happening? Can I wait upon the Lord? Can I keep my heart pure and fear God as I should? Lord, have mercy on my failures of faith and give me strength to say no to the enemy's attacks. Help to stay strong and honor you with my life and choices.

QT 25 Sep 13, How close are we to complete failure, really?

1 Sam 10:14-16 (ESV) Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel." 15 And Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." 16 And Saul said to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.

NOTE: Initially, Saul is either a very humble man or a man who hates to be embarrassed. Why does he not tell his Father of the kingdom? Maybe he did not believe Samuel; maybe he did not believe God; and maybe he just did not want to exalt himself. He shows good signs but it won't be too many years before his good side is replaced by a very negative and bitter side. His failure with Samuel will come quickly, but he is often a kind man, as many of his interactions with David will show. He raises good children, but at some point he is tormented by evil spirits. In some way, he allows his position or his insecurities to dominate his thinking, corrupting him as a person. As a believer, we are protected from some of the effects of evil spirits, but sin can do just as much damage to our spirit. Our protection is the word of God, our sword, and the shield of faith, our trust in God.

These last few weeks it has been difficult to trust God in my work situation. I have felt the fear of the unknown. Today, things are completely different. God has completely provided again. Why is it so hard for me to trust each time? Why do I fail by worrying over the future? It is part of our human flesh which we struggle against. The only thing I can do is to repent and obey, again.

QT 23 Sep 13, People need leadership

1 Sam 8:19-22 (ESV) But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us, 20  that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king." Samuel then said to the men of Israel, "Go every man to his city."

NOTE: In this passage, God does not say that the request is wrong. Earlier, verse 8:7 God says, "… for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." But that is not exactly saying the request is wrong. The people have rejected God as king, but that occurred all through the book of Judges. The people did well while a God-appoint judge lived. When he died, they failed, and in increasing measure. The concept of a king establishes a constant ruler. They could be admitting their failure and their need for some continual representative, i.e., a king. So, I'm not sure that what they are asking for is wrong. The wrong has already been done and exemplified in the book of Judges. This is the fix, a person with the authority to be king. There are some dangers inherent as God tells Samuel to remind them. But at this point, I think the people believe that anything is better than what we have been experiencing.

QT 20 Sep 13, God needs servant-leaders

1 Sam 8:10-18 (ESV) So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14  He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."

NOTE: The idea of a king is not bad. There are many good reasons to have a king. The problem is that with most people, power goes to their head and they abuse their position. The old phrase, "absolute power corrupts absolutely," is still true today. While I doubt I will ever be in that position, although I was a squadron commander once for three years, I'm not sure how valuable it is to consider what causes or can prevent corruption. Clearly, Jesus' instructions about being a servant-leader are very helpful. A leader should see himself, first as a servant to others. Paul writes  in Philippian before discussion Jesus' actions, to consider others more important than yourself. A servant would think of the other person first. A servant is observant of other's needs. A servant does not puff himself up with thoughts of his own importance but spends his time considering how he can help others. Father, if you ever put me in that position again, help me to be a servant-leader. I want to put others first and think of how I can help them to be successful. I don't need to be "the man," but if I am, I pray it would an extension of your son's life on earth. 

QT 19 Sep 13, Change occurs and change can be good

1 Sam 7:15-8:9 (ESV) 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.

8:1 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

NOTE: Samuel brought about a great thing, and I believe good change in Israel. Later, when God says that "they have rejected me," I think he is referring to the last few hundred years, described in Judges, and not the immediate circumstances. Samuel gave them a taste of truth again, something that was solely missing during the time of the Judges. His circuit of teaching changed their ideas of what was right and wrong. And so, when Samuel's sons exhibit the same tendencies (although not quite as bad) as Eli's sons, the people reject it. God is right, they were not rejecting Samuel, they were rejecting his sons. And they had already rejected God as king as evidenced by the last few hundred years. It is time for something new, and the new is not bad, it is different. God had already given instruction regarding a king when the law was first given. So, this was not unexpected. A king represents an opportunity for tremendous good and also tremendous evil. The will experience few good kings, most will fail in the leadership role. The few that are good will have a tremendously positive impact. And in the end, the point will ring very clear, God is the only just king the people ever had. And Jesus as his son ruling in the millennial kingdom will be the greatest of all kings. Change isn't bad. It opens our eyes to new things. It teaches us. Lord, what is it that you are teaching me?

QT 9 Sep 13, Repentance is the first step toward healing

1 Sam 7:3-10 (ESV) 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. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. And Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 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 routed before Israel.

NOTE: Finally, after 20 years, for some reason, Samuel calls the people to meet at Mizpah. Why so long? We don't know. We do know that the real issue was their heart and maybe they needed some more time to realize that problem. I can't help but wonder today if our nation will ever realize that our problems are deep in our heart and not in political solutions. The people gather and after fasting, they repent "we have sinned against the Lord." The Philistines, who ruled the land, hear of the gathering, and probably out of fear decide to attack Israel, before Israel attacks them. Israel, also in fear, cries out to God. The result is a miraculous intervention by God that begins the decline of the Philistines. Samuel accomplishes as Judge what Samson never accomplished, relief from the oppression of the Philistines.

The key change is something Samson never pushed, repentance. Samson pushed acceptance and tolerance. He even lived among the Philistines and married, at one time, one of the women. Samson liked the lifestyle of the Philistines and their beliefs. Samuel instead, calls for people to repent and to throw away the idols of the world, and turned to serve God alone. That is the same message for us today. We need to repent of our sin, throw away the idols of our time, and serve God alone.

QT 5 Sep 13, Focus on the heart not the externals

1 Sam 7:1-4 (ESV) 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.

NOTE: The ark is back and Israel consecrates an individual to care for it, but Israel fails to consecrate itself. For 20 years they mourned (HEB nahah (OT:5091) for ESV lament) for the Lord. The problem is that they focused on the external and forgot the internal. Samuel's first official action is a call to repentance, to focus on the internal first. They were worshipping idols and wondering where God was. They stopped serving idols and began to serve God. Did Samuel cause that? No, but he raised the issue. Individuals needed to respond to God's call. And that is the way it usually works. God responds to those who seek to serve him. God does not serve those who expect him to respond to their whims. It starts with us, and it starts in our hearts. The idols must be put away. We must recommit to serving him. We must be follow through on our words. Then God can use us.

QT 3 Sep 13, Playing Both Sides

1 Sam 6:19-21 (ESV) 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: Apparently, no one knows how to handle the ark. The Philistines, to their credit, add a guilt offering (for having taken the ark) that cost them some gold. On the other hand, ten small gold images of tumors and rats was a cheap gift. Also, God hates images and God is not appeased by man's works. The Israelites, who know better, sacrifice thank offerings but then treat the ark as a curiosity, trying to peer into it. Both groups feared the ark, but neither understood holiness. If they had, they would have kept their distance and immediately called the priests to move the ark. Normally, the ark was hid behind a thick curtain in a very dark room in a dark tent. It was seen only once a year by the high priest, unless the tabernacle needed to be moved. The curtains and coverings were a protection for the people. God did not reside in the ark, but his name, and consequently, his glory did (not in totality, only in representation). The people clearly lack instruction, as all the people at the end of the period of Judges did. Samuel will be God's instrument to change that. Eli and his sons are dead now. Samuel's opportunity is just beginning. This story stands as a stark contrast to their forefathers handling of the ark and the people who stand at the end of the period of Judges.

We treat God similarly today. We fear him, in a sense, but we truly don't understand his holiness. And so we are curious but we really don't want to know him fully. We really don't want to be holy like him. We just don't want him to interfere in our lives, unless we are in trouble. Otherwise we live our lives with God at the side and pretend that he is at the center. But he is not, and only when disaster strikes do we realize our error and arrogance.

QT 23 Aug 13, God's Heavy Hand

1 Sam 5:6-12 (ESV) 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. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god." 8 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they brought the ark of the God of Israel there. 9 But after they had brought it around, the hand of the Lord was against the city, causing a very great panic, and he afflicted the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people." 11  They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there. 12 The men who did not die were struck with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

NOTE: Four times the phrase or a facsimile, "the hand of the Lord was heavy against the people," appears in the passage. It was obvious to the Philistines that it was not good for them to have the ark in their midst. The ark was given to Israel to symbolize the presence of God with his people. At this point, which is also the end of the period of the Judges, Israel has lost its most important possession. The people God chose to place his name have foolishly brought the ark to a battle and lost it. They were using the ark for their own purpose and ignoring the Ark's true purpose. God judges Israel, but he also judges the Philistines. They did not have permission or privilege to have the Ark among them. They stood against Israel as an example of sin pestering our lives. And now sin has mixed itself with the holy. The result is the hand of the Lord heavy against them.

As I look at my own life, am I living as God intended or have I let sin mix in with holiness. Are some recent setbacks evidence of God's heavy hand or of a need to trust more? Clearly, hard times drive us to the Lord, and that more than anything else is needed in my life. I have let prayer become an occasion rather than a pattern of life. God knows I need prayer, and I know deep down that I need it too.

QT 13 Aug 13, Something we have forgotten--life is spiritual and we need to worship

1 Sam 5:2-4 (ESV) Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. 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.

NOTE: The story is humorous to us today, but I wonder if we are really that perceptive. Our ancestors realized that there was more to life than the material. They recognized a spiritual aspect to life, which for the most part our culture has dismissed. They were right in that respect but wrong in not recognizing God, the one true God, as the author of life. Today, we give credence to the material for everything. And we believe that chaos, random interactions over time, achieved the ordered universe in which we now live. I suppose they would laugh at our arrogance. But the other humorous aspect of the story is what God does to the demon Dagon. God forces Dagon to fall facedown before the one true God. Secondly, God takes away his head and his hands, showing that Dagon can do nothing before God -- he can't think, nor can he act. He is literally powerless before God. The lessons are stark and true, and were probably realized by some among the Philistines. They may have done some stupid things, but they were not stupid. They probably could think better than we do today. We could learn a few things from our ancestors, maybe not their choices of worship but their realization of the importance of worship.

QT 12 Aug 13, Its our faith, not our symbols, that is of most importance

Monday, August 12, 2013

9:18 AM

1 Sam 4:12, 13a, 18, 19a, 21, 22 (ESV) A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. … 18 As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

19 Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. … 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: I don't know much about Phinehas, although her husband was a wicked and unfaithful man. She dies giving birth and is heartbroken over the capture of the ark. Eli is also worried about the ark and dies when he hears of its capture. The problem is that they should have been more concerned about the sin in Israel, including the use of the ark in war, than the capture of a  physical symbol. God will take care of the ark in a surprising was, but Israel's need is to take care of her sin. We are a lot like that. We are concerned and get upset about issues in the world, in our community, and in our church. But our real concern needs to be about our own sin. While God is certainly concerned about the affairs in the world, he is far more concerned with the character of his representatives. He can take of the world and will someday extract justice on the world and its deceptions. But for us, the more immediate concern is being faithful to what God has called us to do and how to live. And I think we fail greatly, in terms of how we live.

QT 9 Aug 13, God is just, not just loving

Rev 16:3-7 (ESV) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

for you brought these judgments.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

and you have given them blood to drink.

It is what they deserve!"

7 And I heard the altar saying,

"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

 true and just are your judgments!"

NOTE: The second and third of the last seven judgments are turning water into blood. Clearly, they allude back to one of the early plagues in Egypt, but they were also signs that the Magicians could easily perform. And yet, there is a very serious reason for the choice. One, water is necessary for life. Two, the world has shed the blood of believers throughout its history because it believed the world would be better without their influence. In the tribulation, this atheistic argument will reach its pinnacle as the world tries to build a Utopian society by eliminating the influence of Christianity and of Christians. The result is that the world will drink the blood of its deeds. And unlike vampires, there is no nourishment or life sustainment from blood. In fact, in only a few days, many people will dies of thirst. It is possible that there are other sources of water or that people will figure out how to distill blood into something drinkable, but many will die drinking the blood of those that they killed. They probably laughed as they saw believers die -- I wonder what they will think as the stench of a blood-filled ocean and rivers fills the air.

I think our problem is that we don't believe in a God of justice, only a God of love. And we don't realize how far our actions have fallen from God's standard. But it is not just unbelievers, it is believers who must also remember the same truth. We may be saved, but we serve a God of justice.