Lust Over Loyalty: A Deadly Choice

2 Samuel 11:1-27

David had just shown great loyalty to his late friend, Jonathan, by taking in his crippled son, Mephibosheth, as part of his family. Perhaps that went so well that he wanted to do it again, this time toward the recently deceased King Nahash of the Ammonites. So, David sent ambassadors to his son, now King Hanun, to express his sympathy. King Hanun, however, was not quite as consenting as Mephibosheth. His commanders convinced him that it was a ploy to conquer his city, so he seized David's ambassadors and ridiculed them - shaving half their beards and cutting off their robes just below the buttocks.

Of course with that, the Ammonites inadvertently declared war and David was too happy to oblige. The Ammonites enlisted the help pf the Arameans, but still, it was not enough. The Israelite army soundly defeated the combined forces, and the Arameans learned their lesson - they shied away from helping the Ammonites anymore. So, now David had one good experience with showing loyalty and one not so good. That may have had something to do with what happened next, or maybe not.

In the spring of the year when it was actually 'time' for war, David stayed home, but sent his men out (already the wrong path). So, he was just back at the house, chillin' on the roof, looking out over the city when he just happened to notice a beautiful woman bathing in her house. So he immediately looked away in embarrassment...NOT; that's just what he should have done. Instead, he took it all in, going so far as to send someone to get the scoop on her (misstep number two).

He found out that her name was Bathsheba and that she was the daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah, the Hittite. He knew that Uriah was out at war, so he had no problem sending for her, having sex with her, and sending her back home...and, he was the king after all. It even worked out that she just happened to have just finished her purification from menstruation, so she was fresh. But, God don't like ugly, no matter who you think you are.

Bathsheba popped up pregnant! She sent a note to David stating as much, and then the real drama began. Of course David couldn't let that slip out, so he tried to cover it up. He sent for Uriah to come home under the guise of checking on how the war was going. Then he told him to go home and relax, you know, since he had been fighting so hard. In David's mind, Uriah would go home, sleep with his wife, and no one would suspect that the child wasn't theirs. But, it would have been disloyal to the rest of the troops, and to David, for him to do that; so he didn't.

When David caught wind of that, he started to panic. He tried again to convince Uriah to sleep with his wife, but he was too loyal(and he didn't even know the half of it). Finally, when David saw that this way wouldn't work, he arranged to have Uriah killed; in battle, of course, so that it seemed normal. Once he was dead, David allowed Bathsheba time to mourn, then took her as one of his wives. She gave birth to a son, but God was displeased with him.

My, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. There were so many things wrong in this story, from which we can learn. Don't indulge sinful lusts, don't abuse the power God has given you, don't commit adultery, don't lie, admit your faults and ask forgiveness. The list goes on and on. It all comes down to loyalty, though. David was a man after God's own heart and, understandably, respected. But at the end of the day, his loyalty to God was shaken and, ironically, he had a man killed because of his loyalty to him.

Lord, help us to remember where our loyalty lies. Keep us faithful to you in all things. Remind us of your will and commandments when we are tempted to stray. Let us be ever mindful of the path that you have set before us, and choose the steps that you have ordered. When we do fall, help us to accept our shortcomings, learn from them, and receive the restoration that only you can provide. We love you, Lord. Allow us to show you everyday of our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Blessed To Be A Blessing

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Now that David has become ruler over all of Israel and conquered the Philistines, he wants to move the Ark of the Covenant to Zion. The initial attempt was done irreverently and one of the escorts, Uzzah, was killed because of it. So it was temporarily moved to the home of Obed-edom. Well, God blessed him and his family while it was there because they knew how to care for it.

When David saw that, he proceeded to take the Ark to the City of David the right way. He was so excited, that he made a spectacle of himself, dancing before the Lord along the way. His wife, Michal, was embarrassed by that and became angry with David. But, David defended his behavior and Michal became barren and remained childless.

Once the Ark arrived in the city, David realized that there was no permanent home for it, like his own cedar palace. So, he decided to have one built, with the blessing of the prophet, Nathan. But God spoke to Nathan and told him that David was not the one to do it. He told him to tell David to leave that up to the royal descendants he was going to raise up as a dynasty that would never end. David was overjoyed and he prayed and thanked God for his promise.

So, David continued to rule Israel, defeating all his enemies and doing what was just and right in the sight of the Lord. Things were going so well for him, he felt it was time to fulfill a promise made to his good friend Jonathan and bless his family. There was one living descendant, Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. So, David sent for him and had one of Saul's former servants, Ziba, bring him from Lo-debar.

When Mephibosheth arrived, David told him he was giving him all of his father's property and inviting him to eat at his table for the rest of his life. He even made Ziba and his family Mephibosheth's servants. Well, obviously, he was overcome with excitement and thanked David profusely for his kindness. So, instead of being killed, as he initially feared when David sent for him, he was abundantly blessed, and he and his young son, Mica, lived prosperously in Jerusalem and ate at the king's table for the rest of their lives.

When we make a promise to anyone, for any reason, we are expected to keep it; regardless of how things change or how much time passes. Also, when God gives us blessings, they are intended to be used for the building of his kingdom. We are not to just sit on them and hoard them for ourselves. David's act of kindness toward Mephibosheth and his family was the perfect execution of both of these principles. Jonathan, the one he promised, was now dead. He could have easily shirked his obligation, but he didn't. He did what he said he would do, and did so cheerfully and in great measure.

Lord, thank you for continually blessing us and keeping us upright before you. Thank you for providing for us and allowing us to be able to bless others. Please give us kinder, more generous, spirits so that we can continue to bless those around us; making room in our hearts to receive even more from you. Let us be cheerful in our giving, quick in our forgiveness and diligent in our obedience to you. We love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Walking Into Your Destiny

2 Samuel 5:1-12

Previously, we left Saul recovering from the shock of facing his destiny. Meanwhile, the Philistines were putting David and his men out of their ranks as they prepared for battle. After all, it's hard to trust a guy who is known for winning overwhelming victories for your enemy. Unfortunately, by the time David's crew got back to Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had raided and destroyed it. They took everything living there captive and burned the place down!

David was upset, but his men were livid; there were rumors of stoning David. He had led them away, leaving their loved ones and belongings vulnerable. So, David consulted God, who told him to pursue the Amalekites and he would recover everything. And that is what David did. He started with 600 men and ended up with 400 by the time they caught up with the raiders. They attacked and killed all but 400, who fled, and took back everything that had been taken from them.

At the same time, the Philistines were engaging the rest of the Israelites in battle. Just as the Lord had said, Saul was killed along with three of his sons - including Jonathan. Saul actually killed himself to avoid being killed by the Philistines (and since his servant was too afraid to do it for him). That, however, is not the story that got back to David. An Amalekite (of all people) brought David the news of Saul's and Jonathan's death, but took credit for putting Saul out of his misery. Little did he know, that little white lie would cost him his life.

David mourned Saul's death, composing a song in his honor. Then, he consulted God about what to do next. God instructed him to go back to Hebron in Judah where he would be anointed king. But, Saul's commander, Abner, proclaimed Saul's son Ishbosheth king in Israel. Like any siblings would do, the two groups fought - in their own, Biblical, to the death way. Eventually, Abner switched sides and joined David, David got Michal back, Joab (one of David's men) killed Abner and David cursed Joab for killing Abner.

David's mourning for Abner won over the rest of Israel and Ishbosheth lost his courage. Two men killed him while he was sleeping and went to David bragging about it. So, David had them killed. Now, despite the twisted and unfortunate way it came about, David was able to take his throne over all of Israel. He was 37 years old. He led his army to Jerusalem to reclaim it, and he reigned from a fortress at Zion. He renamed it the City of David and King Hiram of Tyre had a palace built for him there.

In these passages of Scripture, Saul and David both realized their destiny. For one, it was death and defeat; for the other it was victory and kingdom life. The difference was their relationship with God. Both knew God and had served him early on. Saul, however, became disobedient and defiant, doing what he thought was best rather than what God told him to do. As a result, all he had built up under God's grace was taken from him and given to David - a more faithful servant. David was humble and obedient; always consulting God first, before making any big moves. God rewarded his faithfulness by making him king over all of Israel. It took 37 years and three anointings to get there, but he persevered and received his reward.

How do our life stories compare to these? Are we more like Saul, enjoying all that God gives us, but never feeling satisfied and going our own way? Or, are we like David, taking the good with the bad and remaining faithful to God and, patiently, doing his will? I know I struggle with that in some areas of my life. I get caught up in the comforts of this world and hesitate or resist when God tells me to move.

God, please help me to be more like David when it comes to serving you. Help me to serve you completely and consistently. Give me the faith and courage to move outside of my comfort zone as your will demands it. Help me to be obedient, even beyond the constraints of sacrifice. Remind me to seek your will first in all that I do, so I can know that I am on the right path. Thank you, Lord, for your patience and forgiveness thus far. Please continue to love and bless me as I strive to love and bless you with my whole life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

God's Will Shall Be Done

1 Samuel 28:1-25

 So, remember when David confronted Saul about his mortal pursuit and proved that he had no ill will toward him by sparing his life when given the chance to take it? Do you remember how Saul was so remorseful and repentant and blessed David for his kindness and asked him for mercy when he took the throne? Well, that didn't last too long. All it took was for those meddlesome men of Ziph to stir the pot a little and Saul was right back at it.

He went after David, setting up camp outside his hiding place, and then he waited. But, while he waited, he and the 3,000 troops he took with him slept; including his armor bearer, Abner. And while they slept, David and one of his men, Abishai, went into their camp taking his spear and water jug, instead of his life. Once they were a safe distance away, David shouted out to them, awakening them and proving his point yet again. Again, Saul was ashamed and blessed David for his kindness and they went their separate ways.

This time, though, David was through. He said to himself, the only way to truly keep Saul from chasing me is to hide among his greater enemy, the Philistines. So he did just that. It took a little convincing of King Achish, but he talked his way into some land. Of course, the king's hesitation was justified when David and his men secretly raided the Philistine towns, killing everyone in them. But, no witnesses meant no proof, so King Achish was never any the wiser.

And that brings us to the current Scripture. Now, the Philistines are ready to attack Israel again and since David and his men are living in their territory, King Achish feels like he has the upper hand and demands that David fight for him. Well, David's no fool, so he agreed and even boasted about how he would prove himself to the king. Meanwhile, Saul is busy trying to consult with God in preparation for the attack. But, remember, Samuel has died and God is not talking to Saul. So, what is he going to do now?

The "next best thing". Even though he had banned them after Samuel's death, Saul went to consult a medium for help. He dressed up in a disguise and went to Endor, where she was. Even with that, she was reluctant to help because the penalty was death, but Saul assured her she would not be harmed. He asked her to summons Samuel so he could get a word from the Lord. When he appeared, Saul's identity was revealed and she panicked. Saul calmed her down and asked her to proceed.

Well, Samuel gave it to him straight. He asked Saul why he bothered calling him back and Saul explained his predicament. But, Samuel told him that it was useless since he made God his enemy way back in the day when he disobeyed him after defeating the Amalekites. Not only did Samuel drop that bomb, he made it worse when he reminded Saul that his kingdom would be handed over to David and, in fact, he would be defeated by the Philistines the next day.

And...done. Saul fell out on the ground paralyzed with fear. It also didn't help that he had not eaten all that day or night. The medium saw his distress and offered to feed him, but he refused. With a little more convincing from his men, he finally agreed and the woman fed them and sent them on their way.

Sometimes in life, we get in our own way. We do things contrary to what God has told us to do, thinking our way is better. We go after things we have no business pursuing, looking for a greater blessing. We say things we really don't mean, to get what we want or because it's the right thing to say, but our actions betray us. What we really need to do is trust God; really trust him. Not just in word, or even deed, but in our hearts and minds. Otherwise, we continue to set ourselves up for failure, forsaking the very thing we think we are working toward.

Lord, please help us to obey your Word, even before sacrifice. Help us to trust that your will shall be done and it is best for us. Please keep us out of your way, as well as our own. God, I pray for peace in the midst of our trials, and faith despite opposition. Give us a heart like yours, to do what you would have us to do, just as David did. We love you, Lord; help us to show you through our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Talk Ain't That Cheap

1 Samuel 25:1-42

 At this point, David has more than proven his faithfulness to God; and not a moment too soon because Samuel now dies and is buried at his home in Ramah. So, David moved to the wilderness of Maon (or Paran) near a place called Carmel. The time came to celebrate the sheep shearing, and David and his men wanted to participate. That being the case, they asked their neighbor to hook them up.

Now this wasn't just any neighbor; this was Nabal, a wealthy man with many goats and sheep and fields and servants. Not only that, but David's men had protected his sheep and shepherds while they were grazing through their area. So, surely this neighbor could return the kindness with this small request. But, the Bible tells us that Nabal means fool, so here's how it really went down.

David sent ten of his men to make the request in his name. Once he heard their request, Nabal replied by screaming all sorts of insults at them. He called them runaways, liars, freeloaders and probably all sorts of other  socially unacceptable terms, for the time. So, David's servants returned to him empty handed and told him what happened.

Oh, really?! When David heard that, he told his men to get their swords, while he was getting his own. He was about to go do some damage; he felt slighted, after all. He and his men had protected this man's livelihood out of friendly courtesy, and now he doesn't even know who David is? In David's mind, now he had to pay. Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants went to his wife, Abigail, and told her what happened, warning her that she needed to do something or things were going to get ugly for all of them.

Fortunately for Nabal, his wife understood the value of words and their relation to actions. She immediately whipped into action, gathering all the items David's men may have had in mind when they made their request; and in no small volume. She sent the items ahead with the servants, then made her way toward David's camp on a donkey.

As they approached each other in a mountain ravine, David was declaring his rage and vowing vengeance on Nabal, his family and all he owned. When Abigail saw him, she approached him very humbly and respectfully, bowing deeply at his feet. Then, she went into her spiel about how great David was and how he feared God and was merciful, even to men who hunted him. She appealed to his devotion to God and his uprightness and sealed the deal by reminding him that he didn't want to have Nabal's blood on his hands for getting his own revenge.

David was impressed and agreed to accept Abigail's gifts and speech in exchange for Nabal's and their lives. (It probably didn't hurt that Abigail was also a beautiful woman.) So, she went back home to find her husband throwing a huge party and getting very drunk. Since she had not told him that she had done all these things, she decided to wait until the next morning, when he was sober, to fill him in.

And when she did, boy did he take it hard. Indeed, he had a stroke and lay paralyzed in bed for a full week and a half when he heard that news. Then, God finally put him out of his misery (or gave him what he earned) and struck him dead. Well, that word got back to David and he threw his own little party. Of course, he had to invite Abigail to join him...permanently. She gladly accepted the invitation, and became one of David's wives along with Ahinoam of Jezreel. (I know, it seems pretty shady, but, hey, that's how they rolled back then.)

So, what's the moral of this story? Well, there could be many. The main things I took from it - this time - are that 1) it's not expedient to return evil for good, 2) wisdom and sincerity (and attractiveness) can go a long way to mend relationships and save lives, and 3) words mean something.

We can't just go around talking to and treating people any old way and think that's okay; especially not a child of God. So, since we don't always know who belongs to him - and even when we do, we have to treat people with respect, dignity and fairness. Not just to avoid God's wrath if we don't, but because it's the right thing to do. Then, any additional blessings God decides to give us for doing what he says are a bonus.

Lord, help us to always do what is pleasing in your sight. We know that everyone will not always treat us right or live for you the way we do. But, help us to remember that others' poor treatment of us is no excuse to treat them poorly in return. Give us grace and wisdom to deal with them in the way that you would have us to. Show us how to love those that hate us and bless those that curse us. Teach us to forgive and move forward in life; not hang on to hurts of the past. Thank you for forgiving us and being patient with us, even though we continue to make mistakes. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

When The Rubber Meets The Road

1 Samuel 24:1 – 22

David was on the run. Saul had been pursuing him, heatedly. He even enlisted the assistance of his entire army to find David so he could kill him; all because of his jealousy. David fled from town to town, and wilderness to wilderness, escaping Saul's pursuit. Even the people that David and his men rescued from their enemies could not be trusted to do the same for them when they were questioned. People were ratting him out left and right, and those who didn't were killed - their entire family and all they owned.

So, David found himself and his men holed up in a cave in the wilderness of En-gedi. Saul had delayed his hunt to fight off an attack by the Philistines, but as soon as that was handled, he was right back on his most wanted man. Now, clearly, he was not in his right mind. His jealousy had caused him to victimize himself, making David - his son-in-law and son's best friend - his aggressor. All this, when in actuality, David had never done anything against him. In fact, most of what David had done was to benefit Saul. And this was how he repaid him?

For most people, the tables would have turned a long time ago and David's flight would have turned to fight. But, that was not how David operated. Indeed, the fact that he was so intent on doing God's will is what got him in this predicament. So, what happened next? Well, David's mettle was tested.

Saul was now back on his trail, but he had to go potty. So, he went off into a cave for some privacy. Little did he know, the cave he chose was the very one where David and his men were hiding. David's men, of course, urged David to take Saul out, right then and there. I mean, surely this was God delivering him into his hands so, finally, he could have rest. So, David crept forward in the cave and cut off a piece of Saul's robe.

Then the guilt hit him. Yes, this man was trying to kill him for reasons beyond either of their control, but he was also God's anointed king (for now, anyway). And because David honored God, he refused to go through with it, lest he be judged. Instead, he let Saul finish up and leave the cave otherwise untouched. But, he did follow after him to prove his innocence.

David called out to Saul and showed him the fabric he had cut from his robe. He told him that it was proof that he had no ill intent toward him, otherwise he would be dead right now. He also reminded him that God is still in control and would be the judge of both of them. Saul had no response to that. In fact, he stood there and cried, acknowledged the truth of the situation and even blessed David for his kindness. He admitted, then, what he knew all along - that David would be king, so he went so far as to ask him to have mercy on his family when that time came. Really? But, David being the man of God that he was, agreed and took an oath of it. Then they both went back to their strongholds.

Now, I know that I am not yet where David was in his walk with God, but I do intend to get there sooner than later. Honestly, though, I still think bad things about people when they treat me unfairly or unkindly. I catch myself wishing they would get what they're dishing out and worse. But in those times, I have to pray because that's when the true test is passed or failed. God already knows our outcome. He just wants to see how we will trust him through the struggle. Trust him to judge his people and fight our battles, so we can claim the victory he has promised us.

Lord, give us a heart like yours, so when hard times come, we can see our enemies as they really are. Let us always yield to your will, despite our situation or selfish desires. Remind us that you are the sovereign God and final judge of all. Even in our turmoil, let us rest in you. We thank you for your favor, Lord; even when it is the cause of others' jealousy toward us. Help us to be able to love and forgive those who trespass against us, just as you do for us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Beware The Green-eyed Monster

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Saul is so super-jealous of David, his tormenting spirit is in full swing and he wants David dead. In fact, he was encouraging people, including his son, Jonathan, to help him do it. But, Jonathan loved David, like he loved himself - apparently even more than he loved his father. So, not only was he not willing to kill David, he felt he had to warn David of his father's plan.

So, he did just that. However, even after vowing not to kill David - at Jonathan's urging - Saul's tormenting spirit caused him to try, again, to kill David with his spear while he was playing his harp. Of course, David escaped, so Saul sent out a lynch mob for him. This time it was Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, who stepped in to save him. She helped him escape in the middle of the night when they came for him.

David ran to Ramah, where he met with Samuel (yep, he's still around!) and told him what Saul had done. So Samuel took him in, but Saul found out and sent men there to get him. But, God wouldn't let that happen; he had big plans for David. So, when the men got there, they got caught up in the Spirit and began prophesying with Samuel and the others. Saul decided to do it himself, but ended up with the same fate.

So now, David had to flee Ramah and find Jonathan. When he did, he asked him why his father was so set on killing him. But, Jonathan was in denial. He told David that his father had said nothing of the sort to him and he would definitely say something if he were. So they came up with a plan to learn the truth about Saul's intent toward David.

At the upcoming new moon festival, David would fail to attend. When Saul asked of his whereabouts, Jonathan would tell him that he went to Bethlehem to worship with his family. If Saul was okay with that, they would know David was safe. If he got angry, Jonathan would warn David and help him escape. To do that, David would hide in a field and wait for Jonathan's signal. The signal was Jonathan's arrow; after he shot his arrows toward David's hiding place, if he told his servant he passed the arrow, he was safe, but if he told him to go further, David was in danger.

So they put their plan in motion and, sure enough, Saul asked where David was on the second night of the festival. Jonathan told him that he went to Bethlehem to worship with his family, and Saul boiled over with rage. He cursed and argued back and forth with Jonathan about it for a while, then he threw a spear at him! At that point, Jonathan stormed out of the room.

The next morning, Jonathan went into phase two of their mission. He took his servant out to the field where David was hiding and told him to run out to pick up his arrows. As the boy ran, Jonathan called out to him to go further. So the boy gathered all the arrows and brought them back to Jonathan, who then sent him away. Once the boy was gone, David came out and saluted Jonathan. They hugged and wept together, remembered their pact of friendship and parted ways.

Sometimes in life, God has assignments for us that come from the failures of others. When that happens, those who failed their assignment can become bitter and angry and jealous. Jealousy is a dangerous sin: on its own because it distorts your thinking, but more so because it can lead to deadly actions if not checked. Even though we may have to move out of our comfort zone and away from those we love in order to escape the situation, only God can remedy the jealousy. So, when others are jealous of us, we have to pray for them and not just the situation or ourselves.

Lord, help us to recognize your hand in our relationships with others, especially when jealousy is in the mix. Help us not to be jealous of others, but know that you provide for us all we need and put on us no more than we can bear. Give us understanding and forgiveness when we have to stay, and wisdom to know when it's time to leave. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Jealousy Versus Humility: Where's Your Heart?

1 Samuel 18:1-30

At this point, David has defeated Goliath and all of Israel has taken notice...even Saul. Saul even asked the commander of his army about David's family and hometown. (Oddly, he already had this information from months before when David came to work in his court, playing the harp to sooth his foul moods.) In any case, David's victory over Goliath had earned him the hand of Saul's daughter in marriage; but, it didn't quite go down that way.

David told Saul that his father was Jesse and they were from Bethlehem. Then, David met Saul's son, Jonathan and became instant friends. From that point on, David was not allowed to return home as he had been previously. So, his and Jonathan's bond grew stronger and they made a pact of friendship - a huge deal in that day. And, Saul made him a commander over his troops because whatever he did was successful.

As the army returned from finishing off the victory that David started, by killing Goliath, the women came up with a victory song and dance. They sang that Saul had killed thousands and David ten thousands. Errrr. Say what? Now, we already know that Saul was an arrogant man. That's why his kingdom was in a slow downward spiral as it was. So, you can imagine his rage when he heard this.

Perhaps you recall that tormenting Spirit God put on Saul when David was anointed king. Well, it was back with a vengeance and a hatred for David. He was so jealous that ozone day, as David was playing the harp, Saul hurled a spear at him, hoping to pin him to the wall. But, David escaped...twice. So now, Saul has cycled through jealous anger to pure jealousy to jealous fear of David, all in a couple days. But, David stayed right there, just as humble as ever.

In fact, after Saul sent him away to command 1,000 troops in battle - which, of course he did successfully - he refused his rightful reward of Saul's daughter for a wife. So, a couple things with this. First, Saul surely dragged his feet in holding up this end of the deal. In fact, if he hadn't seen it as a way to possibly get rid of David, he may have never offered. Secondly, David's humility didn't allow him to bring it up, even though that reward was among his reasons for killing Goliath in the first place.

In any case, Saul told David he could marry his oldest daughter, Merab, if he fought the Philistines, hoping they would do his dirty work for him. David refused because he still identified with his humble beginnings and didn't see himself as worthy. But, then Saul's daughter, Michal, fell in love with David and Saul used that as a second chance to have David killed.

This time, Saul was more cunning. He had his men go to David and butter him up, so he wouldn't refuse Michal. David told them he couldn't afford the bride price. They reported this to Saul, so he made David an offer he couldn't refuse. He set the price at 100 Philistine foreskins, claiming that vengeance on his enemies was all he wanted. Of course, David was happy to oblige and even came back with twice the required price.

Well, now what? Not only did David not die in battle, he more than accomplished the mission and now Saul had to give him his daughter. Now, it became painfully clear to him that The Lord was with David and there was nothing he could do about it. So, his anger and fear and jealousy led him to become and remain David's enemy for the test of his life. Meanwhile, David remained humble, despite the fame he earned as he continued to be more successful than all his peers.

So, what can we learn from this story? As usual, that's a loaded question, but I will offer up a few ideas. The most obvious, I think, is that jealousy gets you nowhere. For all his rage and jealousy, Saul was still without God's favor and David still had it. Instead of trying to harm those who have things that we like or want out of jealousy, it would be more productive to focus on improving ourselves to get in a similar position - or one more suitable for us. Things that we see others with are not always good for us.

That feeds into the other major point here. When God does have something for us, we can't let pride get in the way of it. We have to remain humble, glorifying God for whatever it is that he has gifted us with and continue in it faithfully. David fought every battle in the name of The Lord and gave God the praise for every victory. We have to be the same in our lives, no matter how big or small we may think it is.

Thank you, Lord, for your justice. We know that we can trust your judgement in our lives, so we don't need to be aloud or arrogant. You know the plans you have for our lives and you are a rewarded of those who diligently seek you. Help us to be seekers, humbly doing your will and glorifying g you at every opportunity. Correct us when we let our flesh get in the way, so that we don't stray too far down a deadly path. We love you, Lord. Help us to always show you that love in the way we live our lives for you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Know Your Source

1 Samuel 17:32-58

Saul had summoned David after hearing of his inquiry about the reward for killing Goliath. When he got there, David told Saul not to worry because he would fight Goliath himself. Of course, Saul thought this was ridiculous because David was such a small, young boy and Goliath was a giant, trained from his youth to be a warrior. There was no way Saul was going to let David lose his kingdom to Goliath.

But David was persistent, and convincing. He explained how his experience as a shepherd, protecting his sheep from lions and bears, could help him. His true weapon, however, was his final argument. He told Saul that just as God rescued him from those animals, he would do the same against this Philistine who was defying the armies of the living God. With that, Saul could no longer relent and he allowed David to battle Goliath; even gave him his armor to do it.

Now, let's pause here for a bit and just think about what has taken place. For forty days, Goliath had taunted the Israelite army and they had run in fear. Then, David came along with his different perspective and turned everything upside down. All that time, the warriors of Israel had been seeing and thinking in the flesh. All they could see was a giant man whom they knew they could not physically defeat. David, however, saw the situation for what it was: a mere mortal defying his God, the true and living God! So, he knew that Israel already had the victory, they had but to claim it.

Now, back to our story. With that confidence, David prepared to fight Goliath, declining Saul's armor because it was too heavy and awkward. Instead, he used what he was familiar with, some stones and a sling and his shepherd's staff. As he approached, Goliath started with his smack talk about how he would feed David's flesh to the birds and wild animals. But, David gave it right back to him, telling him that when God defeats him, he would cut off his head and feed his flesh to the birds and wild animals...and all his men (so, aha)!

With that, Goliath moved toward David and David charged Goliath, using his small size and agility to his advantage. When he was closer, he pulled out a stone and used his sling to hurl it at Goliath, nailing him in the forehead. The stone sunk in and Goliath went down face first. Look at God! Then David used Goliath's own sword to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that, they ran. Now, all of a sudden, the Israelite army gathered some courage somehow, and chased after them, killing them all the way to Gath and the Ekron gates.

There are so many lessons to learn from this story, not the least of which is acknowledging God's dominion over everything. When we look at life through the eyes of the Lord, things take on a whole new perspective. Problems that seemed too hard appear trivial, people who seemed so difficult become stepping stones, and life in general becomes a little bit easier to handle. Obstacles may not disappear, but our ability to deal with and overcome them improves when we put our trust in God. And, when we trust God openly, those around us are encouraged to do the same.

God, we thank you for your protection and strength. Thank you for defeating our enemies for us as we hide in the safety of your wings. Please help us to glorify you in all of our victories and praise you anyhow in our defeats. We love you, Lord, and we want to please you, but we sometimes let fear in our flesh get in the way. Encourage us, Lord, in those times and remind us of your omnipresence in our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

One Giant

1 Samuel 17:1-31

Now that David had been appointed king, God took his Holy Spirit from Saul and replaced it with a tormenting spirit. When he was troubled and depressed - as he now, often was - members of Saul's court suggested calm music to sooth him, so he called for a musician to come play for him. His servants suggest, none other then, David because he was a skilled harpist and warrior. So Jesse sent David, bearing gifts and David played for Saul when he was troubled. Saul enjoyed it so much, he asked Jesse to let him just stay there to serve in his court permanently; and so he did.

So, Saul's reign is on the downslope and he has his successor working for him...he just doesn't know it yet. Meanwhile, the Philistines are ready to war, again, against Israel. The two forces lined up on opposite sides of  a valley and waited for each other to make the first move. At that time, a common battle tactic was to let the strongest warrior from each side fight each other and the loser's side would surrender to the winner's side.

Well, the Philistine's best warrior just happened to be Goliath. As I'm sure many of you know, Goliath was a formidable creature. He stood somewhere between seven and ten feet tall (depending on your source) and he wore massive armor, including a helmet, chest and leg plates, and a heavy, weighted javelin. Every day, he would come out and taunt the Israelites, daring them to come over and challenge him. But, they were afraid and dared not move. They just sat there in cowardice and took it, day after day after day - for forty days!

So one day, as David was bringing his brothers some food, per his father's instruction, he witnessed this embarrassment for himself. Goliath came out and did his usual taunting and threatening, and David couldn't believe his eyes - more about that later. Then the men told him about the king's reward for defeating him; his daughter for a wife and a tax free life for the whole family!

That caught David's attention. He began to ask around, getting verification from other troops that what he had been told was correct. It was true, but his inquiry angered his brothers and word of it got back to Saul, who then sent for him.

Sometimes, issues in our lives can seem like Goliath did to Israel; too big to defeat, too strong to challenge. We can't even think about the problem, much less face it, without cowering in fear or running from it. It seems insurmountable and makes us feel hopeless. Even the prospect of some reward for overcoming is not enough to push us into a fight against it. But, that is just a matter of perspective, which will be covered in the next lesson.

Lord, we know that you have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Please help us to walk in your Spirit; by faith and not sight. Remind us, when we forget, of  your love and promise of protection and victory. Let us not be afraid of the arrow by day, nor terror by night for you are our refuge and safety. Thank you, God, that we can trust completely in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Everyone Is Replaceable

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Previously, Saul disobeyed God, curtailing his kingdom, but God continued to use him. He, with the help of his son, Jonathan, defeated the Philistines. However, as I mentioned in another post, Saul had an issue with arrogance. He took God's protection and grace for granted and often attributed his success to his personal ability. In case there's any question, that's never a good idea when dealing with the things of God.

Sure, God allowed him to also defeat the Amalekites, but that was only because that's what God wanted done. In fact, he went so far as to give Saul very specific instructions, via Samuel, on how to go about doing it. He was very clear that absolutely everyone and everything was to be destroyed; nothing was to be excluded, not even the babies. I know it seems brutal, but the Amalekites had pretty much brought God's judgment on themselves when they attacked the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. (see Exodus 17:8-16 and Deuteronomy 25:17)

But, what did Saul do? Whatever he very well pleased. He took God's favor, defeated the Amalekites and spared their king, kept some plunder and went on his merry way. He figured, he would keep what pleased him, offer some of it to God as a sacrifice and all would be well. Unfortunately for him, God didn't see it that way. God rejected Saul's arrogance and disobedience and told Samuel to get his boy. Samuel called Saul on his error and listened as he tried to defend his actions. Then he put the smack down.

Samuel went in on Saul, telling him how God had rejected him and his actions and would be handing him his pink slip. He made sure to educate Saul on God's ways regarding obedience - it is better than sacrifice. Do what God says, then you won't need to sacrifice. Sacrifice is for atonement, repentance for sin. If you obey God, there is no sin to repent for. Then Saul had his "aha! moment". But, it was too late. He had sealed his fate and his replacement was in the bullpen.

God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint Saul's replacement, the son of a man named Jesse. God instructed Samuel to go there under the premise of sacrifice in order to get the required audience without kindling Saul's suspicion. He gathered all the elders of Bethlehem and purified Jesse and his family for the ceremony. Then he had Jesse present all seven of his sons, one by one. Of course they were presented in the order of attractiveness and apparent fitness for the position. But God said no.

He warned Samuel not to look at the outward appearance because he was looking at their hearts. So Samuel asked Jesse if those were all of his sons, and he admitted to having another, the youngest, who was tending sheep. He sent for him and immediately, God said, "that's the one". So Samuel stepped forward and anointed David in the audience of his brothers and all who were gathered there. He was overcome with the Holy Spirit from then on. Samuel returned to Ramah, having completed his assignment.

And that, folks, is the danger of disobedience. God is a loving, patient and merciful God, but even he has his limits. When he gives us assignments, he has a reason. He knows what needs to be done and he knows he wants us to make it happen. On occasion, he will even go so far as to tell us exactly how to do it. When we disobey, it's a slap in the face; it's frustrating, and sometimes, it causes him to move on to the next. Don't let your assignment get taken away because of stubbornness, fear, arrogance or anything else. Because, just as Saul shows us, everyone is replaceable.

Help us to be obedient, Lord; doing just what you say. We know it won't always be easy or comfortable or fun, but you will never put more on us than we can bear. Help us to always honor you in our actions and attitudes, not letting our own desires get in the way of doing your will. Give us humility, God, so that you get the glory from all of our success. We know it comes from you and you alone. Thank you, Lord, for your favor. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Grace Under Fire

1 Samuel 14:1-23

In our previous lesson (1 Sam 10), Samuel anointed Saul as king and presented him to the Israelites in Mizpah. He had reminded them of God's goodness to them and how requesting a king, instead of trusting him, was a mistake. Nevertheless, God allowed it and provided for it, so they chose to move forward from there.

About a month after Saul's installation, the Ammonites attacked one of the Israelite towns. Instead of fighting back, they requested peace. The Ammonites agreed, but with the condition of disgracing them by gouging out every one's right eye. (Eww!) So the people stalled and told the Ammonites to give them seven days to find someone in Israel to rescue them. If they couldn't find anyone, they would surrender. Enter Saul. When he heard of their plight, Saul became angry and agreed to fight for the small town. He demanded that all the warriors in Israel fight with him, and they did.

They staged a surprise attack and defeated the Ammonites, and the people organized a solemn ceremony to proclaim Saul as king. Everybody was happy, the end...not so fast. Now that Saul had been confirmed as king over Israel, Samuel said his goodbye as judge. He reminded the Israelites, again, of God's position regarding their decision to have a king. He also encouraged them to continue to worship God and acknowledge his true rule over them. After calling forth rain out of season, Samuel promised to continue praying for Israel.

So now, Saul was set. He was anointed and appointed king over Israel and God was with him, despite his intention. But Saul was still a man, and he had a bit of a problem with arrogance, which is detailed later in the book. As they continued to war with Philistia, Samuel instructed Saul to wait for him at Gilgal for seven days before they went into battle. But Samuel was a little late coming, so Saul became impatient and decided to sacrifice his own burnt offering.

When Samuel arrived and saw what he had done, he chastised Saul, telling him his disobedience brought an end to his kingdom, which could have otherwise been established forever. Granted, this would not happen immediately, but he pretty much just added insult to injury. Israel wasn't supposed to have a king in the first place, and now he's just doing what he wants! Well, now they have to battle against the Philistines with their rag-tag warriors with makeshift weapons.

Perhaps fortunately, Saul's son, Jonathan, was as impatient as his father. As the Israelites were camped in preparation for war, Jonathan and his armor bearer snuck away from camp and conducted their own attack on the Philistine's outpost. Jonathan asked the Lord for a sign that he would be with them and give them victory. When God gave it, Jonathan and his armor bearer defeated the 20 or so Philistines, creating confusion and distress among the rest of their troops. That gave the Israelites the advantage they needed to defeat the Philistines.

Even though Israel had defied and disobeyed him at practically every turn, God showed them grace in his protection of them. He even went so far as to give them victory over their enemies, despite the fact that they had insisted on going about it their own way. And that is a testament to his character - sovereign and gracious. God's will shall be done, regardless of our actions. And, thankfully, God's love will remain, regardless of our actions.

Lord, please forgive us for our sins. Forgive our disobedience and rebellion. Give us a repentant heart to acknowledge our sins and vow to do your will. Thank you for your grace when we go astray. Thank you for your love when we make mistakes. You are so awesome and kind, God. We don't deserve your goodness and you don't deserve our grief. But you are our creator and first love - even before time began. Thank you for your immutability. Keep us on your righteous path, so that we can bring you glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Converted To Serve; At Your Request

1 Samuel 10:1-27

The Israelites requested a king, so God gave them a king. Once Saul's servants were sent away, Samuel anointed him with oil, kissed him and told him he did all that because he was the chosen one. God had appointed him to be ruler over Israel. No pressure. Then he told him to go back home because his father is more worried about him, since the donkeys have been returned.

Samuel prophesied to Saul about his returned trip. He told him who he would meet, what they would say, what he should do and what will happen next. The latter is the most important part. On his journey, Saul would come to a place called Gibeah of God, or Gibeath-elohim. In that place, the Holy Spirit would come over him and he would begin prophesying with the people he met there. He would be changed into a new person. Meanwhile, back on the farm, everyone was talking about Saul prophesying, but no one had heard about his anointing; and he didn't tell.

Later, Samuel finally made his way to Mizpah, where he called all the people together so they could receive their king. Of course, first, he had to remind them of what they were doing and how God felt about it. He said, 'God brought you out of Egypt and rescued you from your oppressors and misery, but you say you would rather have a king; God's not good enough'. Really? Hearing something like that about my actions or thoughts would really make me reassess and probably make some changes. But, the Israelites seemed to think that summed it up quite well, and were eager to "select" their new king.

So, Samuel brought all the tribes together and narrowed down to the king in the usual custom: tribe, clan, family, et cetera, until he got to Saul. Yay! Bring him up; he's our new king. We're so proud!...Where'd he go? Saul was hiding among the baggage (fairly ironic). They brought him out, standing tall amongst the crowd  and Samuel declared that he was the one God chose to be their king. Of course, they were all pleased, shouting, "Long live the king!"

Samuel, then explained the rights and responsibilities of the king, wrote them down and placed it before the Lord. At that point, he sent everybody home, including Saul with a group of men whose hearts God also touched. Now, there were obviously some naysayers - there's at least one in every crowd - but Saul ignored them.

God did not like the fact that his people were turning away from him, requesting a replacement for him. He made that very clear, but they insisted. So, he picked someone to fill the position, though he knew it was doomed from the beginning; because that's what his people wanted. That is not to say that God is a pushover and will do whatever you ask of him if you whine and cry about it enough. That is to say that he will give you what you ask for to show you that you don't always know what's best for you.

The most interesting point, to me however, is that the person he chose could not do it "as is". He had to be changed. It was not God's intention for Israel to have a king, so there wasn't one just laying around. I don't know what criteria God used to decide, but even the chosen one had to be converted, by the Holy Spirit, into someone God could work through. Israel thought they were choosing, but God had already decided.

Our lives are the same. God has not changed; and he won't. He is still in control of every aspect of our lives. We are his people and he loves us. He gives us instructions and guidance to get us to where he wants us to be - with him. But, he is also a gentleman. He give us options and respects our free will. He will not force anything on us. There may be some strong encouragement from time to time, but ultimately, the decisions are ours to make. God always wants us to choose him, but he will stay with us when we don't, so that when we realize our mistake, he can get us right back on track.

God, thank you for your faithfulness to your, sometimes, unfaithful children. Thank you for your wisdom and direction, even though we don't always take heed. Please continue to be with us as you promise in your word. Never leave us, nor forsake us, though we occasionally do that very thing to you. Have mercy on us, Lord, as you did on the Israelites. Protect us when we go our own way. Remind us of the right path and help us to make better decisions in the future. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Found In Pursuit Of The Lost

1 Samuel 9:1-21

The Israelites were not satisfied with all that God had provided them (surprise, surprise), so they demanded a king from Samuel. Even though he knew it was a bad idea, and was disappointed that they would even make such a request, Samuel prayed about it and God was merciful enough to grant them their request.

The man God had in mind was of the tribe of Benjamin; the son of a wealthy man named Kish, Saul was very tall and handsome. Kish's donkeys had strayed away, so he sent Saul and one of his servants out to look for them. They searched and searched through the entire land of Benjamin without success. Just as Saul was ready to give up, his servant suggested that they ask a seer (or prophet) for help. He remembered hearing about one in the town they were in.

Saul agreed and they went about looking for this seer. They asked some women who were drawing water from a well and they told them that he was in town and would be heading to worship soon. So, Saul and his servant went in that direction. As they were entering the town gates, Samuel was exiting them.

God had told Samuel the day prior that he would send the man who should be anointed king to him on this day. When they approached each other, God pointed Saul out to Samuel. Just then, Saul asked Samuel where to find the seer and Samuel identified himself. He told Saul to go to the house of worship so they could dine together and he would tell him everything he wanted to know the next morning.

He also told him that the donkeys he was looking for had been found, and he and his family would be the center of Israel's hopes. Of course, now Saul was confused. He wanted to know where the donkeys were, so what else was this seer going to tell him, since they had been found. And, how did he know about the donkeys? Oh yeah, he's a seer. But, how can my lowly family from the smallest tribe be the center of all Israel's hopes? He was so confused, that he got a little upset about it and asked Samuel why he was saying these things to him. That will be explained later.

Many times, when we are going about our lives, tending to the trivia and tedium of life, feeling purposeless or without direction, God is using us; placing us exactly where he wants us to be. Though we may not always be able to see our purpose, or feel best qualified to do God's work, God has a plan and he knows how to work it. We all have flaws, just as Saul did. But, if we just surrender to God whatever it is we have to offer, he can use it to build his kingdom.

Lord, thank you for using us in ways that we could never imagine. Thank you for your confidence in faith, which allows us to be vessels for your service. You are sovereign, God, and all that you say will come to pass; even when we - your people - sometimes try to get in your way. Help us to see ourselves the way you see us and submit to your will completely. Remind us of the blessing such obedience promises. Thank you, Lord, for your continued love and patience when we go astray and try to do things our way. Thank you for your mercy when we make mistakes. Please continue to cover us with your grace as we journey through this life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

It Looks Bad, But Trust God

1 Samuel 8:1-22

As Samuel continued to be groomed and trained as a prophet under Eli (until he died), the Israelite army began to suffer defeat. The Philistines went to war against them and conquered them, capturing the Ark of the Covenant in the process. Apparently, they thought the power of the Ark was in the physical object because they took it with them thinking it would protect them in battle as it had the Israelites previously.

Little did they know, but soon learned, the power was not in the object (place, person, etc.), but the God that it represented. (That's something to think about.) Before long, God sent plagues among them over the period of about seven months. After being overcome by tumors and rats, they had enough and returned the Ark of the Lord to the Israelites in Kiriath-jearim. But the Israelites still felt the Lord's absence because, as usual, they had turned to idols and false gods.

So, Samuel told them to get rid of their idols and told them all to gather together at Mizpah so he could pray for them. It was here that he also became their judge. As they were praying and worshiping, the Philistines came to attack. But, because the Israelites were repentant, even as they feared further destruction at the hand of their enemies, God spoke. His voice from heaven caused so much confusion among the Philistines, that the Israelites were able to defeat them and run them out of the land.

And that brings us to the current chapter, where Samuel is much older now and his sons are also judges. Of course, Israelite generations never turn out quite like their predecessors, so Samuel's sons abused their position. This caused an issue for everyone, so the elders approached Samuel about appointing a king to rule over them. Now, it's understandable to not want to be led by corrupt leaders, but when God has a plan, it is best to follow through with it and not go off on your own. More to follow on that point in the lessons to come.

But, the elders insisted, so Samuel prayed about it. He knew that having a king was a bad idea because God wanted to lead them directly through judges, so he did what any suitable priest, prophet and judge would do. He asked God how he should proceed. God told him to give them their king, but warn them that the grass would not be greener in that field. Even after the warning, the elders still wanted the king, so Samuel did as the Lord said and went about finding the Israelites a king.

When things get rough in life, that is not the time to abandon God. God promised never to abandon us, so we can be sure that he won't. However, he may allow us to experience the consequences of our decisions and behavior. There is no time in this life or the next when our plan will be better than God's. Have you made decisions or done things that are contrary to what God has instructed you to do? Have you neglected to seek God's guidance on a major issue altogether? Things may go smoothly for a while and seem right, but if it is not God's plan, it will eventually crumble. Heed God's warnings, no matter how hard or painful it seems to be.

Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy that keeps us from feeling the pain that our behavior sometimes warrants. Thank you, also, for your justice and discipline. If we never suffer for our sins, we would lose sight of their reality and take your love for granted. Help us, Lord, to be better servants in your kingdom. Help us to always know that your plan is the best one, even when it doesn't seem that way in our eyes. Strengthen our faith, so we can follow you in complete obedience despite our circumstances. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

First Encounter

1 Samuel 3:1-21

 In her faith, Hannah gave her long awaited son, Samuel, back to God - literally and spiritually. However, instead of mourning his loss, she praised God that she ever had him. Awesome! Every year, on their pilgrimage to Shiloh for worship, she would bring him a new ephod - the traditional dress of the priests in the Tabernacle. But God is also faithful. Because of her attitude and integrity, God also gave Hannah five more children after Samuel. So now, she has six children when she only prayed for one; and the one she prayed for is being raised as a priest and prophet!

Samuel had been living with Eli, the priest at Shiloh, since he was three years old. By this time, he was older and had gained favor with God and the people of Israel, but this particular night was special - pivotal - for him. As he slept in the Tabernacle, Samuel heard someone call his name. He apparently assumed it was Eli, so he went to him and asked if he called. Eli said no and sent him back to bed. After he laid back down, Samuel heard his name again. Again, he went to Eli, and again Eli sent him back to bed.

When it happened a third time, Eli realized that Samuel was hearing God calling to him. This makes me all warm and fuzzy because I remember this feeling. I don't remember the exact moment or event when I recognized God's voice, but I do remember the difference between the time I didn't recognize it and now that I do. What an amazing transition! But I digress. Eli explained to Samuel that it was the Lord calling him, and the next time he did, he should answer, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:". How often do we say that in earnest?

So, God called again and Samuel said just what Eli told him to say. Then God proceeded to tell Samuel the things he was about to do in Israel concerning Eli and his family. Quick recap - Eli's sons Phinehas and Hophni had been abusing their positions as priest, taking food from the people's offerings and seducing women who came for worship. Eli knew about it, but did nothing more than tell them to stop (1Samuel 2:12-25). Now, God was ready to carry out his judgment against them for their sins and he told Samuel just that.

The next day, Samuel was obviously not looking forward to facing Eli. I mean, who wants to hear bad things about their mentor and spiritual father - especially from God - and know that because of those things, they will be utterly destroyed? No one that I can think of. But, he had to face him and when he did, Eli demanded that he tell him every word the Lord had told him. So, Samuel did and Eli took it in stride. He had been warned previously (see 2:27-36), so this was just confirmation and he had nothing to say but, 'God's will be done'.

All that was left to do at that point was to watch it unfold. As it did, Samuel was confirmed as a prophet throughout the land and God continued to commune with him. Side note: at that time, direct communication and visions from God had become scarce, so this was a really big deal. Recognizing God's voice is a really big deal. Do you remember when you first recognized it for yourself? Are you still praying for discernment? Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? Be faithful in your prayer, study and meditation and God will reveal himself to you. When he does, it is imperative to be obedient. Your relationship with him will be so enriched and energized. It really is a wonderful place.

God, thank you for your presence in our lives. Thank you for your sovereignty and love. Please help us to hear you, to know you, and to love you. Make our relationship more personal, more intimate, so we can know your voice, without a doubt. Help us to become and remain faithful to you and your will for our lives. It won't always be easy, Lord, but with your help, all things are possible. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Fervent Prayer

1 Samuel 1:1-28

First, let me begin by apologizing, again, for my absence. There is really no reason or explanation for it; I have just been slack, I guess. I have been continuing my study, however, so part of my delay in returning was trying to figure out where to pick up again - where I left off, or where I am now. In order to be complete, I decided it would be better to pick up where I left off, even if it does mean some time to review. After all, a little review and reflection can be a good thing! So, here we go.

Here we begin to learn about the life of Samuel. His life is important because it represents a major transition in the history of the Israelites and their relationship with God. He was Israel's last judge and the first priest and prophet to serve with a king. So, the miracle of his very conception cannot go unnoticed. It all started with prayer in faith.

Samuel's parents were Elkanah and Hannah. His father, Elkanah, actually had two wives (the other was called Peninnah). Peninnah had children, but Hannah was barren. Much in the way that women, unfortunately, behave, Peninnah never let Hannah forget her barrenness, teasing and taunting her about it. When they went on their annual pilgrimages to worship and sacrifice, Peninnah would rub it in Hannah's face when she received a greater portion to sacrifice because of all her children. And, every year, Hannah would become so sad and ill about her situation that she lost her appetite and became inconsolable.

This particular time, things were going as they usually did and Hannah just couldn't take it. She went away on her own and cried out to God, pouring out her heart to him and asking for his favor. She even went so far as to promise God that if he gave her a son, she would give him back to him, dedicating his whole life to him. She was so upset that when she prayed, no sound came from her mouth, only her lips moved. Eli, the priest at the time, saw this and accused her of being drunk. When she explained her situation to him, he understood and gave her his blessing, praying that God would grant whatever she had prayed for.

Here's where the story gets interesting to me. Now, up to this point and for many years, Hannah had been haunted and vexed by her infertility. She was at her wits end and could not be comforted, even though her husband was so loving and supportive of her. So, the first big credit to her character was that she knew only God could truly understand and help her situation. So, she took it to him; she was open and honest - and probably didn't mince words or try to sound fancy or super-spiritual. She didn't worry about who was looking or what she looked like. She just knew that she had a great need and only God could fulfill it, so she had to give it to him.

The next thing that impressed me about Hannah was her faith. Sure, she was praying out of despair, making big promises to God in order to get big results. But, she had total faith that her prayer would be answered. How do we know this? When Eli approached her about her state, she told him her truth. When he added his blessing to her prayer, she was good. Her whole countenance changed. In her heart, it was already done! She didn't have to be sad anymore; she didn't have to worry anymore. She prayed to God and received the priest's blessing, so she had no reason to worry that her prayer would be unanswered or denied. And she walked in it!

The last thing that bolsters Hannah's character, in my eyes, is her commitment. She had waited so long and prayed so hard for her son - Samuel - but, when the time came to fulfill her end of the bargain she made with God, she did just that. Even though it probably hurt her to her core to give up the son she so desperately desired, she told God she would give him back to be dedicated to his service for life, so that is exactly what she did. When he was three years old, Hannah left Samuel with Eli upon their return to the Tabernacle in Shiloh for worship.

Dependence on God, faith in God,and commitment to God. Hannah possessed each of these characteristics and exercised them in requesting, receiving and relinquishing her son. Do you know that God can handle your situation? Do you trust him enough to give him your problems and leave them alone? Are you willing to do what you need to do until your desire has come to fruition? God can and God will.

God, I thank you for who you are and all you have done. Thank you for hearing our prayers and giving us the desires of our hearts. Thank you for being a promise-keeper and dream-fulfiller. You supply all our needs and bless us beyond measure. We have but to trust you and live our lives in faith. Help us to do that, God. Help us to do our part and not doubt that you will do yours. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

A Good Man...

Ruth 4:1-22

Now, Boaz went about doing what he promised Ruth he would do. As per Israelite custom, he met with the family redeemer outside the town gate. He called over ten leaders to act as witnesses to their transaction. He informed him of the situation regarding Naomi and the land she was selling which belonged to her late husband. Boaz told the man that he was giving him first dibs at it because it was rightfully his. He was even up front about wanting it for himself if the man was not willing.

The family redeemer agreed to purchase the land of his deceased relative. However, Boaz being the good businessman he was, then revealed, what I like to call, the 'Ruth clause'. He explained that with the land, he also had to agree to marry Ruth so she could have children and carry on the family name. That tidbit of information made the deal too much for the family redeemer. So, he changed his mind and agreed to let Boaz have it.

So, in the presence of the ten witnesses, the man removed his sandal and handed it to Boaz as he told him to buy the land. (There were some very odd customs during that time, but whatever.) With that, their agreement was made official and Boaz went to claim his new wife...oh yeah, and the land too.

They consummated their marriage and Ruth gave birth to a son, whom she named Obed, and the rest is history. That is to say, Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David; thereby continuing the line that led to Jesus. Isn't God awesome in the way he works? Using random people, who are simply willing to be obedient to him, to do great and mighty things for his Kingdom!

The same can be, and is, true of us today. God is still working miracles and fulfilling his ultimate plan in and through his people. All we have to do is let him use us. Also, as we see in this story, occasionally, we might even get something out of it that we really want in the process. Faithfulness and obedience to God are the order of the day; that seems to be a recurring theme...hmm.

Heavenly Father, I come to you, now, thanking you for all that you are and all you have done in my life and the lives of all your people. Thank you for being a provider and promise-keeper. Thank you for including us in your plan for the salvation of this world, even though we are unworthy. Thank you for your grace, that allows us to even benefit directly from the greater purpose of your will. Help us to continue to be willing vessels for your work and faithful servants to you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

A Good Reputation Goes A Long Way

Ruth 3:1-18

Ruth's reputation had been established in Bethlehem even before she arrived. It allowed her to find work and provision under the good graces do Boaz, so that she could support herself and her fellow widow and mother-in-law, Naomi. But now, Naomi was ready to do something for her. So, one night, she announced that she was going to help Ruth find a permanent living arrangement.

Naomi then proceeded to give Ruth all the instructions she needed to follow Israelite tradition in securing Boaz as her family redeemer. She told her to take a bath, put on perfume and dress in her nicest clothes, then go down to his threshing floor where he would be winnowing barley. She was to wait there for him until he finished eating and drinking, and make note of where he went to lie down. At that point, Naomi instructed Ruth to uncover and lay at his feet.

Ruth did what she was told and Boaz awakened to find her at his feet. He asked her why she was there and Ruth explained all that Naomi had instructed her to do. Boaz, being accustomed to the tradition, reassured Ruth that he would fulfill his obligation. He, however, was also aware of another family member who was closer in relation to them and should have first right at being a family redeemer. Boaz told Ruth to stay there at his feet until morning and she did, but she arose early before the sun came up to avoid being seen leaving.

Ruth returned to Naomi to tell her all that had happened the night prior, bearing the gift of six measures of barley he had given her. Once she had recounted the story, Naomi told her that she just had to be patient now while Boaz did what she knew he would do, being the good Israelite man that he was.

During their exchange, Boaz expressed to Ruth that he knew she had a reputation in town for being a good woman. Word of her kindness, faithfulness and uprightness had spread in Bethlehem. Because of this, he was willing - even eager - to do what was right by them, and in the sight of the Lord. Even though, according to the law, he had the option to refuse her. Had she behaved unseemly, he may well have used that option.

Lord, please help us to live I live in a way that pleases you. Help us, oh God, to build our reputations so that they positively reflect you. Revive, in us, your character, which you gave us at creation; in your image and likeness. Allow us to find favor with those around us because of our faithfulness to you. And, let us always glorify you in our successes. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Character Builds A Reputation

Ruth 2:1-23

Two widows, one young and one old, had just arrived in Bethlehem from Moab. In that time, being a widow was almost a death sentence if there was no family member to care for her. But, Ruth was determined to take care of Naomi and provide for the two of them. So, one day she got up and told Naomi that she is going to the fields to gather grain.

Now, Ruth had a couple things working against her in this situation. First, she was a foreigner in Bethlehem – being from Moab. Second, she was not a hired hand, so any grain she gathered would be either what was left for the poor, or it would be considered stolen.

But, God had a plan. Ruth ended up working in the field of Boaz, a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem. When he came to the fields to check on his crops and his workers, he noticed Ruth and inquired about her with his foreman. His foreman told him that Ruth had showed up with Naomi when she returned from Moab. He pointed out that Ruth asked, that morning, to gather grain after the harvesters and she had been hard at work since then, except for small break in the shade.

Boaz was impressed, or moved with compassion, or something, but in any case, he instructed his foreman to allow her to continue to gather without being bothered and even to intentionally drop some good grain specifically for her to pick up. Boaz went to Ruth and told her that she was welcome to continue to gather in his field and not to go to any other fields. He also told her to help herself to any water that was drawn if she was thirsty. Later, he even invited her to sit with them at dinner and allowed her to eat until she was full and even have leftovers.

Afterwards, Ruth returned to the field to continue gathering. By the end of the day, she had fully filled her basket with grain. She went back to town to show her mother-in-law what she had done all day. Naomi was surprised at what she saw, and asked where she had been and in who's field she had worked.

Ruth told Naomi that she had been working in Boaz's field all day and that he invited her to return and work there. Naomi was excited about this. She wished blessings on Boaz and told Ruth to do just as he Sick. So, Ruth went back for the remainder of the barley harvest and gathered with the Boaz's harvesters. She also remained with them through the wheat harvest.

So, a lot has taken place in this story already. Ruth has built a reputation for herself in this strange land by her kindness, her work ethic, and her faithfulness. She has shown initiative, not only to provide for herself, but also her mother-in-law. Even more, she has gained the attention of Boaz, who as we will see soon, turns out to be more than just a kind, wealthy, God-fearing man. When we do what is right, what is pleasing to God, he will honor that.

Lord, give me a heart that follows yours. Help me to do what is good and pleasing in your sight. Make it my character to treat people well, work with diligence, take initiative, have faith in you. Have your way, Lord, in my life and help me to remember that everything is a part of your plan. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Life Goes On

Ruth 1:1-22

Now the Israelites went through many other trying events during the times when the judges ruled. They engaged in theft, idolatry, rape, murder and infighting that led to Civil War. Because there was no king, the people simply did what they felt was right in their own eyes. An entire tribe was nearly wiped out because of the sin of all the people. But, again, because of God's grace, the tribe was restored. (See Judges 17-21)

However, there were still some good people in Israel. One of those people was Elimelech. During a time of famine, he moved his family to the country of Moab. He settled there with his wife Naomi, and his two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. After a while Elimelech died and left his wife, Naomi, alone with their two sons. His two sons married women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth, but then, they also died.

Now, Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law. Because they were still young, she told them to go back to their families and she would return to her home in Bethlehem. The daughters protested, but Naomi insisted. So, Orpah went back to her family, but Ruth would not go. She pleaded with Naomi to let her stay and even vowed to remain with her; to be parted only by death.

Naomi had left such a great impression on Ruth that she was willing to go where Naomi went, live where she lived, serve the God she served and die where she died. How awesome is that? Do you live your life in a manner that draws people to Christ or pushes them away? I aim to fall in the first category.

When they returned to Bethlehem, everyone in town was excited to see Naomi. She was so upset by her situation that she asked to be called Mara, because it made her bitter. It didn't matter to her that she had been missed, or that she had survived the bitter drought that she and her family left, or that she was able to return safely. Sometimes life can get that way for us. We can't so caught up thinking about everything that's going wrong in our lives that we fail to notice the way God is blessing us.

Lord, please help us to recognize how you are with us even when circumstances are less than perfect. Help us to see that there is always a blessing in our trials. Even though we come against adversity: sometimes we lose people that we love, sometimes we don't see how much we are loved, you always know what's best for us. Thank you, God, for always being with us and helping us to continue, as life goes on. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Public Enemy Number One

Judges 16:22-31

When we left off, Samson had revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah, who promptly betrayed his trust and used it to have him captured for 1,100 pieces of silver. Samson was overpowered by the Philistine rulers, blinded and forced into slavery, grinding grain in Gaza.

Of course, this made the Philistines very happy. For so many years, this one man had tormented and defeated them; making a mockery of them. Now that they could return the favor, they were overjoyed and celebrating that victory. To add insult to injury, they even sent for Samson to be brought to the party as entertainment. They just couldn't leave well enough alone - remember that part about revenge not ending.

So, Samson came, with his guide. He asked to be propped up against the two pillars supporting the temple where the festivities were taking place. With all the drunken debauchery taking place, no one seemed to think anything of this. This was especially true since they had weakened and defeated him. It, apparently, never crossed any one's mind that hair grows back or that that growth could represent a renewal of strength.

Look at God. Through the humiliation and torment, Samson knew he could always call on God. Despite all that he had done wrong to get himself in that position, he knew that if anyone could help him, it was God. Unfortunately, he had the wrong personal motive (still revenge - this time for his eyes), but God will use whatever we bring him to do what he wants done.

So Samson prayed, while the crowd was mocking him, for God to give him strength one last time. (Funny how now, all of a sudden, he recognized that God is providing the strength.) As he stood there with both his hands on the support columns, he pushed them causing the entire temple to come crashing down, killing the more than 3,000 men and women there, including the Philistine rulers...and himself (also by request). The total killed at that one time was more than he had killed over his entire lifetime.

Afterward, his brothers came to collect his body and bury him near his father between Zorah and Eshtaol. So one man terrorized an entire nation all because of revenge. At least that was the human side of it. The sovereign part was the Philistines pagan and idol worshiping practices being punished. Just as they were praising some fake gods for helping them defeat Samson, the true God stepped in to give Samson the final victory over them.

Thank you, Lord, for always having our back. When we've done wrong and turned away from you, disobeying your will, you are always waiting in the wings to forgive us and draw us back to you. Thank you, dear God, for your patience and love. Thank you for fighting our battles through us and for us. May we always acknowledge and appreciate your presence and participation in our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

When A Man Lusts For A Woman

Judges 16:1-21

Samson became fast frienemies with the Philistines, taking their women and killing their men. His conflict and revenge cycle with them continued and caused the Philistines to result to intellectual and emotional warfare to bring him down.

Samson was a bit of a ladies' man with a thing for Philistine women. One night while he was with a prostitute in the Philistine city of Gaza, some of the Philistine men plotted to kill him first thing the next morning. But, Samson left at midnight and decided, for some reason, that he needed to take the city gates with him. He took them way far away to a hilltop near Hebron. I am not sure if he was aware of the plot against his life or if he just wanted to prove, once again, just how strong he was.

In any case, the plot was not carried out and some time passed before he fell in love with yet another Philistine woman. This one you may have heard of - Delilah. Here is where that complex warfare came in. The five Philistine rulers knew about Samson's love for Delilah and decided to use it against him. They all went to her and promised her a large payoff if she would find out the secret of his strength and tell them.

And she wasted no time doing it. She went to him, probably with the sweetest, most innocent presentation she could muster, and asked him to tell her the secret of his strength. Samson gave her a bogus response, but she bought it. She went to the rulers and told them what he said. Then, they provided her the materials she needed (or so they thought) to tie him up securely so they could ambush him. When they tried to attack, Samson broke free and they failed.

They went through this two more times (exact same cycle) before Delilah got really serious about being made a fool of and missing out on her payment. So, after the third time, she nagged and nagged and nagged until Samson could no longer stand it. (Kind of like the incident with that riddle and his fiancee). So finally, after baiting him with the whole 'if you love me you'll tell me' bit, Samson told her the real secret to his strength - his hair had never been cut because he was a Nazirite.

She knew she finally had the truth and she lulled him to sleep and cut his hair so that this time the men's attack would be successful. And it was. Samson thought he would just break free as he had before, but his strength was gone. The men took him away to Gaza, gouged out his eyes and made him a grain grinding slave.

There are so many things that could be pointed out about this story, but the most obvious is the danger of lust. I know, I've used the word love before now, but I think we all know that's not really what these two had going. Love is not deceitful, which both of them were. Love is not harmful; I think that part speaks for itself in this story. And, contrary to popular belief, love is not blind or blinding. In fact, I believe that when you truly love someone, you are able to see them more clearly than at any other time. That is why it can sometimes seem painful; because the truth is not always pleasant.

So when we let lust get the best of us, bad things happen. Anyone reading Samson's story can see how foolish he was in this situation. Delilah didn't even bother changing her tactics because he fell for it every time. I mean, honestly, what would cause a man to allow a woman to do all those things to him, knowing it is a setup, besides lust? And he paid the price for it, as we all will.

So, Lord, please help us to recognize the difference between love and lust and not be fooled by either. Love is from you; it is you, God, so it is good. Anything that looks like love, but is used for evil is lust. Help us to not fall victim to its appeal. Hide us in your love, Lord; let us see through your eyes. Give us discernment and strength to resist its temptations and avoid its consequences. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Revenge Doesn't End

Judges 15:1-20

Samson went back to Timnah to claim his wife, but as we mentioned before, she had been given to someone else. Enter Samson's anger. As payback for giving his daughter to the best man when he thought Samson hated her, Samson rounded up 300 foxes tied them by their tails in pairs, tied and lit torches on each pair and set them loose. They burned all the Philistines' grain and vineyards and olive groves, basically destroying all their cash crops.

Then the Philistines got mad (understandably) and demanded to know who was responsible. When they found out who and why, they set fire to the father and daughter. But wait, there's more. So now Samson is angered again and vows to avenge their deaths (not completely sure why, at which point he waged a one-man war against the Philistines and killed several before leaving to live in a cave in Etam.

Now it's the Philistines' turn again. They attacked the tribe of Judah and set up camp there, spreading out near Lehi. Recall that Samson is from the tribe of Dan and grew up in Zorah living in Etam. Therefore, the men of Judah were obviously confused and concerned about this occupation. So they asked the Philistines why they were there. When they replied that they were looking for Samson, they were so happy to turn him over. In fact, 3,000 men of Judah went and collected him from the cave themselves, tied him in ropes and handed him over to them.

Samson's only concern was that they not kill him themselves, and they didn't. But as they were turning him over, and the Philistines were starting their victory party, Samson broke free and used the jawbone of a donkey to kill 1,000 of the Philistines. Then he started his own victory party, boasting of what he had done - no mention of the strength God gave him to do it. Then all of a sudden he's thirsty and who does he call on, but God - in quite a sarcastic manner at that! But God, in his infinite mercy, heard his cry and gave him water from a hollow in the ground. Somehow after that, he became Israel's judge for the next 20 years.

Each round of retaliation got bigger and bigger and involved more and more people who had nothing to do with the original offense. And that is the way revenge goes. No one is ever really satisfied and there is always room for more backlash in the future. The only true way to completely end grievances is not through revenge, but forgiveness.

So I pray, Lord, help us to forgive and leave vengeance to you. It is yours as are our battles. We have but to trust you and your Word and that you will do exactly what you said. Cover us with your love so we can share it with others; even those who offend us. Give us understanding and patience and a heart for peace. And let us always give you the glory for the things that you do for us. Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Samson's Dilemma

Judges 14:1-20

So, Samson was born as promised and he grew up and God blessed him and began moving in him. One day he made his way to Timnah and found a Philistine woman that caught his eye. He returned home and told his parents about her and asked them to get her for him as a wife. They objected because she was Philistine and they would have preferred that he marry an Israelite woman, which makes sense given their culture and tradition.

But God was in the mix and he was working on his plan against the Philistines since they were ruling over his people at the time. He just didn't tell Samson's parents that. I can relate; God is constantly allowing me to go through situations that really put me through my paces and test me in order to do some greater work that may not have anything to do with me directly. I'm okay with that, especially since I know he will never abandon me in whatever the situation is.

So, Samson insisted on having this woman for his wife, so his parents went about getting her for him. While they were on their way back to Timnah, apparently Samson wandered off and was attacked by a young lion. That would have been the end of the story for most people, but remember, Samson was a Nazirite. So, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he just ripped the lions jaws apart with his bare hands; no sweat.

Amazing, crisis averted, again except for the whole Nazirite issue. That part about avoiding contact with corpses, kind of out the window there (and again as we'll see later). So he didn't tell his parents about it, but he just went along like nothing had happened. They went to Timnah, met with the woman and was still pleased to take her for his wife. On the way back, though, Samson stopped back by his lion carcass and saw that some bees had made honey inside of it. A good Nazirite would have kept it moving, not even gone that way to start with; but not Samson. Oh, no. He took some of the honey and ate it, even shared it with his parents without telling them where he got it. Doesn't that just sound like a set-up? Doing wrong, knowingly, and thinking you got away with it since nothing bad happened immediately. Of course God's justice wouldn't let that happen.

Samson threw an engagement party in Timnah while his father finalized the arrangements; this was customary. And his in-laws-to-be found 30 groomsmen for him. Now the guilt of what he'd done must have been getting to him because he felt the need to confess, just not outright to avoid trouble. So he told his groomsmen what happened in the form of a riddle. But before he told them, he made a little wager with them about it. Thirty fine linen robes and sets of festive clothing for them if they could solve it; for him if they could not.

Of course they could not, but they were not in a position to just come up with and hand over the agreed bounty, so they cheated. They told Samson's betrothed to get him to tell her the answer and then come and tell them, else they would burn her father's house down with her in it. So she did. It took her a whole week of whining and crying and nagging to get him to tell her, but she finally got it out of him. So, just before the wage term was up, by the end of the celebration, the men came to him with the answer they had swindled out of his future wife - and he knew that's how they got the answer.

Obviously, this was very upsetting for him. Now he had to go and kill some innocent rich folks and take their stuff to give to these cheating men. Well, I'm sure there was a better way, but he was very upset. In fact, he was so upset that he went back home to live with his parents again. I guess he felt betrayed; but in the meantime, the bride's family gave her to his best man. They had already made all these preparations, somebody was getting married.

So there are a few things to take away from this story. Be obedient to God - we will be held accountable for our deviance. Know who to trust - just because someone looks or seems nice doesn't mean they're for you. Own up to your mistakes - hiding or running away from them only leads to more calamity.

Lord, please help us to be obedient and do what you want us to do. Give us a spirit of repentance when we stray or stumble. Help us to remember that you always have a greater plan and purpose for our lives than what we can see or imagine. Continue to lead us and guide us on the right path. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

A Promise To Keep

Judges 13:1-25

 Please pardon the interruption. I have been transitioning and very distracted. But I am back now and will catch up to where I should be over the next couple days; so there will be multiple posts each day until I do. Ironically, there is also a rather large gap between the previous lesson and this one in the story of the Israelites.

Now that Gideon has died, of course the Israelites have gone back to their self-destructive ways. They have abandoned God's will and commands and followed after false gods. And, as per protocol, God has turned against them in anger, they were defeated and taken captive by their enemies, and now they are crying out to God for help.

This cycle never ceases to amaze and befuddle me. Why don't they just learn their lesson, or whey won't God just give up on mercy and leave them to the consequences of their actions? I know the answers to those questions (original sin and God's character), I just have a hard time understanding it in action - when it comes to other people. Of course it makes perfect sense when it comes to me (read sarcastically).

But I digress. So, we know the Israelites are back in the doldrums of their vicious cycle. What I did tar mention to this point is that they had been through it six times between Gideon's death and now. Six times!

Now, before he died, Gideon led his army of 300 into victory over the kings of Midian, despite the lack of support from neighboring nations. I fact, because they refused to help, once he defeated the
Midianites, he went back and destroyed them as well. After that, the Israelites asked him to be their
ruler and all his descendants, but he refused. He knew God had a different plan for them; he wanted them to have judges, not kings. So the Israelites lived in peace for forty years until he died.

And in true Israelite fashion, they went back to Baal. Gideon's son, Abimalech, tried to be king for 3 years, but ended up bringing more trouble on them...and God sent judges to rescue them. First came Tola, then Jair, then Jephthah, then Ibzan, Elon and Abdon. And that brings us to the current passage.

The Israelites were in the hands of the Philistines because of their rebellion. An angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manoah, of the tribe of Dan, and told her she was going to give birth to a son. Not a big deal, except she had been barren and she was going to have to dedicate him to be a Nazirite from birth.

So, what's a Nazirite? A Nazirite is an Israelite consecrated to the service of God who vows to abstain from alcohol, let the hair grow and avoid defilement by contact with corpses (Numbers 6). Normally,
this vow was taken for a set time and purpose, but in this case, the vow would be taken by Manoah's wife on behalf of her yet-to-be-conceived child. This meant that she had to follow these guidelines until he was born, then teach him to do the same for his whole life.

She was so amazed by this visit that she ran and told her husband about it. Manoah wanted to see and hear it for himself, so he prayed for God to let the angel reappear; and he did. He told them the same thing he had told her previously and nothing more. But, Manoah wanted to do something for hi. For bringing such great news. So, he brought him an offering and it was consumed as the angel disappeared.

They stood in awe for a moment, afraid of being struck dead once they realized they had come face to face with God. Them Manoah's wife made a good point, if God were going to kill them, he wouldn't
have made them a promise for their future. So, time passed and everything the angel had said happened and Samson was born.

So, it seems to me that, like Samson's parents, when God gives us a promise, we have to believe it, work towards it and shake off any doubt or fear that we may have about it. Help us, Lord, to do just that. Help us to remember that your promises are yea and amen, they will be done. Remind us that you are always with us and will give us all the direction we need to reach the goals you set for us. Give us the desire and will to do what must be done while we wait on you. Let us not be idle, but active in our faith to see your Word fulfilled in our lives. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.