1 Samuel 12:1-13:23 + John 7:1-30 + Psalm 108:1-13 + Proverbs 15:4
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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
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
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
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I thought the passage in Samuel today is sort of like a cliff hanger. The Philistines are a well-outfitted army and only Saul and Jonathon have a spear with iron....what's going to happen next?
And, we do see the problem with Saul from the beginning....not wanting to tell his father about what really happened when he was sent out to look for the donkeys, then hiding among the baggage, and now getting impatient thinking he would just offer the sacrifice himself. We know it's not going to get better.
Which, btw, this passage about Saul sinning by doing the job that should have been done by a priest does point to Christ who is a king and a priest...and sacrifice.
Kristie
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As for Jesus' teachings I would say Oh he is so unique, so wise, sometimes a revolutionary and a radical who provokes you to think hard and deep.
Even at my lowest points when I was quite down and out, the words of Jesus, especially in the Gospel of Matthew hit me and touched all the right chords and brought me peace. I would even admit that when I was a secular non believer, I found the teachings of Jesus totally irresistible.
Well, that's how it works, doesnt it? When Lord sees the spark of faith in us, he blesses us... then more faith and more blessings and we develop a relationship with God.
Emberglow
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I feel really blessed to be reading
Yes God does call us to pray for others. I often pray for others and last Sunday at church I got a very firm call to pray for a lady I know who has diabetes and whose health is failing her.
I think if we are called to do anything by God and dont we are sinning. It feels bad anyway. I use to sometimes say "Oh i dont want to do this or that" to God. Id feel awful until I had obeyed.
No times havent changed much society is still saying the same things
I love to sing to God. At the youth music group which I have been taking Billy to the man organsing the band told us that we should focus on God when we sing in church. That has really stuck with me. Its not just about singing the words its focusing on them and directing them straight to God.
Jen
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The reading in Samuel struck me about how important patience and obedience are.
It amazes me that Jesus's brothers did not believe him (at this point in the Gospel of John)
God bless you all!
Pam
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Oh to be patient for the things of God! I can't count how many times in m life I have used God as a 911 God! I am in a desperate situsation, I know, call God 911, He can fix it, but then when it doesn't happen right then, I would get all frazzeled, anxious, angry and just in a hurry! I have learned since to know that God's thoughts are not my thoughts, His ways are not my ways and I must wait upon him to receive the blessings He has for my life according to His will, not my own. Things work out so much better when I wait for the answer and I learn to trust in Him more, increasing my faith. God is so merciful to me and can't fathom how He puts up with me daily, other than it is through His unconditional love and mercy.
Dottie
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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 need a reminder to, I'm not ashamed to say so. I need to be involved in church events. I need to go out witnessing, I need all the services in the week. I need to be reminded how God works. I need to remember how I need to go to Him in times of need and not to hide myself and try to figure it out all alone. Reading the Bible on a daily basis really helps me out perfectly. It takes half an hour up to 45 minutes a day, because I take notes and questions and stuff like that. And it's good, it's my time with the Lord and I love to do this every day!
A verse that stood out for me 1 Samuel 12:23 "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right". ~ Yes, I believe we are sinning if we don't pray for others. It's something that God asks us to do, so if we don't obey we are sinning. To sin is not only when we do things that we know of are wrong for us, but we also sin when we don't do something that we really should do.
John 7:12 "There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” ~ I'm not really sure what's going on with me lately, but things like this can get me on serious fire! I know I shouldn't and I know I should pray for those people who think so, and I'm really praying for them that some day they will open their hearts for Jesus. I find it very difficult to hear people talk like this. That's why it's a good thing that I talk to people on the streets about Jesus, it's a good way for me to learn to control my feelings. I'm always praying for the lost sheeps, that some day they will find true and wonderful freedom within Jesus Christ!
Mae
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I love the book of John. I read it the first time in January 1992 just after accepting the Lord. It's just so poignant. Every word of the Lord is just so concise but speaking rich volumes of truth and wisdom. It tells us so much about the Lord, His identity, and His plan for us. It tells us so much about ourselves, our shortcomings, our distractions, our selfishness. His healing, His desire to save, to restore, to renew, to make whole. God is so good! We are so so so unworthy.
Praise be to God, our King, our Savior, our Love, our Redeemer, our Heeler, our Lord.
Briggs
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First Samuel 12 verse 7 "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" - How often do we spend quiet time to be reminded of how the Lord has blessed us and our ancestors? If everyone does it, the world will be a better place with God's children living a grateful life. God always come to our rescue no matter what troubles or sins we commit, only if we repent and put our trust in Him. Thank God your love, metcy and faithfulness.
Lily
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1Samuel 13:8-12: I think politicians (and us, of course) can learn something about being impatient and impetuous when we read about Saul’s actions. It really shows his insensitivity to the limits of his office. (Vs. 13) - I wonder if there are times we show disobedience in our worship?
Bob
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Mike and everyone,
Today's passage in 1 Samuel and in John reminds me to honor God's timing.
1 Samuel 13:8,9,13 (NLT)
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away.
9 So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
13 “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
And as Ramona pointed out in verse 14:
14 ...the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people...
John 7:6, 30 (NLT)
6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime..."
30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
God's timing is indeed not like ours.
In this high-tech age, I imagine it's even harder to wait on God's time. Facebook, Twitter, text-messaging, whatsapp -- everything is pointing to speed, the faster the better.
Father, in the busyness of life, teach us to have quiet time with You each day, to meditate on Your Words, to wait for the leading of Your Holy Spirit before we act.
pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Sincerely,
Joyce
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The thing that stands out to me in First Samuel 12:7 is that it starts out "Now stand here quietly before the Lord". Our lives are so filled with activity, family, and friends that we don't take the time to just stand quietly before the Lord. That often gets shoved to the bottom of our to-do list or something we attempt to do at the end of the day when we are just too tired to concentrate on the Lord. This verse is a reminder to me that I need to stand quietly before the Lord each and every single day and lift Him up in praise and thank Him for all his blessings. That should be the utmost important thing in my life!!!!!
Pat
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Convicted today so I pray, lord forgive me today for my tongue and when it has been used as a weapon rather then a reflection of my spirit and faith in you. Teach me father and help for me to always remember to use my tongue out of love and not anger or bitterness. Thank-you Jesus for holding me accountable to your truth, Amen.
Joe
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John 7:1-30
This really is a temporal debate that I guess everyone has to engage in somewhere in their life. Like Mike says, does the scripture have meaning for your? “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.” High Five!
People knowingly have a problem acknowledging Jesus. It is our confusion too. This phenomenon of closed minds is fascinating. You can show someone the truth and they won’t be convinced. I see this right now with the vaccines for the Corona Virus. The evidence is clear it is ok to get the shot; from most of the news media, studies over a year long, health authorities, even our politicians and people would rather believe “Joe” down the street who says they are injecting us with tracking devices! If anything this pandemic has shown me how naïve and gullible people are.
Here is a question: What other “language” might Jesus use to express his longing for us to taste freedom and joy and goodness and the compassion of God?
Thank you Jesus for having the grace to forgive us and pursue your wonderful agenda to save us.
Proverbs 15:4
“The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life.” Gentle words are the fruit of the Spirit that bring life, health, joy, happiness, light, fun, laughter, kindness, time, wisdom, prosperity, wellness to name a few.
Robert
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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
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Today Samuel said no more! The Lord was ready in 2 short years to get rid of Saul as King. It's sad. But He had already chosen someone after God's own heart!
John..I love how Jesus does things by true intentions! Pharisees and Saducees do for show. God reveals in the heart. Love it.
Psalms 108: is my heart awoke? How about my soul? Yes, Lord! In Jesus name!
Proverbs 15:4 spoke to me today. Gentle words! I spoke gentle to the kiddos at school today. My spirit is content!
Dee
I echo Mike's remarks on John's Gospel. Jesus words in yesterday's passage, "The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life." (John 6:63 NIV) seem to apply even more so to John than the other Gospels.
Jesus made some significant foundational statements in yesterday's passage, particularly in John 6:44-59. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%206:44-59&version=31
This led to grumbling and discussion among the people that continued and spread, as Mike points out, into the events of today's passage. I think these words of Jesus speak at a spiritual level. And our acceptance or dissension is a reflection of the attitude of our own spirit. Does our spirit recognise the Spirit of God and are we inclined towards Him or is our spirit already in rebellion?
Re Mike's comparison to situations today were people take positions about Jesus or Christianity in our modern world today: there are two levels to the discussion today, there are those who are rejecting Jesus and there are situations where we need to be discerning those who are trying to hijack the Gospel for their own purposes. As Jesus warned, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible." (Mat 24:24 NIV)
But, I think if our spirits are trained to be alert and practised in discernment, we will not be misled.