Samuel

Partial Obedience – Disobedience

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In the lessen of King Saul we learn that obedience is what God requires.  Saul did not obey the LORD.

Samuel also said unto Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over His people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.  And Saul said unto the Kenites, “Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.  And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, “It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
1 Samuel 15:1-11

The LORD, through Samuel had given king Saul a command to go and destroy the Amalekites, because they had not treated Israel right when they were in the wilderness.

Now,  I know what people of today in the year 2025 are thinking as we read this event; “That is genocide,” or “That is very cruel,” yet that is God’s way of dealing with evil.  Who are we to question our Creator?  If God gives a command to do something, then we need to do it when, and where He says; and with haste.

As followers of Jesus Christ – Christians, we are to love our neighbors, and our neighbor maybe an enemy.   We must first deal with the evil within ourselves.  At a time a few years back, I was in prayer, and concerned about the evil I saw in the world, and I asked the Lord, “Why do you allow evil in the world? You could with the snap of Your finger destroy evil.”  Then this thought came to my heart and mind, “If God were to destroy evil, He would need to destroy me.”  That has been my answer for that question ever since then.

God will be compassionate to whom He will be compassionate.  He is merciful to whom He will be merciful.  The LORD God is wiser, and smarter than billions of the wisest people working together.

Something to think about concerning the complete destruction of a group of evil people is that the Amalakites is that there was evidently one that was shown mercy who grew up, and one of the descendants of Agag, was born as Haman in the  book of Esther.  Haman tried to kill all the Jews in Persia, but He failed.

When we fail to obey the commands of God we sin.  Even if we succeed in obeying in part of the command, and fail in the hard part, we have been disobedient children.  King Saul lost the kingdom – a dynasty that could have been his, but He failed to obey the LORD.

We are not redeemed, we are not saved, we are not justified by keeping commandments, but Jesus tells us, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  Since we are justified by grace through faith, then we will desire to keep His commandments, because we love Him.  If You do not have a desire to always be on the right side of God, and do His will, then you are not justified by grace through faith.

Jesus Christ died for our sins; we were  a rebellious, disobedient, and evil people; yet God so loved us He sent His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ – to  go to the cross, become the curse of sin, taking the judgment that we  deserved, dying for us.  He was buried, and He rose again.  Because He rose again we can come to Him, confessing Him as Lord, and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, and He saves us unto eternal life.

Will you trust Him today?  It is His will that you do so.

She Prayed for a Child, and the LORD Heard Her Prayer

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In chapter one of First Samuel we find a woman who is the a wife of a man named Elkanah.  One wife has children; and Hannah has so far been without a child, but so yearns for a son from God. She has prayed, and vowed to the LORD, that when the child is weaned she will give him to the LORD.

Now she has conceived, and has a son she named Samuel.  When Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and to God, with sacrifices according to the word of God, and leaves Samuel, at that time a small boy, with Eli who has some wicked sons who are priests; whom Eli knows are wicked, yet does nothing about it.

After Hannah leaves her son she prays another prayer,

And Hannah prayed, and said,

“My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and He hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
“The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah shows a great heart of praise and worship to the LORD for the blessings which God has given her.  She recognizes Him as being supreme in power.  He is the One who brings death, and the  One who gives life.

He breaks His adversaries, and He judges the end of the earth.  He also exalts the one His anointed king.

O, may we as followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be always faithful to pray for more of God’s children to come to Him.  Then when they come to Him may we continue to pray and served the Lord.  Amen.

The High Cost Of Sin

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And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33

King David has seen the price of his sins concerning the wife of Uriah, and his murder of Uriah the Hitite.  There is a son (Amnon) who raped his sister Tamar, the sister of Absalom. When Absalom hears about he is angry, and sometime later Absalom kills his brother Amnon for the rape.

The sword of death was in David’s house.  Some one has written, and said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; sin will leave you longer than you want to stay; and sin will cost you far more than you can ever pay.” David was finding this out.

These tragic events were foretold by Nathan the prophet when he confronted the king about the sin he had committed, and said, “…The sword shall never depart from your house…” (2 Samuel 12:10).

Absalom rebels against he father, and tries to take the kingdom away. David loves Absalom, and flees Jerusalem, and Absalom and his followers give pursuit. Absalom has it in his heart to kill David. David has no such thoughts of killing his son.

Our text for today above shows a father’s heart for his son said, “If only I had died in your place.” The king have given orders to the three generals to not harm Absalom. However, Joab, one of the generals had other ideas. When he saw Absalom caught by his hair hanging in a tree, he ordered him to be killed. Now David is mourning the death of his rebellious son.

It is with great love that we did have someone die for us. Jesus Christ the Son of God , became flesh and blood, from a babe in a manger to the Man He is, that He might die for the sins of the world. The Bible also tells us that “Whosoever believes in in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life” (John 3:16).

On the cross Jesus became sin for us, and was judged by the Father in our stead. He died there. He was buried, and in three days He rose from the grave, and He lives forever more.

Sin against God has a very high price to it. Sin takes your life away. Sin is all over the world. There is only one who never sinned, and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He paid our sin debt. The wages of sin is death. The only escape from eternal death, is by calling on the name of Jesus in repentant faith, turning from your sin to Jesus Christ.

Do you believe today that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead? If you do then, you shall be saved.

Sin Against God Affects Us All

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And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said unto David, “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:13-15

There are many people whom I have heard say something like this after they have been confronted about some sin they have committed; “I am hurting nobody, but maybe myself. I am not hurting anyone else.” O, what a lie is that.

King David had committed adultery with one of his faithful soldiers wife. Uziah’s wife became pregnant by David, and David tried to cover up the possible scandal that would occur. He ends up sending Uziah back to the battlefield, and to certain death, thus by his order murdering his soldier. There he has killed a man, after he has adulterated his wife. There is two others affected by one man’s sin. Joab, David’s General over the battle is also affected by David’s scheme to cover his sin.  Then, the baby dies as a result of David’s sin.

For all practical purposes David deserved to die. David confesses his sin, and Nathan the bold prophet who confronted the king about his sin, gives him God’s message, “The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Nathan has told him already what his sin will do in his family, and against him in verses 11 through 12, of this same chapter. In the verses above the sin of David, the LORD said would give cause for his enemies to blaspheme God.

My sin, and your sin always affects others. The next time you think you are getting away with something that you did wrong. You had ought to think again, because it does affect others, and maybe those closest to you. When your sin is exposed, and it is known, then it will cause many others to take a dim view of God, and will blaspheme the name of God.

Even things done in the privacy of a bedroom with the wrong person with or without the opposite sex. Your sin will find you out, and you will give an accounting to GOD for it.

The good news is, that there is forgiveness for all who fall on their face before the LORD in repentance, for one who is already a follower of Christ (1 John1:9). For the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you, and give you eternal life with Himself. Repent – turn away from your sin – and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died on a cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Will you call on His name today? He is waiting.

The Death of a Stranger

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And David said unto the young man that told him, “Whence art thou?” And he answered, “I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.” And David said unto him, “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed?”  And David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and fall upon him.” And he smote him that he died.  And David said unto him, “Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, ‘I have slain the LORD’S anointed.’ ”
2 Samuel 1:13-16

Some background for these verses. First of all David loved his king Saul, and Jonathan the king’s son. Even though Saul had tried to kill David or have him killed, David trusted the LORD with his life, and that of the king as well. Also, David had promised Jonathan and Saul that he would show favor to their family.

Now, David has been told by an Amalekite stranger that Saul, and Jonathan are dead. The stranger tells David a cock a maime  story of how he killed Saul, when according to First Samuel 31:1-6 Saul fell on his own sword, thus killing himself, when he saw that the war was lost, and when Saul’s armor bearer saw that the king was dead he killed himself.

The stranger did not know David. It appears that he sought David out seeking some kind of reward for killing David’s enemy. Only he did not know that Saul was not David’s enemy; Saul was David’s king, and David would not lay a hand on him, neither permit anyone else to do so. David was king Saul’s enemy and all because of envy.

David had two opportunities to take Saul’s life, and he would not do it, because Saul was the LORD’S anointed king (1 Samuel 24:1-9ff; 26:1-16ff). So for this Amalekite stranger to come to David seeking a reward for killing his king was very foolish. Later on after David has become king another two men kill a son of Saul – Ishbosheth – whom Abner tries to set up as king. Ishbosheth was not God’s chosen, or anointed king of Israel. These two men, Rechab and Baanah kill Ishbosheth while he is lying in his bed in the middle of the day. They think they will get a reward from the king for killing an enemy. Their reward is death (2 Samuel 4).

King David remembers the covenants he had made with Jonathan, and he keeps them. That shows us that David is an honorable man of God. He keeps his word. He is faithful to the LORD God as well.

From David we learn how to trust the Lord, our God, and Savior. As David was a man of his word, so ought the Christian to be people who will speak the truth in love, and when we make a promise, or a covenant with someone we keep it. Also, just because someone takes a hit at you, and they consider you their enemy; they do not have to be our enemy.

How can we live like that? How can we love a neighbor who hates us, and does whatever they can to destroy us? We need to first know the LORD, and His Son Jesus Christ. We must have a different heart than that the world has. Do not strike back. Difficult? Most certainly, but remember David’s refusal to strike king Saul.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for our sins – your sins and mine – He was buried, and He rose again. We have a risen Savior who is forever living and He intercedes for us continually. Call on His name. He will hear you and He will deliver you (Romans 10:13).

Promise of a Prosperous Pursuit

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And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.  And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod.” And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.  And David enquired at the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”
1 Samuel 30:6-8

Giving a little background information. David and his men had been given the city of Ziklag for he and his men to dwell in. This was a Philistine city which the ruler of the Philistines had given them. David, and his men were serving that ruler, or so the ruler supposed, while David and his men never attacked any people of Israel, as David told Philistines that he was.

On a day the ruler told David they were going to war against Israel, he asked David to join him, and David agreed. They got to the site of their troops, and the lords of the Philistines did not like that, David, and Israelite with a reputation of killing ten thousand to Saul’s thousand. So, Achish the ruler of the Philistines sent him back to Ziklag.

When David and his men returned to Ziklag ravaged, their wives and children gone. All the people of Ziklag had been taken by marauding band of Amalekites. Upon finding the city ravaged, their wives and children taken, and all their things, their stuff taken, there was talk among the men of stoning David. David was grieving as well as the other men.

In verse six of the above text we read, “…But David encouraged himself in the LORD.” I can hear him praying, singing psalms, praising God Almighty, and giving an offering of thanksgiving. Doing so will encourage the wounded heart.

Then David asked the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” He is no longer discouraged. David is ready for action, and he asked to LORD, before he just in a hap hazard fashion takes after them without the LORD’S counsel. The LORD’S counsel is “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.”

Now David has God’s word of assurance they will be victorious. They will get their wives, their children, and all that was taken, they will get it all back, just as the LORD had said.

How does this apply to the Christian of today?  First of all we all have days when it seems like those around us – family, friends, fellow workers at our place of employment, and enemies even – are against us. Remember David’s own men were talking of stoning him. Yet, David knew the LORD, and strengthened himself in the LORD. You and I can do that as well. We do not need a therapist. We need Jesus Christ. He is our healer, and He is our Help.

When you are discouraged, or depressed pick up your Bible, and read it. If you, as a Christian are down, in despair, and doubt, then read the Psalms. Begin thinking about the many blessings the Lord has given you. Be reminded of God’s wonderful, marvelous love, mercy, and grace. Also be reminded of His greatness, power, His holiness, and righteousness, and that He still cares for us.

Jesus Christ who died on a cross to free us from sin, from death, and from hell is also the wonderful counselor. He is Lord of all, and He is our Savior.

If you are down and discouraged today, and you do not know Jesus who died for you, here is how you can be delivered from sin, and have help for your discouragement. “If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Futile Pursuits

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But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land. Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.
1 Samuel 23:27-29

King Saul of Israel hates the young David who is  the one who killed the Philistine champion and giant  by the name of Goliath. Ever since the young maidens were singing “Saul has killed his thousands; and  David has killed his tens of thousands,” Saul has been envious to the point of hating David.

Saul also know that he will not have a son, or anyone from his family take the throne, because Samuel the prophet has told him so. He is in pursuit of David for the distinct purpose of killing him.

The king has no more loyal servant than David. David is fleeing from Saul out of his fear of the LORD God, more than any fear he might have of Saul. David does not want to harm his king, therefore he flees from him. Yet the king pursues.

In his pursuit of David he leaves his kingdom at the mercy of the enemies around them, and while he is out chasing a friend, and faithful servant the Philistines invade Israel. This takes Saul and his army out of the pursuit.

Futile pursuits take place when we take our eyes off the Lord, and go after what we want in our lives. Futile pursuits happen when we become envious over someone else’s successes, and do things that might sabotage their work, or ministry. Futile pursuits take place when we know the word of God, and the will of God, but we do things against the will of the Lord instead.

As a Christian we sometimes get involved in futile pursuits that take us away from what God called us, and leads us to do. Let us pursue the things of God, beginning with loving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with all our hearts, all our minds, all our souls, and with all our strength; and also loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

It is the will of God for you to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection; but you see your own way of salvation and there is no other way. Your pursuit of salvation is futile, and will fail. The enemy of God’s salvation is attacking destroying your kingdom because you are pursuing your own envy, and evil.

Turn your life over to Jesus Christ today.

Behaving Wisely

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And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.  And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18:28-30

King Saul had grown envious of David. Why?  Because Saul could see and he knew that the Spirit of the LORD had left himself, and was now in his servant David.

Why had the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul?  The king had been disobedient too many times. Some of the times his disobedience was due to his arrogance and pride. Those things can get in the way of behaving wisely.

The Spirit of the LORD was within David from the moment Samuel anointed David as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12-13). To make one thing clear for the Spirit of the LORD – He can dwell within many at the same time; because the Spirit of the LORD was on and in Samuel as well. It was because of David’s love for the LORD God, and thankfulness for His work in his life that he behaved himself wisely as he went out, and as he came in

Saul was afraid of David, also because he could see, and he knew that the LORD was with David. When the Spirit of the LORD is with you, and you know it, there is nothing you have to fear. You are at peace, you have faith, and confidence that the LORD is working in and through your life, and that nothing can get in the way of the Lord’s working in you.

Behaving wisely is  work of the Holy Spirit of God in the follower, the disciple of Jesus Christ today. Behaving wisely does not mean doing whatever I want with my life. Behaving wisely means following the Lord’s direction for one’s life; going where He goes, doing what He does, loving like He does, and loving what and who He does, and also hating what He hates.

We cannot behave wisely apart from the Spirit of the LORD, whom we know as the Holy Spirit given to everyone who comes by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ in  repentance, confessing one’s sin, turning from sin to Christ believing Him and His work on the cross dying for the sins of the world, His burial, and resurrection. When you have received this free gift of grace God gives us His Holy Spirit, and then we will begin “Behaving Wisely.” Also read Ephesians 2;8-10.

Setting Things Up For A King

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So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, “O LORD of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.”  1 Samuel 1:9-11
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.  Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the LORD.”
1 Samuel 1:19-29

First Samuel is seen, as is Ruth, of still being in the time of the Judges of Israel. The man Samuel being the last of the Judges.

In chapter one of First Samuel we have a man with two wives, Peninnah who had given birth to children, and the other was Hannah who had no children. Peninnah was mean and spoke harshly, and cruelly to Hannah, because she was without child. Hannah wanted a child, and preferably a son. Well, when they made their annual trip to Shiloh where the tabernacle, with the Ark of the covenant is, while there she was so grieved of not having a child that she would eat anything, and Elkanah saw her grief, and spoke with trying to get her to eat, but failed to do so.

Hannah had left the place of the meal, and went toward the tabernacle, and was near where Eli sat at the gate. She may not have even noticed Eli sitting there since she was grieving so terribly. Anyway she prayed the prayer that is above.

She asked the LORD specifically for a male child, and she made a vow to the LORD, that if He would bless her with a man child she would give him back to the LORD. I personally believe that every Christian mother and father ought to give their children to the LORD who is Most High, and knows how to deal with children. Going on now, God hears Hannah’s prayer and gives her a son who she gives the name Samuel. After Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and gives him to the LORD, under the care of Eli.

Eli is a priest with whom the LORD God is not pleased, but God is doing a work preparing Samuel for bringing a king to provide leadership for the LORD’S people.

Hannah was God’s chosen vessel for giving birth to a man child who would grow to be a prophet and judge in Israel. Who would also be used to bring in the first king of Israel.

God, the LORD is still working in today’s world. Through the birth of a child, the broken heart of a woman desiring to have a child whether a son or a daughter. Through the deliverance of a man or woman from drugs, alcohol, smoking or just getting off the streets, and into a home to live. God is still calling people to Himself.

Today, no matter where you are physically, emotionally, or spiritually can you hear God calling you? Calling you, first of all to come to Him believing in His Son Jesus Christ, and His work of redemption by dying on a cross for the sins of the world, that He was buried, and that He rose from the tomb, and walked out alive to many witnesses. Calling you also to a place to serve Him, and to give your heart and life completely to Him.

If you hear Him calling you to Himself fall on your knees before Him, call on His name in repentance and faith in Him, and He will give you eternal life with Him.

The Price Of Despising God And His Word

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And Nathan said to David, “Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,
“I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.”
2 Samuel 12:7-10

The City of David

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And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, “Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither:” thinking, David cannot come in hither.  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.  And David said on that day, “Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain.” Wherefore they said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
2 Samuel 5:6-10

Fear the LORD, and Serve Him

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Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1 Samuel 12:23-25

Envy with Hatred: Evidence of Departure from GOD

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And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.  And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, “I will smite David even to the wall with it.” And David avoided out of his presence twice.  And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.  And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.  Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1 Samuel 18:10-16

They that trust in the LORD shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
Psalm 125:1

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour, and discover not a secret to another: lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
Proverbs 25:9-10

Even When We Feel Inadequate

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Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:” but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.  Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.  So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.  And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.
1 Samuel 13:19-23

Thou art near, O LORD; and all Thy commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; for there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs 24:19-20

Even when we feel inadequate God is adequate to deliver. Our deliverer is the Lord Jesus Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Trust In The LORD

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“…Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.”
1 Samuel12:23-25

O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.  Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:9-11

Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: for their Redeemer is mighty; He shall plead their cause with thee.
Proverbs 23:10-11

The LORD Helped Us

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Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.”
1 Samuel 7:12

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation; that I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.
Psalm 106:4-5

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Proverbs 22:24-25

The Wholly Holy LORD God

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And He smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even He smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. And the men of Bethshemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall He go up from us?”  And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.”
1 Samuel 6:19-21

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
Psalm 104:31

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3

The Breaking Heart

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“And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.” 2 Samuel 15:13 (KJB)

How does one respond when they get news from a messenger that their son has schemed against them, and is taking over your business or the kingdom?  How does King David respond when the son he loves, has greatly indulged in allowances of grief, murdering his brother, and all, has brought him back to Jerusalem?

No one of us would like getting this kind of news.  We all like good news.

Why would something like this happen to a king whose heart was like unto God’s heart?  Remember what David did?  He slept with a soldier’s wife; a warrior who was one of the top 37 men in his forces; then had him murdered on the battlefield.  God’s word to him was that he would not die because of his sin but their would be chaos in his family (2 Samuel 12:11), and this is now happening.

There is however for you and me a good message of hope and salvation; if we will hear it.  Jesus Chris the Son of God, God the Son has died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.  That hope does not end there, however.  He is returning and all the kingdoms of men will fall before him.

Why do we worry?  Why do we fear?  Let us stand strong and faithful to God, His Son, and His word.

God, King,and Country

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“And Uriah said unto David, ‘The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.”  2 Samuel 11:11 (KJB)

Uriah was a Hittite (verse 3) who had become a faithful and loyal follower of Jehovah.  You will notice the very first thing he mentions to the King is “The ark…”  You will note also his heart for the people, the men on the battle field sleeping in tents.

He has been called by the King to aid in covering the king’s sin with his wife Bathsheba.  I am just going to point out the heart and mind of Uriah the Hittite.

Uriah is an often overlooked character in the story of King David.  He had evidently chosen to follow Jehovah or YaHWeH.  He is also named as one of the king’s top men in 2 Samuel 23:29. He was a soldier of the Lord and of the King. He was faithful to God, King and country.

Uriah’s king failed him; but his God did not.  God never fails, and he  honors those who stand with Him. David had the man murdered in an elaborate scheme to cover his own sin.

We as Christians can always stand with God and what is right according to His word and His law.  We can remain loyal to our nations leaders when they follow the law of our nation, and live by them.  We can be loyal to our nation as it follows the way and will of God.  Our first citizenship is in heaven (Ephesians 2:19;  Philippians 3:20).

Let us be faithful and true to God and country, and thus to our leaders as they follow the Lord and are faithful to Him and to the law.  The King of all kings is Jesus Christ. Let us remember the words of Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as rivers of water: He turneth whithersoever He will.”

Be Courageous; Be Strong

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Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good. 2 Samuel 10:12 (KJB)
“Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” 2 Samuel 10:12 (NKJB)

I share the other translation to give more clarity of what the phrase “…Let us play the men for our people…” is meaning.

The Ammonites had hired the Syrians to help them fight against Israel.  Joab; the general of Israel’s military, and Abishai his brother were commanding two garrisons of troops. Abishai was to fight the warriors of Ammon, and Joab the warriors of Syria.  Israel was greatly outnumbered.  The troops of Israel needed to hear their commander give words of encouragement, and strength.

Today is the Lord’s Day;  not the Day of the Lord.  Let us who are in Christ Jesus be faithful to attend the worship of our Lord and Savior with brothers and sisters in Christ at our local Church where the word of God is expounded, the cross of Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection are proclaimed, and His name lifted high for all to see and hear.

In the places where Christ is exalted, and the word explained, and proclaimed there will be courage and strength for all who will hear.  Folks, we are in a battle.  The enemy of God is all around us.  The deniers of God and His Son are plenteous.  They are mean, vicious, and are of their father the devil.

This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice in it and be courageous and strong in the faith of the Lord Jesus.

Blessed By The Presence

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“And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.” 2 Samuel 6:11 (KJB)

When God is present in an individual’s life that individual is blessed by God.  When that person is blessed by God their whole family is also blessed by Him.

The ark of the covenant was the presence of God as Israel journeyed through the wilderness for forty years.  Is still, during David’s reign, as David conquers Jerusalem, and calls it the “City of David”.

I do not know about you but I enjoy, appreciated, and I am thankful everyday for the blessings of God.  What we must love though is not the blessings, but the Blesser.

Kind David, in a hurry, decided to move the ark to Jerusalem, and did not seek out the proper mode of transportation.  He chose rather to move it the same way it was moved the last time it was moved; and that was the Philistine way – on a cart pulled by cows (1 Samuel 6:4-12).  God’s people must always seek to do things in God’s prescribed order.  Because of David’s grave error Uzzah died.

Until David discovered the God-way of moving the ark Obed-Edom and his family were greatly blessed by God’s presence.

The ark is a material object made of wood and gold, with the mercy seat resting atop it made of solid gold.  The wood represents the perfect, sinless, guiltless man, and the gold is a picture of His Deity.  It is an Old Testament picture or type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  And HIs presence among His people.

When Jesus came and gave Himself a sacrifice for the sins of the world, paying our sin debt to God, He has made it possible for Adamkind to be in the very presence of God, and He with us.  Every moment of every day He is present with us.

Be blessed by the presence of God in your life through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is God the Son.

The Battles Within

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“…The LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.” 2 Samuel 3:39 b  (KJB)

There are battles within kingdoms of men. There are battles which occur within each individual man and woman.

King Saul had died in the battle with the Philistines by falling on his own sword, for fear that the enemy would mistreat him if he were taken alive.  David had been chosen as King of Judah, but the other tribes were still being led by the General of Saul’s army, and he had appointed the young son of Saul, Ishbosheth, as king.  That is an inside battle.  A nation at war against itself.

Abner had been murdered by Joab, David’s General, because Joab because in a battle between the two factions Abner had killed Asahel Joab’s brother.  Joab killed Abner in hatred, revenge, and at a time David had made peace with Abner.  It was not the act of King David.  It was the act of a vengeful Joab.

Joab’s act was a wicked act against God and King David.  The words of David in the Scripture of 2 Samuel 3:39 are words that are just and right.

Again the reader is reminded that there are consequences to our actions.  Good from good.  Evil from evil.  We all reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).  We need; all of us who take a breath of air; need to flee to the cross of  Jesus Christ where, there alone, our sin debt is paid in full.

“The LORD shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness.”

Our hope; mine and yours; lies in the death, the burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Sleeping

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Please read 1 Samuel 26 – 28…

“So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.” 1 Samuel 26:12 (KJB)
“For they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.” 26:12b (NKJB)

As you can see King Saul was caught in one of those vulnerable situations we mentioned yesterday.  It does not seem that there is any more vulnerable time than when we are sleeping.  We need sleep for our bodies to recuperate, and renew for a new day.

The account of these words are such that we can learn about the sleep that occurs here.

David and Abishai – brother of Joab – were in Saul’s camp while…

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Vulnerable Situations

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Reading 1 Samuel 23 – 25 for today…

“And he said unto his men, ‘The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 24:6 (KJB)

King Saul was out to kill David.  He saw David as a threat to his being king, and especially to his kingdom, what was going to end. However, God had already made the decree (1 Samuel 13:13-14), and given the kingdom to another.

In the background of the story we find the King relieving himself in a cave.  David and his men are hiding in the cave and David’s men encourage him to take Saul’s life; but he will not strike the LORD’S anointed.

David is the other whom God has chosen to have the ongoing, even eternal kingdom, and he has…

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Stay With Me

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Tim A.'s avatarShiloah Baptist Church

Today’s reading is from 1 Samuel 20 – 22…

“Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.” 1 Samuel 22:23 (KJB)

This utter hatred for David in King Saul began due to Saul’s rebellious heart (1 Samuel 15:10-23).  Because of that rebellion God gives the kingdom to another, who is David.  Rebellion against God.  Jealousy against the “Better man”.  Let us learn.

Saul has cowered in fear because of a giant, and turns with rage against one of his own who has done nothing more than be his faithful servant.

In the first two verse of chapter 22 we read of the type of men who served with David and followed him – people in distress, people in debt and could not pay, and the discontented.  They were not the rich and famous of the…

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