1 Samuel 5 - Choosing an Inferior God

The Philistines captured the ark of God and brought their victory trophy to sit beside their god, Dagon. If one God was good wouldn't two be better?  After all, the God of Israel didn't save them in battle. Just the same, if the Philistines have the ark, then Israel is weakened. 

The Philistines were soon to learn that the holy things of God are not set with other idols, but set apart from them. Dagon just could not stand before the ark of God. This replica of their imagined god falls down before the ark. The next day, after the Philistines had righted the statue, they find it once again toppled and now broken. The Philistines were clear about who was the power behind the toppling of Dagon and the subsequent tumors they endured. The God of Israel was more powerful than they could stand against. 

Now, you would think that having a more powerful God in their midst and knowing what that God had done for the nation of Israel that they might embrace the Lord and serve Him rather than Dagon. In the logical human mind, they might become the most powerful nation with God's help.  Of course God had other plans to defend His own name and to demonstrate His power. 

Rather than just shipping the ark of God back to Israel after enduring such affliction, they thought, "let's send it over to the next Philistine city". Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!  So they move the ark to the next city. The residents there received the tumors so the ark was sent on to the next city. You see, rather than turning toward God and submitting to Him they chose to stand firm in their thinking placing God as an enemy much the same way that Pharaoh did when he saw the manifestations of God's power. They chose the lesser god. 

As I read this passage it occurred to me that even Christians may have some idols that they set alongside God thinking that they can live with both. If we do an examination of our time and money, you can see we invest in what is important to us. Any person or activity can become an idol if they are stepping into an equal or higher place than God in our lives. The activities may not be corrupt, but they redirect our thinking to worldly and temporal pleasures. There is pleasure in serving God, but if our feet are firmly entrenched in the world, we will not be able to enjoy them. We will end up trying to satisfy ourselves with a lesser god. 

Family, friends, leisure time, games, feasts, and wealth are not bad. We just need to critically look at the role they assume in our lives. Do they take a place that God should have?  Then our thinking needs to be realigned and our hearts need to be retuned to hearing God speak in our lives. God cannot be second in our lives. He loved us so much He gave His one and only son that we should have eternal fellowship with Him here and one day in Heaven. Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us as His bride, we have been treasures and blessed abundantly by God. Let's embrace Him back and give Him first place in our hearts. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

1 Samuel 4 - The End of Days

Phineas and Hopni had probably grown so accustomed to carrying out their activity before the Lord without any judgment coming to them that they gave no thought to the call for the Ark of the Lord coming to them in their place of battle. Logically, they thought that with the Lord at their side that no enemy would be able to stand. Certainly the enemy thought that and had to be prompted to take the Israelites on in battle for they were certain that God would do for Israel as He had in the past. 

But Eli's sons had treated the Lord's things as if they were their own and judgment had been promised, not once, but twice from messengers of God. This would be the day the Lord removed them from the earth. 

Because their leaders were corrupt and deserving of God's judgment, many soldiers would also die in battle that day. Their faith is never written, but I am sure they had newfound confidence that the Lord would be with them. None really believed it was their last day on earth except the Philistines. 

We don't know the number of our days, but we can be assured that at the end of them there is eternity. We have only this life to decide to either follow or disregard the Lord. One thing is certain, the day is nearer now than it ever has been. 

There are innocent lives that may perish at the judgment of the wicked because of their corruption and their disdain of the Lord. Those innocent lives will live on in the presence of the Lord if they have looked to Him for their salvation. They suffer only for a while here and then eternal joy in the presence of God himself.  There are also those who went to battle that day that likely did not trust the Lord, but like Phineas and Hopni, thought that the Lord would not defend His name. They will stand before the Lord to give an account and He will measure out His justice for them. 

We don't know what the result of the battles we face will be. Some like the Philistines may be facing what seems to be a sure death and find that they are given another day to turn from their wickedness and find that the Lord accepts even those who have strayed. They had another opportunity to believe in the Lord and to embrace Him for themselves. 

One thing we can know is that the Lord knows the hairs on our heads and the number of our days. He knows our hearts and if our faith is placed in Him we can have the assurance that no matter what the day begins we will be inHis  presence and under His care. 

The activities here can take our attention off eternity, but is we could see our circumstances from God's eyes we would be more thoughtful about our worship here. God cannot be disregarded and put aside in the busyness of life, but should be placed first. We have the promise of God that if we will seek Him and His righteousness, every thing else will find its proper place. 

We live among a corrupt world and we doc it know the number of our days. But right here, right now we can choose to put the Lord in His proper place, worship Him, enjoy His fellowship and see His answer our prayers as we place our days in His hands.  

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him!

1 Samuel 3 - Fired

As a child in Sunday School we were taught the story of Samuel as a boy having God speak to him in the night. Often the story is lifted up as a prelude to the calling of Samuel to the Lord's service and his humble beginnings. But in this same story, we see the judgement God executes against Eli and his sons. No longer would they be chosen to serve God in the administration of offerings and other priestly duties. God would no longer use them. They were cut off...fired from service. 

Eli was aware of his sons mistreatment of the offering. He did counsel them but as a priest he had within his power to stop the young men and didn't. God warned him through an unnamed prophet, but Eli didn't take action. He stood by while his boys made a mockery of God. Now God was bringing judgment to his house. He would not speak directly to him but through the boy Samuel. 

In his favor, he did not argue or rail against God's judgment. He acknowledges it was the Lord's discretion to do as He saw fit. What a sad day for Eli who had been the messenger of God to Hannah and had even begun to train Samuel in the ways of the Lord. Prior acts of obedience cannot undo current disregard for God's warnings. Eli knew it. 

Samuel had the unsavory task of bearing the news of judgment to his mentor/boss/caretaker. I don't know how many of us would be up to the task. Yet that is a task we are called to as Christians. How many family, friends, coworkers and neighbors live a life that is out of fellowship with the Lord and we say nothing?  We have the Lord living within us, can we share Him with those in our circle?  Will we be bold like Samuel and warn those who are outside the fellowship of coming judgment?

The more I look at the condition of our world the more convinced I am the the Lord's return is soon.  Time is short.  I don't want my loved ones to suffer judgement but will not telling them save them from it? I confess that I don't want to come off as a lunatic and I know that God's plan is strange to someone outside the fold. If I can only love them and look of the open doors to share the gospel they need so much.  I don't want to miss my opportunity though. 

We have a treasure hidden in these jars of clay. Our Maker has charged us to share this treasure.  Invest in those around us and see how the treasure grows. We don't want to have our purpose taken from us like Eli because we were not faithful in carrying out our calling. Be like Samuel: humble yet courageous. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.  

1 Samuel 2 - Worship, Wickedness and Warning

This chapter is a character study of three types of people. We have Hannah, Eli's wicked sons, and Eli himself all approaching God with differing attitudes. As you read this chapter can you see where you fit?

Hannah is a model of full reliance on God for her provision. Her heart's desire was to have a child to remove the shame she felt in barrenness. She promised God that she would dedicate this child to the Lord for His service and as she brings him in dedication she offers a beautiful prayer giving glory to God. She acknowledges God's omnipotence and His lovingkindness toward those who look to Him. She also is aware of the judgement in store for those who hold themselves against God and depend on their own strength and wisdom. It is such a beautiful prayer full of content, we could spend several posts just on it. If you have not read Hannah's prayer, you can find it in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. 

Eli's wicked sons are a stark contrast to Hannah. They are charged with serving the Lord and despise their position. They abuse their powers and defy God's instructions. They treated the offerings brought by the people with great contempt. They also defiled their own bodies taking the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. These young men refused correction human or Divine and brought judgment upon themselves. 

Eli questioned his sons and rebuked their actions but did nothing to prevent their sins. Eli receives a warning from a prophet chastising him for his failure to keep there offering to the Lord holy and using it to benefit his family rather than to worship the Lord. Eli allowed his sons to treat God with contempt. Though he counseled them he did nothing to stop the display of contempt and being both the father of these wicked boys and the High  priest he had a double responsibility for their conduct. Those in authority who will not assume responsibility, are just as guilty as those who engage in misconduct under their authority. 

In the midst of each of these stories, there is an interjection that Samuel the boy is growing both physically and spiritually.  He is being raised up for God's purpose which we will see in future chapters. 

While I would like to say I am like Hannah, I know that far too often my faith has failed and I have not looked to the Lord for my provision. While I would like to say I am not like the wicked sons, I know my holy times with the Lord in prayer and study are far too often neglected or not had my full attention. While I would like to say that I don't turn a blind eye to sin as Eli did, I know I live in a wicked world in which sin regularly transpires all around me and I have failed to give warning or to guard against the creeping influences in my life. I read this chapter and realize that I do love the Lord, but far too often my actions fail to show His place in my life. My witness is hindered when I don't try to intervene against sin in my life or in the lives of those who are given to me by God for witness. The thing is, I can't even change myself for the better. It is humbling, but I must recognize daily that I am a poor and needy sinner and I desperately need God's help. 

I want to run this race of life well and be a good and faithful servant. Today I begin by asking for a measure of the Lord's strength and wisdom for the day. I ask Hom to go before me and to lead me as I serve Him. Will you join me in looking to the Lord for our provision, turning away from sin in our lives and to witness well of the Lord's lovingkindness to those who are in our sphere of influence?  

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

1 Samuel 1 - All on the Altar

Have you ever longed for something year after year and not seen it come to you?  Have you ever so committed your petitions to God that you would offer even that one thing you have been longing for?  That's exactly where we meet Hannah in this chapter. She had been burdened by childlessness (a shameful condition) and aggravated by her husband's other wife. Day after day her condition was thrown in her face in a heartless act of confrontation. What misery!  Yet Hannah turns to the Lord for her hope. Consider what she lays on the altar:

Her Burden:  she brings before the Lord her desire for a child of her own. A son that would show her life was not utterly cursed. 

Her Misery:  the conflict between the two wife's had added to the misery of her condition. Yet she brings her misery to the Lord asking Him to look kindly upon her. 

Her Reputation:  Hannah risks her reputation by praying silently before the Lord leaving the priest to wonder if she were drunk. It didn't matter what others thought of her; she was passionate in her pleas to God. 

Her Child: if God would grant her a child she would dedicate him to the Lord's service all the days of his life. She would not be there for so many of the firsts in his life. She would not have the pleasure of raising him. She would give even her greatest desire to the Lord. 

When we are faced with conflict and despair, we are told to bring them to the Lord and leave them there. I confess O have not always left my burden in the Lord's hand. There have been times O have brought it to the altar and then picked it up again as I left. We can follow Hannah's example and completely trust God with our most intimate requests knowing that He hears our prayers. The name Samuel in fact means "heard of God". 

Hannah is also a reminder of the all that was placed on the altar for our salvation. "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son". We are God's desire. As we place our faith in Him, we like Samuel become consecrated to the Lord all the days of our life. In serving we learn more of God's character and grow in His likeness. We show our love in return by living for God's pleasure (and He gives us great joy on return). 

If you all has not been placed on the altar, take a moment today to share your longings and your burdens with Him. He loves you so much and hears our prayers as we place our trust in Him. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

Ruth 4 - A Real Man

With the decline of the family and strong marriages, many women long to find a real man; a man who will care for them and provide for their current and future security. We all long to be thoroughly loved and provided for. That complete love is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, our kinsman-redeemer. Boaz in this chapter redeems Ruth and lifts her out of poverty, gives her the love she desires and together Boaz and Ruth have a son who would be a forefather of Jesus     .  

Boaz loved Ruth and wanted to redeem her, but there was a closer relative (unnamed) who had first rights. Boaz publicly offers the rights to the land to him, but when it is revealed that Ruth the Moabitess would be part of the package and that he would be expected to father a child to Ruth so that her husbands name would not be eliminated altogether the offer was less attractive and hence refused. Boaz then gets exactly what he wanted, to redeem the land and to marry Ruth. 

Boaz was a man of honor. He didn't take the rights from the nearer relative. He honored his responsibility to care for the family and to provide for them. I am sure that he also made an incredible father to the boy in his older years. A man who honors his wife and provides for her financially and emotionally is the full package. A real man that any girl would be blessed to find. 

It is important that as we women seek our mates for life that we look for a man with great character and continue to encourage him to take on the role of leadership of true home all the days of his life. 

It is also important to note that Boaz is a shining example of what Jesus has done for us in redeeming is from our own pit of sin and despair to offer us new hope and a promise of eternal security with Him. No mere man can offer this to us, it is only found in relationship with Jesus. You can have that live in your life if you will only trust Him. Don't miss out; do it today. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him. 

Ruth 3 - Seeking a Husband

In today's culture, marriage has been attacked and many deceive themselves into believing that marriage is either a burden to be avoided or an unnecessary institution. In Ruth's time, they recognized that the man does more for the woman than merely provide children. The man provided for the woman a security and as a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz would also provide a service to Elimilech by standing in his place to carry on the family legacy. Boaz would provide lasting comfort and security for Naomi and Ruth. 

Naomi instructs Ruth on the customs of Israel and what to do. She goes to Boaz After he has bedded for the night and lays at his feet as a sign of submission. When he wakes in the middle of the night and notices her there, she informs him that he is her kinsman-redeemer and asks him to take her as his wife. Boaz is amazed at Ruth's submission to the customs of Israel. She could have sought a much younger man, but Ruth honored tradition and she demonstrated remarkable integrity. Ruth's character would make her attractive to the man. Boaz also had demonstrated piety and  grace to Ruth, traits that would make for an excellent husband. 

In seeking a mate, the character of the person should supersede appearances. Character lasts but looks can change or lose their influence. The character traits of the person will be the glue to keep the relationship successful. 

Our methods of finding a mate and entering into the covenant of marriage often don't prepare us for the commitment required or lead us to people of godly character. We are instructed to focus on character and our own development of the character of Christ in our lives. When Christ is in us and is allowed to be preeminent, our mate will have the confidence that he/she has someone who is of great worth in their lives. 

I believe that if we in our culture held marriage high and offered training for our young to know how to select a mate that we would certainly see a rise in contented couples but also a rise in security for families as parents demonstrate committed love for their children. We have far too many children who do not have the involvement of their fathers on their lives and far too many mothers working hard to provide what the father has not. It skews our view of marriage and of roles of the husband and wife. 

Ruth finds a man of godly character and we can help our children to recognize the value of character in every relationship they have. We too can be that model of godly character in each relationship we are in; mother, wife, employee, Christ member, sister, etc. 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.