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Read 1 Samuel 17
1 Samuel 17:26 Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God? & 1 Samuel 17:37 “The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” & 1 Samuel 17:45-46 “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” WHAT do you think makes the David and Goliath story so appealing? Is it the youth destroying the seasoned-warrior giant? Is it the shepherd David going forth when fear grips Israel’s soldiers? Is it Good winning over Evil? Perhaps it is David’s trusting knowledge of God and who he is as a servant in God’s kingdom. One thing I’ve learned is that David never referred to Goliath as a giant. Instead, “pagan Philistine” or “Philistine” is how David saw him. To David, Goliath was a man from another country who defied God, nothing more. In fact, David saw Goliath as weak, powerless against the LORD. David’s living faith was his assurance God would use him to conquer Goliath. “Fear”, “giant”, “can’t”, “impossible.” and “defeat” were not in David’s vocabulary. Giants challenge us, too, don’t they? They’re named Uncertainty, Hurt Feelings, Jealousy, Disappointment, Unforgiveness, Disease, Poverty and Anger. They loom large before us, daring us Goliath-like to come against them. They call out to us each day to bind us to inaction. These enemies never back down until we trust the Living God will defeat an destroy them. The good news is that giants get very small – they even die – when we trust the Living God’s power to conquer them. You Can conquer giants one faith step at a time. Read 1 Samuel 16
1 Samuel 16:13-15 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.15 Saul's attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.” WE meet David and immediately see the contrast between David and Saul. The Holy Spirit came upon David in power. And the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul. As we learn of the Holy Spirit in God’s will in the new testament of salvation by faith, we are taught when the Spirit opens our mouths to faithfully confess Christ is Lord, he never leaves us. How is it the Spirit leaves Saul? As we read the Bible, we come to understand that the Holy Trinity systematically reveals himself to mankind. We are blessed to live in this time when the Son has come in the flesh and the Spirit has anointed the church at Pentecost. We live in a time of God’s plan when he anoints the elect to eternal life. As we saw with Samson and other judges, we see here with Saul. The Spirit anointed each for particular moments, not for eternal salvation as we understand it. God the Spirit activates God’s will through particular people at definite times. Now the Spirit anoints David. And see the anointing was from that day on. This points to our eternal anointing. Remember, David is from Bethlehem. He is Jesse’s son. Jesse is Ruth and Boaz’s grandson. The anointing has gone from Saul and the tribe of Benjamin to the tribe of Judah. Out of David’s line will come Jesus.This is the Spirit of God defining God’s will on earth. This is God’s plan from eternity past. While God chose Saul to please the people’s desires, he chose David to fulfill his will and his covenant promise to Abraham. Now, let’s learn how to respond to the disturbing sentence, an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. This means God allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul. God does not originate or cause evil, but as we’ve learned throughout the study of Scripture, God does allow evil to exist. Otherwise, we would have a perfect world. That won’t happen until all Evil is in the Great Abyss. What is the purpose of the evil spirit in Saul? Perhaps it is to define the difference between Saul and David, to even strengthen David through this adversity he will encounter. In many ways, Saul’s torment will torment David’s life. David will have to repeatedly decide if he can trust the Lord’s anointing. Thank God for Jesus’ Eternal Anointing: Matthew 12:18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.” The prophecy of Isaiah 42:1 fulfilled. Read 1 Samuel 15-16
1 Samuel 15:11 “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. YOU may notice we sometimes refer you to the same scripture reading on successive days. The reason is to have you focus on the different elements of the passage. For example, the previous lesson was about Samuel’s commitment to God’s commands. This lesson from chapter 15 is about Saul’s unfaithfulness to God’s commands. God’s story is about real people interacting with each other and with God. Some live in faith. Others do not. If we watch and listen to the story, we know the difference. Saul’s faith story defines a weak-minded, fearful man. Samuel anoints him privately and spends time with Saul to counsel and encourage him to his new life. The Holy Spirit empowers Saul to prophesy. But then Saul is described as very reluctant to the call. He fails to tell his uncle of these momentous events and even hides when it was time to anoint him before Israel’s tribes. We find him plowing a field when his people need him. The Spirit, then, awakens him spiritually, empowering him to passionate, strategic leadership to defeat the Ammonites. There is also one victory over the Philistines. But then things change. Saul’s story moves to disobedience when he neglects Samuel’s instructions to wait at Gilgal. From there, Saul’s rule begins a steady downward spiral. He only partially obeys God in his victory over the Amalekites. Then he cowers in fear under a tree, unwilling to attack the Philistines. His son Jonathan does what his father should have done. Saul is not the man, he is not the king God called him to be. His story reflects too much of mankind’s unfaithful response to God. When the LORD says, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king.” he reveals, I think, a sadness for mankind’s lost opportunity to joyfully carry God’s image each day of our lives. Such a pronouncement is God’s final word on Saul’s future. It is the same judgment as Genesis 6:6 The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. This was God’s notice to heaven of his unrelenting judgment against sin. Thankfully, God chose Noah to come out of the flood to carry forward the covenant of salvation to Abraham. Graciously, our LORD chose David to come out of Saul’s disobedient reign to move the covenant forward to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Samuel lived to consistently say to God, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” Saul lived, it seems, to say, “Speak, Lord, and I’ll decide what I want to do.” We can learn from Saul as we learned from Samson. Listen to the LORD. Hear his voice. Obey him faithfully. Please God, not man. Psalms 111:7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. Read 1 Samuel 14-15
1 Samuel 15:22 What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. READING through these chapters it is difficult to see God’s harsh judgment once more. We saw this in Joshua as the LORD instructed Jericho’s destruction. And elsewhere God issues this harsh command to eliminate all people of particular nations. I don’t like reading that Saul’s army is to kill all the Amalekite men, women, children and every animal they own. The thing is, this is God’s judgment day against people who consistently reject him and his people. It is a sign of the end of time when Christ comes again. Still, we are tempted to say, “It’s wrong, Lord. Aren’t you a God of Life?” Indeed he is. God’s focus on life is eternal. In his holy plan for eternal salvation, he could not allow the Amalekites’ sin to turn his people toward unbelief. He knew their sin threatened his people’s earthly and spiritual lives. He acted to judge this people group in order to sustain his own people to give you eternal life. If you think that is unfair, then consider that the truly fair thing for God to do is to destroy us all. We all are born enemies of God, subject to his wrath. Yes, we can thank God he doesn’t do what is fair. God is so committed to your life he unfairly sent his own holy Son to a cross to make you holy, too. Do you understand this incredible, sacrificial act God has done? 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Read 1 Samuel 8-11
1 Samuel 8:5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.” IT is a sad day when the people of God want to be like “all the other nations”. Samuel had led Israel back to God and be safe in the Lord’s commands. He had raised his sons to do the same, and he gave them authority to rule in Israel. But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. (1 Samuel 8:3) They became as Eli’s immoral sons to put their people in the line of God’s judgment. When God’s leaders fail, God’s people are in jeopardy. Without godly leaders, people will quickly forget God’s pure ways. They will lose faith in his power to rule and to redeem. Forgetting God, people begin to seek the world’s methods. They allow their minds to consider “new ideas” as the way to live. But they are really the pathway to death. The elders’ solution, then, was not to seek God’s redemptive rule but to appoint a worldly ruler. We have already seen how such self-rule caused their captivity to the Philistines. Now this rejection of God’s hand on them will once again draw Israel into a long history of captivity. Beginning with Saul, the nation Israel and then the split nations Israel and Judah were ruled mainly by men who left a legacy of idolatry, greed and lust for power. Parents, grandparents and family leaders, to you church and community leaders, here is a lesson for you. Why do you think Samuel’s sons rejected their father’s and the Lord’s leadership? Could it be Samuel spent too little time to instruct and lead them? It is difficult to say. Even our heavenly Father lost his children Adam and Eve to sin. The sin nature we inherit from Adam and Eve is a desire to be as God. We want to set our own rules. Our sin nature fills us with lusts that blind us Samson-like to God. But two things are essential to lead a family household. Teach the Word. Live the Word. Are you, Leader for Jesus (Yes, each Christian is to lead people to Jesus.), learning and following God’s ways? Reject being as “other households” who live in their own way. Know God’s commands. Trust God is your true King. Live as if God rules your life. This is what the Lord commands. Your Legacy begins with Your Faithful Living. Read 1 Samuel 4-7
1 Samuel 7:5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you." …6b And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah…10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites…12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. WAR is the theme of these chapters. And it is not only conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites. God is also choosing sides. At one point, God favored the Philistines, Israel’s enemies! Israel’s leaders and priests had committed sacrificial and sexual sins against God’s law. Several times in Israel’s history, the LORD used pagan empires as his judgment sword on Israel. Then see the change in Judges 7. Samuel, the boy called to be a prophet becomes Israel’s judge. He also powerfully acts as Israel’s priest. Through God’s power display to the Philistines, the ark returns to Israel. Then the LORD uses Samuel, prophet, priest and judge, to turn Israel’s heart to their true God. How different for Israel to seek God and see his favor. They urged Samuel to pray for them! In God’s leading, Israel defeated and removed the pagan enemy from the Promised Land. The victory belonged to the children of God because they prayed, worshiped and sacrificed before the LORD. In short, Samuel urged them to call on the true God. Israel listened and acted. In victory and praise, Samuel raised a stone he named Ebenezer. It means “stone of help”. This is a testimony to God, who is personally involved in the lives of his chosen people – that was Israel and today is the church. Some years after Samuel, David declared in Psalms 118:6-7 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. What peace and hope we have to know the LORD God helps us! In closing, this is why verse 2 in the original words of the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” began with, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, here by thy great help I come.” But many churches have replaced “Ebenezer” with other words “everyone can understand”. This dismays me. Are churches saying, “We don’t teach the Bible here. People might not understand it.” Maybe everyone would understand the powerful message of “Ebenezer” if the preaching and the teaching pointed to God’s majesty to save those who call on his name. The church is frightfully like the Israel God judged and held captive. We neglect God and His will in favor of our own will. Israel was held captive by the pagan Philistines until they repented. May God raise up Samuel-like leaders to declare victory for Christ. May each church be an Ebenezer to the LORD God Almighty. Seek God, your Help. Declare the victory. Raise an Ebenezer to the LORD. Read 1 Samuel 3
1 Samuel 3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions…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…10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 11 And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle…18 So Samuel told Eli everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, “He is the Lord; let him do what is good in his eyes.” 19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. IT is unlikely you’ve heard Samuel referred to as “hinge”. But he is one of several people in the Bible God calls to swing open the door to a new time – a new era – of God’s revelation to Israel and to the world. Recall that Moses prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. Samuel is the first of the prophets who will hear from God and repeat God’s words truly to Israel. Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord because he learned God’s voice, to listen to God’s messages and to speak the complete truth to Eli and Israel. Even with the most difficult messages of God’s judgment, the boy Samuel quickly learned to spoke the complete truth. He learned his lesson well. As Samuel grew, he let none of God’s words fall to the ground. Remember, several times Judges informs us, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” (Judges 21:25) But God comes when the light of his Word is dim in his land. But thankfully the spiritual lamp had not gone out. The LORD God has chosen and called, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel has responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The boy will get up from his bed to begin a true revelation of God’s judgment and rescue for Israel. The LORD God is advancing his plan for your salvation. Think of it, God’s plan to save you hinged on his truth told to the generations. How about you? Are a hinge to the next generation? Are you opening the door of God’s judgment and salvation to a new generation? Are you listening, speaking the truth? Matthew 5:18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Read 1 Samuel 1-3
1 Samuel 1:2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. SAMUEL, Saul and David are about to enter into Israel’s history. The books of Joshua and Judges tell us that with the exception of some God-centered leaders, Israel has rejected God as their King to desire an earthly king. Samuel 1 is about God relenting to Israel’s desire to allow an earthly king. But our LORD had plans to help his people even in their disobedience. He is like that, gracious and loving to point his disobedient children to himself, even in our sin. He keeps speaking through our human desires to teach us his will. And we must listen. God spoke here, as he often does, through the “impossible”. He chose Hannah, even though the Lord had closed her womb. (1 Samuel 1:5b) Why has the Lord formed some women to be barren for many years before she becomes the mother of one who will do powerful work for God? Perhaps it is to remind us he is sovereign to act in his time and way, not ours. At this point, God’s purpose was for Israel to more faithfully worship God. The worship began with Hannah’s reverence. She realized her only hope for a son was to reverently, prayerfully approach God. “I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” (1 Samuel 1:15b-16) It seems God answered her prayer when Eli blesses her: “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17) God had the attention of the barren Hannah. Hannah went before the throne of grace. She gave her distress and bitterness to God. With expectation, faith and hope, she dedicated her unknown, unborn son to God. Then she fulfilled her vows. That’s the worship God desires. Revere God with your words and with your life. Hannah gave birth to a God-centered son to center a nation on God’s sovereign care for them. Faith to faith, generation to generation God calls you moms and dads to dedicate your child to him. Then do so. No, you don’t leave your child at the church, but you must leave in your child the Word of God. You train them to know and worship God. You commit your own life to the LORD, so your life in the LORD God is a faithful model for your children. You trust them to God in your prayers of expectation, hope and love. Learn from Hannah’s dedicated life. Dedicate your life to God. Let your children see and know the LORD as they watch you. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.
I love this story. Ruth is so faithful. Boaz is so honorable. Naomi is out of hope, an impoverished widow. But the faithful Ruth and honorable Boaz redeem her life into joyful security. Boaz is an illustration of Jesus Christ. He is a kinsman, a relative, to Naomi through her deceased husband; and thus, he is also kinsman to Ruth. She is the widow of, Naomi’s son. Because both Naomi’s husband and sons are dead, Boaz has a right by Hebrew law (Leviticus) to buy land Naomi’s husband owned. He also can choose to marry either Naomi or Ruth. In short, Boaz can purchase the land and give Naomi income to live for her lifetime. And through marriage, he can redeem Ruth from childless widowhood. This is one of God’s laws to provide for widows and to carry forth the family name and land to the next generation. But before Boaz could redeem Naomi and Ruth, one man more closely related to Naomi had to refuse his right. Boaz then bought the land and married Ruth. Thus, these two widows, poor in Bethlehem Ephratha, are redeemed through God’s gracious law. No longer do they face isolation and poverty. Now there is hope for a future heir. That hope is wonderfully fulfilled. From Boaz’s and Ruth’s marriage comes Obed, then David and ultimately Jesus. As Boaz is the women’s kinsman who redeemed them, Jesus, fully God and fully man, is born to be Israel’s kinsman. Through the ancestral blood of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah, Jesus Christ comes from heaven to earth. He is our brother, born of woman, lived, died, rose again to redeem all who call him “Lord” from sin’s poverty, separation and death. Through the Holy Spirit you are an heir of God given the right to be called children of God. John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Now, don’t you just love this story? Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Read Ruth 3-4
Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied, “Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” ONE very visible example of God’s grace to save is in the title of this book. Ruth was a Moabite. Moab was a nation founded in the sin of Lot’s daughters with their father (Genesis 19). Born out of sin against God’s covenant with Abraham, Moab was a country consistently opposed to Israel. To Israel, Ruth as an alien. But we can thank God his love transforms aliens to become children of God. John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Our Scripture verses today tell us Ruth believed in God. She committed her life to following God as she committed her life to Naomi. Ruth’s life is one of simple obedience. Consider the significant trials and threats she faced: She was an alien in Bethlehem and had no income nor sure means of food. It was not safe for a woman to work alone in a field. Ruth enters Bethlehem and outcast to now cast a story of faith, hope and love into our lives today. Perhaps one reason this story is favored in the church today is how easily we connect with Ruth’s life. We are all born aliens to the Kingdom of God. When the Spirit calls us to faith, we step into new territory. We need the sustenance of God’s daily bread from his Word. It is dangerous to walk in the world prepared to attack you. Our strength and sustenance comes in following God’s commands, trusting his way is the way of kingdom citizenship. Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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November 2024
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