[Edit all] SAMUEL 11 [Kings n Priests] Parking lot too.
1Samuel
11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that
we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no
man to save us, we will come out to thee.
Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and
every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by
them that heard him;
[Spoken
by angels?- I talk about it on the video]
https://youtu.be/q7lu-APu4jk
-Parking Lot
ON VIDEOS-
[Parking lot]
.Crow- Andy- Lil’ Charlie
.Wisdom from a parking lot
.Our self-worth comes from God
.Learning to be content in every situation
[Samuel 11]
.Familiarity breeds contempt
.See the bow!
.ISIS martyrs priest in France
.Ok- we have the eye patches with us- Not!
.It was the anointing
.Hebrews says angels gave us the 10 commandments- how can
this be?
.See the letter of Clement- for real!
.Apocrypha
.Prophets
NEW STUFF-
Saul was anointed king in the last chapter- yet some of his
fellow countrymen doubted him ‘who does he think he is- he’s not qualified!’
The same was said of Jesus ‘he’s the son of a carpenter- we
know his family for heaven’s sake’.
The enemy comes against Jabesh Gilead and the people strike
a deal-
‘How bout we simply surrender to you right now’?
Not to noble.
Nahash- the enemy king responds-
‘Ok- but let me poke all your right eyes out- so you cowards
can be seen as a disgrace to the world’.
What!
God’s people submitting to this!
Yet- God’s people respond-
‘well- give us 7 days- we will send messengers to our
coasts- and if no one will help us- then you got a deal’.
Yes- God’s people were so defeated- they were even willing
to lose their eyes- without a fight.
Now- the messengers go out to the other tribes- and Saul is
coming out of the field- and all the people are crying.
‘what’s up- why is everyone weeping like kids’?
They tell Saul about the sad situation- and the bible says
the Spirit of God came upon him- and he was enraged!
He sends word back to Jabesh and says ‘we will all unite and
fight for you’.
How did Saul get everyone on the same page?
He cut up his Ox- and sent the pieces to the other tribes-
and said ‘whoever does not come to fight- this will happen to you!’
Well actually not.
He says ‘this will happen to your Ox too’.
Ok- I guess he wasn’t as enraged as we might have thought.
Nevertheless the plan worked- and the people of God rally
around their threatened brothers.
The men of Jabesh send word to the enemy king- but they
don’t tell him ‘the deal is off- our brothers are gonna fight for us’.
No- they make it sound like they are willing to submit.
Nahash comes to town- thinking he won the argument.
But instead it was an ambush- Saul gathered 330 thousand
men- he divided them into 3 companies- and they defeated the enemy easily.
At the end of the chapter the people realize Saul was indeed
able to do the job- because God anointed him.
It wasn’t his own ability- but it was solely based on God’s choice.
Now- the victory was so overwhelming- and everyone likes to
be on the side of a winner.
So the people remember that there were some who rejected
Saul at the start- they said he was not up for the job.
So the people say ‘hey- remember those guys who said Saul
was a wimp- bring them here- we will kill them right now’.
But Saul defends his detractors and says ‘no- today God
wrought a great salvation among us- and we will not take vengeance against our
own’.
Yes- he was able to do the right thing- at least at this
point of the story.
Later on Saul will not be such a nice guy.
But this day- God vindicated his choice- he showed the
people that’s his anointing [God’s] is not about how great the man is- any man.
But when God chooses a man- or a whole group of them [like
us- the church] and he pours out his Spirit on them-
Then great things will happen- but they happen because God
is great- not the man- or the ‘crowd’.
PAST POSTS- LINKS [verses below]
] The past few weeks I had a few
friends ask me about the Dead Sea Scrolls- and a few other questions about the
‘lost books of the bible’ and some other common- and mistaken ideas [like the
original sin being Eve had sex with the serpent].
So- I figured I would cover a
little Jewish history- which would help in this study of Hebrews-
And also hit on a few of these
subjects.
As we read Hebrews- it helps to
also understand some of the history that we don’t have in our bibles [though
the Catholic bibles do have some of it in the Apocrypha].
Ok- the ruling empire at the time
of Christ was Rome- just prior to the appearance of Jesus- the Roman Emperor-
Caesar Augustus- consolidated the Roman Empire under his rule-
Rome was ruled by a senate- some
famous names from history were in it- Cicero being one.
Caesar Augustus was the nephew of
Julius Caesar- his real name was Octavian [Octavius].
After the death of Julius Caesar-
there were some power struggles that took place- between some other famous
people.
Marc Antony being one of them
[Cleopatra too- he was in love with the girl for sure].
Now- we read about Augustus in
the New Testament- and we read in the book of Revelation about the Mark of the
Beast- and that those who don't worship- give homage to the Beast- they will be
killed.
So- Many Christians would be
killed because they would refuse to give homage to Caesar Augustus [meaning son
of the Divine].
‘Wow- how did he get a name like
that’ [there was more than one Caesar by the way- as well as more than one
Herod- who did play a part in these power struggles- it can get confusing- even
to me].
When Octavian defeated Marc
Antony at Actium [32 BC].
Herod [The Great] had a problem-
he had previously sided with Antony and found himself on the losing side.
Yet he was smart- did some ‘brown
nosing’ as we say-and patched things up.
Herod had 3 sons- who would
eventually take positions of authority in the Roman government at the time of
Christ.
Herod Antipas was over the region
that we read about in the New Testament where Jesus did most of his ministry-
Galilee.
Ok- Octavian claimed deity
because of a heavenly sign associated with his rise to power- and this is how
he became called ‘Caesar Augustus’.
He sort of saw himself as a ‘re-incarnate’- of his great uncle Julius
Caesar.
‘John- what in the heck does this
have to do with the Dead Sea Scrolls’.
Ok- good question.
The Jews had various responses to
the empires that ruled over them during various times.
Alexander the Great instituted
Hellenization- a sort of cultural compromise over the people he conquered.
They could keep their
religious/cultural roots- but would be subservient to Alexander and Greek rule.
Some Jewish people rejected any
compromise- we call them the Essenes- they moved out of town- so to speak, and
lived in what we refer to as the Qumran community.
This was a few centuries before
the time of Christ- and this was where the Dead Seas Scrolls were found in the
20th century.
A Bedouin boy was looking for his
goats- threw a rock in a cave right off the Dead Sea- and that’s how we found
the scrolls.
The scrolls might have been
hidden there by the Essenes-
Now- when my friends asked me
about them- I told them that it’s been a while since I read up on any of this-
but to the best of my memory the thing that made them significant was the fact
that they were very old manuscripts- from the bible- and they backed up what we
had had all along.
I did read up this week- and
basically had it right.
The earliest Hebrew manuscripts
of the Old Testament we had previously dated back to around 900- 1000 A.D.
These manuscripts went back about
1000 years earlier- and they contained portions from almost every book of the
Old testament- and some complete books.
The only book missing was Esther.
So- this was indeed a very
significant find for scholars.
But the Scrolls also contain some
of the writings from the Essenes themselves- things we never had before- so
this too was significant.
There were Jews at the time of
the first century who tried to ‘get along’ with Rome- and with the person in
charge of their region [one of the sons of Herod the Great at the time of
Christ].
These are referred to as
Herodian’s in the bible.
Some wanted a revolution to rid
Rome from Jerusalem- these were the Zealots [one of Jesus disciples was in this
group].
Some thought if they returned to
a legalistic obeisance of the law- that this would bring in a deliverer- like
the stories we read about in the Old testament- these were the Pharisees.
And some took more of a political
compromise- these were the Sadducees.
Eventually a war with Rome would
be fought [By the way- Josephus- the famous 1st century historian- fought on
the side of the Jews in the war- and after Jerusalem was sacked in A.D. 70- he
went to Rome and wrote his great works- thinking he would make a case for the
Jewish people with the Romans. This is why we have his works today- which are
very valuable to scholars].
NOTE- In time I’ll try and cover
how we ‘got our bibles’ [called the Canon- meaning Rule/ Measurement].
Frankly- there is a lot of confusion
in the general public about conspiracies [like the Catholic Church had some
type of plot to keep certain books out].
Or stories about how the Church
taught Mary Magdalene was a prostitute so they could discredit her.
Actually- we read in the gospels
that Jesus cast out ‘spirits’ from a woman who was probably living this type of
life-
And Jesus had a ministry to the
down and out- it is indeed possible that Mary was one of these women-
And if true- it would not demean
her in any way-
That’s how this tradition more
than likely developed- But- we don’t know for sure.
So a few years back the Church
officially said ‘we don’t know’.
Ok- Plot?
No- just being careful.
So there are other misguided
beliefs like this- that sincere people have- and over time I hope to get to
them.
I’ll do one more in keeping with
this post.
I mentioned above that Caesar
Augustus did indeed take the title of ‘son of God’.
And some critics of the Church
say ‘see- there were all types of religions that had Sons of God’.
I watched one show a few years
back- and it stated that these religions had ’12 disciples- a leader named Lord
and Savior- and he healed and claimed to be God’s Son- and rose from the dead’.
Ok- that show was ‘fibbing’ to
put it lightly- they went too far [historically speaking] in trying to diminish
the Christians claim of Christ by doing this.
Now- is there some truth to this
at all?
Yes- like I just mentioned above-
Octavian did indeed claim deity- a ‘son of god’.
So- how do we explain this?
In the book of Galatians the
bible says ‘in the FULLNESS of times God sent forth his Son’.
Jesus came at a set time in
history- in fulfilment of the Jewish Prophets- to be who he was- and to do what
he did.
Now- this is not special pleading
here- but I find it a masterpiece that God’s Son came at a time when the Roman
Empire had one sitting on the throne- who too claimed deity.
Yet Jesus was in a region of the
lower class- his men were not highly educated- and his followers were people
under oppression.
Augustus lived in the wealthy and
influential capital of ‘the world’- he had all you could ever ask for- he was
worshiped as a god.
Yet in 3 short centuries- one of
the heirs of the empire- Constantine- would have an experience – not with a
former Caesar- but with a vison of a Cross-
He would convert to Christianity-
and declare Christianity to be the religion of the realm.
[parts]
JOHN 19 (radio # 602) The reality of redemption! I want to
stress the fact that Jesus actually
[parts]
Now- we will read how John gets himself into some hot water.
Not only is he preaching about The Lamb of God- he starts saying ‘Herod [the
Roman ‘king’ figure that was over the Jewish people] you have take your brother
Phillips wife- you can’t have her!’
Herod was the son of Herod the great- we read about ‘the
great’ as being the king at the time of Jesus birth- he was the one who had all
the babies killed because he heard that Christ was born and he wanted to wipe
out the competition- this Messiah who would be ‘The King of the Jews’.
The funny thing was- Herod wasn’t a Jew. Yet he saw himself
as the actual Messiah to the Jews- Rome gave Herod [the great] this figure head
authority- and it literally went to his head. Now- Herod died soon after the
slaughter of the kids- and his son would ‘reign in his place’.
This Herod would be the king at the time of Jesus earthly
ministry. This is the king who John the Baptist was preaching against.
One time they came to Jesus- to kind of intimidate him- they
said ‘you know- Herod knows about you- he will get you’. Jesus- you know- we are supposed to respect
authority- right? He says ‘go tell that fox- that today and tomorrow I do
healings and great works- and on the 3rd day I will be perfected’.
Perfected means ‘come to maturity’. This was a reference to
his death and resurrection on the ‘3rd day’.
So Johns out there preaching against what he sees as
corruption in govt. and one day they finally had enough- Herod puts John in
prison.
Now John’s sitting there in prison- right at the time of
this great ministry of Jesus. I mean Jesus is healing people left and right-
raising the dead. I mean John must have felt vindicated- right?
John’s sitting in jail- and day after day- in this prison-
he starts to think ‘geez- I have been stuck here for a while now- I mean I was
the forerunner- Jesus said that about me- I’m the voice of one- the guy who
proclaimed the truth when no one else was willing to take the risk- what the
hell am I doing here- sitting in prison!’
John must have thought he was getting a bad deal. He sends 2
of his disciples to ask Jesus ‘are you the one- or should we look for another?’
Was he having doubts? Come on- Jesus is raising the dead for
heaven’s sake- John was basically saying to Jesus ‘are you the one? If so- why
am I still in the damn jail!’
John was being sifted. Peter will be- Job was too. For some
strange reason- this is how things work. The bread has to be broken before it
can feed people.
Of course we know the rest of the story- Herod's daughter in
law will do a dance for the king- and the wife will get the head of John the
Baptist on a platter- she got tired of hearing him.
Soren Kierkegaard- the 19th century
Christian/Philosopher is considered to be the Father of Existentialism.
Existentialism is the philosophy that says you start with ‘existence’ that is
you begin the journey with real life passion- real interaction in life. Your
failures and your high points- all these real things we experience in life-
these are the things that shape us- that make us real.
Soren lived in a day where the Danish state church was dead
and formal- and he spoke out against the dead lukewarm orthodoxy of his day.
One time he would say when he got tired of all the religious
formalism- the fake plastic face we all put on so other people can’t really see
our struggles- he said he would go read the Old Testament- the stories of
murder and adultery and covering up crimes- he said these were real stories- of
failure and success- of sitting in jail and thinking you might get out- but
instead you get your head taken off.
These are the real stories of some of the most hallowed
saints of history- yes- human frailty runs right through it all- like some
scarlet thread.
One time Jesus said to Peter ‘I have prayed for you’ that
sounds great when it stands alone- but when you see it in the context of the
whole verse- then you realize that you just might be in for something that you
never expected would happen- you might be getting ready to go through a real
existential moment- face to face with your own failures and humanity.
Peter will later write ‘beloved- when you go thru trials-
don’t think it strange. Realize your brothers are also going through them’ and
‘it is not only our privilege to believe on the name of Jesus- but it is also
our privilege to suffer with him’.
Yes Peter went on to get past the sifting- the memory of
being the disciple who denied Jesus. I mean Peter was the only one who walked
on water [ besides Jesus]- he raised the dead in the book of Acts-
[parts]
(1415) BENNY HINN VERSUS JOHN PIPER- Yesterday I was reading
some Christian news on line, I was surprised to see that the famed
author/pastor, John Piper, was stepping down from his pastorate to take an 8
month sabbatical. As I read the story there was no scandal, he just simply
examined his soul and felt like he saw pride creeping in and thought it good to
re focus. I also read the latest from Benny Hinn, the famous healing
evangelist, his wife recently filed for divorce and his web statement said ‘I
will keep going, and not slow down one bit’. I would note that Benny and his
wife also have no sexual scandal to deal with, it must have been the pressure
and all, it caught the family by surprise when Susanne filed for the divorce.
Now, many view Benny as a false prophet and an outright huckster- I don’t. I
have major problems with the entire character of ‘ministry’ that platforms the
Holy Spirits gifts in such a public way that draws great attention to the
gifted person, the New Testament warns against various gifted people becoming
the center of attention in the community of believers. Paul rebuked the
Corinthians for centering their spiritual lives around the persona of any man
[this would even include prominent well meaning pastors, who often don’t see
this dynamic in our day-many feel it’s scriptural to have the life of the community
centered around the weekly speaking gift of an individual, there really is no
mandate in scripture for this. It’s okay for gifted leaders to teach, prophesy,
function in some spiritual gift, but the New Testament does not show us a
pattern of local churches centered around the office of any individuals gifts.
One of the common mistakes church historians make is we read some of the 1st,
2nd century writings of the church fathers [Clement of Rome,
Iraneus, etc.] and we see how the able bishop rebuked the Corinthians for not
submitting to the ecclesiastical office of Bishop, the letter portrays the
Corinthian church as a bunch of rebels who are rising up against the authority
of the Bishop and other leaders. It’s usually assumed that the Corinthian church
was at it again, ‘there goes those darn troublemakers’ type of a thing. But
it’s very possible that the Corinthian community was heeding the admonition
from their founding apostle [Paul] and were actually resisting the idea of
allowing any singular authority to take a position that was contrary to what
Paul wrote to them in his epistles!]. The main point is you can have legitimate
gifts being expressed thru a person [prophecy, healing, or even the
pastor/teacher gift of speaking] but if these gifts are being used in a way
that draws undo attention to the individual; then it is a violation of the
character of New Testament ministry, although the gift itself might be
legitimate. I was watching an ‘apostle’ out of Newark one day on Christian TV;
they are a Pentecostal group that are heavy into spiritual warfare. The main
leader was dressed in military type garb [corporal, cornel stripes and all] and
they were doing the best they could. An interesting thing was they were doing a
teaching on Paul’s words ‘the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
thru God to the pulling down of strongholds’ [Corinthians] and they actually
taught it right! The apostle shared how many people mistake the meaning of the
verse and apply it to strategic spiritual warfare prayer directed at
territorial spirits and stuff like that. But the apostle explained how it was
really speaking about apologetic type arguments that Christians make against
the false ideas and strongholds of false doctrine. But then they went on to say
that they arrived at this true understanding thru the apostolic gift of
‘revelation knowledge’ sort of like if it weren’t for the gift of the ‘apostle’
they would never have known this truth. I would venture to say that the
majority of scholarly works that deal with this verse probably have it right;
in the world of ‘intellectual Christianity’ [which is usually disdained by
these independent type churches] most teachers knew this all along; we did not
need the ‘gift of apostolic revelation knowledge’ to know this. Okay, the point
being we have good people, who operate at times in true gifts, but also have a
long way to go in growth and maturity. In the above example of Piper versus
Hinn, I believe both of these men are good men, Piper comes from the baptist [reformed]
tradition, Hinn from the charismatic wing. Maybe the Lord directed Benny to
‘keep on going, don’t slow down a bit’ and maybe Piper felt the Lord saying
‘slow down, take time off’ I just felt it striking that Piper was doing this
because of what he sensed was the hidden sin of pride, no big scandal, just
time to examine his soul. While Benny felt like ‘slowing down’ was not an
option. These 2 examples give us a glimpse into the present day expression of
church/ministry, and how we have all been affected by the times we live in.
[parts]
1837- DID THE HILLS CLAP HANDS?
I usually end the week with a
‘week in review [news]’ type thing- but being I posted 2 political things
yesterday- let’s do something spiritual.
The other week I mentioned I just
went thru a course [again] on early Christianity.
The teacher- a famous scholar of
the day- came from a liberal background in scholarship.
I do like the man- though I come
from a different view- I believe the bible is inspired by God- and is ‘the word
of God’.
Now- that statement can be
expanded on- and at times I have done that.
There are Fundamentalist
positions on biblical inspiration that at times leave much to be desired.
The bible has various forms of
literature within it.
Poetry- Apocalyptic [Revelation,
Daniel] - Symbolic- etc.
So inspiration- or reading the
bible ‘literally’ simply means when you read those portions- literally- you
read them as you would any other form of literature in the same class.
Example.
In Psalms [poetry type category]
you read that ‘all the hills clapped their hands and sang’.
Okay- did the writer ‘literally’
mean this?
No- he was using poetry to
describe the majesty of God.
But some people do think these
verses should be read ‘literally’ and that in some way nature ‘clapped hands’.
The same with the book of
Revelation- when we read about the Dragon- or the number of the beast- we
realize these are symbols- or riddles- that we need not take ‘literally’.
Will there be an actual number-
or code- that some future govt. will stamp on people’s heads or hands?
Probably not.
Have there been
teachers/preachers who have taught this kind of thing- who have said ‘we live
in a day like never before- where you can actually mark someone in the
head/hand thru computer chips’.
So you have people who refuse to
get social security cards- or avoid using the computer marker at the grocery
store.
But these ways of looking at the
bible are too simplistic- and don’t fit the actual style of the writer.
Is this the only time in history
when we have the ability to mark people on their bodies?
Of course not- we read in the
bible itself that in the Old Testament they actually ‘branded’ slaves- had ways
to bore a hole in a person’s ear to show he belonged to an owner.
But we never think of this- we
simply accept what we hear and that’s that.
The other day I was talking to a
very knowledgeable man in the bible- he has read it [like me] hundreds of times
over the years.
One time I mentioned to him the
debate [among scholars] over the days of creation we read about in Genesis
chapter 1[and 2].
I gave him various ways people
interpret the text.
I said ‘you know- Genesis one
says God created the Sun on day 4- but he made light on day 1’.
Now- I mentioned this as someone
who does take the bible ‘literally’ but who also leaves room that the earth is
much older than 6 thousand years.
To my surprise- my friend never
thought of this ‘problem’.
He asked ‘what day was the sun
made?’
Now- I know he has read the text
a lot- but it never dawned on him that the Genesis account has this ‘problem’.
How do we solve it?
Some say ‘God made another source
of light for the first 3 days’.
Okay- I don’t go for that.
But I do ‘go for’ the possibility
that God is not giving us a scientific account of the creation of the world- be
he is giving us a way we can grasp it- being everyone who reads the text is not
a scientist.
One interesting view is God was
using the 6 day [7] ‘form’ to categorize the order of things.
Day 1- light. Day 3- luminaries
[things that give light]
Day 2- sky, water. Day 4- fish- fowl [things that fill the sky-
water]
Day 3- land- vegetation. Day 5- animals, humans [things that eat the
stuff]
So it seems like the first ‘3
days’ correspond to the things created on the last ‘3days’.
Okay- is this the only way to see
it?
No.
But it shows you that sometimes
there is more to the story than meets the eye.
You say ‘John- I will just take
it like it says- the bible says it- that settles it’.
Actually I’m fine with that- but
the ‘super’ literal way does force the reader to come up with another source of
light for the first 3 days- so that interpretation has its problems as well.
Point?
Just because we have symbol-
poetry- prophecy- and various forms/styles of literature in the bible- this
does not mean the bible is wrong- or ‘full of holes’.
No- it means when we come across
these various styles we leave enough room to interpret them in the style they
were written.
Okay- there’s obviously much that
can be said on this subject- maybe I’ll do more over the next week or so.
Like how we got our bible- the
development of the Canon [how we know which books are in- and which are not
‘in’].
There were other writings that
the early church debated over.
Some of these other writings were
considered out and out lies.
But not all- some of the other
books were considered okay- but for various reasons they did not make it into
the bible.
And a few that made it in were
disputed- for various reasons.
The church did not have a
‘complete’ canon until the 4th century.
It is true that the early
Christians had a basic unanimity on what was in and what was out.
But not until the 4th
century was it decided for sure.
So maybe I’ll do a few posts on
that.
I do come from the ‘conservative’
view on this- I do believe the bible is ‘the word of God’.
But that does not always mean you
take every verse ‘literally’ in the sense that the ‘hills clapped their hands’-
Got it?
[parts]
I mention the last chapter of judges on today’s video-
here’s my complete Judges study- https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/judges-ruth-video-links-included/
https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/1st-2nd-samuel/ [Old commentary I wrote years ago]
SAMUEL REVIEW
I’ve been commenting on the book of Samuel- brief overview.
Samuel is born at a time in Israel’s history where ‘the word
of the Lord was rare- no open vision’.
God had stopped communicating to his people- because they
were lukewarm- not serious about God.
God was looking for at least one passionate person- to cry
out to him with all their heart.
He found that person in Hannah.
She was barren- could not get pregnant- and one day her
desperate plea came to God.
‘Give me a child- and I’ll dedicate him to you’.
This might have ‘surprised’ God [I know- not really] because
that type of desperation was missing from his people.
So- she has a son- Samuel- and she drops him off at the
church one day [the tabernacle] and leaves him for good.
He’s raised under the leadership of Eli- and his 2 sons- who
were priests.
These sons were using ‘their religion’ for personal benefit-
they were wicked and sleeping around- and Eli knew this was going on- and
didn’t stop it.
Yet- Eli has this woman [Hannah] who left her son- so he
could ‘live for God’.
I’m sure Eli must have felt guilty ‘geez- this lady is
living in the past- when people really did sell out to God’
And his own boys- were using religion as a scam.
One day [Samuel chapter 3] the young boy hears someone
calling him.
Samuel gets up and thinks it’s Eli- he goes to Eli ‘what do
you want- I heard you call my name’.
Eli has no idea what Samuel is saying- and tells him to go
to bed.
It happens 2 more times- and Eli realizes ‘Maybe God is
calling the boy’.
He gives Samuel instructions to go lay down- and when he
hears the voice again- to say ‘Speak God- I’m hear’.
Sure enough it does happen again- and God gives Samuel a
message.
He tells Eli what God said- and the news was not good.
God will judge the wicked priests- Eli’s 2 sons- and God
will clean house.
Ok- that’s it in brief.
I mention on the video how God revealed himself to Samuel
thru his voice- and I have been teaching about the Logos recently.
God’s word comes first- then the ‘flesh’ the actual
outworking of what he wants to do-
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
Samuel is an important figure in the nation at this time-
because he will be the one to anoint the first 2 kings that Israel has- Saul
and David.
God was willing to start speaking to his people again- but
there would be a cleansing first.
The prophet Amos said ‘woe to you who ae looking for God’s
day- asking ‘why is God not speaking anymore’.
Because there’s usually a reason his communication is cut
off from his people- and that’s because his people are not hearing [hearing in
the bible is not simply ‘hearing’ but it means you obey what is said] him
anymore.
Yet- if we want to hear his prophets again- see his
miracles- then that entails repentance on our part.
For many years Eli’s wicked sons were ‘doing ministry’ and
the things they were getting away with
seemed a common practice.
All the people knew it was wrong- they despised ‘the church’
because bad stuff was going on.
Yet- that’s just the way things were.
But then God had a vessel for his voice- a prophet- dedicated
by a passionate mother- who kept her vow.
Much like the Virgin Mary- when the angel appeared to her-
she said ‘so be it’.
God needs willing people- then he too will speak again.
Yes- we too can hear his voice- and the word of the Lord
won’t be ‘scarce’.
VERSES-
1Samuel
11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and
all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will
serve thee.1Samuel 11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
1Samuel 11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
1Samuel 11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.
1Samuel 11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
1Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
1Samuel 11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
1Samuel 11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
1Samuel 11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.
1Samuel 11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.
1Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.
1Samuel 11:12 And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.
1Samuel 11:13 And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.
1Samuel 11:14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.
1Samuel 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Phil. 4:11
NEWS-
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