Bible in a Year Blog

1 Samuel 17:1-18:4 + John 8:21-30 + Psalm 111:1-10 + Proverbs 15:11
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Old Testament – We are beginning the story of David, which is always a blessing to read. As you know, David wrote many of the Psalms, so we’ve been reading some of David’s writings already this year. Now we begin his story! Hang on! This is a wonderful part of the Bible – reading about David and reading the Gospel of John at the same time. . . great stuff!  Bob Deffinbaugh with Bible.org has a terrific overview of David becoming Israel’s King at this link.

Today in 1 Samuel chapter 17 read about David & Goliath. In verse 45 we read – “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty.” How often in our lives today are we like Goliath, where we try to make things work or do things with our own strength or our latest technology? Goliath relied on his strength and sword and spear and javelin – and perhaps we today rely on our intellectual pride and Blackberry and career and money. David simply relied on God. David moved in the name of God. How often do you move in the name of God today? How often do you completely rely on only God today? Can you move beyond relying solely on your “strengths” and “technologies” and instead move and breathe and rely on God in every circumstance in your life?  Below is “David Slaying Goliath” by Peter Paul Rubens from the year 1620:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings titled “David and Goliath” is at this link.

Recommendation: I highly recommend the TV series “House of David” on Amazon Prime!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrGfIHBIVL4

New Testament – I love John 8 verse 29 where Jesus says – “And the one who sent me is with me–he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him.”  If Jesus always did those things that are pleasing to God, do you think that you and I should do those things that are pleasing to Jesus and to God?   Meaning, it seems to me that Jesus was clearly very intentional with how he spent his time.  He only did those things that are pleasing to God.  How intentional are you and I in how we spend our time?  Do we make sure we are only doing those things that are pleasing to Jesus (who is God) and God the Father?  I know I don’t.  I wish I did.  I pray that I will spend more and more of my time doing those things that are pleasing to God.  Let us pray that Jesus’ personality permeates our personality and all that we do!

Psalms – Psalm 111 is a wonderful Psalm of praise!  I love the way it ends in verse 10: “Reverence for the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.  The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him. Praise his name forever!” Do you believe that reverence for God is the foundation of true wisdom?  Do you believe that there are rewards of wisdom if you obey God?  Will you praise his name forever?

Proverbs – Proverbs 15:11 today teaches us: “Even the depths of Death and Destruction are known by the LORD. How much more does he know the human heart!”

Worship God: Today’s readings remind me of Phil Wickham’s fantastic song “This is our God:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNts1BTMhJQ

Do you believe God can defeat “Goliaths” in your life? Click here for Victory!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “David said to the Philistine (Goliath), “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied… All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”” 1 Samuel 17:45,47 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will not attempt battles against “Goliaths” in your life on your own, but that you will realize the battle is always the LORD’s. Pray that you will never trust your technologies over the LORD.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Today’s Proverb is a wonderful reminder that God not only knows us, he knows our very hearts!  How is the state of your heart today?  Does your heart belong to God?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
Goliath was one big guy and a very boisterous one. But because God was no longer with Saul, this one man’s braggadocio sent the entire Israeli army to flight. They had forgotten the Words of God given to Moses, which Moses then placed in a song (Deut 31:30-32:43),

30 How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the LORD had given them up?

The Lord had “given them up” because they failed to follow Him.

I love the story of David and Goliath because it takes an ordinary boy and pits him against an extraordinary man, Goliath. David knew Goliath could be defeated, and defeated by him because he had other experiences to draw from, the taking out of the lion and the bear. David knew how to rely on God because he gained practice while hanging out with the sheep, alone in the sheep fields. Today at church my pastor warned about substituting the joy and power of corporate worship for the intimacy that only private worship and devotion will bring. Corporate worship is needed; however, corporate worship with out private intimacy defeats the purpose of private prayer time. Our intimacy with God can only be built one on one and not inside the church with a crowd. It is only in that one on one relationship with God where we learn to recognize His voice when we hear it, and learn to trust Him as well as discerning His will for our lives.

David’s exchange with his brother, or should I say Eliab’s rebuke of David gives us another clue into David’s place in his family.

28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and dishonesty. You just want to see the battle!”

David’s response to his oldest brother, the one Samuel thought looked like a king before God told him, “No,” should resound in the hearts of all siblings who were picked on by the older brother or sister, “What have I done now?” God uses the scrawny ones, the ones people think, family members especially, have no future, or a limited one at best. That fact should set a lot of people who come to this site heart’s soaring.

David killed Goliath with what he was familiar with he didn’t use the weapons of the experts; in fact he couldn’t handle those weapons. Folks we need to use the “weapons” that God has equipped up to use and not the weapons of the world’s system. When Moses complained to God that he neither had the aptitude nor the speech to convince a nation that God would use him to deliver then from bondage, God asked, “What’s that in your hand?” Moses’ rod, a shepherd’s rod was the simple instrument God worked through to bring his people out of Egypt. What is that in your hands? Be it a slingshot, or shepherd’s rod God can use it to not only deliver you but also deliver your family. Hallelujah! But be forewarned, self-confident people in God will always intimidate those who don’t know their God. Daniel 11:32 “ …but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

John 8:21-30

Jesus lays out two Kingdoms separated by the word “not.” Unbelievers will die in their sins, believers will “not.” The location of theses two Kingdoms are diametrically opposed, one is above and the other below, one is of this world the other is not.

For the unbelievers the “other” Kingdom where the “not” dying in “their sins” will occur in difficult and impossible to understand. Believers have access not only to a coded book, but a voice, the voice of the Father, and the only way to break that code is by way of the Father though Jesus Christ.

Psalm 111:1-10
This Psalm proclaims the wonderful and amazing ways of the Lord, and for me verses 7-8 hooks into one of the reasons why I love the Book of John and that is Jesus’ numerous use of the word true, truth, and truly, at least in the King James Version.

7 All he does is just and good,
and all his commandments are trustworthy.

8 They are forever true,
to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

Jesus uses those three words over 90 times in the Book of John, and most he is using it about his own character, words and the essence of His being. Apart from Jesus there is no truth.

Proverbs 15:11
Death and Destruction are capitalized to indicate they are a person, place or thing, hmmm, something to think about.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Anka:

David’s brother’s had a grudge:he was annointed before them and they like Joseph’s brothers hated him for it.When David set out to get Goliath,his brothers must have hoped that would be the end of him,they didn’t try to talk him out of it.
Saul it seems has a bit of trouble with his memory.When he had a demon disturb him he was told about David and who’s son he was.David sang for him on his harp,could it be that Saul didn’t even care to look at the face of the one whom with the help of the Holy Spirit chased his demons away.He really was conceited if so.
Jonathan and David had the same beliefs:God was the one who gave victory to Israel…not the number of fighting men,not the sophisticated weapons.He saw in David,a brother who shared his faith and loved him like he loved himself.If all the church of Christ was drawn together by the common faith and love….the kingdom of darkness would never prevail..David kept the two most important commandments:He loved God so much that he was ready to lay all aside and do his will(inspite of “encouragement”from his brothers)and he did have love for others(he didn’t mind that Saul didn’t remember who he was or that his brothers hated him cos I’m sure they showed him their “appreciation”whenever they could yet even in the heat of battle,David went to the front lines to greet his brothers).
I have to admit that I’m really not that sure I love God with all my heart and my mind….I certainly don’t love my brothers and sisters in Christ like I do myself…I’m not sure I’d jump up with joy if I had to go preach in Iran,neither do I love my brethren when I see them try to put me down.
I’m asking God to show me my heart and put true repentance where all the dirt is…I pray we all truly learn to love God and each other.
God bless you all

Anka

======== Jenny:

I love young David’s faith: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty”.
Found it kinda funny that David seemed to be walking around all day with Goliath’s head in his hand. haha.
I love the friendship between David n Jonathan, he “became as one spirit with him and he loved him as himself.”

In our John readings, v 29 “for I always do what pleases Him.” I wish I could say the same, but I dont. I strive to, but I will never be there until I put on incorruption and am finally completed in Him when i leave this earth.

I would love to say my heart is right with God, but we dont even know our own hearts. My pastor once said if God fully revealed our heart to us, we wouldnt be able to handle it! so He reveals things little by little if we ask Him to. The Bible doesnt teach us our heart is pure.
“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately wicked; who can understand it?”(Jer.17:9)
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mark 7:21-23

Here we see it is not things from outside sources that defiles us, but what is within us already! very sobering!
Thank God for His endless patience, mercy, compassion, and love!

Jenny

====== Mae:

Isn’t Davids faith wonderful? That’s what it’s all about: walk in faith! 17:45 “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”. When Jaden had his first day of school I bought him a little book from David & Goliath … I thought of Jaden as my own brave David! He seemed so small and big at the same time …

John had some great verses, as usual.
verse 24 “That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
verse 29 “And the One who sent Mis with me—He has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases Him.”

Psalm 111:5 “He gives food to those who fear him;
he always remembers his covenant”. ~ I think this sais it all: if we fear Him, if we love and obey Him, turn to Him, live how He wants it (through His Word). He’ll make sure we’ll be allright. I do believe that, I have faith … I walk in faith!

Mae

======= Anna:

From the reading: “And the one who sent me is with me–he has not deserted me. For I always do those things that are pleasing to him.”

We can also deduct the opposite. If we ALWAYS do those things that please the Father, he will ALWAYS be with us and not desert us”

I pray that Jesus/God shows us how to do the things that please him. Is funny the “Our Father” prayer says “Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” 🙂

Anna

====== Art:

The Holy Spirit highlighted a great connection for me this morning in today’s readings between Psalm 111:7 – “…all his precepts are trustworthy” and John 8:26 – “…he who sent me is reliable”. Bottom line: God *always* keeps his promises. His truth is the truth that trumps all other things that masquerade as ‘truth’.

How humble was David! Once serving in the court of his king, he returned home to graciously tend his father’s sheep. Not many men who at one time have been exalted can return to a humble existance!

“Before honor is humility”. A lesson from David in this chapter of Holy Scripture.

Art

======= Jen:

Silly question.

Why did Saul not know who David’s father was after David killed Goliath? Hadn’t David been playing the harp for Saul? Didn’t Saul send to his father and request that David stay with him? I know this is an off the wall questions, but I remember the servant who went to fetch David telling Saul about David’s lineage. Why would they write that Saul did not know who David’s father was? Did David stop playing the harp for Saul and return to his sheep in the interim? The older brothers went to fight and so David had to go back to his family? Therefore Saul did not connect the boy who played the harp with this young man.

I don’t know.

Jen

====== Frederick:

Re: Jen

My guess is that the events described in 1 Samuel might not be in chronological order. This is not uncommon, e.g. in Judges 17 onward, the descriptions of the Israeli situation might not strictly after Samson. Another example, in 2 Samauel 21 and 22 might not strictly followed 2 Samuel 20. Also, in the New Testament, the Book of Matthew and Mark are also not chronological, but Luke is.

Frederick

====== Bob:

1Samuel 17:26-45. In line with Scazzero’s book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”, the Goliath story prompts us to examine our ability to be true to ourselves in the midst of great trials. This is called DIFFERENTIATION. It is related to our relationship to God. Augustine (500 AD) prayed, “Grant Lord that I may know myself that I may know thee.” John Calvin (1530) wrote, “Our wisdom…consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.” J. I. Packer (today) says, “Knowing God is more than knowing about Him; it is a matter of dealing with Him as He opens up to you, and being dealt with by Him as He takes knowledge of you. Knowing about Him is a necessary precondition of trusting in Him, but the width of our knowledge about Him is no gauge of our knowledge of Him.” David knew God. As we read more of David’s stories, I like to put my perspective on watching his “lifestyle evangelism” and reflecting on my own life. After all he did spend a lot of time search for the heart of God.

Bob

====== Robert:

1Samuel 17:40
David and Goliath.

Why 5 smooth stones? If David was so sure of God being with him would he not have just needed one stone? Scholars have dug into the past and it looks like Goliath had 4 brothers who may have come after David as well, so it is only reasonable that David prepare for their attack. (2 Samuel 21: 22). I guess what this makes me ask myself is if I am about to go into a battle or a situation I should think about it a bit. Prepare my rocks so to speak. I know David trusted the Lord and I have to make that my first priority. David had confidence in God and I believe we receive that confidence with our relationship with God.
A book I liked by Eugene H. Peterson called, “Five Smooth stones for Pastoral Work”. (1980). It doesn’t speak directly to this story but relates 5 Biblical stories from Ruth to Ester to give us tools ready to do the job. Eugene quotes the Norwegian poet Gunnar Thorkildsson: (Discipleship)
Odd shaped pebbles roll
And tumble round the Rock which
Smooths them into five smooth
Stones
One of which will kill a giant.

Robert

====== Sue:

Don’t you just love David’s courage and humility? No. I don’t think those are opposite traits, but they certainly require a close walk with the Lord.

Saul dresses David up with all this armor, but David’s doesn’t even seem to realize what an honor it is to be wearing the “KING’s” very own protection!

Is that because David has on the whole armor of God described in Ephesians?

Are his loins gird about with TRUTH–

Does he have on the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS–

Are his feet shod with the GOSPEL OF PEACE–

The helmet of SALVATION–

And above all, has he taken the shield of FAITH–(wherewith he can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked?)

And is he wearing the helmet of SALVATION–

Armed with the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (which is the word of God).

You know, we all are giant slayers! What a privilege to be part of the Army of God.

Sue

====== Ramona:

I Samuel 17:1-18:4

Interesting reading today indeed. It is fun and invigorating to see things in the text that I haven’t seen before. I had already observed in previous readings that David was not well liked by his family much less esteemed. After all, when Samuel came to his family’s home to anoint someone as king, David wasn’t even considered. He was only an afterthought after Samuel went through all the sons that were present only to discover that none were appointed by God. The rebuke to David by his older bother, Eliab, the one Samuel thought was the king because of his appearance, more than suggests that David was an embarrassment to them and bullied. “What have I done now?” is a response from someone who has been accused all of their life of doing something wrong. David was the butt of their “blame games.”

All of David’s time with his sheep shaped his character. His concern for the sheep would come to translate into concern for God’s people. His protection of those sheep would build him up to be a great warrior. No, there was not boot camp training in the building up of his body to handle the armor and all the weapons of war. He had no training in tactical warfare, no marching drills, no long hikes to build up stamina by carrying all his gear on his back. David had been trained by God and thus trusted God. David above all the men on that battlefield who were interestingly enough not in battle, though they carried the accoutrements of battle, had a relationship with God. God had his back.

Though Saul had David in his employ, he knew nothing about this young man. Yes, he may have known in his head David’s parentage and David by sight, but he didn’t know in his knowing who David was nor what David was about. I don’t think his family knew either. David’s defeat of Goliath shattered everyone’s perception of who David was. Like Jesus, David’s hometown reputation undercut his true value. Bad reputation, bad location etc, can cause us to be boxed into a role that everyone expects us to play; however, a relationship and fellowship with God will blow you out of that box. And let’s face it most will not like it. When our expectations of others are changed, we must do some things: change our perceptions and possibly apologize or keep trying to put that person back in the box we have created. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Can anything good come out of Brooklyn? Can anything good come out of Detroit, or South Central LA (California), or any place man has stated is useless, corrupted and defiled. Absolutely, YES! Our challenge is too see past our mental hang-ups and prejudgments and get to the true heart of the matter. Is God in the midst?

The story of David should empower everyone who was ever looked upon with contempt and called a failure. With God you can do anything, despised and rejected, yet Jesus was the light of the World. Will we close our eyes to that light either by rejecting to acknowledge there is light or look for another?

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Dee:

I love the story of David and Goliath! The redemption of the Lord on the spirit of David and the Israelites. Goliath was no match for the Lord.

Johns verses was short and sweet today..Jesus being an obedient son and whatever God the Father said He obeyed..David was a representation of that in 1 Samuel..

Psalm 111 Reverence to the Lord is true wisdom. That is the sweet spot..revering him and nothing else.

Proverbs 15..I often wonder..what does the Lord know of my heart? I often wonder if I dwell on things I need not..and need to just let it happen when it happens..no biggee to not get offended. Big deal. Things will come when it is time

Dee

======= Jim:

Goliath is over nine feet tall (with a brother Lahmi that’s just as big) with armor alone weights over 125 pounds. David bringing supplies (this is not normal – suggesting the army has been held at bay with fear for over a month) and is disgusted by the giant’s taunts. Saul was the logical man to face Goliah (not only as leader but also as the largest man in the Israelite forces) where David is young, untrained, and too small to even walk in Saul’s oversized armor. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who doe not need to be ashamed” (2 Tim 2:15). The real difference, however, was David’s total confidence in God as Lord of the armies an advanced fearlessly for the honor of God’s name. “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands” (Psalm 119:73). Was David’s courage less than 100% by the fact that he took 5 rocks instead of only the one he carried? An archer or slinger normally carried 5 arrows or rocks and this is the number by Jewish tradition that represents God in that 10 represent a total and God is half of a godly Jew (this is why an aravah, or willow branch. is beaten 5 times against the floor on the holiday of Hosha’anah Raba, last day of the Sukkot). David didn’t start out a godly man, it took a lot of work and he made quite a few mistakes along the way. Since Goliah had cursed one of God’s people, God was bound by His covenant to curse Goliah. The returning David was met with singing and dancing – “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing” (Psalm 30: 11). How can Baptists be against dancing (many Baptist halls are built slanted with fixed pews to lessen the chance they would ever be used for dancing)? Saul likely asked about genealogy in order to help determine if David might be a contender for the throne. In identifying his father as “your servant,” David was likely trying to politically emphasize that Jesse was no threat to the king. David quickly forms one of greatest male friendships in the Bible with Jonathan, Saul’s oldest son. The gifting of treasured items by Jonathan was a symbolic transfer of royal power from Saul’s family to David.
There is no salvation except by Christ (see Acts 4:12 and 7:25), who came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). In Acts 26:22-23, Paul says that he taught nothing more that what was delivered by Moses and the prophets. He does not mean to suggest that God is not able to save but that the salvation of the human race was entrusted to the hands of Jesus the Messiah. Many must have thought or even wished Jesus mad, “Will he kill himself?” Christ replies that He is not of this world suggesting that their reference to self-destruction showed that they were governed by mad passions. They directly ask, “who art thou?” He said, “I have many things to say” to reprove (“to judge you”) and expose your pride and hypocrisy. Let it not be thought, therefore, that this judgment is rash or harsh as such is commanded by God. In the end, many still did not understand (while at the same time, many others believed – mostly only the commoners). But when you have crucified the Son of man, then they will have all the proof they need – that Jesus did nothing for himself but in those things that please God as the Messiah.
Each line of today’s psalm in Hebrew begins with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The “fear” in this psalm is not about a shrinking effort to flee but an awesome sense of God (including His power, truth, and justice) as viewed in the humbling context of man’s finiteness and moral degeneracy expressed through submission to His will. I’ve used this verse on one of my many “Know Fear” T-shirts. The beginning of wisdom is found in temper of reverence and awe.
Jim

======= John:

Two more “I AM” statements
From Young’s literal translation of the Bible.
24I said, therefore, to you, that ye shall die in your sins, for if ye may not believe that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.’
28Jesus, therefore, said to them, `When ye may lift up the Son of Man then ye will know that I am [he]; and of myself I do nothing, but according as my Father did teach me, these things I speak;
Every time Jesus says “I AM” – I picture any of the priests and scribes around just wincing and contorting their facial expressions.
Verse 26
“I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.” NIV
I interpret this verse different than Bob. Jesus COULD say plenty more about them and judge them, but He does not? Why? Because the Father is faithful.
This trip (Jesus’ first coming)is not about judgment, it is about salvation. The Father is faithful to the purpose of that trip. Jesus only speaks what the Father allows – that is the message of Salvation. Personal comments and judgments of individuals are not on the agenda. In a way, it seems like Jesus is curbing His tongue in this instance in submission to the Will of the Father.
======================================================
Bob had some comments in his conclusion that are pertinent to my proverbs post yesterday about Worship and Prayer. On this, I am 100% in agreement.
(3) Jesus is the only way to know and to worship God. There is no salvation apart from Christ, and there is no true worship of the Father which rejects, denies, diminishes the Son.
Ignorance of Christ is the root of not knowing God. People today say, ‘Well, I believe in God, but I don’t believe in Christ.’ They’re talking in a riddle. You can’t know God without Christ. And when you come to know Christ, you come to know God. These are inseparable.102
A man can know the Father only as He knows Jesus. It is a key doctrine of this Gospel that it is in the Son and in the Son alone that the Father is revealed. No one has ever seen God. It is the Son who has ‘declared’ Him (18). This is fundamental. If a man really comes to know Jesus then he will know the Father also, and acknowledge the Father’s testimony to the Son. The two go together (cf. Weymouth: ‘You know my Father as little as you know me’). But to reject Jesus is to place oneself out of reach of the divine testimony.103
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2366
John

======= John:

Scoffer talking about David
Scoffer: Some God. According to YOUR Bible, David took five stones out to fight Goliath.
Christian: So?
Scoffer: If Your God is so great and David beleived and was anointed – Why did he not take only one stone as a sign of his faith. Afterall, David only needed one stone, right?
Christian: Correct.
Scoffer: So?
Christian: Later on in the Bible it says Goliath had four brothers – all these men were also large warriors. (2 Sam 21:15-22)
David took five stones out to Goliath in case his Brothers wanted to avenge Goliath’s death. One stone for each brother : )
John

======= Vance:

I Samuel 17 (NKJV)
26
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “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?”
36
Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”
John 8 (NKJV)
28
Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
29
And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
30
As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.
Psalm 111 (NKJV)
9
He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.
~~~
NOTE: Goliath was an uncircumcised Philistine. David was circumcised. In other words, David had yielded Himself to the Lord by blood covenant and was protected by God’s covenant. David’s obedience in love and worship—and David’s ability move in the Spirit of God—was a relationship born and developed out of covenant.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Do we, as Christians, really practice the Presence of God on a regular basis? Do we wait before the Lord and allow His Presence—and the fullness of His redemption and His covenant—to be fully manifest in our lives?
As much as I love the Holy Bible, I realize that studying the Word of God and early waiting in His Presence for the fulfillment of His Promises—His Anointing—are two entirely different things.
I am exciting we can quote Scripture—and we should know Scripture well. For, just like Jesus—God the Son—we use Scripture against the schemes of the devil (Matthew 4).
However, we then need to also be like to Jesus—God the Son—regarding the Holy Spirit. Jesus, though fully God, was completely and fully man. As a man, He was righteous man, in right relationship with His Father. Yet, He needed the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
It is the same for us. I praise God that we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) because Jesus because Lord died, rose from the dead, and ascended as our sinless substitute and representative.
Yet, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. All of God’s Word says we are already blessed in the heavenly places with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1). We are called to be like Jesus and spend time surrendering and yielding to the Father in the Holy Spirit. We are called to be like Jesus: “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
May we walk in the fear and anointing of the Lord. May we not be “half-baked” Christians simply knowing the Scriptures. May we walk in the fullness of what God promises in His Word, as in Ephesians 1 (Amplified):
17
[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, THAT HE MAY GRANT YOU A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION [OF INSIGHT INTO MYSTERIES AND SECRETS] IN THE [DEEP AND INTIMATE] KNOWLEDGE OF HIM,
18
BY HAVING THE EYES OF YOUR HEART FLOODED WITH LIGHT, SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU, AND HOW RICH IS HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS (HIS SET-APART ONES),
19
AND [SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND] WHAT IS THE IMMEASURABLE AND UNLIMITED AND SURPASSING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER IN AND FOR US WHO BELIEVE, AS DEMONSTRATED IN THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY STRENGTH,
20
Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places]
Vance

====== John:

Light of the World
[late post from yesterday]
On the evening of the first night of the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ceremony called the “Illumination of the Temple,” which involved the ritual lighting of four golden candelabra in the Court of Women. For additional reflection, each person lit four candlesticks and set them in a floating bowl, producing such a spectacle of light that it is said that all Jerusalem basked in its glow. All night long the light shone. In celebration and anticipation, the greatest, wisest, and holiest of Israel’s men danced before the Lord and sang psalms of joy and praise, while the people watched and waited.
They watched and waited, hoped and prayed, because this festival reminded the citizens of Israel that God had promised to send a light, the Light, to a sin-darkened world. God promised to send a Redeemer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God. God promised to send Someone Who would renew Israel’s glory, release them from bondage, and restore their joy.
Whether the light was to represent the Shekinah Glory once present in the Temple or the pillar of Fire that led the nation in the wilderness is not as important as that in the Old Testament “light” was promised (that it would be sent) to Israel .
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
In John 1:1 Jesus is the Word so it is no surprise that He claims to be the light. In fact it is mentioned often in John 1.
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me (Psalm 43:3).
Jesus is the light and the truth.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Is 60:1)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned. (Is 9:2)
With the backdrop of recent Feast of Tabernacles and the promises in Scripture, Jesus says:
John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“I AM” (ego eimi)
“the light of the world” – not just Israel. The light of the world , but there is responsibility on our part –
“Whoever follows me” – Greek present participle – means “continuos following” – which is the difference between a disciple and a true disciple. See John 15:8
“will never walk in darkness” – THE PROMISE: if you walk in the light and abide in me (follow me) you will know God and the things of God. They will be illuminated to you.
“but will have the light of life.” – see above – you will have the life-giving light – by knowing these things from receiving, believing, and following Christ you will walk in the light of God and be a reflection of His Glory.
John

======= Luch:

Thanks for the ‘love your neighbhour’ section today that highlighted the Navigators. I came to Christ through the Navigators’ campus ministry in Ontario, Canada, 34 years ago. They initially taught me how to read the Bible through in a year.
They developed a concept using the Word Hand illustration. It shows 5 ways to get the scriptures into our lives–hearing the word, reading the word, studying the word, memorizing the Word and meditating on the Word.
You can see this illustration on the section called “Tools” at http://www.navigators.org
Thanks for having love for the WHOLE body of Christ Mike.
Luch

======= Alice:

I read an article regarding weight loss. It was very appropriate for our study. It emphasized the faith in God as the basis for a 40lb loss. I was so encouraged by this because we rely on our own efforts so much of the time for living in this world. I would like to encourage everyone to put God 1st and then all things are possible. Thanks so much for your commitment to this study. I’m blessed every day with the knowledge that there are so many interested in doing God’s will.
Alice

======== Lily:

All the readings today point out to one truth that God loves us all, no matter who we are, the young, the poor, the lowly. If we trust in God, He will be with us and help us overcome obstacles. No wealth, technology advances will help us if God is not with us. A simple sheperd boy, David, defeated the giant Goliath with simple sling and river stone because He called & trusted God. Lord help us to be meek and faithful to your teachings.
Lily

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 + John 8:1-20 + Psalm 110:1-7 + Proverbs 15:8-10
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Wow.  Big reading day today! David is anointed by Samuel. Saul meets David for the first time! The story of David begins!  I am excited!  In First Samuel 15 we read about Saul destroying most – but not all… – of the Amalekite nation.  God’s commands were clear to destroy all.  Saul, simply put, disobeyed.  Verses 22 and 23 sum up this chapter powerfully when Samuel says this to Saul: “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king.””  Obedience is far better than sacrifice…  think this is still true today?  Are you more of an obedient person or a sacrificial person before God?  Do you believe that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols?  Below is a powerful painting of Samuel reproving Saul from today’s readings by the Boston-born colonial artist John Singleton Copley from the year 1798:

The One Year Bible Companion has a great answer to this question about today’s readings, “Why did David not become king after he was anointed?” as follows:  “David was anointed king, but it was done in secret; he was not publicly anointed until much later in Second Samuel 2:4 and 5:3.  Saul was still legally the king, but God was preparing David for his future responsibilities.  The anointing oil poured on David’s head stood for holiness.  It was used to set people or objects apart for God’s service.  Each king and high priest in Israel was anointed with oil.  This commissioned him as God’s representative to the nation.”  First Samuel 16 verse 13 is the first mention of David’s name in the Bible, and it is a great verse to begin the story of David’s life in relationship with God: “So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David’s head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on.”  Below “Samuel Anoints David” by the Renaissance artist Raphael from the early 16th century:

At the end of First Samuel chapter 16 today we read about David being summoned by Saul to play the harp to relieve Saul from the evil spirit that tormented him.  The current and future (and now anointed) Kings of Israel meet!  Below is “David Playing the Harp for Saul” by the French painter James Tissot from the year 1858:

Bible.org’s commentary on our First Samuel readings today titled “Saul and the Amalekites” is at this link and commentary titled “The Designation of David as King” is at this link.

New Testament – I love John chapter 8 verse 12 today: “Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””  Do you believe that Jesus is the light of the world?  Why would we want or need a light in this world?  Do you believe there is darkness in this world?  Do you need the light that leads to life?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in John titled “The Light of the World” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 110 is a powerful Psalm today!  It is considered Messianic and some say the most prophetic of all the Psalms.  Verses 1 & 4 are the 2 verses that are believed to be most prophetic of Jesus and both verses are referenced in the New Testament, most often verse 1. 

Verse 1 –
“The LORD said to my Lord,
        “Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies,
        making them a footstool under your feet.””

Verse 4 stands today, with very similar teachings to what we’ve just been reading about this in Hebrews this past week or so!
“The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
       “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.””

Bible.org’s commentary on Psalm 110 titled “David’s Lord” is at this link.

Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 15 verses 8 & 9 today teach us: “The LORD hates the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright. The LORD despises the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness.”  I’m a bit late on this image below that is perfect for Mother’s Day regarding the prayers of the upright:

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the Colton Dixon song “Build a Boat:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Fl8ngQzWk

Do you need a boat? Click here for your boat!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “When they kept on questioning him, he (Jesus) straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you recognize your own sinfulness. Pray that you have repented of your sin and placed your faith in Jesus’ work on the Cross to redeem you from your sin. Pray that you will not “throw stones” at other sinners, like yourself.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Today’s Proverb is a great opportunity to ask yourself – 1. How’s your prayer life? and 2. Are you pursuing godliness in your life each and every day?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

======= Lora:

I see an interesting connection because the Old and New Testament scriptures today. In the O.T. the focus is on complete obedience rather than sacrifice. Then the John scripture contains the story of the woman caught in adultery. When Jesus moves in, not to condone the woman’s action but to protect her, he does so by reminding the accusers that they too have sins that need to be confronted. In other words, Jesus is teaching us once more that God is more interested in our own heart’s obedience than He is in our sacrifices or even our despair over the sins of others. Though we have concern for the sin in our world, God is more interested in the attention I give to MY own obedience to Him. True purity will not come by ridding the world around me of its sin but by dropping my rebellion and obeying God no matter what the cost.
Lora

======= Jim:

The end-times are when there is no one left who can be saved and the return on God’s investment has gone to zero. The Amalekites came to their end-times over 3,000 years ago when God commanded Saul to wipe them from existence. They had sinned, God gave them a couple centuries to repent, no one did, and God ended His investment in them. But things didn’t go as God commanded. Saul did not kill their king and kept their best livestock (with the excuse that he kept them to give sacrifices to God – but how can something you stole be a “sacrifice” for you?). This is the first of many biblical references that it is better to obey than to sacrifice (see also Ps 40:6-8; 51:16-17; Prov 21:3; Isa 1:11-17; Jer 7:21-23; Hos 6:6; Mic 6:6-8; Matt 12:7; Mark 12:33; and, Heb 10:8-9). A sacrifice was supposed to be about a relationship with God, but one who chose to sin and just say sorry couldn’t really claim much of a relationship. I often hear people (including pastors) say that they dislike religion, but if you look up the word you’ll find it’s definition is very close to culture. Thus, hating religion is like hating culture. Religious (or cultural) ceremonies or rituals are simplified ways to pay respect (such as shaking someone’s hand when you first meet). They are without merit only when they are done without an attitude of love and humility.
The phrase, “God was grieved” seems as if God had recognized that He had made a mistake. In verse 15:11 God says, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. This is similar to 15:35 in which Samuel morns for Saul and “the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” While repent can mean to regret or feel remorse, it can also imply to make a change for the better for one’s sins (as in penitence or atone). Nevertheless, God can’t sin or change His mind about sin – thus, God’s statement, “I greatly regret” was only meant to mean, “I appear to outside observers to greatly regret.” In other words, that both Samuel and God were grieved by Saul’s actions. Likewise, the flood was not because God regretted making Man, but because Man made God grieve. To those that were outside God, like the Biblical authors, this looked like God was repenting and regretting. The Hebrew word niham can only mean emotional anguish over a situation affecting others (as well as a change in mind as per Samuel in verse 29 asserts that God does not “change His mind”). The fact that Saul flaw’s endangered the nation made God sad (as Christ cried in John 11:35 for our pain) but was no indication that God had made a mistake. The Mormon Bible translators worry about this seeming conflict (blaming weak Jews and Christians for getting it wrong) and “correct” it to Samuel doing the regretting (as well as that Noah and not God that regrets making man), but this is a mistake.
Samuel feared that Saul would kill him if he heard Samuel anoint another king and God instructs Samuel to say he has come to sacrifice. Now God is outright telling someone to lie suggesting that we are not obligated to reveal everything we intend when it all were known another might be moved to sin. We read that the Holy Spirit left Saul when an evil one took up residence that was immediately noticed by Saul’s servants later in verse 18:10 (just as the Holy Spirit was empowering David for the work of ruling God’s people). Whatever Saul’s problem was (demon possession, attack, messenger, discontent), empowered by the Spirit of God, David was able to temporarily drive it away with music. The story of David and Goliath, however, should be taught to every school child if only for the biblical literacy to be able to read a newspaper in our society. “To apply the word ‘censorship’ to it is probably too strong,” said Tom Adams, California’s education official defending guidelines a couple of years back which resulted in stripping material from a wide variety of classics in an attempt to comply with “social guidelines.” As the breadth of the changes has become public, writers have been appalled at finding the Jewish content from Isaac Bashevis Singer’s work completely deleted, making the Little Engine that Could female, changing Paul Bunyan from a lumberjack to a wood cutter, and rewriting a famous Chicano activist’s memoirs with the word “American” instead of “gringo.” For decades textbooks have not been allowed to show elderly with a cane or men in dangerous jobs or women at home. Without a foundation of Bible knowledge (or of how the world really is), we are leaving our children void of basic literacy. With rewriting our literature for “social guidelines” we are ripe for firemen (who aren’t generally needed to put out fires anymore with so much fire retardant materials) to start burning books (AKA Fahrenheit 451). Moreover, “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society” – Theodore Roosevelt (“What then of an entire generation” – Steve Farrell).
God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem and he was immediately taken with the strapping eldest boy and assumed he was a man of God, but God informed him otherwise, “I have rejected him.” It is said that we usually decide about a person within the first 30 seconds even though it is insane to think there could be enough information to make any kind of rational decision in that time (and we argue away hints of foolishness with beliefs in our intuition – which means either transferring repressed childhood memories or by using an unconscious mind, either of which being pretty bad). What does Jesus look like? What would you think of him just by his appearance? What does Satan look and sound like? Which would you more likely be more drawn to as a friend, mate, or Lord? Some years back, the BBC did a program on the life and times of Jesus and they received a mountain of letters from very angry viewers complaining about the fact that the actor who played Jesus was short and portly (and not about the character that he portrayed). We often hear that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but then we ALL do it ALL the time. A heart for God, though, is displayed in one’s actions.
For example, Satan is the most handsome of the angels with the sweetest voice and of great wisdom. While I can tell you about the appearance of most biblical characters (Paul was a short, overweight man of poor health with an unpleasant voice whom the Roman Centurions would criticize for talking incessantly) as well as other religious leaders before and after Christ, there are no directly descriptions of Christ Himself. We might guess that he was nothing out of the ordinary by the fact that Judas had to point him out to the Romans. While Jews were to maintain short hair, I talked on May 1st how Jesus and his disciples likely took Nazirite vows and so would never cut their hair (Jesus could have done this from birth like John the Baptist and had waist-long hair, the length where the weight will cause the hair to break off and fail to get longer, or Jesus could have taken the vow and shaved his head shortly before meeting Matthew in which case it would have been no longer than about 18” long at His crucifixion since hair grows about 6 inches a year). Christ is likely not handsome, either plain as per Isaiah 53:2 if not very ugly as per Isaiah 52:14-15 (which could have only meant after He received a beating that would have killed anyone else). Does Christ’s appearance matter to you? Well, appearance foolishly mattered even to a Godly man like Samuel.
People have always been surprised by God’s choices because God doesn’t see things as we do – God looks at the heart. How might we best predict which kid from High School will be the one most successful: the highest grades, the top test scores, the most attractive, the most athletic, the most popular, or the most frightening? Actually, it is the one most ignored. Jesus was also not the kind of person everyone noticed. In fact, He called them hypocrites whom prayed in public or who displayed their sacrifices and fasting. Are people not behaving the same way, though, when they say, “I couldn’t be a great disciple, just look at me!” Too often, argues political scientist Benjamin Barber (the graduation speaker at Berkley this week where students had hoped for a greater celebrity), how we think is only a product of the media and a fair shake is only for the local power elite. The only hope for true citizenship with real self-determination, Barber concludes, is to resuscitate the non-governmental and non-business civic spaces of voluntary groups and churches. Barber writes, “”Democratic politics has become something we watch rather than something we do.” In the same way, religion is increasingly less often something in which we truly invest ourselves.
David was the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz and son of Jesse in Bethlehem. David ruled for four decades (like Saul) but was appointed and anointed by God for many years before taking the thrown. David is considered the greatest Israelite king and Jesus was a descendent by both Mary and Joseph. Christ made it clear that at the same time He was son and Lord to David (Matt 22:41-46). David’s confidence came from the belief that he was on God’s side, not that God was on his.
The Jewish leaders in today reading from John had already disregarded the law by arresting the woman without the man (laws, like cultural rites, also only have value when executed with love and humility). The leaders were likely only using the woman to as a theological trap for Jesus – they could report Him to the Romans if he urged them to execute her or claim He violated Moses’ Law if he did not (even though the death penalty was almost never imposed). He avoids their trap with the very famous line calling on “anyone of you who is without sin to cast the first stone.” It was tradition that the witness to the crime would also be the executioner. One by one they leave after Christ writes in the sand. My favorite conjecture for what Christ may have written in the sand that day was the names of all the men that had visited this prostitute chronologically by age. Jesus tells the woman that He does not condemn her but that she should sin no more. He shortly states directly that He judges no one even though He could (and later suggests that are many things in us which He would condemn). When Jesus next preaches and calls Himself the “Light of the world,” the Pharisees demand proof and Jesus points out again that the Father has testified through the miracles He has performed (using the Jewish tradition of two witnesses, in this case both His own and his Father’s). This was additionally confirmed at His death by the earthquake and darkness. When the Pharisees press the point, Jesus frankly warns them that they will “die in their sins” unless they believe in Him. Not to accept Jesus on His own terms is to reject Him. “Below and above” refers not only to the more accurate perception from God’s lofty position but also to man’s distorted view corrupted by sin.
The Psalms include many messianic prophesies: chapter 2 tells of His coming reign, chapter 22 speaks of his crucifixion, and chapter 16 refers to His resurrection. Finally, chapter 110 today (the most referenced chapter) describes Him at the right hand of the Father in heaven as a priest. Christ identified David as the author of this Psalm and asserts in Matthew 22:41-45, Mark 12:35-37, and Luke 20:14-44 (compare with Peter’s account in Acts 2:34-36) that “my Lord” in verse 1 is speaking of someone greater than himself or to God’s son and that the Psalm describes a conversation between Father and Son in which the Father ordains the Son to sit at His right hand, rule in the midst of His enemies, be a priest forever, and wage a war to win His kingdom. “In the day of thy power” refers to the power (the Key of David) given to the Messiah to accomplish his mission: to convert people and to save the world, and implies that this power will only be for a fixed time (and thus, not used before time). This power is not inconsistent with free will, just the opposite – it is the power to allow choice (unavailable to animals). Every person is given the opportunity to understand on some level their sins and provided the ability to chose to blame others or oneself and to chose pride and prejudice or humility and to be penitent.
Melchizedek was a godly leader who lived 4,000 years ago in the time of Abraham in the ancient city of Salem (the city of God’s Peace, later to be known at Jerusalem. Melchizedek took tithes from Abram, blessed Abram, and used bread and wine as priest (Genesis 14). Verse 4 says “a priest” (not priests) as a reference to only one who is comparable to the priest-king. Hebrews 5-7 explains in detail that Jesus is this one and only. Many groups have tried to suggest that there will be many priests following in these footsteps (like all Mormons and small groups named after Melchizedek), but Jesus was the only High Priest: greater than Abraham, King of righteousness and peace, made perfect (Heb 7:28), and lives forever (Heb 7:24). Early Christians believed the Aaronic priesthood had been made obsolete and that all the rights and privileges of that position had been conferred upon all believers. Irenaeus wrote in the second century, “For all the righteous possess the sacerdotal rank (i.e.: the priestly rank or rank of an elder). Origen, a third century father asked, “Are you ignorant that the priesthood as given to all the Church of God and to the people of believers?”
Jim

====== Ramona:

Jim, wow, you have given us a lot to chew on. May I ask that you reconsider this statement?
>>Now God is outright telling someone to lie suggesting that we are not obligated to reveal everything we intend when it all were known another might be moved to sin>>
If the above is true than God is telling us to do something that scripture tell us not to do and something that is outside of His Character (God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Num 23:19; See also John 3:33). We don’t have to reveal everything to everyone because Jesus did tell us not to Cast our pearls before swine and God’s Words are definitely the Pearl of Great Price.
If God allows us to “lie” to manipulate folks to do right, then it hasn’t worked. Manipulation is the attempt to control someone else’s will, like stubbornness, so I consider it a form of “Witchcraft,” because when it is all said and done the so called “Art” of witchcraft is a form of manipulation.
I believe, and I will search the scriptures, that when God told Israel that they would desire a king he gave them a pattern of anointing that king which would include sacrifices.
Regarding your reference to Mormon’s and their interpretation of the Bible. I believe that Mormon’s do not consider the Bible as the final written Word of God, their Book of the Mormons is the final text, am I correct?
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= John:

1 SAM 15:22
But Samuel replied:
“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
I think next year I am going to concentrate on Proverbs. It is pretty interesting whn one does a little research and finds corresponding verses in the Psalms and Proverbs. It helps to get a more complete picture of the passage. Keil & Delitzsch’s Old Testament commentary is a great help in this area.
Prov 15:8
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
Prov 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
Prov 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!
Interesting that nowhere does it say, ‘the sacrifice of the righteous is pleasing to God’. Perhaps it is a given?, or perhaps the emphasis is on prayer of the righteous. Who are the wicked?
Prov 4:19
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
The wicked are the lost. Whether by choice or by ignorance the wicked have no clue. Oh, they might in a spiritual moment or at some time in their life embrace something they think is spiritual – sacrifices, worship, prayer – but the wicked do NOT know God, nor are they sincerely seeking Him.
The sacrifices of the wicked are NOT pleasing to God. They are not sacrificing with the right heart. Maybe they sacrifice because it is prescribed by the religion, maybe it is a social custom, maybe they are just appeasing or trying to please family, wife, or a girlfriend, maybe it is to be perceived as one who is coming to the Lord – but they do NOT know God.
It is even worse when done with evil intent. ‘I will make this sacrifice, this confession, this act of pennance before God – because – heh, I can have a license to keep on acting in an evil (sinful) way as long as I periodically make the obligatory motions toward God to make everything all right.’
God HATES that even more! Regardless, God hates it and distances himself from such actions and people. But God is close to and hears the righteous. Not that anyone can be righteous, but in Old Testament that they Believe in God, his promises, and is seeking God with a right heart and striving to act in an upright manner.
Prov 28:9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,
even his prayers are detestable.
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
Not just the sacrifices, but back in Old Testament those that hear the Law and reject it or completely ignore it – their prayers are even detestable.
The Lord is near to those that call on him in truth. Back then the truth was those that sincerely sought the Lord. Today, the “truth” is Jesus.
“I am the way and the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (emphasis mine)
Applications today: Don’t get caught up in perfunctory ritual. Don’t worship God because it is the way you were brought up, to please someone else, because it is the thing to do to get more local business. There is only one way the Lord, our God, will Hear you and that is to seek Him with an open heart, and come to Him through His son – Jesus Christ.
John

======= John:

Light of the World
(As a recap from yesterday)
On the evening of the first night of the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ceremony called the “Illumination of the Temple,” which involved the ritual lighting of four golden candelabra in the Court of Women. For additional reflection, each person lit four candlesticks and set them in a floating bowl, producing such a spectacle of light that it is said that all Jerusalem basked in its glow. All night long the light shone. In celebration and anticipation, the greatest, wisest, and holiest of Israel’s men danced before the Lord and sang psalms of joy and praise, while the people watched and waited.
They watched and waited, hoped and prayed, because this festival reminded the citizens of Israel that God had promised to send a light, the Light, to a sin-darkened world. God promised to send a Redeemer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God. God promised to send Someone Who would renew Israel’s glory, release them from bondage, and restore their joy.
Whether the light was to represent the Shekinah Glory once present in the Temple or the pillar of Fire that led the nation in the wilderness is not as important as that in the Old Testament “light” was promised (that it would be sent) to Israel .
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
In John 1:1 Jesus is the Word so it is no surprise that He claims to be the light. In fact it is mentioned often in John 1.
Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me (Psalm 43:3).
Jesus is the light and the truth.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. (Is 60:1)
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned. (Is 9:2)
With the backdrop of recent Feast of Tabernacles and the promises in Scripture, Jesus says:
John 8:12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
“I AM” (ego eimi)
“the light of the world” – not just Israel. The light of the world , but there is responsibility on our part –
“Whoever follows me” – Greek present participle – means “continuos following” – which is the difference between a disciple and a true disciple. See John 15:8
“will never walk in darkness” – THE PROMISE: if you walk in the light and abide in me (follow me) you will know God and the things of God. They will be illuminated to you.
“but will have the light of life.” – see above – you will have the life-giving light – by knowing these things from receiving, believing, and following Christ you will walk in the light of God and be a reflection of His Glory.
John

====== Vance:

I Samuel 15 (NKJV)
2
Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt.
3
Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
9
BUT SAUL AND THE PEOPLE SPARED AGAG AND THE BEST OF THE SHEEP, THE OXEN, THE FATLINGS, THE LAMBS, AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD, AND WERE UNWILLING TO UTTERLY DESTROY THEM. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.
10
Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
11
“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.
17
So Samuel said…
18
Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
19
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? WHY DID YOU SWOOP DOWN ON THE SPOIL, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”
29
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.”
I Samuel 16
7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees [ SEE NOTE ]; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
[NOTE ]
Septuagint reads For God does not see as man sees
Targum reads It is not by the appearance of a man
Vulgate reads Nor do I judge according to the looks of a man.
John 8 (NKJV)
10
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,[i] “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Psalm 110 (NKJV)
1
The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Proverbs 15 (NKJV)
8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
~~~
NOTE:
I am very glad that God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God, Who is not fickle and change like humans do (I Samuel 15:29).
I am sure that it is impossible for us, as humans, to really have any idea how God sees people—or even how God sees us.
In fact, I have spoken with those who do not believe in the God of the Holy Bible—the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—often make this very point. They indicate that it is impossible to know with certainty who God is as He is so far above us.
That would be true, except that God has chosen to reveal Himself clearly and definitely in His Word, and through His covenant people over thousands of years. Most clearly, the Father has revealed Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the glory of God, according to Hebrews 1:1-3.
~~~
Having said that, we who have a relationship with the Lord know that our human wisdom can never understand who our God is. Yes, we must study to show ourselves approved, as in 2 Timothy 2:15.
Yes, we need to love God with all of our mind and reasoning faculties (as in the Great Commandment of our Father quoted by Jesus the Son).
è Yet, in the final analysis, our minds and beings will only know God fully by revelation through prayer and in that personal relationship with the Lord.
And this has everything to do with our hearts. It is so easy for me, as a human, to deceive myself based on my understanding of my own heart—just like King Saul.
~~~
To human understanding, there seems to be a huge difference between the Father God of the OT and the love of the Jesus the Son in the NT. At least, that is in limited human understanding.
Note the wrath and justice of God when He remembered the persistent sin of the Amalekites, and told King Saul to destroy them. Also note when God when He rejected Saul for not doing so.
Yet, Jesus called the God of the OT by the name of “Father”. This shows that He is a compassionate God, more than willing to be a Father and to love and forgive.
Also, note the verse in Proverbs: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD…”
People can say that there is a contradiction between the “God” of the OT and Jesus the Son in the NT. After all, note the exchange of words with the woman caught in adultery: “And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ ”
~~~
The so-called “opposite sides” are reconciled by letting God’s Word—the Bible—interpret itself, and letting God speak for Himself.
1. FIRST, NOTE THAT JESUS CALLED THE GOD OF THE OT BY THE TERM, “FATHER”.
This reveals that God has always been a compassionate God, always ready to forgive and love. The OT is rich and overflowing with God’s compassion and mercy, more than willing to heal and forgive.
It is just hard for human understanding to get past the holiness and justice of God to see it. Again, it is not right for us to “judge” God by our limited view. He is God, and we are not.
2. Second, note the first verse Psalm 110, truly one of the most powerful Messianic Psalms: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ ”
In Matthew 22 (NKJV), Jesus clearly references this verse as speaking about Himself:
41
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42
saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “ The Son of David.”
43
He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44
‘ The LORD said to my Lord, “ Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool ” ’?
45
If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
46
And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
~~~
It seems clear to me that Jesus and the Father are One—in unity and in essence. There are NOT three gods—rather three Persons in the Godhead. Though that might not satisfy some, it is the answer to the so-called contradiction between the “Father” and the “Son”.
Jesus clearly reveals His self awareness as God when quoting Psalm 110 about Himself. Also, Psalm 110 clearly shows that those who refuse to repent—whether the Amalekites, or me or you—can never be forgiven.
But that is not because of any kind of shortage of God’s mercy, or of the unwillingness of God to forgive. That is because our hearts—if they are not right—keep us from entering into the fantastically amazing mercy of God to forgive.
May we heed God’s will in Philippians 2 (NKJV):
12
Therefore, my beloved…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Vance

======= Romayne:

Just a small note to add to Vance’s statement about the Trinity being 3 persons in 1 God. I recently just had the concept that it’s not that hard to connect with the concept – we also are 3 in 1 so to speak – body, soul and spirit – each a separate entity but all joined together.
I’m SO enjoying having joined in at this particular point in the readings, as each is consolidating what the Lord has already been teaching me – i.e. I had just started watching a film on the life of David (similar to the Jesus films) and had also just watched the Gospel of John before starting into these readings, so He’s totally confirming many points to me once more. I think one thing that hit me on Saul’s disobedient episode was how easy it is for us to assume we know better than God. Or where we feel we can change His Will in some way and still please Him. I thought it was tough on Saul in some respects that although he repented, and no doubt was perhaps even forgiven, he wasn’t restored, which for him was so important. And I praise God that He provides us even restoration through Jesus when we truly repent. I think too that we sometimes don’t truly appreciate just how fortunate we are that God provided his new Covenant for us to avail of – dread to think where the human race would be now if He hadn’t. Blessings, Romayne

======== Ramona:

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
Don’t second guess God and don’t think because God is the Ancient of Days, that He is senile and just doesn’t know anything. Don’t cry out, “God, you just don’t know …” Yes He does.
I am intrigued by Samuel’s directive to Saul, “And Samuel 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.” (1 Samuel 15:1 JPS)
Saul, I (Samuel) about to give you some instructions, but they are not from me I’m passing them on from God so, “Listen Up!!” We read the Bible to get a “Word” from God. But, are we practicing witchcraft and idolatry by ignoring or fighting against the Word we have read and heard? Do we try to “pretty it up” by rationalizing and reasoning away the Word. Do we try to say God’s Word is complicated and open to interpretation in the face of someone telling us, “No, we are dead wrong and haven’t listened?” Samuel gave Saul a clear Word, leaving nothing to interpretation. However, what Saul heard with his ears was filtered by what was going on in his heart. He changed the message to fit himself.
Saul was a man with a big ego born out of his insecurity. Samuel said, When you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel? (1 Samuel 15:17 AMP) People usually have big egos to cover-up their perceived insignificance. Saul saw himself and judged himself through his own eyes and not Gods. He is like those animals and fish that have a built in mechanism that causes them to “puff-up” to appear bigger than what they really are.
God how much have I “Puffed” myself up?
Grace and peace,
Ramona

1 Samuel 14:1-52 + John 7:31-53 + Psalm 109:1-31 + Proverbs 15:5-7
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Interesting First Samuel readings today!  Jonathan was quite brave going to the Philistine camp like he did.  Verse 6 was impressive: “Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!””  Fortunately God helped him with an earthquake and what looked to be some unique strength in verse 13: “So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them right and left.”

Then, Saul seems to be having some power & ego & oath issues in today’s readings…  First he makes and oath that the men cannot eat until evening – not so wise when in the midst of battle.  Then he says in verse 39 – “I vow by the name of the LORD who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!””  Well… it was Jonathan.  Fortunately the people were smarter than Saul and saved Jonathan.  Below is a painting by the artist C.F. Vos of Saul on this day of battle in today’s readings:

Bible.org’s commentary on our First Samuel readings today titled “Saul Fights the Philistines” is at this link.

New Testament – John chapter 7 verses 37 & 38 are powerful verses for each of us to meditate upon – ““Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of those who believe in me.”  Wow… these are powerful words from Jesus.  And so true.  I know that I have been very spiritually thirsty in my life in the past and Jesus has most certainly quenched that thirst in my life.  And I do believe that rivers of living water flow from the heart of those that believe in Jesus.  This is the Holy Spirit, which indwells within us when we are in relationship with God the Father through Jesus the Son.  This living water flowing from our hearts – the Holy Spirit – is an intriguing topic.  I know different folks experience the Holy Spirit in different ways.  I do hope that each of us do tangibly experience the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives each and every day.  I do know there are some days where I really sense and experience the Holy Spirit in my heart and life.  And there are some days where I may not – but I don’t believe the Holy Spirit has departed.  It’s more likely that I’m just caught up in the hustle / bustle of this life and focused on the flesh / world and not the Spirit.  Do you believe that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of those that believe in Jesus?   Are you thirsty?

 

Interesting to see Nicodemus come up in today’s readings in verses 50 & 51 – “Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, then spoke up. “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.”  Think Jesus’ conversations with Nicodemus in John chapter 3 changed Nicodemus’ life forever?  Remember that John 3:16 is in that chapter – imagine being the person actually hearing that from Jesus himself!  Oh my goodness… hard to imagine.   I gotta believe that Nicodemus – a Pharisee – was now a Believer…  Not surprising that he’s defending Jesus in these verses today.  Below is a beautiful painting by artist John La Farge from the year 1880 recalling recalling the “Visit of Nicodemus to Christ” from John 3:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s (and yesterday’s) John chapter 7 readings titled “Jesus in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles” is at this link.

Psalms – Today in Psalm 109 verse 4 in the NIV we read these words of David – “I am a man of prayer.”  Wow. I like that. And I’m not sure I can honestly say that about myself right now. Sure, I will roll out of bed and offer up some prayers. Yeah, I’ll try to say a prayer before meals. And yes, I’ll pray briefly before going to sleep. Oh yeah, maybe in church once a week too I’ll offer up some prayers. But, for me to say “I am a person of prayer” would probably not be truthful. Ouch. Don’t worry – I’m not beating myself up too badly over it. But – if I really want to realize that God is holy and a Rock and if I really want to love God and other people, then I have a hunch that being a person of prayer is a critical part of the equation. I don’t think that prayer is so much talking to God as it is really slowing down and listening to God. Sure, it’s a conversation, but I think in our fast pace world today we would do well to really slow down in prayer and listen to God. Listen for that still small voice within our hearts leading us to God’s kingdom and glory and peace. It’s there. I think it takes prayer to really hear it oftentimes. How about you? Are you a person of prayer? Do you want to be a person of prayer? When you pray, do you talk more or listen more to God? Do you want to live your life as a person of prayer?

Bible.org’s commentary on Psalm 109 titled “A Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked” is at this link.

Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 15 verse 5 today makes me think about the godly discipline our Heavenly Father gives us… – “Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.” 

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Needtobreathe’s song “Who Am I:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iooys8xC3QA

Who are you? Click here to be loved by Jesus!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that your spiritual thirst has been quenched by your faith in Jesus. Pray that streams of living water – the Holy Spirit – is flowing within you today and forevermore.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Are you learning from God’s discipline of you?  Or, do you despise God’s discipline at times?  Which is the better road to go?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 14:1-52
I think I’m about to make a BIG leap by connecting Saul’s treatment of his son Jonathan to how we treat the Son of man, Jesus. When I sat down at my computer to type out my response to this reading I had plans to take this reading and my subsequent response in another direction. .

In my minds eye I saw Saul as a type of the world mistreating, rebuking, and persecuting the one God chose to deliver natural and spiritual Israel, Jesus. Saul is a type of Pharisee or religious leader of the day. Having no personal relationship with God (he was unaware that Samuel was a prophet let alone recognizing who he was), Saul put on the “cloak” of someone who did. This is a case of the mouse falling into the cookie jar then assuming it had become a cookie. All the mouse will do is eat up the cookies. All Saul could do was consume his own men for his own purposes and self-interest. In fact the warning Samuel gave to Israel about what a king would require of them was coming into fruition.

Saul made up a curse and then held it over his men’s head, including his son’s. Jesus accused the Pharisees of making up rules and placing them above God’s law. In the Book of Numbers we read that no one can curse what God has blessed when Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 23). The writer of Proverbs stats this, “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. (26:2). Saul wanted to kill his son because he had violated his command, stupid as it was, but because of pride, he didn’t want to appear weak before his men. Ever notice how nasty we can become when we are in public and we are proven wrong about a comment we have made or something we thought was on sale, but isn’t? We attack the person bringing us the truth. So it was with Saul. Instead of repenting for the dumb command he made, he became obstinate and stuck to his ill-conceived words. However, unlike the crowds at Jesus’ crucifixion, the fighting men interceded for Jonathan.

John 7:31-53
Fast forward to Jesus. Here we have the accusers, the religious leaders, and we have a crowd that is caught between two, no three opinions, Messiah, Prophet or just some crazy man. Unlike Jonathan’s supporters, this crowd is not speaking in one accord. Here we have someone who walked in Righteousness being called a “sinner” by those walking in unrighteousness. Saul walked playing the part of a quasi-religious leader, called to lead but failing to pick up the mantel. In reality Saul and the religious establishment of Jesus’ day were weak leaders because they were afraid of the people they were called to lead. You can’t lead people you are afraid of.

Psalm 109:1-31
David in this Psalm picks up the theme of false persecution and accusation. I love how unrelated books and authors come together in the Bible picking up the same motif, that’s God! But what I like about this Psalm is the reminder in verse twenty-eight to carry oneself with dignity while waiting on God,
28 Then let them curse me if they like,
but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced!
But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

The Lord always comes to our rescue even when it seems to us that He isn’t.

Proverbs 15:5-7

Discipline (The word disciple is in discipline) is the only way we can establish any kind of self-control and according to Proverb 12:2, knowledge can only be acquired if one loves discipline. A disciplined person has knowledge and a person of knowledge has discipline

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Robert:

1 Samuel 14

Ramona: Interesting your comparison of Saul and Jesus. I like it. You weave a unique thread throughout the readings today. Certainly much of the human behavior was the same in both time periods of Saul and Jesus, as it is today. Reading Psalm 109 made me think of David and how a lot of his deep soulful feelings in his writings come from his relationship and persecution by Saul. This of course is a direct foreshadowing of Jesus life and suffering.

I do wonder if the effects of Alzheimers weren’t starting to show because Saul’s actions just become worse as time goes on. It certainly brings up the question of how to relate to people that do illogical things. I had to deal with my mother in this way. Not easy. Do you think the irrational behavior of leaders isn’t sometimes the result of some physical/mental malady? Do we just accept it or like Jonathan question: “I merely tasted a little honey with the end of my staff and now must I die?” (Verse 14:43). I think of President Reagan, a world leader when he was showing signs of mental problems. Luckily he had Nancy’s support but I don’t see any Nancy in Saul’s life. (chuckle).

Robert

====== Luch:

======= Jim:

Saul’s son Jonathan shows the faith his father lacks (waiting for a sign of God) when he attacks the Philistines (without trusting his father enough to tell him his plans) and confidence returns to those in hiding (as well as previous Hebrew traitors from v 20) as word from Saul’s spies spreads (isn’t it nice to finally read about a good son?). Saul tries to take Samuel’s place as priest again and foolishly forbids his men to eat (but Jonathan who hasn’t heard the order eats some honey). The Hebrew text has Saul asking for the ark to be moved while the ancient Greek reads “ephod.” Verse 7:2 confirms that the ark was not moved, until David brings it to Jerusalem, and “withdraw your hand” mostly likely refers to using the Urim and Thummim (which would be stored in the ephod, that I described in more detail on May 3). In essence saying Saul thinks there is no time to inquire of God (never a good idea). Saul concludes God’s silence when he gets around to considering God must be due to his son (forgetting his own sins and those of his men who ate the captured meat without first draining the blood in violation of Law) and commands Jonathan’s execution (but the people intervene – besides, there is no OT Law that demands death for an unintentional sin). Saul’s humble nature is corrupted by the power of office and he continues to willfully sin (which brings more discipline – “A fool spurns his father’s discipline”) and his failures drives him not to repentance but to insanity. He fights continuously with the Philistines for the next four decades drafting all the strong and brave into his army. The Amalekites were one of several descendants of Esau – these were nomads (no lands after Jacob stole the inheritance by lying to his father), the Edomites lived in the rocky lands of the mountains (same reason for no land). Both were jealous of Israel’s wealth.
The Isaiah 44:3 description of a future outpouring of God’s Spirit as pouring “water on the thirsty land” was clearly of the thirst and water that Christ discusses in verses 37-39. Moreover, the festival included a priest pouring a golden pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam on the temple altar as a memorial for the water that flowed from the rock the Israelites traveled with through the wilderness, as the people march seven times around the altar in memory of the walls of Jericho. The people are impressed by Christ’s miracles for Isaiah 35:5-6 foretold that the Messiah would do so (punctuated by four to five centuries without miracles), but their admiration was not enough (also see verse Matt 23:39) because they sought a fictitious Messiah. The real living one had offered them protection and deliverance but instead they refuse and crucify Him. In failing in their community penitence, Jesus foretold that Israel would see their temple destroyed and a long and dreadful suffering before redemption would be offered again (while Jesus would wait in Heaven where the Jewish leaders could not follow). This is not about individual salvation, but national salvation – the Pharisees accused the people of believing too easily because they were ignorant, yet it was the Pharisees who were blinded by prideful ignorance. Nicodemus tried to speak up, but the Pharisees sarcastically belittling him (“are you also of Galilee”) and tried to prove Jesus could not be a prophet by claiming no prophet had ever come from Galilee (when actually Jonah, Hosea, Nahum, and perhaps even Elijah, Elisha, Malachi, and Amos were from Galilee or nearby).
Most Jew believed (and still do) that the prophet or teacher spoken of by Moses was one of the ancient OT heroes raised from the dead (most likely David). John 7:42 and 1 Samuel 16:1, 4 (which we will read tomorrow) refers to Bethlehem as the birth place of David (and Christ). We read today of the first formal attempt to take down Jesus (perhaps this is when the sinful apostles bought the two swords of Luke 22.38), but there will be another six months before the Sanhedrin is successful. Perhaps, they fail due to the restraint of those who believed (in v 7:43) as in Psalm 76:10. In addition, the officers found Jesus to be wholly different from the seditious false prophet they had been sent to arrest. Moreover, when they return to tell the Sanhedrin of their mistake, the officers are simply ridiculed with reminders that very few of the wealthy rulers had followed Jesus. The common Jews that did not follow all of the rabbinic interpretations were usually treated by the Pharisees with the most sovereign contempt (even unworthy of resurrection), much like how many are treated by today’s Christian leaders (I have often heard pastors suggest that people that don’t agree with their interpretations are not saved if at least without the Holy Spirit – including even Mother Teresa). Christ’s enemies are always opposed to reason. Psalm 109 is a harsh lament against the author’s enemies (who are lying, hateful, argumentative, and return hatred for love) for judgment and intervention (being in desperate circumstances and needing protection). Acts 1:20 says that Psalm 109:8 is what happened to Judas.
Speaking of prayers: becoming a Christian, getting baptized, going to church, and reading the Bible will not in any measurable way reduce your chance of divorce, while sharing a life-long habit of praying before bed with your spouse will reduce the likelihood by 1000%.
Jim

======= Vance:

I really liked the study of the Feast of Tabernacles, and that this is the feast where Jesus spoke about living water.
I see how each part of the festival points to Jesus:
Note actions of this feast that the Jews observed in the Temple. Each action has a spiritual lesson.
There was the ceremony of the outpouring of water, drawn from Siloam, in commemoration of the refreshing stream which had come forth miraculously out of the rock at Meribah (Ex. 17:1-7), and in anticipation of blessings both for Israel and for the world.
** Keep in mind that in John 7, Jesus was speaking at the Feast of Tabernacles.
Note again what Jesus said in John 7 (NKJV):
37
ON THE LAST DAY, THAT GREAT DAY OF THE FEAST, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
39
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Note the other actions in the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles:
There was the illumination of the inner court of the temple, where the light of the grand candelabra reminded one of the pillar of fire by night which had served as a guide through the desert (Num. 14:14).
** JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
There was a torch-parade.
** WE ARE TO BE COMMUNITY, BEING FULL OF LIGHT, HOLINESS, AND LOVE
And above all, everywhere in and around Jerusalem, in the street, the square, and even on the roofs of the houses booths were erected. These leafy dwellings provided shelter for the pilgrims who came from every direction to attend this feast. But most of all they too were reminders of the wilderness-life of the ancestors (Lev. 23:43).
** EVEN AFTER SIN AND REBELLION, GOD STILL FORGAVE HIS PEOPLE. God is faithful—even in the hard places.
Many of us are going through a wilderness experience. There are at least two (2) reasons for the wilderness:
The wilderness can be from God’s will—a hard time that God allows to allow in order pull away distractions from sin and the world—so we can draw close to God and be stronger.
The wilderness can be caused from our own sins or the sins of others that affect us. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Each of us have been hurt and affected by family members or others who have sinned against us.
** EVEN IN THE WORST OF CIRCUMSTANCES, Jesus is our Life. We need to let Him be Who He is.
I also like the truth that each member of the Trinity–Father, Son, and Spirit–has its own role in fulfilling God’s will in our lives.
A. God leads to Jesus
John 6:44 — No one can come to Jesus without Father drawing him or her
B. Jesus leads to Spirit and the Word
Matthew 3:11 — Jesus baptizes us in the Spirit
Jesus leads me to the Spirit to be fully set apart and filled.
John 17:17 and 19 — Jesus brings me to His Word, so I can be set apart to God
C.
Holy Spirit glorifies and honors Jesus and Word
John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:13 and 14
The Word of God is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17)
Vance

======== John:

Feast of Tabernacles
One of three Feasts that all male Jews were required to attend to tithe and make offerings – along with Passover and Pentecost. The City of Jerusalem would swell from 500,000+ people to between two and three million people during these feasts.
The Feast of Tabernacles also is referred to as Feast of the Ingathering (final collection of the Fall Harvest).
This is the only Feast of the Jews that is one of Great JOY. Thankful for the Provisions of God during the Exodus and for the Crops harvested.
For the eight days of the Feast people have built leafy booths (tents) to live in with the tops to leave space to see God’s work in the heavens. Placed intermittently on the booths were samples from the Harvest as a reminder of God’s faithfulness regarding Crops.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (or translated “tabernacled among us”).
Rev 21:3
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” NIV (or literally “the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will tabernacle with them…) – the Final Ingathering of the Harvest?????
For the Jews the booths were to be a reminder of the desert experiance, and that despite all the hardship of the Wilderness to remember: ‘GOD will ALWAYS Provide, and it is from Him alone our needs are met.’
There were candles everywhere – placed outside, carried, and four 75 foot candlelabras with four branches that were lit in the outer court of the Temple. The resulting Bright Light was to remind the people of how God’s Shekinah glory had once filled His Temple.
The Temple Priests were divided into three groups: one to sacrifice the bulls, another to go outside the city and cut down 25 foot willow branches that they would intricately wave in the procession back to the city, and lastly the High Priest would go with others to retrieve water from the pool of Siloam to carry back to the altar.
Sacrifices of Bulls – also called the Feast of Nations. For seven days 13,12,10…7 bulls were sacrificed at the altar.
“During Sukkot, many rabbis assert, the 70 bulls represented the 70 nations that descended from Noah, the ancestors of all the Gentiles of the world. These bulls, according to Hebrew scholars, were sacrificed for the peace and well-being of the Gentiles, that they might one day acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
[Note: Seems those sacrifices and prayers were answered in a way more than they could imagine.]
And on the eighth day of Completion of the Feast (the greatest day) one Bull was sacrificed.
The Talmud teaches that this reduction of the sacrifice from 70 bulls to one represents God’s turning from concern with the 70 nations — the whole world — to a quiet tete-a-tete alone with the people of Israel.
[or perhaps in a way for God to say: in the end only one sacrifice was needed – Jesus. (just an idle thought)]
======================================================
Willow Branch Procession
The priests would take their willow branches and wave them back and forth in procession back to the City. The would stand at the gate to the city and wave them furiously providing a rustling sound of wind – perhaps symbolizing the spirit of God about to enter the city.
The shofar (trumpet)would be blown and the priests would enter through the opened gates. They would march to the altar and beat the willows on the side of the altar – (representing the ‘beating back of sin’???) and then provide a canopy as the sacrificial offerings were made.
======================================================
Water Procession
The High Priest and his group would carry two gold pitchers to the Pool of Siloam. One already had win in it, the other was filled with water from the Holy Place.
The Priest would time his entry from the Water Gate (name given to gate from the Feast), and enter the city after three blasts from the shofar (trumpet). From there he would proceed to the Temple and the altar.
At the altar the Priest would pour the wine into one opening as a drink offering to God. Inanother opening he would pour the water. The Water symbolized: Prayer for rain for next harvest, reminder of God’s provision of Water in the wilderness (from the ROCK), and an outpouring of the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28).
The wine and water combined beneath the altar to flow out as one. (foreshadowing the blood and water flowing from Christ at the Cross?????).
As soon as the wine and the water were being poured out, the Temple music began, and the ‘Hallel’ (Psa 113-118) was sung. When the choir came to these words (Psa 118:1), ‘O give thanks to the Lord,’ and again when they sang (Psa 118:25), ‘O work then now salvation, Jehovah’; and once more at the close (Psa 118:29), ‘O give thanks unto the Lord,’ all the worshippers shook their branches towards the altar.
[NOTE: No wonder the priests got mad during the “triumphal entry” as the people were taking a part of the feast to call upon Jesus to “Save them” (Hosannah).]
Then:
On every one of the seven days the priests formed in procession, and made the circuit of the altar, singing: ‘O then, now work salvation, Jehovah! O Jehovah, give prosperity’! (Psa 118:25). But on the seventh, ‘that great day of the feast,’ they made the circuit of the altar seven times, remembering how the walls of Jericho had fallen in similar circumstances, and anticipating how, by the direct interposition of God, the walls of heathenism would fall before Jehovah, and the land lie open for His people to go in and possess it.
Whew! with all that backdrop, we are ready to look at Jesus’s words.
During this feast of GREAT JOY, where men symbolized tabernacling with the Lord – The Real Lord was amongst them.
With all the sacrifices to God, the symbolic entry of God’s Spirit entering the City, and the double portion outpouring of water on the last great day of the Feast – partly representing the flow of the Spirit – God was in their midst watching it all.
With all the worship, singing of Psalms, the beating of the branches during the frenzied seven circuits of the altar – and then DEAD silence as the ceremnies ended.
Then:
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
The Psalms asking for the Lord to Come, the Hosannahs – saying God save us, and….
Jesus stood and basically told them – ‘I AM Here.’ Receive me, Believe IN me, and you will have the Spirit of God flowing from within you.
I would like to have a bunch of snapshots of the faces in the crowd that day/night. Some would believe, most would not. But let none say ‘Jesus never declared himself’.
John

======= Roslyn:

John,
Thanks to the thorough explanation of the Feast of the Tabernacles ending with Jesus’ climactic proclamation that whoever believes in Him “rivers of living water” will flow from within.
Roslyn

======= Ramona:

I Samuel 14:1-52
I must be in a humorous mood because Saul is reminding me of the Wizard of Oz. Ya know, BEFORE the dog Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal the man that he is, we see a BIG HEAD surrounded by flames and lots of green. Saul is a man with a big head with no brains and definitely no heart, at lest a heart for God. He is exactly what the people “desired.” In fact, he is a reflection of what is in the hearts of the people who demanded a king so that they could be just like the nations around them, wickedly sinful.
The difference between King Jesus and the kings desired and appointed by men, and Saul was appointed by the men who desired a king, God just gave them what they asked for, is righteousness and integrity. Jesus is righteous and integrity is part of His character. Jesus requires man to turn their hearts toward Him, not the other way around. Earthly kings play to the crowd, or at least the crowd that will keep him in power.
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Pat:

Mike, it is odd that you talk about prayer life today in your commentary because for the past two days I can’t get Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” out of my mind. I am faithful in my prayers to God but I think God is telling me that I need to slow down and let Him minister to me. I’m beginning to feel that my prayers are a one-way conversation in which I talk to Him but don’t give Him the opportunity to say what He has to say! It seems my eye is always on the clock and my mind is racing about reviewing what I have planned for the day. I never just sit quietly doing nothing and I think many of us in today’s hectic world are the same way. Matter of fact, I think it has come to the point where we are jittery when we just sit quietly because we are not use to doing so or we feel guilty about just sitting quietly because we feel we are wasting time.
Today is the Lord’s Day! Maybe today is when we should start making a point to just sit still and know that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings!
God Bless!
Pat

======= Jenny:

Could someone please keep me in prayer. I’m having a hard time with this whole mothers day business, i miss my mom so bad n i hurt so bad. i just want this day to be over. My mom died n i am normally ok, but this weekend i cant escape “mothers day” and i am angry, sad, feeling sorry for myself. Plus 2 other loved ones, their anniversaries of their deaths just passed 2 days ago. Its just to much. I just hurt n i want my mom so bad. She is with Jesus, so i am grateful, i just wish i could be there too. thanks for prayers. sorry for being selfish…its just too much. God bless.
Jenny

======= Susanne:

oh Jenny… if only you knew… well you’ll know now.
I had no “reason” on God’s green earth to think of you this morning.
(Lord knows there’s sooo much else going on!)
Praise the Lord- HE REIGNS!
Anyway- it could only have been the Holy Spirit
AND
you have been lifted in prayer- just as if I KNEW
what you wrote above w/out speaking to you.
GIRL!!!!!
GOD LOVES YOU and has this merciful compassion for you.
Lean not on our own understanding (some coming from feelings & emotions)
TRUST HIM WITH ALL OUR HEART …..
HE understands our grief and we are to step out in FAITH
and leave it with HIM at the cross- & pick up our “cross”. I wish I had a “formula” and experience
but I don’t. All’s I can say is i’m going with the Spirit and will
do whatever to be His “cheerleader” for you. (couldn’t be one when i “thought” it mattered!)
May the Lord pour out that extra measure His Word speaks of, all upon you today and every day hereafter, HE is doing a work HE said HE began and
YOU ARE HIS MASTERPIECE HE will see to completion.
I’m priviledge to have run into you
and serve the Lord in His plan.
Thanks Lord Your Spirit comforts & intercedes where we don’t know how!
I’m TRUSTING in YOU, amen.
Sincerely, susanne
p.s. well maybe one experience to share- focus on what you are GRATEFUL for.
Good overcomes evil. And I pray this spirit to kill steal & destroy be removed from
you, in the Name of Jesus, amen.
Susanne

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23 + John 7:1-30 + Psalm 108:1-13 + Proverbs 15:4
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – I like First Samuel 12 verse 7 today when Samuel says this to the Israelites: “Now stand here quietly before the LORD as I remind you of all the great things the LORD has done for you and your ancestors”  Just like the Israelites needed reminding all the great things God has done, we need reminding today as well.  We are a forgetful people.  I honestly believe reading God’s Word, the Bible, each day is a great way to “remember” all that God has done for each of us and our spiritual ancestors.  I know that I need this daily reminder…  How about you?

Verse 23 is intriguing when Samuel says – “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right.” It sounds like if Samuel stopped his prayers for the Israelites, he would be sinning.  Interesting.  What about us today?  Does God call us at times to pray for others?  And if we do not respond to this call and do not pray for others, are we sinning?   Interesting food for thought.  I guess it’s just a safer bet to continue praying for others!  🙂

In 1 Samuel 13 we see Saul’s disobedience toward God, through his impatience.  I wonder again about us today – are we patient people?  Or are we impatient?  Do we wait on God when things are not moving as quickly as we would like them to…?  Should we be waiting on God or trying to hurry things up like Saul did…?  Below is a painting by artist Guye Rowe of Samuel rebuking Saul from today’s readings:

Bible.org’s commentary on our First Samuel readings today titled “Renewing the Kingdom” is at this link and commentary titled “Saul Sacrifices His Kingdom” is at this link.

New Testament – Hmmm… I found John chapter 7 verse 12 intriguing today as it said this about Jesus – “There was a lot of discussion about him among the crowds. Some said, “He’s a wonderful man,” while others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud, deceiving the people.””  Does this verse sound familiar to you at all?  Maybe like something we would hear about Jesus or Christianity in our modern world today?  “Jesus & Christianity is wonderful.  Jesus & Christianity is nothing but a fraud, deceiving people.”  Times really have not changed much have they?

Jesus’ words in verse 17 are powerful – “Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.”  I like that – if we want to do the will of God, we will know whether Jesus’ teaching is from God or is his own.  Do you want to do the will of God?  When you read Jesus’ teachings in John, do you know that his teaching is from God?

I will say this – I am so transformed when I read Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John.  I don’t know what it is about this Gospel…. but for some reason the words speak to me at a deep spiritual level.  Certainly when I read the words of Jesus in the other Gospels, or when I read any other words in the Bible, I know they are true words and I know they are feeding me spiritually. But… there’s something about the Gospel of John.  It is such a blessing to me.  It makes me want to cry with joy!   Really…

Bible.org’s commentary on John chapter 7 readings today titled “Jesus in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles” is at this link.

Psalms – I love Psalm 108 verse 1 today: “My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises! Wake up, my soul!”   Is your heart confident in God?  Do you sing God’s praises?  Is your soul awake?  Or does your soul need a wake up call?  Where do you suppose you can find that wake up call for your soul?  The Bible?  Jesus?  The Holy Spirit?  God?  Will you answer the call today?  Will your soul wake up?

Proverbs – I also love Proverbs 15 verse 4 today – “Gentle words bring life and health.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the classic worship song “Open the Eyes of My Heart” by Paul Baloche:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emkUsoER740

Is your heart open? Click here and open the eyes of your heart!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that your tongue produces gentle word to others in your life – words that are a tree of life. Pray that you would never speak with a deceitful tongue, which crushes the spirit of others.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on our Proverb today, do you bring life and health to those around you each day with gentle words?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

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======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23

It appears to me that Samuel is asking Israel to examine his character so that they can judge the integrity of his ministry to them and the truth of his words. Since a false witness breathes out lies, if Israel finds anything amiss in his dealings with them, then what he is about to tell them has no weight as truth.

Samuel rehearses in all of Israel’s hearing how God has dealt with them and delivered them even when they are unfaithful to God. Even in their unfaithfulness, God gives them their hearts’ desire, Saul. In translations other than the NLT you can clearly see the play-on-words God uses to describe their newly appointed king and Israel’s relationship with him, the one that God picked. Remember that in Hebrew Saul means “Desired.”

13 “Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the LORD has set a king over you. (NKJ)

God has set Saul over them as king, but Israel picked him! So remember as we read on about Saul, what they wanted they got. Saul’s character reflects the desire of Israel’s heart. The Apostle Paul states this very thing in the first chapter of the Book of Romans (24).

Some have debated and searched for understanding of the first verse of chapter 13, what is that number and what does it mean. In my English translation of the Jewish Bible, The Tanakh, it says two years. In a conversation I had with a Jewish scholar about this uncertainty we kind of came to an interesting possibility about this verse. There are two types of leadership, spiritual, one appointed by God, and political, one appointed by man. Saul’s reign as king of Israel in the eyes of God was two years; however his political leadership over Israel was 42 years.

When we come to the thirteenth verse of this chapter, we find this,

13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD’s command.”

Note that this Word doesn’t say that the Lord will choose a king but that he has already chosen one!

There is a political agenda then there is God’s. Which one will we as Christians pursue, God’s or ours?

John 7:1-30
There are a lot of things to chew on in this section of John, but I am drawn to three things near the end of our reading.

1) The Religious Leaders, and we do too; use an unequal form of “judging.” They and we judge ourselves by our intentions but we judge others by their behavior. Jesus brings to them their objections about Him healing on the Sabbath when they “work” on that same day to adhere to the Law of Moses (note Jesus didn’t say God’s law) to do circumcision. If they consider what Jesus did, heal, work then what they do is also work. (21-24)
2) They question whether or not Jesus could be the Messiah because no one is bothering him even though they are aware a “hit” has been placed on his life. Has leadership accepted Him? If they have maybe He is. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
3) In the beginning of the chapter we read that Jesus stayed in Galilee, going from village to village staying out of Judea because leadership was looking to kill Him, yet in the thirtieth verse it states:
30 …but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

God’s will is always played out in the fullness of time.

Psalm 108:1-13
Saul needed the 411 of this chapter of Psalms. He could have used that 13th verse,

With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

Proverbs 15:4

Life and death is in our tongues.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Andrew:

Andrew

====== Anka:

Saul when faced with his sin,gave excuses….didn’t see him try to repent of what he did.Samuel said “I will teach you the way that is good and right”…did Saul ever go to class?Are we too busy in our lives to learn the ways of God,too much in a race against time to wait to hear from God before we go on….just say some quick prayers(the God bless my day kind)then rush off…I’m already feeling guilty.I thank God for His mercy and His grace..
God bless you all

Anka

====== Luch:

Reading about Samuel’s commitment to pray and teach the people reminds me of the words in Acts 6:4 where the spiritual leaders of the community were devote themselves to the ministry of prayer and the Word. This passage in 1 Samuel 12:23 was brought home to me in 1976 when someone gave me a book by Andrew Murray on The Prayer Life. In that book Murray had a chapter based on this one verse “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” The chapter was simply called “Prayerlessness is a sin.” I guess today that emphasis wouldn’t go over very well but back then it inspired me to make intercessory prayer a daily practice for my personal life, my family and my ministry. It’s as we pray that we are then able to ‘teach you the way that is good and right.” I also like the way Samuel defines what a fully devoted follower of God looks like “They ‘fear the LORD’ and serve him faithfully and wholeheartedly, and they live with a deep sense of gratitude. Not a bad definition to measure ourselves against. Thank you Lord for loving us as we are, but thank you too, for not leaving us there.

Luch

====== Kristie:

====== Ramona:

Been Think’in (This is loooooong)

Yesterday I mentioned that there were clues within the text of I Samuel about Saul’s character that led him down the road to end his life with a whimper. When I stated that I wasn’t sure where to find it and what to look for, or even what within the text led me to come to that conclusion, I was spouting off something I just knew within me, I had no concrete evidence. Today I believed I received what I think was a revelation, or at lest the light bulb went on.

There are two scriptures that stand out to me that explain all, in my opinion. They are:

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled. (Heb 12:15)

And,

But God wasn’t pleased with most of them, and so they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things became examples for us so that we won’t set our hearts on evil as they did. (1Co 10:5-6),
As well as:
You must stop complaining, as some of them were doing, and were destroyed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the climax of the ages has been realized. (1Co 10:10-11)

OK, ok, there are more than two.

I know that some are having a hard time getting into the Old Testament, thinking what is it’s relevance ‘cause we have the New. Well, the New is based on the Old and if you are a good lawyer or contract reader, to verify that the New is better than the Old, well you gotta read the Old. [However, Jesus has now obtained a ministry that is as superior to theirs as the covenant he mediates is founded on better promises. (Heb 8:6)]

I’m into analogies so I will use the study of Botany or agriculture to lay out my case that within the Old Testament narratives, one can find the character flaws of the men and women we are reading about and that is a good thing. (See. 1 Corinthians 10: 5-6, 10-11)

Throughout the Bible the realm of the heart has been compared to Soil, the Parable of the Sower as one example, and the seed is comparable to the Word of God. I put forth that there are other types of seed and the condition of the soil of our hearts will determine what will and want grow to maturity and produce fruit. Unless one has studied agriculture or botany, planted a couple of different types of seed and watched what come up, we really have a hard time identifying what each seed will produce and even recognizing the root of a plant. Before we ever see signs of the plant, the seed in the soil or the root (and who among us can identify a plant by its roots) have already taken hold.

Now, getting back to the Old Testament: within its pages we find more narratives about people, their beginnings, and their endings then in the New. To correctly identify the sum total of anyone’s life, we must look at them in their entirety: the good the bad and the ugly. Like a plant that has matured and gone to “seed,” we can then look at the seed and determine what that seed has produced, our lives kind of parallel a plant. Was the fruit good for us, or was it poison and destructive; how did that fruit effect the environment and the other plants around it? There are probably many more questions. Taking the Old Testament characters and Saints and juxtaposing them against the Character of Jesus Christ in the New, we now have a standard by which to measure not only our lives, but the lives of those who in looking back, walked amongst us in the Old.

In an Academic sense, the Old Testament can be studied as a Grad School Level class that operates entirely as Case Studies: we know the perfect model, Jesus Christ, now we look at the others to find out where they went wrong and what they did right so we won’t make the same mistakes. In a Case Study, you begin at the end, or if the concern is still in existence, at some fixed point in the present, then you travel back toward the beginning, studying each move. Since we live in a cause and effect world, nothing just happens by itself. We don’t just roll out of bed in the morning and suddenly jump up and rob a bank, rape and murder. Working out our salvation, at least for me, is identifying, uncovering, and uprooting everything that is not of God by identifying the seed, the roots that we find in the Old.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it is helpful . Also note: I have not set this in stone this view will probably change as I continue to walk upon the earth. I probably will revisit today or tomorrow to post my impressions of today’s Old Testament reading.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
Since I left a very long post this morning, I am going to focus on two passages that really got my attention.
1) 1 Samuel 12:19–Then all the people begged Samuel, “Pray to your GOD for us, your servants. Pray that we won’t die! On top of all our other sins, we’ve piled on one more–asking for a king!”
a. O.K. God picked Israel out of all the nations to be His People, yet Israel declares to Samuel that God is “your GOD” instead of their very own God. Israel was unwilling to do the work to keep them in right relationship, but they wanted to maintain the rights of that relationship under someone else’s bond. They were name droppers and hanger-on’s.
b. We do the same thing when we run from piller-to-post asking everybody to pray for us when we are unwilling to stand in right relationship with God but call a “prayer meeting” to manipulate others to pray for our concerns because we know, deep in our hearts, that we are not in fellowship with God.
2) 1 Samuel 12:11-12—11 Saul answered, “When I saw I was losing my army from under me, and that you hadn’t come when you said you would, and that the Philistines were poised at Micmash, 12I said, “The Philistines are about to come down on me in Gilgal, and I haven’t yet come before GOD asking for his help.’ So I took things into my own hands, and sacrificed the burnt offering.”
a. Saul didn’t know his history. Had he bothered to read? Did he never hear of how Gideon and three hundred men defeated 100 plus thousand men? Like us, Saul relied on his strength and the strength of the army he did not have. Since his strength was week and he and his men were full of fear, his fear led to wrong choices and decisions. Saul had stink’n think’n.
When we are in fear we are lacking perfect love, which casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18). So I ask a rhetorical question, something to think about, what exactly is perfect love? Since fear gives birth to shame, and shame is used by us to manipulate folks, keep folks in line, keep ‘em down on the farm and in their place. Is shame a good or bad thing? Again, rhetorical. It was shame that drove Adam and Eve into hiding while covering themselves with a bunch of leaves. What sets off fear, which leads to shame?
A GREAT BIG HMMMM!!!
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Arielle:

Thanks Ramona for your points in 1a&b. I never noticed Israelite’s said ‘your GOD’to samuel . wow what were they thinking about what GOD was doing for them all this while? Well I guess we can’t judge them either for their flaw because we tend to forget HIM as well when responsibilities mount on us and we rely on our own understanding and strength.
I agree with Mike we need someone or something to constantly remind us, because Yes! we are forgetful people.
I think we need to surround ourselves with HIS word, prayers, good christian community of friends that can constantly remind us that GOD is there for us every time!
Arielle

====== Dee:

======= Jim:

Here we read about a country that talks big about their God and has a just and righteous spiritual leader who has recently blessed their new king and yet walks in fear and rejection of that same faith. Samuel gets the people to verify his motives and reminds them of God’s great gifts of release from Egypt and conquest of Canaan so that they will listen to warnings concerning their gradual loss of faith. For a period, Israel repents for worshipinig idols of Ball and Ashtoreth and calls upon the Lord for deliverance. Until recently, the only possession of value was a person’s good name and Samuel refers to God’s good name. Samuel warns that God will bless them, however, only if they serve and obey and a severe winter storm as called by Samuel underlines this warning.
Acts 13: 21 informs us that Saul ruled for over 40 years, but there is some confusion about what is meant by v 13:1 (the New Living Translation just steals from Acts as per note f and somehow concludes the number 42). Some believe some number is missing, but it likely just means that Saul had reigned for two years. When the Philistines mobilize a major military offensive at this time, Israel runs from their homes to hide. After more and more of Saul’s army deserts and getting rebuked by Samuel for violating God’s commands to follow Samuel, Saul retreats leaving the Philistines to raid at will. Saul’s army had dwindled to 600 men, twice the number had by Gideon, except that they did not have Gideon’s faith. Uncertain times test our trust in God, not our strength of character.
Jesus attributes His material directly to God rather than to any rabbinical training and maintains that anyone who chooses to do God’s will would recognize it. He likely angered the Jewish leaders by outright claiming that they had not been keeping the OT Law and the refusal of their own guards to arrest Him surely only made the Jewish leaders angrier (more on this tomorrow). He also confounded them by possessing an advanced grasp of their religion without ever being apprenticed to any of them (the same bewilderment is later expressed regarding Peter and John in Acts 4:13). The Message Bible translates Romans 10:17 as “The point is, Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ’s Word is preached, there’s nothing to listen to.” As we covered yesterday, without Christ, where else is there to go. It often, however, takes time to find every other path dead ends. It took time even for Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude, to believe and become church leaders. Here they sarcastically (explained in v 5) suggest that if Jesus could really do miracles that he should do them in front of the largest audience in Jerusalem at the time of a feast. So, don’t write off those who at first don’t respond to the Gospel. It rightly takes time. Jesus also tells His brothers that the world could not hate them (because they were a part of it), thusly wholly responding to the Gospel also takes courage (“But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders”).
It is a vital principle that to develop a spiritual understanding a person must make a conscious and determined choice to do God’s will (v 17). If we make that choice, God will show us what His will is. John 6:45 clearly defined “appointment” as being taught by God to those that can “hear and learn” implying both knowledge and reason as the basis for belief. This means that it is current comprehensible instructions of the Holy Spirit that “ordains” and not some pre-time predestinational lottery or spiritual caste system of saved and reprobate. The strength of the eleven disciples that stayed true to Christ came by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). To say that God works both good and evil in us (say, saved and reprobate) and that we are subject to God’s workings only by some passive necessity (where free will operates only at some higher level – see Martin Luther’s “The Bondage of the Will”), creates mankind as good with only a evil work wrought by God that makes God the author of sin (as well as the author of salvation) who punishes (or rewards) a person for doing only what God by the sole exercise of His own power irresistibly coerces man to do. It is one thing if God only knew the lost (or saved) and their choices before time and quite another if God determined their nature and fate before time just as there is a difference between God knowing, say, when you would be born leaving no doubt on which day it would occur and that He foreordained your birth.
The etymological origins of the Greek word tasso sometimes translated to ordained (although more likely to appointed) comes from “to place” as to place in a certain rank or order as in specifically disposing a body of soldiers in regular military order (see Barnes Concordance). Tasso is uses in eight places in the Bible denoting a command or designate (Matt 28:16, Acts 22:10, Acts 28:23), to institute, constitute, or appoint (Rom 21:1), determine, to take counsel, to resolve (Acts 15:2), to subject to authority of another (Luke 7:8), and to devote to (1 Cor 16:15). The word is never used to denote an internal disposition or inclination and does not properly refer to an external decree or to the doctrine of election. In the Greek translation of the OT, the word is used in Ezekiel 9:1 “And he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, draw near, ye that have appointment of the city, and every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.” It is used only to refer to a forgone conclusion of the facts. Thus, we must be always careful to check the facts and our interpretation of them. The Jews, for example, wrongly assumed that Jesus had been born in Galilee because He lived in Nazareth, but if they had checked the records they would have learned that He was, in fact, born in Bethlehem and a descendent of David. Jesus tells them that even if they knew where he came from, their problem was still that they did not know God.
Psalm 108 is actually a medley of two other of David’s psalms (v 1-5 are from 57:7-11 and v 6-13 are from 60:5-12) about the assurance a person can have when God is his or her Lord. The remarkable fact about the words “I will rejoice” (v 7 KJV – “in triumph” in some translations) is that they are spoken by God. The Lord celebrates in delivering His people.
Jim

======= Vance:

I Samuel 12 (NKJV)
20
Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
21
And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. 22
For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people.
23
Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.
24
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth 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.”
I Samuel 13 (NKJV)
12
then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”
13
And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
John 7 (NKJV)
24
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Psalm 108 (NKJV)
1
O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
~~~
NOTE:
The people had asked for a king. I could be wrong, but I do not think their sin was wanting a king, but insisting for a king on their own timetable. God had already promised them that He would provide a king from the tribe of Judah before the people asked.
This brings me to the verses Psalm 108 and John 7. Our hearts really have to be steadfast in abiding in praise, prayer, worship to the Lord. This is the only way we will walk in step with the Spirit and His perfect timing. When we try to do God’s will—even though we may have the Holy Spirit within us—on our own and in our way, we will always suffer for it.
Note the independent streak in King Saul, first expressed in I Samuel 13. This is a challenge. Am I willing to wait in the Presence of the Lord to allow Him to show me how to accomplish His will? Again, acting in the flesh—trusting in my ability and my understanding—to do the will of God will ALWAYS lead to unnecessary pain.
May we yield every part of ourselves to the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways [as Lord], and He will direct [make straight] your paths.” Proverbs 3:5 and 6.
Vance

======= John:

Feast of Tabernacles (sukkoth)
With deference to Bob, I think a closer look at the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles will reveal much more than is disclosed in Bob’s commentaries about the symbolism of Jesus’ words and the Messiah in general.
I would encourage people to google, yahoo, whatever the Feast and do some quick reading. It will help you to understand my post tomorrow and perhaps provide you with some insights that you may post.
John

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15 + John 6:43-71 + Psalm 107:1-43 + Proverbs 15:1-3
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Old Testament – Okay – I have a temporary new favorite verse in the Bible!  Today in First Samuel chapter 10 verse 22 when they were about to name Saul king, but they couldn’t find him: “So they asked the LORD, “Where is he?” And the LORD replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.””  That is awesome!  I really appreciate the fact that Saul was hiding among the baggage.  🙂  I think that’s where I would be too.  I hope I would be in any case.  I think it’s a bit scary when someone is too lustful for power.  Better to have your future king hiding in the baggage…  🙂

   

(sorry, couldn’t resist this photo… 🙂  I suppose this image below would be more appropriate for Saul being named king as we read in verse 24: “Then Samuel said to all the people, “This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is his equal!” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

In First Samuel chapter 11 we see Saul really step into his role as king by defending the city of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites attack.  Verse 2 was sad to consider when the Ammonite king said this to the citizens of Jabesh-gilead – “”All right,” Nahash said, “but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!””  Gouging out the right eye would be done for humiliation purposes – but also to destroy the military ability of the archers.  After this point, Saul gets word back in his hometown that Jabesh-gilead is under attack.  Below is a powerful painting by the artist James Tissot from the year 1896 of verses 6 & 7: “Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. 7 He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: “This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!””

I was impressed with Saul’s graciousness in verses 12 & 13 of this chapter: “Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, “Now where are those men who said Saul shouldn’t rule over us? Bring them here, and we will kill them!” But Saul replied, “No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!”  Impressive.  You could see where after defeating the Ammonites, Israel’s adrenaline might be running high to go after dissenters.  Saul put a stop to it, which was impressive.  What about us today?  When we are riding high on a victory of some sort and the group around us says we should forge ahead on something that does not seem right, can we stand up and say “No” to the group as Saul did on this day?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in 1 Samuel titled “The Making of Israel’s First King” is at this link.

New Testament – Okay, so John chapter 6 verses 53 through 58 are some verses that get interpreted several different ways – some saying these verses speak of the Lord’s Supper and some saying they speak only of faith in Jesus because the Lord’s Supper had not yet been instituted by Jesus at this time.  I think the key for us to focus on is that Jesus is our nourishment – our literal spiritual food if we have faith in him. It is interesting to note that many disciples turned away from Jesus after this teaching.  I love Peter’s reply to Jesus in verses 68 & 69 after Jesus asks if the Twelve will leave too – “Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life. We believe them, and we know you are the Holy One of God.””  True words indeed Peter.  True words indeed.  If not Jesus, to whom would you go?  Does anyone else have the words that give eternal life?

Bible.org’s commentary on John chapter 6 today titled “The Bread of Life” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 107 today is a wonderful Psalm of thanksgiving!  Okay, be honest, who started busting out singing the Michael W. Smith/Chris Tomlin worship tune “Forever” when you read verse 1? – “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”  I did!  That’s a great tune… based on a great verse in a great Psalm. 

Psalm 107 repeats a verse four times – starting with verse 6 here – “”LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.”  (then see verse 13, verse 19, and verse 28 – same verse) This is a great reminder to pray – and yes, it’s great to pray during times of distress of course.  But, how about praying during times of happiness & joy?  Or even times of just regular blahs?  I recently read much of the book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg (great book!), and it has a great chapter on prayer.  It is so true that one of the best ways to truly know and love God is through prayer.  Simple prayer.   5 minutes a day.  Do you pray to God 5 minutes a day?  When the storms of life come, do you cry out for help to Jesus?  Do you know that he will always be there for you in the midst of the storm?

Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 15 verse 1 is so so so very true… we would all do well to practice this every day – “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”  How beautifully true & wise this is?  Let us be gentle people…

Worship Video: Today’s Psalm and Proverb reminds me of Michael W. Smith’s classic song “Friends:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAeD2UEYaAk

Do you believe friends are friends forever? Click here for Forever!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  Psalm 107:1 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray thanksgiving to God for His goodness today! Pray thanksgiving that God’s love endures forever!

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  If someone were to describe you, would they describe you as a “gentle” person?  Would you want to be described as a gentle person?  Should we be gentle all of the time?  Was Jesus gentle all of the time?  Was Jesus gentle most of the time?  To whom or in what circumstances was Jesus not gentle?  Should we follow Jesus in this regard?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

======= Jim:

God directed Samuel to anoint Saul, which he did reluctantly. Samuel poured a special mixture of olive oil, myrrh, and other expensive spices to symbolize the presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God in Saul’s life and to remind the new king of his great responsibility to lead by God’s wisdom and not his own. Samuel said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the leader of his people.” The book of Samuel is all about what it means to be the “Lords anointed” or chosen by God for some special service, blessed, and endowed by Him with the power and authority to carry out that task. Later, David will also be anointed by God as Israel’s second king and “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him in power” (v 16:13). Paul will start his ministry to the Gentiles by reminding the Jews of Isaiah 49:6, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” The Redeemer had been appointed, “before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee … and I ordained you a prophet” (Jeremiah 1:5). Luke 7:8, “For I also am a man set under authority; appointed, or designated as a soldier, to be under the authority of another” and Acts 22:10, “It shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do” refers to an announcement or commission for those with prejudice and prepossession to accept (the greatest of which is the Great Commission to go and to convert and baptize in order to make disciples of all peoples of the world. What is God’s will for you? What is your appointment?
Samuel gave Saul specific instruction for an unspecified future time when Saul would find himself at Gilgal involving a peace offering. The OT includes Burnt, Grain, Peace, Sin, Guilt/Trespass, and Wave Offerings to teach the Israelites reverence, submission, and commitment to God. The Peace offering was to show gratitude and that one was in peace and fellowship with God by slaying and cooking an animal without defect much the same as the Burnt offering with the exception that the person presenting the offer to could partake in eating a portion with the priest. The Sin offering mentioned in yesterday’s verses included a “certain” animal to be sacrificed for each sin, unintentional in nature, such as dirtiness, neglect, and thoughtlessness. In the Burnt offering, the animal would be slain with the sinner’s hand on the animal’s head to allow the beast to “take” the sin and show a person’s devotion to God and provide payment for sins in general. A Grain offering consisted of either fine flour with oil and frankincense, roasted kernels of corn with oil and frankincense, or baked cakes, and accompanied the Burnt offering to show honor and respect and by burning a portion on the altar that they understood what they have belongs to God. A Guilt Offering was with a ram without defect for God as well as the person offended. And, a Wave offering provided food specifically for the priests and was waved over the alter to show that what they offered, God would return.
Saul publicly shows Saul as God’s choice by use of the Urim and Thummim. Although most are pleased with Saul for his impressive size, those from Belial complain (but Saul hold’s his temper as well as a second time later). It was uncommon for Saul to speak for God and people were surprised when he prophesized (v 10:10-12) and asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” They quickly lost respect, however, as Saul’s devotion to God ends up to be something of a national joke. The signs Samuel had given Saul came to pass and Saul accepted God’s heart and disposition of mind and yet Saul was still for Saul. Mike says he likes the idea of finding a future king hiding. Just as it is good to be conscious of our unworthiness, however, it is not good to shrink from the responsibilities and services to which we are called. It is important to remember that while Saul was reborn into a new man, God never removes the endowment of free will and choice and because Saul later did not keep the commandments of God, the Spirit of God left Saul. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).
Many of Christ’s disciples were offended by the cannibalistic nature of Christ’s request to eat His body and they did not see the symbolism to spiritual eating and drinking of Christ by receiving him through belief and thusly many of his disciples deserted him (interesting that they left in verse 6:66). They also found it difficult to give up the doctrine they had been taught based on Moses, deeds, being special, and simply following some set of rules. Jesus did not deny that these things were difficult to give up and hence said that it was proof of God’s appointment if anyone believed. Just as we have heard that no one approached the Father except by the Son, v 6:44 tells us that no one can come to the son except by teaching (“hearing and learning” implying knowledge and reason as the basis for faith) by the Father. This implies some current comprehensible instructions of the Holy Spirit that ordains (and not some pre-time election). The strength of the 11 disciples that stayed true to Christ came by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). The twelve disciples stay, convinced there was no where else to go. One the most surprising things I learned when I first read the Bible didn’t really require me to read the Bible except that it didn’t dawn on me until after I had read it: there is no Gospel entitled Jesus. While every other religious leader in history knew we would get their religion wrong without detailed personal instructions, Jesus was the only one who talked about a real relationship with the Father that we could get “right” on our own. Where else could we go, indeed! Disciple simple means to follow or to learn but could include unbelievers, those who go beyond initial belief to baptism and obedience, or to the apostles. While Judas was a disciple, it is never said that he believed. Christ’s words in verse 6:64 were likely partly addressed to Judas. Similarly, Paul suggests that many that joined in communion at Corinth perished because they did not distinguish between it and a common meal without properly considering that sacrifice for sin, or which the sacrament of the Lord’s supper is a type (1 Cor 11:30). This story fits well with the lessons learned today from the book of Samuel. As some accepted God’s appointed, some did not (asking, “How will this man save us?). They were offended in him and should be slain, but how much more to our advantage is an enemy made to be a friend. “Some were fools in their rebellion; they suffered for their sins. Their appetites were gone, and death was near. ‘LORD, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.”
Jim

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
I am a person that goes to the core of things, the cause—the effects are just grass to be mowed down and managed, but the core is the key to the problem. No one just rolls out of bed one morning and commits a heinous act. Character flaws are clearly seen if one looks; but the root, the causal seed takes study. For me it is important to do self-study, if I make a misstep, a sin, I need to not just look at the sin but look at why I did what I did. What is it I believe about myself, about God about the problems I face and faced to take the action I took? Those are the types of questions I ask.
Jesus said,
The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 AMP)
We speak in three ways, our words, sprit and our gestures (body language) and what I do and what I say, when lined up, make a powerful testimony of what I truly believe about myself, about God and about those around me. What does Saul really believe about himself, what does he believe about God and about the people who he will be serving as king; or is Saul thinking the people should be serving Him.
Maybe because I’m looking at the entire picture of Saul’s life, I am now looking at him in his entirety. He began with a BANG but ended with a whimper. The things that led to that whimper are in his character right now in these verses, in these chapters. I want to study them so I can take heed of what the Apostle Paul wrote in the tenth chapter of I Corinthians,
But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did. (1 Corinthians 10:5-6 NET.)
The Children of Israel are not the only ones who had a wilderness to go through. Everyone who comes to Christ has their own desert to cross, their own tests to take; what can I learn from Saul to help take me to the next level?
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= Michelle:

What have you noticed so far about Saul’s character, Ramona? I am on the edge of my seat!
Michelle

======= Ramona:

>>What have you noticed so far about Saul’s character, Ramona?>>
Michelle, I’m still taking notes, underlining the text and going, Hmmmm! I have my subway ride back home from work to continue my pondering. I tell you what, if I get something about this, I’ll ask God to remind me to send you an e-mail. Sometimes this kind of stuff takes days.
All my blessings
Ramona

======= Vance:

Proverbs 15 (NKJV)
1
A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
~~~
When I think of Proverbs 15:1, I think of the following passages:
What Moses said in Exodus 32 (NKJV):
25
Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies),
26
then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
29
Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”
What Jesus said in Matthew 10 (NKJV):
34
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35
For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36
and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
37
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
~~
Obeying God will cause conflict, even in families. Obviously, obedience and loyalty to God are more important loyalty to family.
What does this look like?
If each member of the family surrenders to the Spirit of Christ and prays together, then each family member will voluntarily surrender to Jesus in the heart first and do His will. Then, together as a group, the glory of God can be demonstrated in a greater way as the whole group agrees and flows with the Lord.
What if members of the family oppose the one family member who is intent on seeking the Lord first and doing His will above all else? Jesus anticipated this. God through Moses and Jesus instructs us that if necessary—our enemies may be of our own household because we obey.
Proverbs 15 verses 1 – 3 are very instructive. We can have a heart to obey God and yet act in the flesh, and give a rash and harsh answer to family members or friends who do not want to do God’s will.
Or… we can trust the Lord to provide wisdom on how to respond. Wait on the Lord, and He will provide the way of wisdom: “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly…”
God will always support us, as He said, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”
~~
We see hope of later reconciliation in the Scriptures, even in Jesus’ own human family.
See Jesus’ brothers disbelieving in Him and making fun of Him in John 7 (NKJV):
1
After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
2
Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
3
His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4
For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
5
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Note how Jesus’ brothers later were praying together with others waiting for the Holy Spirit from Jesus in Acts 1 (NKJV):
14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
May we seek the Lord and fulfill His Word in our lives and trust the Lord to work in our families.
Vance

======= John:

John 6:48-58
I read the bible in a straightforward manner. And yes, that means I would understand some passages to be literal that others would not. That being said the “Bread of Life” discourse is a “spiritual” discourse. In vs. 63 Jesus says as much.
The progression
vs.29 Work of God is to believe IN the one he has sent.
vs. 35 He who comes and believes will never go hungry or thirsty.
vs. 40 Everyone who Believes IN the Son will have eternal life.
Vs 47 Jesus repeats himself (probably now in the synagouge) – he who believes has everlasting life.
Everlasting life is a spiritual concept. In the very next verse Jesus says, “I am the (or that) bread of Life” (Note the use of ego eimi or the “I AM” statement.) Bread is a metaphor.
The words used for “eat” are “phago” and “trogo”. Phago has an explicit metaphorical meaning of ” consume, take in”. Trogo is a more intense form of eating – implying “gnawing at and getting to the core”. It does not have an explicit metaphorical meaning, but since it is used in a spiritual passage, and is used to elaborate on a metaphor, I feel pretty comfortable that its use is not literal here – given the context of the passage.
vs. 56
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.”
Merrill C. Tenney has a very compact statment regarding this metaphor of “Bread of Life”:
“The metaphor of eating and drinking is the best possible figure that can be employed to express the assimilation of one body by another, the method whereby life is transferred from the eaten to the eater. The literal eating of Jesus’ flesh and the drinking of His blood were not demanded” (John, The Gospel Of Belief).
It all goes back to John 1:12-13 with the concept of all those that received him (take him in) and believed IN His Name (Jehovah is salvation) had the authority to become children of God. Co-heirs to Heaven. To know (ginosko) Him in an intimate personal way is to be ensured a place in heaven.
How do you get that intimate with Christ? By taking him in (consuming Him), feeding on Him – His words, His sprit, and metaphorically his body and blood.
This to me – is what the “Bread of Life” discourse is all about. It is a spiritual lesson about eternal life.
Just ran across this:
John 6:56
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
v. 56 It is “real” food because it gives “real” or eternal life. And, carrying the metaphor a step farther, it does that because it enables us to participate in the life of Jesus Christ himself.
John

======= John:

Below are comments by St. Augustine, Gelasius – bishop of Rome, and a couple from the Believer’s commentary on “Bread of Life” discourse
======================================================
Believe, and you have eaten already.
“Who is the bread of the Kingdom of God, but He who says, “I am the living Bread which came down from heaven?” Do not get your mouth ready, but your heart. On this occasion it was that the parable of this supper was set forth. Lo, we believe in Christ, we receive Him with faith. In receiving Him we know what to think of. We receive but little, and are nourished in the heart. It is not then what is seen, but what is believed, that feeds us. Therefore we too have not sought for that outward sense.
This is then to eat the meat, not that which perishes, but that which endures unto eternal life. To what purpose do you make ready teeth and stomach? Believe, and you have eaten already.” (Augustine, John: Tractate 25:12).
======================================================
“The sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, which we receive, is a divine thing, because by it we are made partakers of the divine-nature. Yet the substance or nature of the bread and wine does not cease. And assuredly the image and the similitude of the body and blood of Christ are celebrated in the performance of the mysteries.” Gelasius, bishop of Rome, in Jacques Paul Migne, Patrologiae Latinae, Tractatus de duabis naturis Adversus Eutychen et Nestorium 14.
======================================================
In verse 47 we read that “He who believes in Me has everlasting life.” In verse 54, we learn that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life. Now things equal to the same thing are equal to each other. To eat His flesh and to drink His blood is to believe on Him.
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
======================================================
In the bread of life discourse, our Lord began with fairly simple teaching. But as He progressed, it was apparent that the Jews were rejecting His words. The more they closed their hearts and minds to the truth, the more difficult His teaching became. Finally He talked about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. That was too much! They said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it” and they quit following Him. Rejection of the truth results in judicial blindness. Because they would not see, they came to the place where they could not see.
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer’s Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
======================================================
Amen, Amen
The NIV I think misses a great point of importance by using the phrase “I tell you the Truth”.
The KJV uses “Verily, Verily” the original word in Aramaic is “amen” – meaning so be it, or truth.
Before testimony is given in Jewish courts the witness first says “Amen” (truth) to indicate the veracity of his testimony.
On very important points Jesus does the same thing. Except he repeats it for emphasis. It would be wise to highlight all the “Verily, Verily” statements of our Lord.
John

1 Samuel 8:1-9:27 + John 6:22-42 + Psalm 106:32-48 + Proverbs 14:34-35
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – We have some great dramatic reading today in First Samuel!  Tyndale’s One Year Bible Companion today has some good food for thought to the question of Why did Israel want a king? – “1. Samuel’s sons were not fit to lead Israel 2. The 12 tribes of Israel continually had problems working together because each tribe had its own leader and territory.  It was hoped that a king would unite the tribes into one nation and one army. 3. The people wanted to be like the neighboring nations.  This is exactly what God didn’t want.  Having a king would make it easy for them to forget that God was their real leader.”  In First Samuel Chapter 8 we hear Samuel passing on God’s warning to how the king will treat the people…

Can you imagine hearing these words of Samuel if you were Saul in First Samuel 9:20 today: “And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.”  All you are doing is looking for your dad’s lost donkeys and all of the sudden you hear this from the seer!  Whew…   You know though – I will say this.  Being in relationship with God is always an adventure.  I think oftentimes we will start out on a journey to do one thing and God ends up taking us some place completely different.  Saul is about to embark on an adventure.  You and I have the opportunity to embark on an adventure with God each and every day.  I know that there are many times that God sends me into places & situations I would have never thought imaginable.  That’s the adventure of faith.  It truly is not boring!  I honestly think that life apart from God is truly boring.  The secular life is boring.  The materialistic life is boring.  If you are feeling bored these days, will you break free and wholeheartedly pursue an adventurous relationship with the Lord?

An image is below for 1 Samuel 9:11 today – “As they were climbing a hill toward the town, they met some young women coming out to draw water. So Saul and his servant asked, “Is the seer here today?”

Bible.org’s commentary on 1 Samuel’s readings today titled “Give us a King!” is at this link and commentary titled “The making of Israel’s first king” is at this link.

New Testament – Wow… verses 28 & 29 in John chapter 6 are so beautiful and simple that I think it is easy to miss the strong meaning behind this conversation between the crowd & Jesus – “They replied, “What does God want us to do?” Jesus told them, “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent.””  Check out that very last sentence.  This is what God wants you to do.  Believe.  That’s it.  It’s that simple.  Believe.  Not give away all your money to the poor.  Not do thousands of good deeds.  Not become a perfect person over night.  Just believe.  Believe.  Yeah, okay, maybe God will ask you to give away some money and do good and become better person after you believe…  🙂  But the key is first and foremost to Believe.  Do you Believe in Jesus, the One whom God sent?

And verse 35 is so powerful as well – “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst.”  Jesus saying he is the bread of life is similar to him saying he is the Door or the Vine.  Bread is a beautiful metaphor that Jesus supplies divine nourishment to us spiritually.  For me, this verse also reminds me of The Lord’s Supper in our churches today.

Bible.org’s commentary on our John chapter 6 readings today titled “The Bread of Life” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 106 verse 39 stood out to me today, speaking about the Israelites: “They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the LORD’s sight.”  I think this Psalm verse stands the test of time with our modern world today.  Do you believe that we still defile ourselves with our evil deeds today?  Do you believe that our love of idols is adultery in God’s sight?  How can we stop defiling ourselves with evil deeds and stop loving idols in our modern world today?  Who can save us from ourselves?

Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 14 verse 34 today teaches us today: “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”  This is a great reminder that godliness is not just an individual issue, but a community and even national issue.

Worship Video: The first half of Proverbs 14:34 today reminded me of the great Matt Maher song “Hold us Together:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SHXQNfib_M

Do you believe love will hold us together? Click here for Love!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  John 6:35 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that Jesus is your bread of life. Pray that through faith in Jesus you will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty. Pray you will withstand hunger or thirst in this fallen world, knowing that Jesus is your bread of life.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Do you agree with this Proverb that godliness makes a nation great?  In our recent readings in Judges, was Israel a godly nation?   Or was there sin in the nation bringing disgrace?  How about today?  Do you live in a godly nation?  Or is there sin bringing disgrace to the people?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

======= Melanie:

Still on the programme! but doing it quietly as I hadn’t had the time to blog about my reflections. 
Interesting point about the John reading today. But I was wondering, as usual, what did Jesus mean by “Belief in me” … and immediately I thought “Well, if I want to be ‘saved’, just believe.” It made me realise how me-centred my view is, so what does Jesus mean when he said believing in him is enough?
Before Jesus’ answer, the question was: What must we do to perform the works of God”
Is it a convulated (to me, hah) way of saying, “What can we do to please God? help him?”
What jumped out for me in John was Jesus’ response in v26.
“Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you at your fill of the loaves”
Of course, as usual, I’m like one of the crowd: What does he mean?
Could it be that the crowd came searching for Jesus because they knew that he was the one who call bless them with things, a ‘wish man’ of sorts?
Jesus, of course, cut to the chase and said that we shouldn’t “work for food that perishes”
Ironically, many Christians still do that.
Saul seemed like such a perfect candidate when you read this portion of OT. He didn’t seem particularly power hungry or megalomaniacal either! Goes to show appearances deceive!
Melanie

======= Rob:

i was really struck by how saul came across in the passage and what a mess of things he makes later on. i have been thinking a lot recently about people who messed up earlier on and then came good (eve, jacob, joseph) as i am preaching about this on sunday – but here is someone doing the reverse. where did it all start to go wrong and may i ‘beat my body and make it my slave lest i myself be disqualified from the prize’ as paul says in the new testament.
rob

======= John:

John 6
28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” NIV
The people ask him what works (plural) they can do.
“Those who questioned Jesus seemed sure that if only Jesus told them what to do, they could please God by their works of God. For these people, as with many people today, salvation is found in the right formula for performing works that will please God.”
Jesus corrects them. Jesus’ name means “Jehovah is salvation”. Salvation is God’s work. In this regard, there are no works (plural) for the people to perform only the work (singular) of God. Believe in the one He sent – believe what He says, believe why He is there, believe IN Him. Have faith!
[Note: Greek in text is erga (works) and ergon (work).]
Having faith does not mean one gets a free ticket to do what one wants – faith leads to a transformation of our lives.
“We become by faith, his brethren, his servants, his soldiers, his subjects, and the children of his Father in heaven. This faith is obviously no merely peripheral interest of one’s life. If you have it, it controls you! Our entire lives, therefore, are redefined, redirected, indeed, recreated, because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he came into the world to save sinners, and that those who trust in him will live forever.”
Once you have faith and are saved, then your life changes, so that we can carry out God’s works.
Eph 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
John

======= Roslyn:

“I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst.” AMEN!!!
Yes, Lord, I BELIEVE!!!
Roslyn

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
In e-mailing Anka several days ago, we both have the same philosophy, or belief, that God has a sense of humor and I believe, in these two chapters, God is showing His humor toward us. However, this humor here is not the funny Ha, Ha, humor but the funny ironic kind.
Israel is desiring a king because of there disunity, because they want to be like the other nations, because they want a central government, they want someone to uphold the laws. Funny thing if one is following the Laws of God, one wouldn’t need to have someone enforce the laws. Laws are written for those that break the law not for those who uphold the law in their hearts. If one’s heart is right then one’s actions are right.
Because I have read the Book of Samuel multiple times, I know how the story ends but I want everyone to consider Saul’s name, it’s meaning in Hebrew:
שׁאוּל
shâ’ûl
shaw-ool’
Passive participle of H7592; asked;
And the root word the name Saul was taken from:
shaw-al’, shaw-ale’
A primitive root; to inquire; by implication to request; by extension to demand:
Israel was about to get that what she demanded. Be careful what you ask for you might get it. And when you accept the cost without.
The story of Saul and some other passages in the Bible have led me to conclude, outside of God and His Christ; we get the leadership we deserve.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
P.S. Anka–Great insight!

======== Vance:

John 6 (NKJV)
34
Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
35
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
~~~
NOTE:
This is the key point of all knowledge and learning of the Scriptures. Do we know and have intimacy with the Lord Jesus?
Notice what Jesus said, “…He who comes to Me shall never hunger.”
We always have needs and we always hunger for more. That is why Jesus also said in Matthew 5 (NKJV):
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
I am to be always and constantly seeking and receiving so all of who I am is truly washed with the water of grace and filled with Christ.
May Christ truly be seen and manifest in and through our lives.
~~
We can only walk in the love of God as Jesus lives His Life through us. When people hear God’s Word in and see the Presence of Jesus in us, then many hearts will come and receive from the Water of Life.
~~~
Psalm 106 (NKJV)
39
Thus they were defiled by their own works, And played the harlot by their own deeds.
NOTE:
Either Christ is our life and sustenance or something or someone else will be. Jesus is Lord and God is the Most High.
Yet
—it still amazes me when I think about it—
my choices can determine whether I have life or death, blessing or curse.
May I enter more and more and drink deeply from the Presence of the Lord. Then I will be protected from being defiled. Then and only then will I have the pure heart that only comes from grace.
Vance

======= Ramona:

More Thoughts on Today’s Readings:
One of the common thread in both of today’s reading, Old and New is seen in I Samuel 9:20 and Jesus’ words to the crowd looking for bread and fish, John 6:26.
Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?”
(1 Samuel 9:20 NET.)
AND
Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted. (John 6:26 NET.)
Saul was the answer to the hope and dreams of Israel, but was Israel operating out of God’s desire? Just because you have a lot of people desiring you, calling for you doesn’t mean that your fulfilling their hopes and desires they way they want you to is your true purpose. Just because you have the crowd carrying you along doesn’t mean the crowd will take you where you want to go, should go. Good isn’t good unless it’s righteous.
Jesus came to this earth to feed those that were spiritually starving and He knew His purpose. He wasn’t waylaid by the desires of the crowd. They wanted to be fed so their stomachs were full; Jesus wanted their spirits feed, that was the assignment his father gave Him and that was what He purposed in His heart to do.
Our God given assignments should never be diverted and perverted by the voices of the crowd.
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= MItch:

it’s funny the details we find in the bible. for instance, why are we told how handsome saul is, but nothing about why samuels sons are so corrupt or who their mother is.
i’m really enjoying the old testament reading but would really love to have more commentary. i’ve been saturated in the new testament but am lacking in my knowledge and understanding of the old, which effects my grasp of christ and the new test regardless of how much i’ve been exposed to it. if anyone could recommend a good old test commentary for me i’d really appreciate it.
thanks,
Mitch

======= Anka:

Mitch,
Bob Deffinbaugh is a pretty good commentator on the OT…there are many others on http://www.bible.org.
Anka

======== Mitch:

anka,
thanks for the response. i’ve been following all the commentary links (most of them bible.orgs), but i guess i’m commentary greedy and want even more. i get much from bob d. but would love to have a verse by verse analysis with a heavy historical/contextual background.
Mitch

======= Mike:

Mich – the Zondervan NIV Study Bible is incredible. Great verse by verse analysis, and pretty good on the historical context w/ maps, etc. It’s online here – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0310929555/
I try to review this study Bible before posting up, but don’t always get the chance. It adds a lot to my posts when I actually do. : )
Mike

======== John:

1Samuel 8-9
All the “heroes” of the Old Testament are flawed. Samuel is a Godly man, and we have seen no real sin on his part up to now.
However, here Samuel appoints his sons as judges. God raises up judges – nowhere has it been said that a judge was to pass down leadership to family. Samuel did not consult God on this – he just did it! The results were disastorous.
======================================================
Israel desires a king.
God designed this world as a theocracy. Adam was to be God’s representative on Earth – God was the ultimate authority. Judges were raised up to deliver people from certain situations – but God was still the ultimate authority.
God provided for Israel whenever they were in fellowship with Him. He provided for all their needs. God was their king – but the people wanted a king “like all the other nations”.
This rejection of God as ruler of Israel foreshadows Israel’s rejection of Christ.
God knew that they would have a king one day – but Israel’s early cry for a king brought them Saul. If they had not cried out for a king – I believe that first king would have been David.
======================================================
Saul
Saul was from central casting – tall and good-looking -but nowhere in the verses today does it say what (if any)kind of relationship Saul had with God.
In fact the only mention of even having anything to do with God was to find the donkeys – nothing about Saul’s personal life.
Saul appears humble and modest before Samuel – will that change when Saul is elevated to power??????
John

======= John:

John 6
[IMPORTANT VERSES TO ME. Before I was saved as I was reading through this gospel, and I ran across these verses – they struck me. Never had heard anything about these verses growing up – I began to understand.]
======================================================
28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” NIV
The people ask him what works (plural) they can do.
“Those who questioned Jesus seemed sure that if only Jesus told them what to do, they could please God by their works of God. For these people, as with many people today, salvation is found in the right formula for performing works that will please God.”
Jesus corrects them. Jesus’ name means “Jehovah is salvation”. Salvation is God’s work. In this regard, there are no works (plural) for the people to perform only the work (singular) of God. Believe in the one He sent – believe what He says, believe why He is there, believe IN Him. Have faith!
[Note: Greek in text is erga (works) and ergon (work).]
Having faith does not mean one gets a free ticket to do what one wants – faith leads to a transformation of our lives.
“We become by faith, his brethren, his servants, his soldiers, his subjects, and the children of his Father in heaven. This faith is obviously no merely peripheral interest of one’s life. If you have it, it controls you! Our entire lives, therefore, are redefined, redirected, indeed, recreated, because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he came into the world to save sinners, and that those who trust in him will live forever.”
Once you have faith and are saved, then your life changes, so that we can carry out God’s works.
Eph 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
John

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17 + John 6:1-21 + Psalm 106:13-31 + Proverbs 14:32-33
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~

Old Testament – Interesting chapters in First Samuel today!  The idol Dagon was no match for the Ark of the Covenant!  You’ll notice in verse 4 that Dagon ends up in a worship position before the Ark: “And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD.”  Dagon was the “god” of the Philistines, and was thought to have been some sort of man / fish combo.  The idol of Dagon may have looked something like this:

Below is a pretty good map of that will show you where three of the Five Cities of the Philistines (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath) that we read about in today’s readings are located in the Philistine territory:

It’s fascinating to see the Philistine’s send back to Israel a “guilt offering” of golden tumors and rats with the Ark.  Not quite what was prescribed for guilt offerings in Leviticus… but, I guess you can give them an E for effort.  🙂  We read in chapter 6 verse 11 – “Then the Ark of the LORD and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart.”

 

Then we arrive at the people of Beth-shemesh who look in the ark and perish – and then the ark is sent off again to another town.  We then arrive at some wonderful words from Samuel in chapter 7 verses 3 & 4: “Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” So the Israelites destroyed their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the LORD.”  And later in verse 10 we read – “Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived for battle. But the LORD spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.”

Bible.org’s commentary on our 1 Samuel readings today titled “The hands of Dagon and the Hand of God” is at this link.

New Testament – It is very interesting to note that Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000 is the only miracle, along with the resurrection, that is described in all 4 gospels!  In John chapter 6 verse 14 we read – “When the people saw this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!””  The Prophet the crowds are referring to comes from Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 15 & 18 – “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him…. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.”

Bible.org’s commentary on our John chapter 6 readings today titled “The Messiah: Mightier than Moses” is at this link.

Psalms – Today in Psalm 106:19-21 we read: “At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt.” This of course sounds very familiar to Romans chapter 1 verses 22 and 23: “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”  Was this wise that the Israelites exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull?  Why did they do this?  What should have been their Glory? What is your Glory today?  Do you, at times, exchange your true Glory for something else?  Is this wise?  Are you forgetting the God who saved you? The God who has done great things for you?  Please don’t ever exchange the true Glory for a false idol!

Verse 13 in this Psalm also stands out: “Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn’t wait for his counsel!”  Is this true of us?  Do we forget or take for granted all of the blessings God has poured out into our lives?  In doing so, do we decide to take matters into our own hands – not waiting on God’s counsel for our direction?  Will we remember?  Will we wait?  Patiently…?

Proverbs – I really like Proverbs 14 verse 33 today – “Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart.”  I pray we all develop understanding hearts that are full of godly wisdom!

Worship Video: Today’s readings in John reminded me of Needtobreathe’s song “Testify:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCKU7kAUrvU

Have you testified? Click here to Testify!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass.”  Psalm 106:20 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will never exchange the Glory of God in your life for a useless dying idol.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  What do you think this Proverb means when it says “understanding heart”?  What is an “understanding heart”?  How is it different from other hearts?  Maybe hardened hearts or foolish hearts?  Have you ever prayed to God for an understanding heart?  Would this be a good prayer?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 5-7:17

For me this entire story of the capture of the Ark and its return can be played out today in our dealings with God either individually, as a congregation, a community and a nation. The Ark was captured because Israel used it as a “good luck” charm. It had become a symbol of God, something to carry into battle because they had lost a previous battle and not because they trusted God, they had put God in a box and kept Him there in the reasoning of their minds.

The Philistines now had the God of Israel in a box and took Him to their temple where their god, Dagon, fell before Israel’s God. [(I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear [allegiance] Isaiah 45:23); (It is written: ” ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ ” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:11-12)]

Instead of getting a clue and either being too stupid or stubborn to buy one, the Philistines kept their god and tried to reason and placate the God of Israel. Their means and methods of dealing with Israel’s God, placing it in a chart being pulled by cows that had given just given birth to calves that were not allowed to travel with them and the gold idols, were about “blind” men searching in the dark for God. In the natural new mothers don’t leave their babies. Israel took this as a sign, which it was; however, they misinterpreted the “sign” because they failed to seek God’s direction. They went by how things appeared to them instead of what God said because they failed to have fellowship with God to find out what He required, they failed to adhere to the Laws handed down by Moses so they went by it kinda-sorta-seems-like-to-me.

We still do that today. We try to keep God in a box and only bring Him out in crisis, then only to cry, “Why God, why?” When we don’t have God in our lives, His Presence, when manifested, defeats the gods in our lives and instead of asking questions and examining the reasonableness of the gods we serve, we send the true God back. When the God we say we serve out of tradition shows up in our lives in a powerful way, we then forge a worship method based on what we think we have seen instead of drawing closer to Him in fellowship to find out what He requires. We then begin to forge a worship system formed out of the ignorance of our own minds based on traditions formed from the lifestyles of unbelievers, a deadly formula.

John 6:1-21

This sentence/verse has caught my attention,
2 And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.

Am I following the pattern of the crowd? Am I following Jesus because of His miracles, because he “fed” me? Am I looking for a feeding program? When we read through the Book of Luke we came across the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16: 19-31). At the end of that story there is a punch line which was, 31″But Abraham said, `If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Signs and Wonders do not bring belief and faith, signs and wonders just make us wonder, “Hmmm” Hopefully our curiosity will send us on a journey to find “Truth.”

What the now well-fed crowd wanted was a king to keep them fed. This desire not only indicted the crowd back then but it indicts us today. We seek the “right” politician or leader not for what is right and moral but for what they can do for us and at the same time not give to the other guys living across the tracks or the other side of the political spectrum. Like us, they wanted a prophet/king to give them “stuff” but they didn’t want the Messiah part because they, like, us, don’t really want to submit to anyone however we do just want the “stuff.”

Psalm 106:13-31
24 The people refused to enter the pleasant land,
for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them.

25 Instead, they grumbled in their tents
and refused to obey the LORD.

I am always fascinated by how the readings from different books written at different times parallel and compliment each other. This division of the Book of Psalms, at least to me, clearly shows the fickleness of “us folks.”

Proverbs 14:32-33

32 The wicked are crushed by their sins, but the godly have a refuge when they die.

Our bodies were never created to withstand the weight of sin. For those who are “saved” go get a B.S. (Before Salvation) picture and one now and see the difference on your face. Salvation lifts burdens.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Anka:

Mike,
thanks for putting the links “steps to peace with God”cos I found some wonderful passages from “God can make a difference in the unknown” and “where to look in times of need”.God bless you for your labour of love.
Today’s OT reading I feel is loaded with meaning.God can’t be used,put down or mocked.We need to leave all the security blankets and throw ourselves into God’s arms.The Israelites had to be told to leave their gods aside and seek ONLY God.
I really don’t get the “they drew water out and poured it out in front of the Lord”bit but I can see that they in all sincerity turned to God in worship.The enemy chose a really bad time to strike…during a family reunion…God gave them victory because they did their part and God took care of all the rest.Our part is trusting Him and my prayers are “please teach me how to trust you,to love you”..it may sound really silly but I honesty look into my heart and it’s not pretty.
God bless you all
Anka

====== Luch:

Commenting on Psalm 106:19-21 “The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. they traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass eating ox. They forgot God…” Alas, the last three words are the ruin of many people—“they forgot God.” Everytime I read this passage I am reminded of what the famous preacher and scholar Jonathon Edwards said about “goodness”. He said, “The ultimate good in life is to treat something according to its true value.” How true. The ultimate good is to treat God according to His true infinite value, but these people chose not to, and in not treating God according to His true value, they destroyed themselves. When we fail to treat ourselves according to our true value as the ‘imago dei’–image bearers of our great God, we then also turn to lesser gods that end up destroying us over time. Aplly this principle to every relationship in your life–treat your spouse/children/friends/enemies/fellow parishiones/neighbours—according to their true value as image bearers of our Triune God. The Israelites chose as we/I do at times to ‘bow before an image made of gold” and we pay the price for our unwise choice. May God help all OYB readers to practice this discipline of treating people and God according to their true value…..

Luch

====== Michelle:

======= Jim:

The Philistines may have placed the ark in their place of worship to honor the god that had apparently abandoned their enemy, but they were certainly not ready to submit to it (being polytheists). In Canaanite mythology, enemy heads and hands were taken as trophies by the goddess Anat. The imagery here clearly shows that Yahweh and Dagon had fought and that Yahweh had been triumphant. After the return of the ark to Beth Shemesh the people were yet again under judgment for irreverence in worship and approach to a holy, righteous, and almighty God. We should consider our own seriousness when adding black lights and mood music to Sunday’s service when reading stories like these from scripture.
If the events of John chapter 5 occurred at the Feast of Tabernacles and chapter 6 was during Christ’s second Passover of John Gospel, then half a year has passed between these two chapters. Christ feeds 5,000 (only miracle recorded by all four Gospel authors except for the resurrection, although only John describes the bread as barley denoting a poor bread – reminiscent of when Elisha multiplies such loaves in 2 Kings 4:42-44) and later walks on water. The leftover food may suggest that there was also enough spiritual food to satisfy them forever (like the manna previously given in the wilderness) and the specific counting only of men may suggest four times the 5,000 in total. “Man does not live on bread alone” (Matt 4:4) because human beings are more than mere animals. Christ reminds the still spiritually immature and insensitive disciples to “not be afraid” but rather “believe” during the storms on the lake and in life. Jesus is whom sinners persecute and saints adore – nothing could be more alarming or comforting. I am often surprised to hear Jewish and Christian friends say that neither of them think they worship the same God.
During the times of Christ there was a multitude of supposed miracle workers (including those who claimed to be able to walk on water), but only Jesus focused on teaching (rather than on overthrowing the Romans – what the customers wanted). The distinction is made clear: “Jesus answered, I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” And, Jesus departed when the crowds came to take Him by force and to be their king. In the OT, Moses, Joshua, Elijah and Elisha all parted bodies of water, but only God trod upon the water (Job 9:8). After Jesus walked across the water to join them in the boat, it immediately was beamed to the shore as the Spirit did to Philip from the Gaza road in Acts (also compare with 1 Kings 18:12). Matthew tells us that Peter left the safety of the boat and began to sink when his attention was drawn away from Jesus and onto the wind. This is a great example of how those who respond to Christ’s call are still vulnerable to doubts.
In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus describes the spiritual condition of the generation of His day after saying how they would be condemned by the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:41-42). Jesus warned it is not enough just to go through the process of having one’s sins forgiven unless reformation continues and something positive is put in the now-cleaned house (where the end might prove worse than the beginning). We must replace evil with good. In our heart can reside things that produce harm (Matt 15:19) as well as be the source of good (Matt 12:35). Our “house” can be cleaned (like in Hebrews 10:22 and Acts 15:8-9) to serve God (Heb 9:14) but we are expected to “fill” our home with Christ (Ephesians 3:17), God’s peace (Colossians 3:15-16), and the law (Hebrews 8:10). Nature abhors a vacuum, though, and our good home is likely to see evil return with a vengeance! Consider the Corinthians that had been washed, sanctified, and justified (1 Cor 6:11) and yet were later engaged in sinful conduct again (2 Cor 12:20-21) or the false teachers mentioned by Peter who had been bought by the Lord (2 Pet 2:1) but had become entangled again and, “the latter end is worse for them than the beginning” (2 Pet 2:20-22). In the case of he false teachers, they had become worse by forsaking the right way (2 Pet 2:15), adultery and covetousness (2 Pet 2:14), and even denied the Lord who bought them (2 Pet 2:1). In our case, our hearts can become “hardened” (Heb 3:12-13), insult the Spirit (Heb 10:26-29), and eventually reach the point of no return (Heb 6:4-6). How important, then, that we do not let the home of our heart remain empty and thusly invite worldly things to take up residence only to discover, “the last state of that man is worse than the first!” Follow instead the example of David (Psalm 101:3-4), renew your understanding (Romans 12:1-2), study God’s word (1 Pet 2:1-2), allow yourself to be filled with the Spirit (Colossians 3:16), be selective about your environment (Philippians 4:8), and chose friends carefully (1 Cor 15:33, Prov 13:20, 2 Cor 6:14-7:1).
I seemed to provide conflicting opinions yesterday when suggesting that we should focus less on other’s sins and more on our own and then saying that we should also focus less on our own sins as well. This is because I think we should focus on grace (or forgiveness for our sins – not others). Christ did not suggest we first pray, “God stop me” but “God, be merciful to me.” People often assert high grades on unselfishness and pronounce their health and wealth as the just reward (since, “what goes around, comes around”). All of the students in one of my college classes, for example, once even claimed their choices in life were honest and selfless no less than either 90% to 100% of the time. Persons of great spirituality (like Mother Teresa), on the other hand, state that they know their decisions are SELFISH 100% of the time. Apostle Paul even said, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7:18) Psalm 106 is specifically about God’s people forgetting His mercies and calls for the praise of God despite these short memories. “Remember me” seems based on the remembrance of Israel’s history in the previous Psalm and is a strong contrast with “they soon forgot.” We read last week the most famous line of the Bible that starts, “For He so loved the world…” How would you finish the sentence, For the world so loved their God … ? “We have sinned with our fathers,” “They soon forgot,” “He gave them their request,” the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, the story of the golf calf, “they despised the pleasant land,” and so forth is about the great need for community penitence for forgetting. There isa long history of rebellion in the face of God’s love and provision even though He has always remained faithful.https://widgets.wp.com/likes/#blog_id=247928091&comment_id=100895&origin=bibleinayearblog.com&obj_id=247928091-100895-69feb564eb250
Jim

======= Chris:

I’m keeping up here with everyone. I must say that I am becoming very educated while I’m on this journey and at the same time, I’m wondering what took me so long to actually read the Bible.
I find it comforting while at the same time seeing many parallels between then and now and human nature. As I continue to read, I ask myself are we so different now? The killing that occurred, take of countries, towns, cities, leaving no one alive…
Then jumping ahead to actually visualize Jesus speaking and trying to connect this.
I have asked myself these questions:
Are we as human beings so different now than they were back then?
And how can I as one person make a difference?
And how can we all as a community make a difference?
It seems we keep making the same mistakes over and over again, taking one step forward and two back.
I’ve never been closer to God than I am today, even though at times I am a bit confused by it all, but I suppose that, too, will become clearer to me.
Judges was a real eye-opener, especially at the end.
I do know that the more I read the more strength I draw and the more determined I am to make right my life and to adhere to God’s teachings and to share that with my family by living that way.
I ask myself questions and I am finding the answers.
Thanks for taking so much of your time to share with us your views and opinilons, and the questions you ask to ask ourselves.
You’ve got me thinking!
Chris

======= Vance:

I Samuel 5 (NKJV)
6
But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.
7
And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”
8
Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
19
Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
20
And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?”
21
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”
1 Samuel 7 (NKJV)
1
Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
~~~
NOTE:
I really like this very timely, ever real question and challenge by Mike:
“What is your Glory today? Do you, at times, exchange your true Glory for something else? Is this wise? Are you forgetting the God who saved you? The God who has done great things for you? Please don’t ever exchange the true Glory for a false idol.”
An idol is not just something physical, like a statue of the Buddha or one of the thousands of Indian gods and goddesses.
It is so easy to develop an idol inside the heart which no one but the Lord can see. God’s Word can reveal to us what God sees within us as we wait in His Presence.
I am taking more time to wait in God’s Presence, sing and praise Him. God gave me the ability to play guitar and to sing. The guitar helps me sing and pray through my joys and sorrows.
~~~
Note that even when worshiping the true and living God, we must follow His instructions and worship the way that He tells us. Note what may be considered the “severity of God” as the holiness of God’s Presence weighed heavily on the Philistines (I Samuel 6, verses 6 – 8, 19 and 20).
This makes me think of something Charles Spurgeon said when questioned about God’s mercy and judgment. I do not remember the exact quote, but he said they were twin sisters – both glorifying the Lord.
God is holy. We need to be holy. We can only be holy as we wait in the Presence of the Holy One and allow Him to place His Word into our lives. We can, and our spiritual life longs for us to, meditate on His Word as we wait in His holy Presence.
This makes me think of these verses I have been meditating on with guitar and song:
Psalm 101 (NKJV)
1
I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2
I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Vance

======= John:

John 6
Feeding of five thousand
Greater than the last:
Water into wine for a wedding gathering, healings for individuals – witnessed by household and the other by temple occupants.
This miracle was in front of 5,000 – 20,000 people.
Previous miracles dealt with existing constraints – only a certain number of water jars, and illness in an individual.
This miracle had no constraints the food would go out to as many as would receive it – whether that was 20,000 or a million. And there would still be food (grace) left over.
Allusion to Moses is strong in this chapter, and will be expounded on later by Jesus. Moses prayed and manna came down from heaven. Jesus came down from heaven, prayed, and food was available to the people. The miracle sets up Jesus’ next discourse on the “bread of life”. Remember Bethlehem was translated : “House of Bread”.
Walking on Water
A month ago a professor at F.S.U. just “threw out there” that the region had experianced freezing temperatures and ice may have been formed on top of the water.
Professor Nof said: “We leave to others the question of whether or not our research explains the biblical account.”
And the media ran with it in the usual run-up to Easter that has become so common of late.
Must have been cold on the mount when people were being fed : ) Heck of a cold front that would freeze a stream of fresh water 3 and a half miles out to the boat, so that not only Jesus walked on it, but Peter as well. Pretty neat that the boat just happened to be at the end of the fresh water ice. Course Peter must have hit a thin patch of ice when he sunk.
[SIGH!]
Man, particularly non-believers, can not rest until they find an explanation of things that make sense to them. “That works for them” (How many times do we hear that phrase?)
[referring to media here and not so much the professor]
Random notes on Walking on Water:
They were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water. Why? Up to now they had been present at other miracles and being comfortable in presence of Jesus had seen them unfold. This miracle came out of the blue and was directed at them.
How many times in Bible did angels suddenly appear and tell people “be not afraid”. The supernatural scares people when suddenly confronted with it with no warning or warm convivial build-up (just my opinion).
Jesus for the second time that I recall in John uses “ego eimi” or the “I am” phrase, and like the angels tells the disciples to not be afraid.
The disciples willingly take him in – the same Greek word as in John 1:12 – Gk. “lambano”: receive him. And immediately the boat reached shore.
Pretty neat capsule picture for “salvation”. Life in sin is a nasty storm, but if you believe in him and “take Him in” you will straightaway reach your destination. Does not mean the storms will subside or life will get all smooth and happy.
Your destination. It is like Andrew posted yesterday from Ephesians 2:6. The Greek verb construct is: we are already there (in heaven) raised up and seated with Christ. That is our destination to which we immediately come to upon salvation.
John

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
What do I do when confronted with the undeniable power of God? Do I place Him amongst all my other gods? Do I scratch my head and ponder when the false gods I have erected bow down to the One True Living God loosing their heads and hands? What do I do when faced with the Truth of who God is? That is the question of the day.
The Philistines, who had no relationship with God, use magic, superstition and magical thinking to try to understand the God of Israel. They may be excused in their handling of the things of God, after all they were not given His commands. However, they cannot be excused for their continual worship of their false gods after seeing the devastation and destruction that came upon the people. They served and worshiped a weak god. What is so troubling to me is this: In the face of the power of God, they chose to get rid of Him instead of finding out who He was. They new He was powerful, yet still didn’t want Him. They desired gods that they could carry around, the desired images that allowed them to project their thoughts, their religious systems upon inanimate objects. How far off from the Philistines are we today?
Now God’s people and their reaction to the return of the Arc is another matter. Here we have a people who have been chosen by God to be His people, yet they utterly treat with contempt and familiarity, the things of God. They gave Him no honor, no respect and no reverence.
In the John passage, we have Jesus feeding more than five thousand people. We know there were more than five thousand because only the men were counted. Not only were the people fed, they had been healed and taught the Word of God, and yet, what was their reaction. They wanted to take Jesus and make Him king. The problem with giving anyone your stamp of approval, including God, is that then we want to tell them or Him how they should operate because after all didn’t we make “Him” king.
There is a common thread in today’s Old and New Testament reading and it is this: what do we doing with the information we have about God? Are we operating out of assumptions (ass-u-me), which is the lowest form of communication when it comes to the things of God and God Himself? Are we making up our own rules and regulations, like the Pharisees, and saying these are the laws of God? When God’s mighty power manifests in our lives, are we pushing it away instead of making a heart felt inquiry. How am I handling God and the things He has created, after all He created me!
Grace and peace,
Ramona

======= John:

1 Samuel 5-7:17
Israel Turns Back to the Lord
In Chapter 7 – as Samuel instructed, Israel threw away their false idols. Like back in judges – people turned to God and acknowledged their sin. they acknowledged God’s chosen one for leadership, Samuel, and sacrifices were conducted.
When their hearts were right towards the Lord – God delivered them from the Philistines and their was a time of peace.
======================================================
Is it any different for a believer today?
When we sin and do not go to God – and keep sinning for a period of time. God seems silent – out of our lives. He is still active in our lives, but we do not feel His prescence.
How is this rectified? Like Israel we are to throw out our false idols (sins) – literally or figuratively. Acknowledge we have sinned, and go to our mediator – Jesus Christ and offer prayers to God for forgiveness and restoration of “fellowship”.
The result: Just as Israel is God’s “chosen people” – we are, as believers, God’s “chosen people”. We will be forgiven (not of sins as that happened on the cross) but of “grieving God” and restored in fellowship.
God will then become closer to us, work in our lives, and we will be at peace for a time (until the next bout of sinning).
The goal – for sinning to occur less and less frequently as we mature as Christinas in the image of Christ.
John

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22 + John 5:24-47 + Psalm 106:1-12 + Proverbs 14:30-31
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Old Testament – First Samuel chapter 2 verse 25 stood out to me today when Eli says to his sons – “If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede?”  This is an interesting thing to consider.  When we sin, are we sinning against other people and/or against God?  I think generally speaking the answer is both.  I have heard a pastor teach that “nobody sins in a vacuum.”   Not a literal vacuum of course :), but a “vacuum” meaning that your sin only affects you and you alone.  This pastor went on to say that when we sin – even when we are alone – we end up affecting everyone else around us in our lives in some way.  We may not consciously see how this happens, but our sin affects how we will treat others in the near future.  So, it seems to me that when we sin we pretty much always sin against others, because we’re in one sense letting down the community of people around us and we will behave differently to our community around us because of our sin.  Now, in terms of sinning against God, I always think of Psalm 51 where David writes to God – “against you and you alone have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”  I think this is true as well – any sin we commit is a sin against God.  It is interesting that David uses the term “you alone” about his sin.  But, obviously, David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba affected the community around him in a big way.  So, all this to say – I believe that when we sin we are sinning against God and the community of people in our lives at the same time.  Eli asks in this verse above, “who can intercede for our sins against God?”  Well, at that time, that was a very good question.  However, in our time Jesus can and does intercede for our sins against God – if we’ll ask him.  We simply need to confess our sins to Jesus and ask for forgiveness and repent – in faith that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  We are so very fortunate that we have someone – Jesus – who can intercede for our sins…  This is why Jesus is called Savior.  Jesus Saves us from our sins.  Has Jesus saved you from your sins?

An awesome image is below for 1 Samuel 3:10 – “And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Yes, your servant is listening.”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s 1 Samuel readings titled “Samuel and the sons of Belial” is at this link.  Commentary titled “The Rise of Samuel and the fall of Eli and Sons” is at this link. 

New Testament – I am intrigued by Jesus’ words in John chapter 5 verse 30 today, particularly in light of the book of Judges that we recently read, which was a dark time in Israel’s history – “But I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own.”  I love that Jesus says his judgment is absolutely just.  And I believe this is true – 1. that Jesus will judge us and that 2. his judgment is just.  I think this is both something to be celebrated – there is no one else I would want to judge me… – and I think this can be sobering – if his judgment is absolutely just, then it is obvious that we cannot “sneak” anything by Jesus.  Everything we have ever done or will do will be judged by Jesus.  I think ultimately it is very healthy to recognize this.  Maybe initially this realization will keep us from sinning because of some fear of judgment – but ideally this realization matures into a love for Jesus that encourages us not to sin because we would not want to disappoint Jesus whom we love with all that we are.  Do you believe that Jesus is your judge?  Do you believe that Jesus will judge you absolutely justly?

Bible.org’s commentary on John chapter 5’s readings today titled “Like Father, Like Son” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 106 is a repentant Psalm, likely written by a Levitical priest after returning to Jerusalem after its destruction.  Verse 2 stood out to me today – “Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise him half enough?”  Can you list all of the glorious miracles of God?  Can anyone?  Are you praising God today?  Every day?

Verse 3 is powerful- “Happy are those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.” I think this is such an important thing to know – we will be happy when we deal justly with others and when we do what is right.  This is happiness.  Not money or fame or power or luxuries.  Dealing justly with others and doing what is right is happiness.  So, Biblically, are you happy?

Proverbs – Today in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 31 we read – “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Those of you that have been journeying through the One Year Bible with me this year know that I like to point out verses like these. I believe it is crystal clear in the Bible that God cares about the poor and instructs us to care for the poor. I’m sure we all have differing views on what this might look like logistically, and that’s fine. But, I think it’s really an issue of the heart.

Worship Video: Today’s Proverb 14:31 about being kind to the poor reminded me of the Chasen song and this powerful video for “On and On:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqh9sHTXcAI

Do you believe in Miracles? Click here for a Miracle!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”  Proverbs 14:31 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are kind to the poor and needy. Pray that you are not showing contempt for God by oppressing the poor. Pray to love your neighbor as yourself.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on today’s Proverb, do you care for the poor? Really – “care,” in your heart, for the poor?  What are some ways in your life that you are caring for the poor on a consistent basis?  Do you believe that God cares for the poor?  Do you believe that God instructs us to care for the poor?  Why?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22

I have heard it stated but I never, until today’s reading, saw it in scripture: God always warns us of impending judgment BEFORE judgment comes. Eli has been warned continually of his son’s behavior and does nothing about it. As High Priest, his responsibility was to teach the nation, yet he failed to even teach his sons. He may have rebuked them verbally but he never disciplined them. . But I believe the worst thing he committed was gorging himself on the fruit of his son’s misbehavior, stealing the sacrifices the people brought to the alter. Eli sent out mixed messages, what he said with his words was drowned out by the decibel level of his actions. He profited from his sons’ behavior and they new it, dulling the impact of his rebukes.

A man of God came to Eli and said to him, Thus has the Lord said: I plainly revealed Myself to the house of your father [forefather Aaron] when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh’s house. Moreover, I selected him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer on My altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before Me. And I gave [from then on] to the house of your father [forefather] all the offerings of the Israelites made by fire. Why then do you kick [trample upon, treat with contempt] My sacrifice and My offering which I commanded, and honor your sons above Me by fattening yourselves upon the choicest part of every offering of My people Israel? (1 Samuel 2:27-29 AMP)

As we read on, we find this message delivered by the prophet wasn’t the first time Eli heard from God about his sons and him benefiting from his sons’ actions,

The Lord told Samuel, Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of all who hear it shall tingle. On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. And I [now] announce to him that I will judge and punish his house forever for the iniquity of which he knew, for his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves [blaspheming God], and he did not restrain them. (1 Samuel 3:11-13 AMP)

I am wondering if I am seeing a pattern of how God operates. His warnings are first personal, maybe told to us in our prayer time or in dreams while we sleep. Then His warning is brought by a man of God, a prophet or other “church” worker. Finally a warning is made public in a public place, or house of worship, by someone who we are mentoring or someone who looks up to us. Then lastly, judgment comes.

My question to myself is this: How many warnings have I “blown off?” What has God been trying to get my attention about? Can I handle the embarrassment of being exposed in a public form? I think not.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Anka:

Where sin increased,grace increased even more:Aaron’s sons were struck dead as soon as they took “strange fire”into the temple yet Eli’s sons sinned again and again without immediate judgement from God.Yet Aaron’s line continued in priesthood while Eli’s didn’t.Really don’t know where I’m going with this but it was the first thing that struck me as I was reading.When i think of judgement,I think we that have so much more knowlege and mercy will be judged according to how many chances to repent we’ve had.
Can leaders lead us astray?Eli and his sons did.They let Israel offer sacrifices that were not acceptable to God,the priests lived in sin.Today as Christians we have to realise that leaders are to be prayed for…and thank God we have the Holy Spirit to lead us out of an unhealthy gathering…
God bless you all

Anka

====== Jim:

Every time I read a verse in dealing with the poor, I feel a pang of conviction. My job brings me into contact with the poor and for the most part their circumstances are the result of life style choices, drugs, alcohol, mental disorders and just plain bad luck. What I’m saying is I have been guilty of dealing harshly with the poor only because it is easy to judge others who are in poorer circumstances then yourself. God has convicted me on this many times and I have been slow to change, but I am thankful that God is patient with me. God knows every poor person’s life from cradle to grave and all of the circumstances surrounding it. Who am I to judge these people? I’m but one back injury away from descending into povery. I keep in mind to treat all the poor with compassion and dignity and try to keep them in my prayers at all times. It certainly is not easy, but where I fail, God is victorious.
Thanks,
Jim

====== Vance:

====== Jim:

Samuel is considered the last of the Judges and the first of the prophets who was chosen by God to succeed Eli because his sons had become corrupt beyond hope and he turned the people away from their gross idolatry and led them to final victory over the Philistines (what Samson should have done). He took the country from loosely associated tribes led by local judges to a unified nation led by kings. When he became old, however, he sons (like those of Eli) were also far short of their father’s integrity and the people demanded a king for powerful armies “such as all the other nations have.” They still could not see the connection between their successes or failures and being faithful to God. God even warned them that death and taxes would become the norm, and yet they still wanted the idol symbols of human power. Here is a prophesy likely of Saul’s massacre of the priests at Nob (with Abiathar a descendant of Eli as the only survivor as per v.33 who as David’s faithful priest was banished by Solomon to permit only Zadok to be the only high priest, as per Ezek 44:15, all the way into the millennial temple, which further fed the 2/10 tribe Israel / Judah divide with differing pastoral loyalties) as well of Christ as the ultimate priest and king. “A heart at peace give life to the body.”
Like the Sanhedrin, the sins of Eli’s sons were intentional as they “made themselves contemptible.” They both acted arrogantly in full knowledge that what they did was wrong with utter contempt for God and His Law. Even the unintentional sin of a priest could be atoned for by a sacrifice as per Leviticus 4:3-12, but there was no sacrifice for any person’s willful violation of the spirit of God’s laws. It is said that Jesus removed all sin, but likewise He does not wash clean the consequences of intentional sin against the Spirit. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 31-32) Abraham was not only elderly but a liar, Jacob (meaning deceiver) was anxious and a cheat, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was physically abused, Moses had a speech impediment and was disobedient, Noah got drunk, Gideon was underprivileged, Samson was codependent, Rahab was depraved, David was an adulterous murderer, Elijah was afraid and suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was unwilling, Peter was impulsive (and guilty of denial), Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas was doubtful, Timothy was timid, and Paul was overweight and of poor health. The Bible contains quit a collection of misfits and even though they were sometimes chastised, they never lost their intimate relationship with God. God had a use for each of them (without “fixing” them with self-help philosophy or letting their sinful nature get in the way) that justified them. This was not the case for Eli’s sons, “the guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”
Too often I hear sermons on “raising the bar” of expectations for Christians. The phrase “raising the bar” brings fear into the heart of sailors as it refers to the raising of the sand bar at the mouth of a river that makes the trip to the open ocean all the more dangerous. The phrase likewise brings fear into the heart of any true believer because it only increases the divide between the Shepard and His sheep. Judas “raised the bar” for himself too high to be saved just like religious leaders often hypocritically attack the behavior of others without looking within – too often sermons talk about “them” instead of “us” or “me” when talking about sin. Everything we naturally might do, feel, and think must be given up, so that “none can boast.” Evangelistic focus, IMHO, should thusly be more on lowering the bar. Even though Samuel and Eli’s sons were raised in positions of privilege, their lives strongly contrasted. Only one honored God and was honored by Him. Samuel’s first message of divine judgment was on the very house of Eli (most prophets were not popular in their own time) – how rare it would be to hear a sermon of divine judgment on one’s very own congregation. “But envy rots the bones.”
Christ said in Luke 18:13 that only those who believe they have a poor relationship with Him actually have a right one. Christ suggested we should always pray, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” Just as Christ ascended from Bethany in which his sufferings first began, those that would go to heaven must ascend from the house of sufferings and sorrows. Jesus bids that all bear their cross in the way of duty in Luke 14:27. Satan, however, always accepts us the way we are, never asks us to work or grow, and we never have to ask. The only problem is that members of his household end up dead, like a plant or animal without proper care, in much the same way that helping a butterfly past the natural struggle out of its cocoon will only keep it from ever flying (without the blood being pushed out into the wings). “Faith is not what today is so often called a ‘mystical experience,’ something that can apparently be induced by the proper breathing exercises or by prolonged exposure to Bach (not to mention drugs). It can be attained only through despair, through suffering, through a painful and ceaseless struggle.” – Peter F. Drucker
The Israeli army superstitiously assumed that taking the ark would guarantee success, but instead their forces are crushed (but not routed), their priests killed, and the ark lost and placed before the Philistine idol (which later falls to the ground and loses it head and later hands before the ark while the nearby people are stricken with tumors). God’s chosen constantly suffer loses while never being defeated (the Canaanites, for example, no longer exist) because it was always God and not religious relics that counted. Recent excavation suggest that Shiloh was destroyed around 1050 BC, possibly by a Philistine raid after the battle in v. 4:3 (also see Jeremiah 7:12) as punishment for their sins. Eli’s dying daughter-in-law saw the defeat, priestly deaths, and the lose of the ark as total ruin, but these events were in fact only purging judgments that ended a dark era and ushered in a new age of hope. We should remember the battle of Aphek whenever things may look their darkest – God may be preparing a great work in and through us. Also remember, though, that life for the Israelites was made worse by their self-serving worship and prayer. Prayer and worship, when done only to elevate ourselves, can make things worse. It is an awful thing to trifle with God. “We have sinned, even as our fathers did.”
Christ made it clear that it is belief that brings life and sin that condemns and kills. Christ mentions in 5:29 the first and second resurrections of Revelation. Revelation 20:5 says, “The rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” Those that experience the FIRST resurrection and live a thousand years with Christ are exempt from the second death (the lake of fire). The numbering of resurrections is because there will be a second one when those from the Pit (whom Jesus will later preach to when gone for three days after His crucifixion), including Satan (locked there for the millennium), will live on Earth again. The OT similarly tells that all will end up in Sheol (which Christ describes with a great divide between two judgments) with a potential salvation in a “world to come” (that some Jews believe will be ruled by David as the King of Kings). There are three kinds of life: 1) the natural life of soul and body, 2) the spiritual life of God and soul, and 3) the eternal life of the communal body and God. Those that hear the voice of the son of God shall wake from the dust, from sin, and receive eternal life in the body of Christ.
Jesus adds to His witness the testimony of John the Baptist because after the Cain / Abel murder investigation, God degreed that only the testimony of two or more should be believed, but Christ had no need of John’s testimony as He already had the greatest testimony of the Father (and His own works). Christ is saying in v 5:41 (and 43) that He acted through neither self-interest nor vanity (as our salvation adds nothing to Him and our destruction takes nothing away), He only spoke through His love for our salvation. On the other hand, Christ adds in v 5:42 (and 44) that the Jews were just the opposite with neither love nor zeal for God but that incorrigible ignorance and malicious jealously filled their hearts – condemned not by Jesus, but by the Law. It appears the Lord shut these Jews up as they went away without replying. The Pharisees were like the Philistines who accepted Yahweh but would not submit to Him. “Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise?”
Escaped slave, Frederick Douglass, wrote the following about the nineteenth century American Christian church, “Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest, possible difference–so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who robs me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of life, and the path of salvation. He who sells my sister, for purposes of prostitution, stands forth as the pious advocate of purity. He who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me. We see the thief preaching against theft, and the adulterer against adultery.”
Jim

======= Andrew:

Re Mike’s questions on judgement:
Yesterday I read a less-than-ten-word summary of the Christian message: “We’re all bastards but God loves us anyway.”
Sure, we will all come before the judgement throne. But there is nothing we can do out of our own righteousness which will make us appear acceptable there. As reflected in today’s Psalm – we are saved from condemnation and damnation by the grace of God.
Blessings,
Andrew

======= Andrew:

Re Jim and Ramona on people in poverty and choices:
remember that the liberal capitalist economic system we have chosen to run depends on keeping a section of the population in poverty.
Greetings,
Andrew

======= Ramona:

Andrew,
That may be but you don’t have to play their game, or you can become a better player. Besides, Jesus said the poor we will have always, at lest until Jesus returns.
It is one thing to be poor because of social injustice, it is another thing to choose to be poor because of bad choices and not knowing your true value.
Ramona

======= John:

John 5:29
For the last year I have led a Bible study on the Gospel of John. The leadership position came by default – as no one else wanted to lead the weekly discussions. The group is made up of several denominations of Christian faith.
Verse 29 provided some lively discussion as some people staked a claim based on this verse that good works will lead to heaven.
John 5:29
“and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” NIV
This shows the danger of taking verses in isolation. I found a couple of paragraphs from a sermon that talks about verse 29.
[Our old theologians used to say that you can distinguish justification (the forgiveness of sins) from sanctification (the purification of our lives) but you cannot separate them. They always go together. Anyone whose sins are forgiven will live a godly life because God only forgives the sins of those whose lives he intends to transform. That is why the Bible teaches us that we cannot claim to be forgiven if we are not, at the same time, living a righteous life. In this world, of course, our righteousness is deeply imperfect to be sure, but still, that is the way the Bible always speaks. “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10)
We want to qualify that statement. We want to hurry on somehow to take the bite and the sting out of that statement made by the same apostle who wrote the Gospel we are reading these Sunday mornings. We do not like to hear such definitive pronouncements about the absolute necessity of obedience if we are to stand in the judgment of God. But such statements are everywhere in the Bible. We meet them at every turn. God’s people will be righteous people, obedient people. They will serve the Lord. People who do not and will not are not God’s people no matter how vigorously they protest their loyalty to him. Which is why those who do good will rise to live and those who do evil will rise to be condemned.]
“God’s people will be righteous people, obedient people. They will serve the Lord. People who do not and will not are not God’s people no matter how vigorously they protest their loyalty to him.” – from end of sermon notes.
Goes hand in hand with Matt 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” NIV
The will of the Father is that we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior/Redeemer. That we Believe in HIM. That we Receive HIM.
Again the “knew” Christ speaks of is Gk. -“ginosko” – an intimate knowledge where Christ and the person are one, with you abiding in Christ and He in you. If you do nto have this intimate relationship with Christ, then nothing you do on your own will be good enough. It will be rooted in your will and what you think is right. Not in the Will of God.
I often lift up a prayer to God that people who desire to walk a righteous path would first realize that they need to Believe IN and Receive Christ. If not – they will go the way of non-believers in verse 23 of Matthew.
Can man sin against man and/or God?
I thought that was a good question. My first inclination was all sin is against God.
My reasoning. Man cannot forgive sin. He can forgive offences, debts, etc. But only God can forgive sin. Therefore Sin can only be against God.
They are his rules, his righteous way of living – when we break HIS rules we sin against HIM.
John

======= John:

John 5:24-47
Quick hits
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24 NIV
What is Jesus’word – that you believe in Him (and receive Him) who was sent. If you do that and acknowledge it is the Father who sent Jesus then…
According to the Greek tenses – present active indicative – you have and will always have “eternal life” – You have crossed over – [Perfect active indicative – completed action because you have eternal life] – from death to life.
======================================================
Another way to look at verse 29 is those who have done good – listened, heeded and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Those who did evil rejected Christ – may have listened, but did not heed His words and are condemned.
Remember what happened to all the people in the OT who rejected the One True God – the sentence is death. It is the same here – except this is eternal separation from God.
======================================================
Testimonies To Chirst
– John the Baptist
– Jesus’ signs and wonders – the new beliver – the crippled man from the pool of Behthesda may have been standing in their midsts as Jesus spoke.
– The Father through the Holy Spirit. The ones who reject Jesus’ word never get this testimony. But the ones who have come to believe have been moved by the Holy Spirit.
– Scripture. It points to Christ – but they refuse to come to Him. If they do not believe Scripture (God’s Word) that points to Christ – they never will believe wht Christ (the Word) says.
Why?
Jesus points it out at the end of the readings:
PRIDE
It is pride that universally always keeps one from coming to Christ.
‘That is not the way I understand it. That is not the way I was raised. What you say is different than what I believe. That does not make sense to me. My friends agree with me, and we do not believe what you say. The authorities and media do not agree with you (Jesus). That is not what I was taught in school. Smart people do not fall for such a path to God.’
Unless one humbles himself and gets rid of all the “I’s and me’s” concerning Salvation, they will never heed Jesus’ words.
Unless one is humble and comes to God recognizing there is nothing they can bring to the table – heck, they can’t even get to the table – to impress God enough to get into heaven – they are condemned.
Unless one is humble, recognizes man’s sinful nature and repents to God with a right heart – there is no hope of salvation.
One must be in this state to be able to hear and heed Jesus’ words. Only then can one believe in Him and receive Him and have (right now) eternal life.
John

======= John:

1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
Quick hits
The sons of Eli were “wicked” – they appropriated the sacrificial offerings for themselves and had their way with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of meeting (tabernacle). They did what the Canaanite priests did – they had learned well. They did not listen to their father in his old age – as they had never been restrained from youth and had become wicked.
Meanwhile:
“And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men.”
[Note the similarity to what is said about Jesus in his youth.]
======================================================
Prophecy Against the House of Eli
Eli was “heavy” and so while he may have talked about stopping their activity – it seems implied here that Eli went ahead and ate richly from the food appropriated by his sons.
While an Ok high priest (and judge) – Eli was not able to restrain his sons thereby corrupting the priesthood.
Prophet says and the Lord later affirms to Samuel – the line of priests would be replaced, those not killed immediately would never live past their prime, and Eli’s sons and Eli himself would die on the same day.
The new priestly line would begin with Zadok during David’s reign.
======================================================
The LORD Calls Samuel
God had been silent throughout the end of Judges and has been silent here in opening of 1 Samuel. God has been active and personal like He always is – but His Word (through prophets) has been absent. That is going to change now.
“One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 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..”
[Some possible spiritual metaphors here – Eli’s sight may be metaphor for his spiritual strength was waning. Lamp not gone out – may have been foreshadowing the capture of the ark. the glory departing from Israel.]
Eli’s sons had no regard for the Lord. Samuel did not yet know the Lord – but he would. Precedent for Samuel sleeping in the tent was seen before when Joshua slept there with Moses.
“the LORD was with Samuel as he grew up,” and God kept His Word (as He always does.)
God started speaking to Israel again through Samuel and it went out to all Israel. God revealed himself to Samuel through His Word.
======================================================
The Philistines Capture the Ark
-God is never consulted.
-Wicked men (Eli’s sons) accompany the ark.
– Bad theology and bad history by the Philistines regarding ‘”gods” and the plagues in the desert’. this is always the case when people do not know God – they do not get it right.
– Eli and his sons die – prophecy beginning to be fulfilled.
– The “glory” has departed from Israel. The Lamp is now out.
John

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21 + John 5:1-23 + Psalm 105:37-45 + Proverbs 14:28-29
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Old Testament – Today we begin the book of First Samuel! This is an amazing book of the Bible. I cannot wait to read about Hannah, Samuel, Saul & David!  Below is an image of Samuel anointing Saul, which we will read about later this week:

First Samuel
Author: Unknown
Date: Probably tenth century B.C.
Content: The books of First and Second Samuel comprise one book in the Hebrew Bible because they form one continuous history covering the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David. They were separated into two books for convenience for reading. First Samuel deals with the Philistine wars and Saul’s ultimate failure to deal with the enemy. The book opens with Israel’s being oppressed by the Philistines (a war-like neighboring nation) and the emergence of the two early leaders, Samuel and Saul. Samuel was the religious leader and Saul ultimately became the king. Saul’s early victories are described, followed by his moral decline and tragic end. Balancing the decline of Saul is the rise of the youthful David who will assume leadership after the death of Saul.
Theme: The basic idea that pervades this book is that God does not make his people immune to the changes of human life, but give them grace to see things through to a satisfactory conclusion. The rise and fall of kings, times of peace and war – throughout it all God stays the same and controls human events in such a way that those who trust him will find comfort and the courage to endure. (Above commentary is from “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 5)

More commentary on First Samuel from Bible.org is at this link.
Here’s a great quote from this link: “One might conclude from reading the Book of Judges that the problem was the absence of a king in Israel: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). In First Samuel, Israel will get her king. Saul, Israel’s first king, will be the kind of king the people want, and prove to be the king Israel deserves. David, Israel’s second king, will replace Saul. He is God’s kind of king, a man after God’s heart. First Samuel tells the story of fascinating people like Hannah and Samuel, like Saul and David. There is never a dull moment in this masterfully well written history. The book closes with the death of Saul, and thus the end of David’s flight from the hand of Saul, who seeks to kill him as an enemy.”

Bible Project:  Here is a great video overview of the book of First Samuel!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOju5Dw0V0

Below is a great image for First Samuel chapter 1 verses 24 through 28 today where we read: “When the child was weaned, Hannah took him to the Tabernacle in Shiloh. They brought along a three-year-old bull for the sacrifice and half a bushel of flour and some wine. After sacrificing the bull, they took the child to Eli. “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the LORD. I asked the LORD to give me this child, and he has given me my request. Now I am giving him to the LORD, and he will belong to the LORD his whole life.” And they worshiped the LORD there.”

Today in First Samuel chapter 2 we read the incredible Prayer of Hannah! In verse 2 we read: “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” This prayer of praise from Hannah really stands out to me these days. Oftentimes I think I “forget” that there is no one holy like the Lord – and I start to seek from other sources what I should only be seeking from God. I have come to realize more than ever lately that if I am feeling a strong emotion or need, I need to really reflect on that emotion or need and ask myself if God can satisfy or quench or dispel that emotion or need. The answer is always an unfailing and beautiful YES. There is no other person, place or being that will always be there for us – that will always be our Rock – that is perfectly consistent – besides God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is holy and his holiness can take care of any emotion or need that comes up in our lives. We need to turn it over to him and trust in Him. How about you? Do you sometimes “forget” that God is holy? Do you sometimes seek from other sources what you should only be seeking from God? Do you believe that God can satisfy or quench or dispel any emotion or need that comes up in your life? Is God your Rock? Do you believe there is no one holy like the Lord?  Below is a great painting of Hannah and her prayer!

Bible.org’s commentary on our readings today in First Samuel titled “The Son and the Psalm of Hannah” is at this link.

New Testament – I’m not sure if you noticed this unique thing about Jesus’ healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda today – the man did not seem to have faith in Jesus or know who Jesus was!  You’ll recall with many of the healings we read about in the Gospels people yell out to Jesus for healing, or reach for Jesus’ garment, and show some sort of faith or recognition of who Jesus truly is.  Well, here in John chapter 5 verse 6 Jesus asks this man at the pool: “Do you want to get well?”  And then in the following verses the man still doesn’t realize who Jesus is and doesn’t ask Jesus for healing, but instead frets about not getting into the waters of the pool where he thinks the waters will heal him.  Well, come verse 8 Jesus says, “Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk.”  I find this whole scene awesome and a great example of God’s grace!  Perhaps sometimes in our lives when we miss seeing what Jesus is doing, He will still often heal us or care for us!  Even sometimes (though I don’t think always…) when we seem to looking for the other “waters” that we think will heal us.  Even sometimes when we don’t ask Jesus for healing, he’ll still do it for us.

Bible.org’s commentary on our readings in John chapter 5 today titled “Jesus Heals the man at the Pool of Bethesda” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 105 wraps up the Exodus Cliff Notes version today, with a great closing verse 45 – “All this happened so they would follow his principles and obey his laws.  Praise the LORD!”   Indeed, praise the Lord!

Proverbs – Proverbs 14:29 teaches us today: “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.”  Do you agree with this Proverb?  Have you ever struggled with anger?  Do you agree that controlling your anger demonstrates understanding, and that letting your anger control you shows great foolishness?  Will you seek only understanding in this area of your life, and let all foolishness go?  Please, please, don’t be this guy…

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of Consumed by Fire’s song “First Things First:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTOcZN9JB4

Are you putting first things first? Click here for the Alpha/First!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”  1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray like Hannah prayed to the Lord today! Pray that your heart is rejoicing in the LORD today. Pray that your delight is in your Rock and your deliverer, God.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  Based on my reflections above about the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda, has Jesus ever done something amazing for you without you asking for it?  Perhaps even when you were looking for somebody or something else to fix or heal something for you, is there a time when God’s grace showed up on the scene instead and made the situation right?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21

Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, “May the LORD raise up for you descendants from this woman to replace the one that she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go to their home. So the LORD graciously attended to Hannah, and she was able to conceive and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up at the LORD’s sanctuary. (1 Samuel 2:20-21 NET.)

The above passage blows my mind and I recognize that these are the Words of Christ coming to pass before the Words of Christ were spoken to His disciples,

And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name’s sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29 AMP)

Hannah received a five hundred fold return. She gave one son to the Lord, and received three sons and two daughters. Her act of faith, and it was a great act of faith because she had no idea that she would be able to have other children, in bringing her son to the Temple when he was probably three years old, and leaving him there to be raised by a priests, who may have done a inadequate job raising his own, wrought her great blessings. Trusting God is scary and exciting; painful, giving up what our heart desires, and exhilarating as we reap a harvest of unimaginable bounty.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

====== Andrew:

‘So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.’ John 5:16-18 NIV

It strikes me (again) how radical Jesus appeared to the religious authorities of his time. In John’s account we’ve already had the clearing of the merchants from the temple courtyard.

Do our religious authorities reflect a distorted image of the Kingdom of God? How radical should we be in following Jesus? My wife says I am too radical. Is that possible?

I guess the clue is in the following paragraph of John:

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” John 5 19:20 NIV

Hearing God – seeing and knowing what the Father is doing and joining in doing it with Him according to His purpose.

And if that is radical, so be it.

Andrew

====== Michelle:

Hannah’s faith blows me away. To be able to hand over her dream child for someone else to raise and only see Samuel once a year–that is faith in action. She realizes that he doesn’t “belong” to her anyway. In fact none of our children belong to us–they all belong to God. We are only their caretakers.

Michelle

======= Roslyn:

I think we had some serious
discussion over this last time: Christ showing his compassion and love for the man that was unable to walk, healing him on the day of the Sabbath to the great consternation of the Jews. Christ has shown us that love and compassion is beyond the law. Indeed, LOVE IS THE LAW!!!

Roslyn

======= Susan:

I just want to say how grateful I am for this website. It has been my faithful companion this year. Around Thanksgiving last year, my husband told me he wanted a divorce. Last month we filed. we have two small children – 1.5 and 3 and I worry mostly about them, but this website has been my comforter and rock. I was determined in December that no matter what else happened this year regarding my family, that my Bible reading would be the one stable thing in my life and it has been. Thanks for keeping up the website!

Susan

======= Jenny:

====== Lee:

I Samuel 1:3 – “… The priests of the Lord at that time were the two sons of Eli – Hophni and Phinehas”
Comment: Strikes me that we need to accept as this family that even when there are problems and problem-clergy…that such does not negate our need to go to church and worship God.
I Sam 1:7 – “Year after year it was the same…”
Comment: God gives us strength to endure misfortune and mistreat with His gift patience. We CAN endure whatever it is that we’re going through…for as long as needed. (Even when we’re “reduced to tears” as Hannah was.)
I Samuel 1:18 – “Oh,Thank you, Sir!…then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.”
Comment: Hannah believed the Word that God had spoken through Eli. When we BELIEVE in God’s promises we are released from the source of our unhappiness and released to a state of joyfulness, and ability to enjoy this life. Let us seek to accept the Word He has spoken to us…and live full and joyful lives in trusting Him to care for us as He has said.
I Samuel 1:19 “….the Lord remembered her request.”
COMMENT: God is currently aware of your/my requests. He will not forget. We can rest in knowing He has heard us.
I Samuel 1:20 “…IN DUE TIME she gave birth to a son.”
COMMENT: Timing is important. Our time is not necessarily God’s timing. He has a time and it will come to pass as He knows best. Let us learn to rest in His care and His timing.”
Lee

======= Jim:

Eli’s comin’, hide your heart girl!
While these are more times of spiritual and moral decline, Hannah is one godly woman that still has a strong faith. She is at a low point in her life when she is ridiculed by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, for being childless (likely taken specifically due to her failure to produce) on an annual pilgrimage to the tabernacle in Shiloh (about 20 miles north of Jerusalem) – as Peninnah does regularly. In her despairing prayer, she vows if only God would give her a son that she would dedicate him to serve God as a Nazarite (just like Samson). Her prayer is first misunderstood by the old priest Eli, and then blessed. She does have a son, Samuel, and he is weaned from his mother at the age of two or three (the age Israelites used to wean their children) to live forever at the tabernacle (Hannah visited once a year with a new jacket for him). The corrupt times are made clear by Eli’s assumption that any woman outside the tabernacle would likely be drunk as well as by his corrupt sons who as priests seduce the women even at the door of this worship site (I think the sin of “fornication” specifically refers to cultic prostitution). While Ramathaim is not one of the 48 cities designated in Numbers 35:6 as being one of the “Levitical cities” assigned a Levite, it is assumed that Samuel’s father was a Levite (1 Chronicles 6:16-26) living in the tribal territory of Ephraim (just five miles north of Jerusalem and where Samuel was born, labored, died, and was buried) – he seems to be a pious man who returned each year to worship and offer sacrifice.
In an agrarian culture like ancient Israel, children were critically important in helping with feeding the family. Today, we no longer see children as society’s best investment and we abort 1 in 4 pregnancies to instead minimize their costs (Note: The real problem for Social Security is that it is increasingly difficult to feed the elderly when we no longer desire children. What’s more, there’s not a single industrialized nation that has a positive population rate since the introduction of legalized abortion as you need 2.3 kids per woman when all industrialized nations only produce 1.2 to 1.8. 100% of the population problem, 3 billion people, over the past 40 years has come from third world countries and the primary reason that Islam has grown over Christianity is simply that they don’t kill their unborn. In addition, there used to be no greater source of pride to any American family than to have a priest as brother, son, or cousin – but the Vatican’s Pontifical Yearbook shows a 45% increase in the number of baptized American Catholics over the past 25 years while other estimates show the number of priests to have dropped by more than half in the same period (even with 1 in 6 priests today coming from overseas). The church can no longer afford to be selective in accepting only the best for its religious leaders (something to remember as we read about what happens to a country that doesn’t respect human life or provide for righteous leadership).
Eli’s coming, come on and blow your horn!
Hannah began her poetic song of prayer with “my horn is exalted,” which represents that Hannah’s power and strength (horn – the wicked are even told not to lift up their own horn in Psalms 75:4-5) was in God just as David will later speak of God as his “horn of salvation” in 2 Samuel 22:3. She reminds all who would boast, not just Peninnah (the phrase wicked woman literally “daughter of Belial” or “daughter of Satan” – see 2 Cor 6:15), that God in holiness, knowledge, power, and judgment often reverses human strength, wealth, and fertility to humble the proud and exalt the lowly (Mary made the same point in her song in Luke 1:46-55). She also contrasted how the Lord would keep his saints from stumbling (and even raise them from the dead) and trip up His adversaries (the word Sheol is translated here to grave) and points to the work of God in granting her a child as part of the fulfillment of His promise to the mothers of Israel that through them He would one day provide the ultimate king, before whom every knee will bow (see Philippians 2:10). How sad were the priests who as teachers knew so much about the things of God and yet did not know Him personally and took so lightly their duties (such as those for sacrifice). Eli had warned his sons but never really rebuked them and so was slain by God when he no longer had opportunity after his sons died in battle. Those who allow poor behavior from their children without restraint and punishment, in effect, honor them more than God. Eli was a good man but a poor parent who raised his children to fail (their failure was not his sin, but his poor efforts at correction).
Jesus asks the man unable to quickly get into the healing pool while it bubbled, “Do you want to get well?” Many do not really want to see their situation change, no matter how bad it is. The crippled man, for example, made his living begging and would be responsible to start working. Unlike the slow healing of the pool, however, Christ’s healing was immediate. Eternal life isn’t something we have to wait for, but something we possess now. In addition, it is more than endless as it is infused with His vitality and links us with other believers. Christ claims The Son can do nothing by Himself, but gives life (because He possesses life) and takes the responsibility for all judgment. This sick man was healed without knowing Jesus (but Christ caught up with him later to warn him to sin no more or that something even worse would happen to him). The first miracle (converting water into wine) suggests that salvation is through the Word, the second (saving the nobleman’s son) illustrates that it is by faith, and this one shows that it is by grace. The “great number of disable people” pictures the sad spiritual condition of the unsaved: without power as in Rom 5:6, unable to walk correctly as in Eph 2:1-3, and waiting for something to happen as in Eph 2:14. The invalid did not have the power to save himself in the same way it is impossible for mankind to keep God’s perfect law.
The Law of Moses taught to honor the Sabbath and Jeremiah had prohibited carrying burdens or working (Jer. 17:21-22) and over the years Jewish law had identified 39 different classifications of work including carrying furniture (which the man violated by carrying his bedding) and providing medical treatment (Christ’s healing). Even my grandfather was once jailed in Baltimore for painting his house on Sunday and yet it is possible that none of the city officials knew why Christians go to church on the Sunday, the first day of the week, instead of Saturday like Seventh Day Adventists – even First Century Christian worshiped on Sunday as a weekly mini-Easter celebration for Christ’s resurrection and perhaps for the church’s birthday from the only Jewish holiday on a Sunday, 50 days after Passover, of Pentecost. Most churches today have many written and unwritten creeds that have been added to God’s desires (such as provisions against theistic biology and evolution) while happily being unfruitful for the Great Commission. Christians have routinely over the centuries tried to kill who they saw as the Anti-Christ even though Revelation says such assassination would fail and predicted to the day and hour of Christ’s return despite scripture clearly stating such knowledge not being possible.
Back in Luke 22, Christ got the apostles to admit that when he told them to carry nothing with them that they, in fact, purchased two swords. When did they likely buy those swords? This is the first time when people persecuted Jesus and display open hostility. Was it fear of this exact persecution that motivated the apostles to doubt and sin so? Jesus then adds fuel to the fires by publicly equating Himself with God the Father (again I must ask how so many can suggest the Jesus never claimed to be God – His enemies here were angered by what He was claiming – more than just disregarding the traditional rabbinic interpretation of scripture, He claims to be deity) and He goes on at some length to support His claim not only with the miracle by the Scriptures themselves – so, to reject Him meant to also reject their holiest of books as well. The NIV omits the verse about the angel stirring the water because no manuscripts before the 4th century has it and many believed it was just superstition added long after John wrote it. Others call the NIV “Satan’s Bible” specifically for its omissions (including the last lines of the Lord’s Prayer).
Jim

======= John:

John 5
I am with the linked commentary under “WORST Case Scenario”.
The reason this miracle greater than the last.
Jesus changed illness to health of a long term injury.
Jesus chose and God’s grace was magnified by the man had no faith.
It was done before a larger crowd.
[Note: The word for illness of boy in last chapter and invalid in John 5 is the same in Greek. The common thread being helpless, feeble, powerless.]
From the wine stewards, to the boy, to the invalid – all are helpless to change their situation. It is the same for us in spiritual death. We are helpless without the healing power of Christ.
I get perturbed when non-believers of any ilk say Christ did not say He was God.
I used to say the same thing, but at least I would admit I had never read the Bible.
I can go along with John 1 being Nathaniel declaring Jesus is the Son of God, and John saying it earlier in the chapter. I can understand when Jesus declares himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan women – Messiah was thought by Jews to be the “appointed” man of God who would lead Israel to all the blessings promised by God.
But in verse 17 Jesus says “mou Pater” – My Father. “Pater” is the same word used for Father in the Lord’s prayer. It is pretty clear cut that Jesus is deity. In the later verses – Jesus puts himself on equal footing with God.
One thing I have started doing, is not only pointing out the Verses where Jesus proclaims deity, but I tell people to look at how the people at the time reacted to what he said.
vs. 18 is an example of this and is absoluteluy correctly translated.
Does someone today have the insight to deny Christ’s deity that the people of 2,000 years ago did not have?
One may choose not to believe Christ’s deity, but it is because they do not believe in the text, not because it was never said or implied throughout this Gospel.
John

======= John:

Anger
One of the great signs at the moment of my “salvation” was three things were taken from me.
– a Crippling mental illness
– profanity
– anger
I have not said a curse word in three years. Before I was a prolific almost every other word curser and blasphemer.
It was particualarly bad when I got angry. My anger was the purple face, vein popping, spittle flying out of my mouth rage directed at other people. I have not been angry in three years. Perhaps at times perturbed at stoplights and lousy drivers – but never angry : ) I have been blessed at that time and since by God removing negative lifelong habits and charactersitics of my nature. It is THE reason I never doubt God or my Salvation, and KNOW that he is working in my life, and that I am one with Christ and am a possessor of the Holy Spirit in me.
I still struggle at times with the flesh – but I have never doubted since that night three years ago when I came to my knees and believed in Him and Received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. God has shown Himself to me over and over since that time, and I know Jesus is the only way to Salvation, His Word is inerrant, and that I am a child of God – co-heir to heaven.
The question is: If you are a believer – do you know – really know those last things mentioned?????
John

======= John:

1st Sam 2
Eli’s Wicked Sons contrasted with Samuel.
“Eli’s sons were wicked men;
The Hebrew is actually “sons of Belial” literally to be without worth or value. Later Belial in Jewish writings would be considered a “right hand man to Satan” if not Satan himself.
The sons of Eli were wicked, AND
“they had no regard for the Lord.” this is not a good thing and foreshadows a future problem.
“Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.”
Samuel did not know the Lord yet – but he was growing up in His presence.
Eli may not have been a good father, but the implication here is thorugh his prayer for Hannah and his raising of Samuel – that he was an ok High Priest. Whatever he was doing with Samuel – it was different than how he raised his boys??????
======================================================
JMikeAdams@msn.com
I am not soliciting emails, but type pad (according to Mike) has changed their format – no loner allowing email addresses in the signature.
So once a day – I will put my email in a post so if someone wants to ask a question or correct me:) they can do it directly – in case they do not feel like posting it on the blog. I have always had it in my signature in the past – so I see no reason to not have it somewhere on a daily post at this time.
John

======= John:

John 5:1-15
The pool of Bethesda was found 20 years ago on an archaelogical dig.
Jesus healed one man out of many. The man was not searching Jesus out – but he was helpless, and could do nothing to heal himself.
Not knowing Jesus when asked if he wanted to get well – I think he took an opportunity to try and get help.
I think unspoken here is – ‘you believe in the pool and its stirring – but you should believe in me. Get up – take up your bed – and walk.’
Be healed, you do not need the bed here any longer, and walk – don’t depend on others any longer.
Not knowing it was Jesus the man still had an incomplete faith. The moment he was asked about his healing – he told them – not me, but the other man who healed me told me to do this thing.
The next part is critical. Jesus again sought the man out – His work was not done. Jesus says, “See, you are well again.” NIV But the Greek says you are made “whole” – he has been physically healed and his sins have been forgiven – healed inside and out.
We are not ever given the exhaustive list of things said – just what is important to the gospel. Jesus may have explained more, or the man upon hearing it was Jesus knew of His teachings. I think it is at that point that the man believed and was saved.
Perhaps his naming of Jesus at the end to the temple priests was a badge of honor identifying the former cripple as a believer in Christ????
======================================================
The reason this miracle greater than the last.
Jesus changed illness to health of a long term injury.
Jesus chose (before others came to Him) and God’s grace was magnified by the fact that originally the man had no faith.
It was done before a larger crowd.
[Note: The word for illness of boy in last chapter and invalid in John 5 is the same in Greek. The common thread being helpless, feeble, powerless.]
From the wine stewards, to the boy, to the invalid – all are helpless to change their situation. It is the same for us in spiritual death. We are helpless without the healing power of Christ.
John

======= John:

John 5:16-23
Life Through the Son
I get perturbed when non-believers of any ilk say Christ did not say He was God.
I used to say the same thing, but at least I would admit I had never read the Bible.
I can go along with John 1 being Nathaniel declaring Jesus is the Son of God, and John saying it earlier in the chapter. I can understand when Jesus declares himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan women – Messiah was thought by Jews to be the “appointed” man of God who would lead Israel to all the blessings promised by God.
But in verse 17 Jesus says “mou Pater” – My Father. “Pater” is the same word used for Father in the Lord’s prayer. It is pretty clear cut that Jesus is deity. In the later verses – Jesus puts himself on equal footing with God.
One thing I have started doing, is not only pointing out the Verses where Jesus proclaims deity, but I tell people to look at how the people at the time reacted to what he said.
vs. 18 is an example of this and is absoluteluy correctly translated.
Does someone today have the insight to deny Christ’s deity that the people of 2,000 years ago did not have?
One may choose not to believe Christ’s deity, but it is because they do not believe in the text, not because it was never said or implied throughout this Gospel.
John

======= Nasser:

proverb 14:29 i saw it in my life and i found out how powerful impact on others when you are slow in anger in front of somebody who was on rage GOd ‘s wisdom is great and powerful even when you return back in anger you lost yourself and your friend but when you controll your anger it is much powerful reaction you did you will be apreciatied by others for the understanding and wisdom you show on this situation parise to the lord Amin
Nasser

======= Helen:

When Jesus is speaking to (some of)the Jews, he includes in John 5 verse 21(a)”For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,…”
I’d not noticed that bit before.
Blessings, Helen.

======= Dorothy:

Prov.14:19 is such a wonderful verse. It has spoken to my heart. I am touched by the words that controlling one’s anger demostrates one’s understanding and the vise versa shows how foolish one is.
Regards, Dorothy

======= Suzy:

Hannah’s story always reminds me of myself. I had also been in a situation of fruitlesness for years after my marriage. I cried unto God like Hannah and He heard and opened my womb; today I have a beautiful two-year old…Surely there is no rock like our God. Just like Mike said, I still sometimes find myself seeking for help from friends instead of God….by His grace I’m learning to make Him my ‘rock’ in all circumstances and situations of my life. Jesus has also done a lot for me even when I have not asked…I live by grace each day!
Peace, Suzy

Ruth 2:1-4:22 + John 4:43-54 + Psalm 105:16-36 + Proverbs 14:26-27
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Hi everyone!  Brief post today.  Back to a full post tomorrow!

Old Testament – In today’s readings in Ruth we are introduced to the incredible man, Boaz, who is really a “type” of Christ figure. Also in chapter 4 verse 16 the name of David is first mentioned in the Bible! It is awesome to read today how David descended from Ruth, and of course ultimately Jesus descended from Ruth! Today in Ruth chapter 2 verse 10 we read – “Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “Why are you being so kind to me?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.””

And in chapter 3 verse 15 today we read – “Boaz also said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured out six scoops of barley into the cloak and helped her put it on her back. Then Boaz returned to the town.”

New Testament – Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in John titled “Jesus Heals the Royal Official’s Son” is at this link.

Psalms – Psalm 105’s verses today give us a good Cliff Notes version of the end of the book of Genesis and beginning of the book of Exodus!

Worship Video:  Today’s readings in John reminded me of Casting Crowns song “Glorious Day:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqrqPGt11bA

Is today a glorious day for you? Click here for Glory!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.”  Proverbs 14:26 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you have a healthy fear of the LORD. Pray that the LORD is your strong fortress. Pray tht your children will find refuge in the secure fortress of the LORD.

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )

======= Ramona:

Ruth 2:1-4:22

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.] (1 Peter 5:6-7 AMP)

Everything in today’s reading screams “humility.” The entire book is about love, the love not of the flesh or “love” that stems from lust, but love that is described in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians,

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NET.)

Too often today, and probably yesteryear too, woman compete with each other, mother-daughter, mother-in-law-daughter-in-law, best friends and not so good friends. But here we are privy to a relationship that is not based on envy or self-serving, but true genuine love. Naomi didn’t ask Ruth to go into the fields, Ruth desired to go so that she could be a benefit to her mother-in-law. While she was out in the fields, Naomi was concerned for Ruth’s safety and health not her belly. While in the fields Ruth didn’t have an attitude problem looking for what “I deserve,” or “my rights,” she worked hard and long. She was respectful thus she became respected. Even before she went into the field, her love for her mother-in-law was well known and she was honored for that.

What I always marvel at when I read the Book of Ruth is God’s mercy and grace. His people, though they were not His people, like Ruth, can be anyone. Anyone that is who gives up, “And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 NET.)

May all who come to this site become a “whosoever,” one who leaves all to follow the King.

Ramona

======= Anka:

It amazes me the kind of love Ruth has for Naomi..wonder if she wasn’t a teeny weeny bit scared.Yet she took no gods with her for protection.She was obedient to Naomi in spite of her
saying(I returned empty),she follwed Naomi to serve her with probably little expectations because Naomi didn’t guarantee she’d get married again.When she was given food she thought of Naomi.Kinda makes me really look at my idea of serving God…do I serve him cos I want to be in His good books,think alot of the reward in heaven…have I truly given everything up or do I still hold on to things in my past(just in case….)I think Ruth paints a pretty good picture of what serving really is…Right now I really love grace cos I sure need it.
God bless you all

Anka

====== Mae:

======= Jim:

In every direction are the snares and quicksand of death. We may see the big ones and walk away only to sink slowly into another. One of the best observations concerning people is a quote by Dr. Albert Ellis (the most frequently cited author of psychotherapy works published in the last 50 years and ranked the most influential therapist by clinical psychologists) from a New York Times article, “All humans are out of their minds. They’re not only disturbed. They get disturbed about their disturbances. Until you accept that people are crazy and do all kinds of terrible things, you’re going to be angry.” Dr. Ellis feels that the basis for neurotic behavior is a self-loving, perfectionist refusal to accept being a “fallible, incessantly error-prone human and when they fall short of their unrealistic ideals, they largely think of themselves as sub-humans.” This is a much better description than just “pride” or “envy” (or other words for the loss of humility) as the source of all evil. Ellis teaches unconditional self-acceptance (“you always accept you no matter what you do”), unconditional other-acceptance (“nobody is evil, even if they do evil things”), and unconditional life-acceptance (“you always accept things, no matter how they are”). The modern focus on improving behavior rather than psyches (in which Ellis has played a major role) is in the right direction, for one can never convert a lifelong need for irrational control into a sane and adult mind. Psychiatry is by and large about getting people from -5 to 0, but recent research into what it might take to get to a +5 found the answer was faith and social capital (the Lord’s Prayer contains no singular pronouns). After trying unsuccessfully for years to cure alcoholism by means of psychoanalysis, even Dr. Carl Jung concluded that alcoholism could not be treated by either medical or psychodynamic techniques. He reasoned that the underlying problem was one of spiritual emptiness and wrote in a letter to Bill Wilson (in which Jung coined the phrase, “spiritus contra spiritum” or “spirits against the spirit”), “I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society, cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil.” Jung further concluded that conventional religion was usually equally spiritually impoverished and just as ineffective as therapeutic efforts in the battle against alcoholism. “Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain: it offers escape from the snares of death.”
Ruth would have hoped to lift a few handfuls of grain (not enough for even one person to survive) with a full day’s work from what was missed by the normal workers (OT law gives this right to the poor – but if seen taking too much, one could easily end up getting beaten), but when she returns with 40 pounds worth it is obvious that someone is intentionally helping her out (the expression translated to “it turned out” as well as Noami’s praise for “blessed be he of the Lord” suggests that it was more than just a coincidence but that God directed her steps) and Noami sends her back with specific instructions. Boaz was compassionate by providing such supply as well as doing it in secret so as not to shame the recipient, but what happened later on the threshing floor? Many would suggest that the reference to “laying” was a polite way of saying she had sexual relations with Boaz with “feet” referring to sexual privates (and anyway, harvest time is celebrated with rites of fertility when the Jews often were permitted more moral leeway than usual). I think in this case, however, that the author and Noami were using their words (and actions) very carefully in order to suggest marriage (with only the sexual overtones that would imply). Ruth made her marriage objective clear (although at night as a means perhaps of protecting Boaz from embarrassment in case he chose to refuse) with “spread the corner of your garment over me” (as in Ezekiel 16:8, Deuteronomy 22:30, 27:20, and Malachi 2:16) by the custom still practiced by some Arabs today of a man throwing a garment over the woman he has decided to marry. Boaz handled himself honorably (not as likely if he had passed out from drinking at a festival) when he deferred to another who would have prior claim (as did Ruth with her willingness to marry another sight unseen for here duty to her dead husband) even if Boaz did just happen to mention the extra burden of potential inheritance disputes from Noami’s family in order to get him to back down (less of a threat to Boaz being “a man of great wealth”). Boaz had already shown some of this honorableness when he previously told the men in his fields not to touch Ruth (and of the dangerous times when a lone woman could end up raped while working in the fields).
Jesus himself again testifies in our reading today and He was received (as they had seen his miracles and believed). John later tells us in Revelation that Jesus waits at the door with ointment for our eyes, but waiting at the door implies that we must first ask him in or go to Him (as the father humbly does for the health of his son). Satan, on the other hand, will proudly walk right into our life. Jesus, however, does not go the man’s home in order to show that the trip back was not necessary demonstrating that God does not always answer our prayers with the means and methods we expect (and He rebuked them for a faith that required the earlier miracles of 2:1 while the Samaritans did not). Here the sickness of the son resulted in the piety and new faith of the entire family. The boy was cured about 1:00pm, 17-20 miles away in Capernaum and yet the use of “yesterday” suggests the man remained in Cana an extra day proving he did not need to see what happened. Jesus gives one of the basic reasons why people will not believe: they want to see signs. Long distance miracles were rare in the OT and people generally more easily believe magicians when they were in person. Keep in mind, though, that Satan is able to perform signs and wonders to deceive (2 Thes 2:9-10). Compare this story with the similar one with a centurion in Capernaum from Matthew 8:5-13. Today’s Psalms calls us to praise and remember God’s wondrous works including the first covenant and the lives of Joseph, Moses, and David.
Jim

======= John:

John 4:43-54
Royal official is “basilikos” and is only used twice by John (both in this chapter). The meaning denotes being in the king’s service. The King is Herod Antipas.
Herod’s men were despised by the Jews of the land. Maybe even more so than the Samaritans in the earlier part of the Chapter.
John 4:50A “Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.” NIV
The actual Greek tense here is present active indicative – the boy lives and will continue to live.
So the “official” went from taking Jesus at his Word to believing in Him. It appears that through his faith and evangelism the whole household believed.
Some scholars think the name of this man was given in Acts 13:1. A prophet in Antioch – Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) – the foster brother of Herod.
======================================================
Elliot McQuaid talks about the gospel of John as being the “Glory of God”. Each miracle (of the seven primary miracles described) greater than the last.
Water into Wine: Jesus changes water into wine, Jesus is physically present, his disciples (Jews) believed in Him (could be considered prone to believe).
Healing of royal official’s son: Jesus changes sickness into health, Jesus is twenty miles away, a despised man and his whole household believe in Him. (Could be considered prone not to believe before the incident.)
In both cases – the wine stewards and the father were helpless. They had no remedy for the situation. Much like us before we are saved – there is nothing we can do to help ourselves get to heaven until the Father and Jesus act. The Father draws us, and Jesus provides the “way”.
John

======= John:

RUTH
kinsman-redeemer (“goel”)
Vance mentioned this role of Christ the other day, and I was going to expound upon it now. But I found a good commentary that explains my thoughts.
=====================================================
The goel – sometimes translated kinsman-redeemer – had a specifically defined role in Israel’s family life.
· The kinsman-redeemer was responsible to buy a fellow Israelite out of slavery (Leviticus 25:48).
· He was responsible to be the “avenger of blood” to make sure the murderer of a family member answered to the crime (Numbers 35:19).
· He was responsible to buy back family land that had been forfeited (Leviticus 25:25).
· He was responsible to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).
======================================================
But the consideration of Jesus in this book of Ruth doesn’t begin with the mention of King David; Jesus has been through the whole book, pictured by Boaz and the office of the kinsman-redeemer.
· The kinsman-redeemer had to be a family member; Jesus added humanity to His eternal deity so He could be our kinsman and save us.
· The kinsman-redeemer had the duty of buying family members out of slavery; Jesus redeemed us from slavery to sin and death.
· The kinsman-redeemer had the duty of buying back land that had been forfeited; Jesus will redeem the earth that mankind “sold” over to Satan.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, was not motivated by self-interest, but motivated by love for Ruth. Jesus’ motivation for redeeming us is His great love for us.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, had to have a plan to redeem Ruth unto himself – and some might have thought the plan to be foolish. Jesus has a plan to redeem us, and some might think the plan foolish (saving men by dying for them on a cruel cross?), yet the plan works and is glorious.
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, took her as his bride; the people Jesus has redeemed are collectively called His bride (Ephesians 5:31-32; Revelation 21:9).
· Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, provided a glorious destiny for Ruth. Jesus, as our redeemer, provides a glorious destiny for us.
comments by David Guzik
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Note: Let me add that what is left out in Jesus’ role of kinsman-redeemer is His role as the “Avenger of Blood”.
It is nice to think of the Love of Christ and the beauty of his message – and that was and is certainly appropriate for the message of salvation from the “Lamb of God”.
But I firmly believe that when Jesus comes back it will be as the “Lion of Judah”, and He will be the “avenger of blood”.
At a steady rate over the last 20 centuries, and in all 238 countries, 70 million Christians have been martyred -killed,executed,murdered -for Christ.
–from Table 1-1 in World Christian Trends,William Carey Library,David Barrett & Todd Johnson.
Satan, his minions, and his followers will answer for this and other crimes.
John

======= John:

Ruth
Quick Hits
Boaz did not come to the fields and immediately count grain or talk to foremen – Boaz blessed his workers and they blessed Boaz.
Ruth was grateful to be with Naomi, was grateful to have the opportunity to glean food, and was humble throughout.
Boaz blesses Ruth:
“May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
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” Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.”
In that day, this was understood to be the role of a servant – to lay at their master’s feet and be ready for any command of the master. So, when Naomi told Ruth to lie down at Boaz’s feet, she told her to come to him in a totally humble, submissive way.
Ruth asking for a covering or a spreading of Boaz’ garment over her:
“Many people interpret this as Ruth propositioning Boaz. That demonstrates a lack of understanding of Jewish culture. On the hem of the garment was the symbols of a tribe and any symbol of authority. Ruth is acknowledging his position and seeking his favor in redeeming her. She is asking him to play the role of kinsmen redeemer.” – Bill Donahue
“Even to the present day, when a Jew marries a woman, he throws the skirt or end of his talith over her, to signify that he has taken her under his protection.” (Clarke)
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Naomi changes – from bitter to a doting grandmother
“But we should also learn from what she learned. We should learn that God’s plan is perfect and filled with love, and even when we can’t figure out what He is doing and it all seems so desperate, He still knows what He is doing. We should learn that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).” – David Guzik
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Jesus’ Ancestors
So from the Son of Rahab and a Moabite wife – the line of Jesus was continued.
John

======= Helen:

Part of a verse that stood out from the passages most for me today:
Ruth 4 verse 11(b)
When the witnesses bless Boaz the kinsman-redeemer they include:
“May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem”.
I hadn’t noticed that before. . .
Blessings, Helen.

======= Melissa:

I have been on a journey to find more daily inspirations. Your site has offered an opportunity to continue to do this. I am thankful. From books to blogs, I believe we can share and uplift with many people.
Melissa

======= Deb:

Thank you for continuing my walk with Christ at this site. It’s the first thing I do every morning.
I also like the sometimes shorter posts.
Deb