Keep Battling

# 212 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:18,19, "Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.' 19 "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" (1 Sam 15:18,19) “The Lord sent you on a mission.” I love the picture that the Holy Spirit is trying to paint here for you and I. The Hebrew word for “mission” means “a course of life.” When you and I came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God sent us on a mission, a course of life to follow. No, we are not to go out and utterly destroy sinners, remember these Amalekites serve as a type of “sin” for you and I. Our mission is to do battle with what they represent, namely sin, and we are to battle sin in our life until it is consumed, that is, until it is brought to an end in our life. This battle will rage till our dying breath or the return of our Lord. Saul's mistake is he thought he could co-exist with some sins and so he okayed the taking of the spoil. The question for you and I is this. What have we allowed to become spoil in our lives? What sins have we given up on and simply decided to co-exist with? Don't give up the fight my brother and my sister. The struggle is the course of the life of the Christian, the mission we must undertake. Learn from another Saul, renamed Paul in the New Testament who spoke of his ongoing struggle with sin in Ro 7:19 , “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” His solution? 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!” The solution is Jesus Christ. He alone obliterates sin in our lives. He alone can give us victory over our besetting sins. Sin is put to death by a daily routine of confession and trust in the power of the blood of Jesus to wipe the slate clean. Eph 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Believe it! Live it! It is your life-long mission!

Humility: The Gateway To Grace

# 211 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:16,17 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on." 17 So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? (1 Sam 15:16,17) Samuel, the mouthpiece of God, tells Saul to put a sock in it. If you recall, Saul was already pouring out all sorts of excuses for not obeying the command of the Lord to wipe out the Amalekites. He immediately follows that up with one of the greatest spiritual truths in all of Scripture. In fact, it is a common thread throughout all of Scripture. It is the concept of kingdom advancement by humility. “When you were little in your own eyes,” God advanced you Saul! It is the same for you and I. This is vital, to the follower of Christ, and it is also a constant struggle because our flesh is always interested in self-advancement. Remember when Jesus told the story of the publican and the Pharisee in prayer? The Pharisee stood before God and rattled off all the wonderful things he did for God. It kind of made you wonder how God could function without him. Then the publican looked down on the ground and beat his breast and asked, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Then Jesus speaking of the publican said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Lu 18:14) And in Job 22:29, we read, “When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person. “ Remember, "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (Jam 4:6) Humility is the gateway to God's grace, and without God's grace (divine influence on our heart,) we cannot enter His kingdom nor advance in it. Desire humility. Recognize the fact that you and I are sinners in need of God's grace.

Own Up To Your Sin

# 210 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15: “And Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed." It's the old “they” and “we” syndrome. I suspect you know it all too well in your own life. I know I know it in mine. Here's how it works, when things don't turn out right it's “they”, but when they turn out well, it's “we.” Saul realizes that he has been caught red-handed by Samuel, and immediately he breaks out his excuses. HE didn't bring back the livestock, “THEY” did. And he felt they had a legitimate reason to do so, namely to sacrifice them to the Lord. But God was not interested in the tainted sacrifice of what had been the Amalekites, or Saul's excuses. His command was to utterly destroy anything connected to them. Since Saul was the authority that had been appointed by God to do His will, the buck stopped with Saul. He was responsible for the “they.” It's just like it was in the Garden of Eden. Adam was the authority figure. He allowed Eve to taste of what was forbidden and the buck stopped with him. Remember his response to God? He blamed Eve. Remember her response? She blamed the serpent. Will someone step up to the plate here and take responsibility? When David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba, he didn't look for a scapegoat, he said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Ro 14:10 we read, “But why do you judge your brother? “(Find him guilty) and we find the grim reminder that “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Then in v12 the reminder that “each of us shall give account of himself to God.” If you duck your sins now, you will pay in spades later, spending eternity in hell. Rather hear and believe this: 1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And when your time of accounting arrives, remember only those who are found in Christ will be found not guilty.

Those Doggone Buts

# 209 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:13,14, “Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD." 14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (1 Sam 15:13,14) Saul, couldn't wait to tell Samuel of his obedience to the Lord's command. He starts off with a little schmoozing of Samuel. “Hey Samuel, you're the best man!” “Look I have accomplished what the Lord told me to do, I have wiped out the Amalekites!” “BUT Samuel,” (oh those doggone “but” words of the Bible.) And Samuel pulls out one of God's favorite ploys. He asks a question that God and Samuel already know the answer too. “What is this sound of animals I'm hearing?” Saul is busted, he has some “susplaining” to do. God asks us these questions out of love. He gives us an opportunity to examine our motives for our actions. When Adam and Eve sinned, God came walking in the garden and asked, “Adam, where are you?” He knew perfectly well where Adam was, but Adam needed to know where he was and so God asks. Saul may have felt that he had accomplished all the Lord told him to do, but the noisy animals gave him away. He had not “put them to the ban” as the Lord commanded. We have a similar command in Eph 4:31 Let ALL bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be PUT AWAY from you, with all malice. (My caps) Dear Christian, have you put these things away in your life? “Oh yes I have!” Then what are these Facebook posts I am reading denigrating our president, or an ex-spouse, or other people who do not agree with your viewpoint. And what is this bleating gossip that I am hearing at the water cooler in the office? We have a choice here. We can either make excuses as Saul did, or we can get on our knees and ask God for forgiveness and the help of the Holy Spirit to put these actions away from our lips today and every day.

Give God the Glory

# 208 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:12 So when Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, it was told Samuel, saying, "Saul went to Carmel, and indeed, he set up a monument for himself; and he has gone on around, passed by, and gone down to Gilgal." ( 1 Sam 15:12) After praying all night for Saul, Samuel seeks him out to deliver the news to him concerning God's judgment against him. He is told that Saul had gone down to Gilgal, but before he went he had set up a monument to himself at Carmel. Gilgal was a very special place, if you recall, it was at Gilgal that Saul was initially inaugurated as king. It was at Gilgal that Joshua had put a monument of twelve stones to commemorate God's miraculous parting of the Jordan River. We are told in Jos 4:24 why he did this: "that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever." Please note that before Saul went to Gilgal to honor God, he first honored himself by erecting a monument at Carmel. According to the Hebrew wording here, this monument was very likely in the shape of a hand or an arm which is the symbol of power. (Even now Jesus is seated at the RIGHT HAND of the Father, He is in the position of power.) In erecting this statue of a hand or arm, Saul was warning others of his military and personal power and giving all glory and honor to himself rather than to God. This is arrogance before God, and we must never forget that He alone distributes power. When Jesus' disciples asked for positions of power in Mr 10: 37, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." He responded in v40 with this, “to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." Even when Pilate was about to sentence Jesus, Jesus said in Joh 19:11, “"You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” If there be any good thing accomplished in our lives today, let us not be like foolish Saul and seek credit, rather let's fall on our knees and thank the good Lord for His power in whatever our situation may be.

Three Words You Don't Want To Hear From God

# 207 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:10,11 “Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.” (1 Sam 15:10,11) Three words you don't want to hear from God, “I greatly regret,” The King James puts it this way, “It repenteth me that I have set Saul up to be king,” This same word is found in Ge 6:6 before God destroyed the earth with the flood. “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” The word means to sigh deeply. I think we've all heard that sigh at one time or another, it is usually associated with extreme disappointment over something we did or didn't do, and is a precursor of action that must be regrettably taken by someone in authority over us. This “repenting of God” is simply God's expression of the truth found in Eze 33:11 "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?' God was sighing over what He was going to have to do to Saul because of his continued disregard for God's commands. Samuel knew what that sigh meant and note his reaction. He stayed up all night grieving over Saul and no doubt interceding for him. We could learn from that. When we hear of someone who has rejected God or fallen into deep sin we are often quick to say something like, “they are going to hell and it serves them right.” Would it not be better to “sigh” with God and Samuel and get on your knees and pray for mercy? God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked and neither should we.

Cafeteria Christianity

# 206 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:7-9, “And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. (1 Sam 15:7-9) Initially it sounds like Saul was very successful in carrying out God's command against the Amalekites....then we read verse 9. “But” King Agag was spared along with the best of the livestock. We read that the people were “unwilling to destroy them. Well, what's the big deal right? It is a big deal because when God puts something to the ban, He means all of it. This is a picture of what we are to do with sin in our own lives. It must be “put to the ban.” Now, pay attention to what the people chose to do and learn from it. They chose to destroy only those things that they deemed worthless, and to keep those things they valued. Friend this is an Old Testament illustration of what is called “cafeteria Christianity.” It's a Christianity that picks and chooses what it will obey and conform to in the Word of God. It picks and chooses what it wishes to believe and it is a huge problem in the church today. I think we are all guilty of it to some degree. It's easy to like that command to not kill, but not so easy to like that command about letting go of anger and unforgiveness and gossip. It's easy to blast homosexuality while our own sexual appetites find an outlet in fornication, adultery, and pornography. This should not be so, we must not pick and choose, rather we should pray daily, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Ps 139:23) Pray this with your whole heart and then allow God to help you make those tough choices you face every day.

Be A Kenite

# 205 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:4-6, “So Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. Saul readies his troops for the battle with the Amalekites, but there's a problem. Some of the Kenites were living with the Amalekites at the time and since Saul's orders were to destroy everything the Kenites would be destroyed too. So he warns them to get out of town before the battle starts. There is not a lot said about the Kenites in Scripture, but we do know that Moses father-in-law was a Kenite, and we also know that he had a special connection with the Israelites and their God. Ex 18:12 says, “Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God.” It wouldn't do to “put these God-fearing Kenites to the ban” and so they were warned to leave before the total destruction began. Although we aren't told of any specific act of kindness, the word “kindness” here means “merciful love.” Somewhere along the line, these people prompted by their faith in God, demonstrated the God-like quality of unmerited love among the Israelites. We should go and do likewise, and we should also heed the warning to remove ourselves from the things of this world that are doomed to destruction just as Lot and his family heeded their warning before Sodom and Gomorrah were put to the ban. Re 18:4,5 says, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 "For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Beloved, be a Kenite. Be loving and merciful, but never a partaker of sinful lifestyle of the world. As the saying goes, “Be in the world, but not of the world.”

The Sin of the Amalekites

# 204 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:2,3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (1 Sam 15:2,3) God, in His Sovereignty, has decided that the time has come to “put Amalek to the ban.” This was spoken of back in De 25:19 "Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.” Why? What was Amalek's crime? They had pounced on the Israelites soon after they had left Egypt and attacked the rear ranks, the place of the weary and the defenseless. We read about it in De 25:17 "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 "how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. This act showed a total lack of the fear of God, a lack of saving faith, and the total destruction of the Amalekites was to serve as a picture of the end of those who do not fear God. This act of the Amalekites should cause us to wake up in America! For we too have mounted an attack against the weak and defenseless through legalized abortion. Over 54 million unborn babies have died through legalized abortion since 1973. In this regard, WE ARE the Amalekites, and I'm afraid it's going to get worse as we embrace selective and expedient health care. Do you think God's attitude toward the weak and defenseless has changed? Thankfully, His love for us has not changed either and He will forgive us of our sins if we find and embrace true repentance. God have mercy on us and forgive us in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Remember, beloved, there is no sin that Jesus did not pay for on Calvary.

Putting To the Ban Part 4

# 202 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:2,3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (1 Sam 15:2,3) This command seems unduly harsh to us and thankfully we are no longer authorized to carry out this kind of judgment in the physical sense. But God had His reasons for “putting entire peoples and their property to the ban” In De 20:16-18 we read, “But of the cities of these peoples which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, 17 "but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the LORD your God has commanded you, 18 "lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the LORD your God.” These hard-hearted unredeemable peoples were judged harshly by God so that we might learn how much God hates sin. Johann Arndt in his book “True Christianity,” sheds interesting light on this subject. He reminds us that “God gave the whole of the Holy Scriptures in spirit and in faith and everything in them must happen to you (and I) spiritually.” For instance in the account of Cain and Abel, we discover what each child of God MUST face, namely the battle between the murderous devil and the Holy Spirit. In Noah we see that the flood MUST occur in us, namely the drowning of the old man in baptism, and in these battles of the Israelites against the pagans we see the reality of the battle between the flesh and the spirit which we MUST engage in. These harsh commands of the Old Testament are to serve as reminders to each of us to not compromise with sin. Col 3:5 says, Therefore put to death (put to the ban) your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Instead of doubting God's love and mercy when reading of these things, see His mercy and grace at work on your behalf in using these things and all of Scripture for preparing you and I for the realities that come with following Christ.

Putting To the Ban Part 3

# 202 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:2,3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (1 Sam 15:2,3) We have been talking about the concept of “putting to the ban” that is, deeming something for destruction because God has determined it has been tainted beyond redemption. Sodom and Gomorrah and Jericho are classic examples. Righteous Lot and Rahab were spared in these mass destructions of cities. God knows the heart, He knows who is redeemable and who is not. He is Judge, not we. Idolatry and all it's associated sinful practices were one of the reasons that God “put entire cities to the ban.” De 13:12-17 says, "If you hear someone in one of your cities, which the LORD your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 13 'Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods"' -which you have not known- 14 "then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, 15 "you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword-utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. 16 "And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the LORD your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. 17 "So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers,” Thankfully, we no longer have authorization to carry out such punishment, rather we are to serve as watchmen, warning others to turn from their wicked ways and believe the Gospel, lest God put them to the ban on the Last Day. And this “putting to the ban” serves as a reminder to you and I to “put to the ban” all forms of idolatry in our own lives. Col 3:5 says, Therefore put to death (put to the ban) your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. May the Holy Spirit ever help us in this regard.

Putting To the Ban Part 2

# 201 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:2,3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (1 Sam 15:2,3) I want to continue the discussion of God's commands to wholesale annihilation found in the Old Testament because Christians struggle with it and atheists use it as a mantra against God. It's not that God needs to be defended, (He is God) but Christians do need a better understanding of this policy called “putting to the ban” found in Lev. 27:29. The command to annihilate an entire population does not reflect a primitive concept of God which gives way to a more humane New Testament God. God is immutable, He doesn't change. He still PERMITS catastrophe's that wipe out masses of people without discrimination of age or sex. Think of the attempts of genocide and victims of natural disasters that we have seen throughout history. However, no human agent can claim divine AUTHORIZATION for such actions because no human agent is in the position of God's Old Testament people. The Old Testament incidents were unique, never to be duplicated situations that God used as examples for us today. 2Pe 2:6 says, “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; Remember, the ULTIMATE cause of disasters rests in God's will and providence. No human speculation about the nature of God should attempt to give any other answer. God is God and He knows what He is doing. Even believers are caught up in these disasters and attempts at genocide, but God knows the heart, and the innocent (those in Christ) are taken up to be with Him and the guilty are “put to the ban” in hell. When disaster of any kind strikes Jesus tells us how to rightly view it as He commented on the time the tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people He said in Lu 13:5b “unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (Be put to the ban) The suddenness of disasters are reminders to all, to be ready. Therefore, repent!

Putting To the Ban Part 1

# 200 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:2,3 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. 3 'Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" (1 Sam 15:2,3) This is one of those verses that atheists love to pounce on to justify their rejection and hatred of God. In the next couple of days, Lord willing and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will try to clarify this difficult biblical concept of what is literally called “putting to the ban.” We read of this “ban” in Le 27:29 'No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.” The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord , often by totally (as in this case) destroying them. Don't miss the term, “irrevocable.” This destruction cannot be overturned. This destruction was sometimes commanded in the Old Testament because those who were singled out for destruction had crossed a line. In God's sovereignty they were unredeemable. This destruction serves as an example for us today. Jude 1:5,6 speaks of this as well, “But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed (put to the ban) those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains (put to the ban) under darkness for the judgment of the great day;” The devil and his angels were “put to the ban” they had crossed a line just as the idolatrous Canaanites had crossed and were “put to the ban,” Rather than question God's right to put “people to the ban” perhaps we should be more concerned about our own standing with the Lord. The only escape from being put under the ban, (read that going to hell,) is faith in Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt 11:28)

God Appointed Authorities

# 199 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:52-15:1, “Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself. 15:1 Samuel also said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people, over Israel. Now therefore, heed the voice of the words of the LORD. (1 Sam 14:52-15:1) The Holy Spirit reminds us here of the prophecy which Samuel spoke concerning the rule of kings in 1Sam 8:11, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.” Saul, in his continual battles with the Philistines strengthened his army by drafting all strong and valiant young men into his service. Having built up his army Samuel approaches Saul with a command from God. He reminds Saul that he is only king because God appointed him king, and as His appointee, He is to carry out God's orders. Oh that all rulers and government officials would understand this and serve God with willing hearts. As it says in Ro 13:1b, “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. God has given His appointed authorities every opportunity to rule in accordance with His will, but sometimes He will intervene and use the king as His pawn. Pr 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. A classic example in Scripture is Cyrus, who God called by name a full 150 years before he was even born and God said of him, Isa 44:28 “He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure,” And he did, as he was used of God to help rebuild Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Is it any wonder we are commanded to pray for those in authority. Pray for every government official from President to police officer, that they may remember who put them in office and therefore steadfastly seek to rule in line with God's will.

The Bible With Skin On

# 198 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:49-52, “The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal. 50 The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle. 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. 52 Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself. ( 1 Sam 14:49-52) As chapter 14 wraps up. We get a glimpse into some of the characters in Saul's family. Many of whom will enter into the unfolding of the story of Saul and David. Jonathan would become David's best friend. Michal would become David's wife. And Abner would become Saul's commander in chief. But in addition to introducing some of the other characters in this story, these biblical family tree passages and genealogies afford an opportunity to put real skin on the words of Scripture. Though the names Jishui and Malchishua mean nothing to you and I, imagine someone seeing those names in Scripture who did know them or know of them. “Hey remember Jishui?” “Oh yeah, I went to school with him.” “He was such a level headed guy” I wonder what happened to him! These genealogies add a special touch of reality to the Holy Bible, and of course the genealogies of Christ found in the gospel of Matthew and Luke affirm all the prophecies concerning the seed of the Messiah. These trips into the family trees aren't exactly exciting reading for you and I, but think of them in terms of reading a high school yearbook. Real people, known and touched and loved by other real people. They all meant something to somebody just as you and I do. And what an honor to have your name and family included in the eternal Word of God. What an honor to specifically be named in the Book that is all about Jesus. Father, thank You for genealogies. May they always reminds us that the Bible is the very real Word of God, with real people, and a real Savior from our sins.

Don't Spend God-granted Peace and Tranquility On Yourself

# 197 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:46-48, “Then Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place. 47 So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them. 48 And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.” ( 1 Sam 14:46-48) The Philistines went to their own place. I am reminded of Jesus' victory over the devil in the wilderness as He withstood the devil's temptations. Lu 4:13 says, “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” The Philistines would live to fight another day. In the meantime, Saul established his sovereignty, his reign, by unifying the people in the quest to secure their borders. He harassed the enemies on every side, much like the enemies harassed Israel. This harassment by Saul's armies allowed the people to enjoy safety and peace. It kept the enemy from getting any ideas about attacking Israel. This is one of the benefits of good government, and something that Christians are encouraged to pray for. 1Ti 2:1-4 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” This quiet peaceful life is a life without inner fears or outward harassment. An absence of fear and turmoil allows for the Christian witness to shine forth in reverent and godly behavior, which is perhaps our greatest witnessing tool. Just a caution here, as God answers this prayer, let us not spend our peace and tranquility on our own selfish desires, but rather spend it on God's desire, which is for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth. People are saved by hearing the Word of God and observing the godly, reverent, impact it has on us.

The Privilege of Working With God

# 196 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:41-45, “Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, "Give a perfect lot." So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, "Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me." So Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." And Jonathan told him, and said, "I only tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. So now I must die!" 44 And Saul answered, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan." 45 But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.” (1 Sam 14:41-45) The lot falls on Jonathan and he confesses what he did to his father. Saul then in effect says, “yes, Jonathan you will die and if I don't carry out this oath may “more also” happen to me. At this point, the people step in with their own oath. “As the Lord lives, we will not allow one hair on his head to be harmed.” Their reason for rescuing Jonathan was that he had “worked” with God that day and given them victory over the Philistines. The King James says that Jonathan “wrought” with God, that is, he and God worked together to accomplish something in accordance with God's will. In this case the defeat of the Philistines. This is one of the great privileges of being a Christian. Sinners that we may be, yet God desires to use us to carry out His will. He gives us an opportunity to cooperate with Him as He carries on with the business of running the universe. We cooperate with Him and His will as we seek to live according to His Word and act on His promises. He longs for us to be co-workers with Him every day, as it says in Ro 12:1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Be a Jonathan present your body to His service today and enjoy the privilege of working with God.

The Silence of the Lambs

# 195 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:38-40, “And Saul said, "Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. 39 "For as the LORD lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But not a man among all the people answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side." And the people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." (1 Sam 14:38-40) Saul had already made one rash oath and now he makes another. His first rash oath was to place a death sentence on any of his troops who ate during the day of the battle, and now, to show that he means business in this regard, he swears that even if it is his son Jonathan who committed sin, he shall die. You could've heard a pin drop. The people knew that Jonathan had unknowingly violated Saul's first oath when he ate of some honey while pursuing the Philistines. They knew that Saul was in essence sentencing his own son to death. But it seems that no one dared to speak up! Instead, they allow Saul to proceed with the casting of the lot, saying, “You do what you want to do Saul.” I am reminded of Ec 3:7b, where we are told that there is “A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;” This may have been one of those times to speak up. We too, are often faced with that dilemma. Should we speak up or clam up? But how do we know when to speak and when not to speak? A good rule of thumb is to always be ready to speak to injustice. Pr 31:8 says, “ Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.” Hmm, kind of makes you wonder why we are not hearing more voices in the church speak out against abortion? Legalized abortion has allowed for over 54 million appointments with death since 1973 in America alone! Would someone please tell me the crime of the unborn child? Speak up people! This is a “silence of the lambs” we (and unborn children) can do without! And remember as you speak, be sure to include the message of forgiveness for those who may have aborted their child. There is no sin, Jesus did not pay for.

Sin Is A Great Roadblock To Prayer

# 194 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:37,38 So Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But He did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. (1 Sam 14:37,38) As Saul inquires of the Lord through the Urim and Thummin he gets no answer. As we mentioned last time, the word “Thummin comes from a Hebrew word for “innocent” So it's likely the Urim tumbled out which meant guilt. There is sin in the camp that must be dealt with before they will hear from God. Sin is a roadblock in the matter of prayer. We cannot deny the Scriptures in this matter. Ps 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” And Pr 28:9 says, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.” It can't be much plainer than that. To turn your ear away from the Law is to live a life without restraint. Sin doesn't matter to the one who turns away from God's Law, and should such a one even bother to pray, his very words are detestable to God! Those who cherish iniquity in their heart, that is, they refuse to let go of it through confession and repentance, well, they might as well speak their prayers to the bottom of a garbage can. Ever felt like that? Like your speaking to a brass ceiling when you pray? Have you taken the time to examine how you are living? Do you just pick and choose the Laws of God that you like? When God is silent in your life, don't complain about Him, let Him complain about you as you allow the Holy Spirit to examine your life against the standards of God's Law. David knew how vital this is and so he prayed in Ps 139:23,24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” Will you fall short of God's standards? Of course you will, but God promises to forgive your shortcomings through Jesus and if you sincerely desire, He will help lead you away from sin and to the path of everlasting life.

A Little Bit About the Urim and Thummin

# 193 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:36-38, “Now Saul said, "Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and plunder them until the morning light; and let us not leave a man of them." And they said, "Do whatever seems good to you." Then the priest said, "Let us draw near to God here." 37 So Saul asked counsel of God, "Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You deliver them into the hand of Israel?" But He did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, "Come over here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see what this sin was today. (1Sa 14:36-38), Saul calls for his weary men to attack the Philistines at night, but the priest intervenes and says, “don't you think it might be a good idea to check with God about this?” And so the Urim and Thummin were brought out again. These two stones were carried in the breastplate of the ephod worn by the priest and were used to get answers to specific yes or no questions. They could also be used to determine innocence or guilt. The procedure was fairly simple. The questions were prayerfully asked, the priest then reached into the ephod and pulled out one of the stones. These stones must've been exactly the same size and weight or the priest could manufacture his own answer. It's puzzling to me, that it would be possible to get “no answer” as they did here. It was “yes” or “no” “guilty” or “innocent,” there was no third stone used for “wait.” It's puzzling until you realize that the word “Thummin” comes from a Hebrew word for “innocence,” Therefore if it was drawn out innocence was declared. If Urim were drawn guilt was declared. I would imagine that innocence was a green light, guilty was not. I'm guessing that the Urim (guilty) was drawn here, because Saul immediately inquires about what sin was committed in Israel this day. There would be no “yes” or “no” from God until the sin was dealt with. Confession of sin and repentance is vital to the Christian because the presence of sin hinders our fellowship with God and consequently our prayer life. We'll talk about that truth next time.

Good Intentions Should Yield To Humility and Patience

# 192 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:33-35, “Then they told Saul, saying, "Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood!" So he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day." 34 And Saul said, "Disperse yourselves among the people, and say to them, 'Bring me here every man's ox and every man's sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'" So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night, and slaughtered it there. 35 Then Saul built an altar to the LORD. This was the first altar that he built to the LORD. (1 Sam 14:33-35) The Israelites have won a great victory over the Philistines, and to the victor goes the spoil. Unfortunately in their haste to eat (because of Saul's order to fast all day) they ate of the blood of the animals. This was strictly forbidden by God! Saul seeking to rectify the situation orders that a huge stone be rolled to him, for the purpose of properly slaughtering the animals and letting their blood drain out before eating them. And he sends messengers out to tell the people to bring the animals to him for proper slaughter. Then we are told that Saul also erected an altar. These are all good measures. Saul's intentions were good, but one has to wonder, where was his consultation with the priest or Samuel in this matter? Why not call Samuel in and spill the beans to him? Tell him of your rash decision to call a fast and how that led the people to sin grievously by eating the blood of the animals, and then seek his counsel on what to do next. Sometimes we are so like Saul. We make unwise choices that lead to other serious consequences and then we come up with our own ideas about how to rectify the situation. How much better to “spill the beans” to Jesus and then search the Scriptures or seek counsel from mature Christians for instructions as to what to do next. This involves humility and patience. A humility and patience that comes from a heart submissive to the Lord.

No Thought To the preciousness of the Blood of Jesus

# 191 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 14:31 Now they had driven back the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. So the people were very faint. 32 And the people rushed on the spoil, and took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, "Look, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood!" So he said, "You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone to me this day." (1 Sam 14:31-33) This is not good. Blood of animals was not to be ingested because the blood of animals serves a very special purpose in the Old Testament. It is a foreshadowing of the precious blood of Jesus that would be shed for the sins of the world. Le 17:10,11, says, “'And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' And as it says in Heb 9:22, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. But the Israelites were famished after their long day of pursuing the Philistines, and when the sun set, they tore into the animals blood and all. They gave no thought to the preciousness of the blood, no thought to the covenant with God. Saul rightly points out that they have “dealt treacherously with the Lord,” They have transgressed, violated the covenant. This is a serious matter, even today. The blood of the covenant is still with us whenever we celebrate the Lords Supper, and the partaking of the Lord's Supper is not to be rushed into. 1Co 11:28,29 says, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. To mindlessly participate in the Lord's Supper is to deal treacherously with the Lord.