I Samuel 12
Samuel confronts the peopleverses 1-3
And Samuel said to all Israel
BEHOLD – I have hearkened to your voice in all that you
said to me and have made a king over you
And now – BEHOLD – the king walks before you
and I am old and grayheaded – and – BEHOLD
my sons are with you
and I have walked before you from my childhood
to this day
BEHOLD – here I am – witness against me before the LORD
and before HIS anointed – whose ox have I taken?
or – whose ass have I taken?
or – whom have I defrauded?
whom have I oppressed?
or of whose hand have I received any
bribe to blind mine eyes therewith?
and I will restore it you
People answer that he was an honest leaderverse 4
And they said
You have not defrauded us – nor oppressed us
neither have you taken aught of any man’s hand
Samuel states that his hands are cleanverse 5
And he said to them
The LORD is witness against you
and HIS anointed is witness this day
that you have not found aught in my hand
And they answered He is witness
Samuel starts a history lessonverses 6-7
And Samuel
said to the people
It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron
and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt
Now therefore stand still
that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the
righteous acts of the LORD
which HE did to you and to your fathers
History: Egypt through the Judgesverses 8-9
When Jacob was come into Egypt
and your fathers CRIED to the LORD
then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron
which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt
and made them dwell in this place
And when they FORGOT the LORD their God
HE sold them into the hand of Sisera
captain of the host of Hazor
and into the hand of the Philistines
and into the hand of the king of Moab
and they fought against them
History: Judges sent to save Israelverses 10-11
And they CRIED to the LORD
and said
We have sinned – BECAUSE we have forsaken the LORD
and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth
BUT now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies
and we will serve you
And the LORD sent Jerubbaal – Bedan – Jephthah – Samuel
and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies
on every side – and you dwelled safe
History: People king instead of LORDverses 12-13
When you saw that Nahash – the king of the children of Ammon came
against you – you said to me
Nay – but the king shall reign over us
when the LORD your God was your king
Now therefore – behold your king whom you have chosen
and whom you have desired – and behold
the LORD has set a king over you
Samuel warns both people and king to obey LORDverses 14-15
IF you will fear the LORD – and serve HIM – and obey HIS voice
and not rebel against the commandments of the LORD
THEN shall both you and also the king that reigns
over you continue following the LORD your God
BUT IF ye will NOT obey the voice of the LORD
BUT rebel against the commandment of the LORD
THEN shall the hand of the LORD be against you
as it was against your fathers
Samuel asks LORD for rainverses 16-17
Now therefore stand and see the great thing
which the LORD will do before your eyes
Is it not wheat harvest today?
I will call to the LORD – and HE shall send thunder and rain
that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great
which you have done in the sight of the LORD
in asking you a king
LORD sends rainverses 18-19
So Samuel called to the LORD
and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day
and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel
And all the people
said to Samuel
Pray for your servants to the LORD your God
that we die not – for we have added unto all our sins this evil
to ask us a king
Samuel informs people to obey or face consequencesverses 20-22
And Samuel
said to the people
Fear not – you have done all this wickedness
yet turn not aside from following the LORD
BUT serve the LORD with all your heart
And turn you not aside – for then should you go after vain things
which cannot profit nor deliver – for they are vain
For the LORD will not forsake his people for HIS great name’s sake
BECAUSE it has pleased the LORD to make you HIS people
Samuel will continue to be faithfulverses 23-25
Moreover as for me – God forbid that I should sin against the LORD
in ceasing to pray for you – BUT I will teach you the
good and the right way – only fear the LORD
and serve HIM in truth with all your heart
for consider how great things HE
has done for you
BUT if you shall still do wickedly – you shall be consumed
both you and your king
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before HIS anointed: whose ox have I taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore it you. (6030 “witness” [‘anah] means to give evidence, testify, to give testimony in a legal context, to lift up the voice, or declare)
DEVOTION: Samuel was ready to die. He was standing before the children of Israel ready to hear what they had to say regarding his life of service to the LORD. He asked questions regarding his years of service. It had to be an emotional time for him as they had rejected his sons and wanted a king like other nations.
The testimony of Samuel was valid for them to observe and follow. He asked them if he did anything to hurt them. He asked if he did anything to cause them to not follow the LORD. He wanted them to step forward if they could accuse him of anything. He had been faithful to the commandments of the LORD and to the people throughout his life.
This should be the testimony we should want to have when we are ready to die. We should especially want to have this testimony if we are still children in the home of our parents who love the LORD and are trying to raise them to love the LORD.
If we can start right and continue to watch the LORD help us through life it would be a great testimony to those around us and we could be an example to follow. Some don’t have the proper upbringing in the LORD and so they don’t become followers of the LORD until later in life. Samuel was raised in the LORD from birth and dedicated to the LORD from birth.
Today people bring their children to church and dedicate them to the LORD at an early age promising to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. They do it before a congregation who promises to help them in their lifelong responsibility to raise their children in a way that is pleasing to the LORD. One of the things that congregational members need to do if they promise to help is to make sure they pray for the children they have promised to help their parents raise to honor the LORD.
Remember the prayers of righteous individuals have an influence on the LORD and HE has an influence on the parents and children you are praying for. Don’t promise to help parents to raise their children to honor the LORD and then not pray for them regularly.
CHALLENGE: Samuel had the prayers of his mother that helped him be a faithful prophet and judge in Israel.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 14 If you will fear the LORD, and serve HIM, and obey HIS voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God. (8085 “obey” [shama] means to hear, listen, pay close attention to, to hear, understand, to hear with attention or interest, or give heed)
DEVOTION: Samuel when he was about to die gave the children of Israel choices. There were only two choices that he gave them and there are only two choices we have given to us today.
One choice is to fear the LORD and serve HIM and obey HIS voice. This means that they were to reverence the LORD each day of their life. This means that they were to serve the LORD each day of their life. This means that they were willing to listen to the LORD’S servant the prophets that would be coming after Samuel to give them instructions in the will of the LORD for their time period. This would include all the commandments of the LORD that were given in the wilderness.
The second choice was that they could rebel against the LORD and receive judgment from the LORD. It was simple. There are only two choices that they could choose from each day. If they made the second choice, they would receive judgment from the LORD. HE would send the types of judgment they had heard about from their fathers. They were the types of judgments the children of Israel experienced in the wilderness. They were the types of judgments they received under the judges who were before Samuel.
We have the same choices today. The judgments are not only going to affect us but our families and our nation. Individuals sometimes don’t realize that if they rebel against the LORD it not only affects their life but the lives of all those around them. If enough individuals are not serving the LORD their families are affected by their sins. If families are not honoring the LORD then the nation is affected by their sins.
We don’t live in a bubble. Our testimony is important to all those around us during good times and bad times. We have to show the world that we accept both from the LORD with praise on our lips and a smile on our face. It will make people wonder what we have that they don’t have. CHALLENGE: We have the LORD who has promised to never leave us or forsake even through bad times.
: 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. ((7451 “wickedness” [ra’] means bad, evil, adversity, harm, hurt, wrong, or mischief)
DEVOTION: Are we slow spiritual learners? Does the Bible tell us that the children of Israel were slow learners? Samuel gives them a history of how the LORD works. He wants them to understand that the LORD is Sovereign. He wants them to realize that the LORD was taking care of them. He wants them to come to grip with the fact that they are sinning against the LORD. They are rebelling. They are leaving a Biblical worldview to a secular worldview. They think that having a physical king was better than having the LORD as their ruler.
Samuel is confronting the people in his old age. He challenges them to find fault with him or his ministry. They could find none. He reminded them of their history. Samuel is going to make a point with the people.
He prayed for rain from the LORD. He asked for rain when it normally doesn’t rain. He wants the people to know that the LORD is still in control, even though they asked for a human king to rule over them. When it rained in answer to his prayer the people were afraid. They confessed their sin and asked Samuel to pray that the LORD spare them.
His next challenge was for them to obey the LORD. If they failed to serve HIM will all their heart, the LORD would judge them as HE has done so in the past.
There is a tendency in all believers to turn aside to sinful behavior. There is “wickedness” in each of us. The LORD understands this tendency. We have a sin nature even after our becoming a believer in Christ. We have two natures. We have a new nature and our old nature. We are not sinless but forgiven. There is a constant battle between these two natures. If we faithfully serve the LORD, he gives us victory over our circumstances. If we wander, we sin.
Yes, we are all slow learners. We have experienced the work of the LORD in our lives. HE has helped us through many difficult times.
CHALLENGE: However, we have to remind ourselves daily to stay close to HIM. The warnings of Samuel are true today, as they were in his day. We are prone to wander!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 20 And Samuel said to the people, Fear not: you have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. (7462 “wickedness” [ru’ah] means evil, depravity, misfortune, morally objectionable behavior, mischief, evil, unkind, disaster, or calamity)
DEVOTION: Here we have Samuel challenging the people to find fault with him. This is quite a challenge for this man of God. He wanted the people to know that he has led a life that is pleasing to the LORD. He has done everything to please the LORD.
So here we find that the challenge is dropped in front of the people and they have to respond to his challenge.
Could we place this challenge before everyone we know? Would they have the same response as the children of Israel had to him? It is not hard to say that most of us would have some “friend” or relative who would find fault with us.
We could wish that we could put this challenge in front of our friends and family but most of us would have someone come forward to accuse us of some sin against them or against the LORD. This is the truth of the matter.
The only one who led a sinless life was Jesus Christ. Samuel led a life from birth where he was taught to obey the LORD. He lived in the place of worship with a high priest that had two sons that disobeyed the LORD regularly.
Now living in that environment, you would think that those boys would have influenced him to sin but that is not what happened. His mother raised him to honor the LORD. Apparently, the priest did a better job with him than with his own sons. One other factor has to be added. The LORD prepared him to be a prophet in Israel that was true to HIM even from his youth.
Our lives might not have started in a good environment where the teaching in the home honored the LORD but we can start from the day we accepted Jesus to try to follow HIM with our whole heart and sou. HE forgives us and can use us if we are faithful in asking forgiveness and meaning it.
CHALLENGE: Starting today we can change what people think of us as we yield to the LORD and HE reveals areas that need changing in our lives. HE will honor our obedience.
: 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people. (2974 “pleased” [ya’al] means content, be determined, resolved, to be keen on something, show willingness, divine good pleasure, or agree to)
DEVOTION: The LORD has made a volitional choice to pick the children of Israel to be the ones receiving the distinction of being HIS people in the Old Testament over every other nation that existed at that time. Once the LORD makes a choice of people HE resolved to never let go. HE does correct them for bad behavior. HE does send other nations to get their attention. HE sends HIS prophets to give them warnings.
HE makes a promise to HIS people in the Old Testament to never forsake them. HE makes the same promise to all those who are followers of Jesus Christ in the New Testament whether they are Jews, Greeks or Romans. People from every nation can come to a genuine relationship with the Creator of the Universe with their commitment to follow HIS Son Jesus Christ.
The LORD is not fickle like humans. HE makes a commitment and keeps it. We need to do the same as individual who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
Once we make that commitment it is a lifelong commitment to depend on the LORD to keep us in proper relationship with HIM. HE will send weakness, sickness and pre-mature death to those who forget to stay close to HIM to bring them back into a proper fellowship with HIM.
HE uses those around us to teach us how to live the Christian life. We need to find good examples of those who daily follow the LORD. We need to be ones who listen when the LORD speaks to us through HIS Word, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and through other mature believers.
CHALLENGE: God keeps HIS promises. We need to keep our commitment to HIM first in our life.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Children of Israel cried to the LORDverses 8, 10
Samuel prays for thunder and rainverses 17, 18
Children of Israel ask for prayerverse 19
Samuel must pray for the peopleverse 23
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandments of the LORDverses 14, 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3, 5-20, 22-24
LORD is witnessverse 5
Righteous acts of the LORDverse 7
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 9, 12, 19, 23
LORD their Godverse 9
LORD your Godverses 12, 14
LORD your God was your kingverse 12
LORD over Israel king they desiredverse 13
Fear the LORDverses 14, 24
Commandments of the LORDverses 14, 15
Voice of the LORDverse 15
Hand of the LORDverse 15
LORD will send thunder and rainverse 17
Sight of the LORDverse 17
LORD thy Godverse 19
LORD will not forsake HIS peopleverse 22
God pleasedverse 22
God forbidverse 23
God has done great things for Israelverse 24
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Egyptverses 6, 8
Hand of Siseraverse 9
Hand of the Philistinesverse 9
King of Moabverse 9
Enemiesverses 10, 11
Nahath = king of children of Ammonverse 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Stealverse 3
Defraudedverses 3, 4
Oppressedverses 3, 4
Bribeverses 3, 4
Forgot the LORDverse 9
Sinnedverse 10
Forsaken the LORDverse 10
Served Baalim and Ashtaroth (false gods)verse 10
Chosen king over Godverse 13
Desired king over Godverse 13
Rebelverses 14, 15
Not obey the LORDverse 15
Wickednessverses 17, 20
Sinsverse 19
Evilverse 19
Ask for a kingverse 19
Turning aside verse 21
God after vain thingsverse 21
Sin not to pray for people (Samuel)verse 23
Wickedlyverse 25
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Witnessverses 3, 5
Anointedverses 3, 5
Restorationverse 3
Advanced verse 6
Stand stillverse 7
Righteousverse 7
Promised Landverse 8
Deliveranceverses 10, 11
Serviceverses 10, 14, 20, 24
Safetyverse 11
Fear the LORDverses 14, 18, 24
Obey the LORDverse 14
Fear notverse 20
Follow the LORDverse 20
Serve the LORD with all your heartverse 20
Not forsakenverse 22
People of Godverse 22
Taught the good and right wayverse 23
Truthverse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Samuel confronts peopleverse 1
I am old and grayheaded
Sons ae with me
Walked before people from childhood
Witness
Called on the LORD to send thunder and rain
People feared
Israelverse 1
King Saulverses 1, 5, 13, 14
Anointed of LORD
Witness
Chosen of people
King Israel desired
Follow the LORD
Mosesverses 6, 8
Aaronverses 6, 8
Jacobverse 8
Jerubbaal [Gideon]verse 11
Bedanverse 11
Jephthahverse 11
Samuelverse 11
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
QUOTES regarding passage
24–25 The rest is up to the people themselves; so, chapter 12 ends with encouragement to faith and obedience (v.24, which summarizes Deut 10:20–21) and warning against the consequences of disobedience (v.25) appropriate to a covenant renewal document. Samuel’s admonition in v.24a is strikingly similar to that of “the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl 1:1): “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments” (Eccl 12:13). After all, the Lord had done “great things” for his people (v.24b), which should have been a cause for rejoicing on their part (Ps 126:2–3; Joel 2:21). Samuel feels constrained to remind them, however, that pursuing their penchant for evil will surely result in their destruction: “You and your king will be swept away” (v.25). The verbal root is sph which appears again in 26:10, where David predicts that the Lord would cause Saul’s demise, that perhaps Saul would go into battle and “perish”—and so it happened (31:1–5). Thus, the final words of Samuel’s address and the final days of Saul’s kingship, passages that frame the account of Saul’s reign (chs. 13–31), are suffused with the stench of death. (Youngblood, R. F. (1992). 1, 2 Samuel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 650). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Obey the Lord (1 Sam. 12:20–25). Samuel moved from “Fear” to “Fear not” as he encouraged the people to accept the situation their unbelief created and make the most of it. How many times in our own lives do we get what we asked for and then wish we didn’t have it! The Lord would not reject or forsake His people because of His holy covenant and His great faithfulness. God’s purpose was to use Israel to bring glory to His name, and He would fulfill that purpose. The Jewish people knew the terms of the covenant: if they obeyed, the Lord would bless them; if they disobeyed, He would chasten them. Either way, He would be faithful to His Word; the major issue was whether Israel would be faithful. They had made a mistake, but God would help them if they feared and obeyed Him.
Samuel made it clear that, no matter what they decided, he would obey the Lord. Part of his obedience would be faithfully praying for the people and teaching them the Word of God. The Word of God and prayer always go together (Acts 6:4; John 15:7; Eph. 6:17–18). Samuel’s heart was broken, but as a faithful servant of the Lord, he interceded for the people and sought to lead them in the right way. For God’s people not to pray is to sin against the Lord, yet if there’s one thing lacking in our churches today, it is prayer, particularly prayer for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:1–4).
When we consider the great things God has done for us, how could we do other than fear Him, thank Him, and serve Him in truth all the days of our lives? God’s covenant with His people Israel was still in force: if they obeyed, He would bless; if they disobeyed, He would chasten. “Yet if you persist in doing evil,” warned Samuel, “both you and your king will be swept away” (1 Sam. 12:25). Samuel may have been referring especially to the warning given by Moses in Deut. 28:36, written into the covenant centuries before Israel had a king: “The Lord will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your fathers” (niv). Unfortunately, Israel did disobey the terms of the covenant and God had to send them in exile to Babylon.
From time to time, churches and other Christian ministries face new situations and decide they must make organizational changes. Each ministry needs a Samuel to remind them of the spiritual principles that never change: the character of God, the Word of God, the necessity of faith, and the importance of obedience.
Methods are many, principles are few;
Methods always change, principles never do.
As the old Youth for Christ slogan expressed it, “Geared to the times but anchored to the Rock.” Some changes are inevitable and necessary, but they need not destroy the work of God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 62–63). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)
12:6–25. A critical point had been reached in Israel’s history. The people had demanded and had been given a king, contrary to the precise purposes and will of God. And that king had led them to a glorious victory in his very first campaign! Now the question was, Would Israel see this victory as evidence of God’s blessing and give Him the glory, or would they interpret it as a human achievement devoid of divine enablement? Samuel anticipated that question and sought to direct the people to a fresh recognition of the sovereignty of God and to the need to worship and praise Him as the Source of all their blessing. He did this first by reminding them of how God had redeemed them from Egypt and brought them into Canaan (vv. 6–8). He then recounted their disobedience under the Judges (vv. 9–11). (Jerub-Baal, v. 11, was another name for “Gideon,” Jud. 6:32. Barak in the niv is lit., in the Heb., “Bedon” [see niv marg.]. Bedon was either another name for Barak or another judge mentioned only here in the OT.) Next Samuel pointed out that the Ammonite menace had prompted them to request a human king, a request to which the Lord had graciously acceded (1 Sam. 12:12–15). Finally Samuel appealed to the Lord to send a sign from heaven both to authenticate his own warnings of judgment and to cause the people to revere the God who had called them and who desired to bless and use them (vv. 16–18). The Lord reminded them that their insistent demand for a king, though He would grant it, was still an evil request because it was premature and wrongly motivated.
When the people witnessed the display of thunder and rain, a phenomenon unheard of in early summer, the time of wheat harvest (v. 17), they turned to Samuel in earnest penitence and asked the prophet to pray that God might forgive their hastiness in seeking a king (v. 19). In a marvelous manifestation of the grace of God, Samuel related to the people that God would bless them in spite of their wrong choice if they would only be steadfast in their obedience from this point on. The past could not be undone but their future was untainted and could be devoted to the Lord (vv.20–22). And Samuel also, as a true mediator, pledged to keep praying for the people. (Centuries later Jeremiah spoke of Samuel as a great man of prayer, Jer. 15:1.) Failure to do so, Samuel said, would be sin against God! (1 Sam. 12:23) If the people would respond affirmatively, they could expect God’s continued blessing on their nation. But if they did not, they could expect the judgment of God on them (vv.24–25). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 443). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
12:22 His great name’s sake: In ancient times, one’s name stood for one’s character. The name of God speaks of His reputation and attributes. For God to abandon His people would be inconsistent with His reputation for faithfulness (Ex. 34:6; Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5).
12:23, 24 Samuel assured the people that he would not forget to pray for them. For Samuel, a lack of prayer was a moral compromise, a sin. In fact, his life illustrates the importance of prayer (7:5; 1 Thess. 5:17; James 5:16). Although he was leaving his official duties as judge over Israel, Samuel promised to continue to teach the people.
12:25 The words swept away anticipate God’s ultimate judgment of captivity and exile from the land (Deut. 28:41, 63, 64). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 361). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 25. But if ye shall still do wickedly, &c.] Continue to rebel against God, revolt from him, and depart from his worship, and despise his prophets, and serve idols: ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king; their king would be so far from protecting, that he should perish with them, be killed by the sword, as Saul their first king was, or go into captivity, as others of their kings did. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 472). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
20–25. How encouraging the sermon ends. Amidst all the unworthiness of the people, the Lord’s grace still reigns; for his mercy endureth forever. But is not Samuel here, a type of Jesus? In all the intercessions of the priests, or prophets of God, do we not view him, whom they shadow forth? Blessed Jesus! here I behold, as in numberless other instances, how thy Priesthood is an everlasting priesthood, and how the efficacy of it hath been, and still is, always prevailing. Though like Israel, I have sinned against thee, and slighted thy government, and too often made to myself a king of my own, to reign over me; yet dearest Lord! cease not to exercise that most precious, and glorious office of thine, for my soul. Oh! save me to the uttermost, seeing thou ever livest to make intercession for sinners! (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Deuteronomy–2 Samuel (Vol. 2, p. 520). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
ALWAYS BE JOYFUL
by Anne R. C. Neale
The joy of the Lord is our source of strength,
Satan always tries to make you feel discouraged and “down”,
When you are weak and disappointed you see.
The Devil loves it because now you frown.
When you are happy and have a positive attitude,
It paves the way for God in your life,
Satan cannot reach you when you are joyful.
The leader may have the most brilliant strategy in his mind, the most breathtaking vision in his sights, and an irrepressible passion in his heart, but if these are not communicated to others, real leadership just doesn’t occur. (p. 91, The Conviction To Lead by Albert Mohler)
Why were the Israelites so moved by this event? Because they understood this disruption of the God-ordained pattern for the natural world to mirror Israel’s disruption of the God-ordained pattern of relationship that was to exist between the nation and the Lord. As Israel moved out of her proper relational orbit with the Lord, the Lord had ordained that nature would move out of its proper orbit with the people (cf. Lev 26:19–22; Deut 28:18, 22–24). The present demonstration terrified the Israelites, for they understood it to be a precursor of the more severe disturbances of nature prescribed in the Torah. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 144). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
The verb concentrates on the volitional element rather than upon emotional or motivational factors. It stresses the voluntary act of the individual’s will to engage in a given enterprise, not what may have brought him to that decision.
This basic concept is expressed in three ways in the ot. First, the verb is employed in a context of politeness or modesty, as when Abraham declares that he “would like to speak” (Gen 18:27, 31). The individual has determined to act, but they state their decision politely. Men employ this verb in this manner to offer invitations (Jud 19:6) and to encourage (cf. II Kgs 5:23; 6:3; Job 6:28).
Second, the essential idea found in this root may take the form of “willingness.” One is “willing to initiate an action” (cf. Ex 2:21; Josh 7:7; Jud 17:11). David, humbled by the import of the Davidic covenant, modestly petitions God to “be willing” to bless David’s descendants (II Sam 7:29). Samuel is reminded that the Lord will not forsake Israel, for he “was willing” (or pleased) to make Israel his people (I Sam 12:22). In both incidents, the Lord took the initiative to choose Israel as his own People and the descendants of David as the Messianic line. God must, therefore, bless them both.
Finally, the central meaning of this verb takes the nuance of “determination” and “resolve.” Both the Canaanites and the Amorites made the decision to begin to retain their residence in the land of Canaan with resolve (cf. Josh 17:12; Jud 1:27, 35). Likewise, Ephraim was determined to begin to walk in the ways of man which were in contrast to the stipulations of the Mosaic covenant (Hos 5:11). Because of this stubborn volition of Ephraim, the Lord judged her.
Theologically, this verb strongly supports the concept of man’s freewill, for man can make decisions to initiate any given action (within human control), but God holds him responsible for that volitional decision. (Alexander, R. H. (1999). 831 יָאַל. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
Deuteronomy 2
The Israelites wander in the desert.
INSIGHT
David writes that God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. But we see that it is possible, through rebellion,
to miss something good that God wants to give us.
God wants to give the Israelites the Promised Land. But when they refuse to enter it, they wander through the wilderness until the rebellious generation dies. Then that which God had wanted to give to them, He gives to someone else-the next generation.
When we walk in rebellion, we pay a price. God’s blessings often include a test. Do we turn back? Or trust Him? (Quiet Walk)
Thinking Differently
Do not conform to the pattern of this world.
Romans 12:2
During college, I spent a good chunk of a summer in Venezuela. The food was astounding, the people delightful, the weather and hospitality beautiful. Within the first day or two, however, I recognized that my views on time management weren’t shared by my new friends. If we planned to have lunch at noon, this meant anywhere between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. The same for meetings or travel: timeframes were approximations without rigid punctuality. I learned that my idea of “being on time” was far more culturally formed than I’d realized.
All of us are shaped by the cultural values that surround us, usually without us ever noticing. Paul calls this cultural force the “world” (Romans 12:2). Here, “world” doesn’t mean the physical universe, but rather refers to the ways of thinking pervading our existence. It refers to the unquestioned assumptions and guiding ideals handed to us simply because we live in a particular place and time.
Paul warns us to be vigilant to “not conform to the pattern of this world.” Instead, we must be “transformed by the renewing of [our] mind” (v. 2). Rather than passively taking on the ways of thinking and believing that engulf us, we’re called to actively pursue God’s way of thinking and to learn how to understand His “good, pleasing and perfect will” (v. 2). May we learn to follow God rather than every other voice. (By Winn Collier, Our Daily Bread)
THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US HIS POWER
My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. 1 Corinthians 2:4
The Holy Spirit gives us His power, and, thank God, He not only gave it to the first apostles, He has also given it to quite unknown people throughout the centuries. He has enabled some simple people to speak just the right word at the right moment. John Bunyan tells us in his autobiography, Grace Abounding, that one of the greatest blessings and helps he ever had was one afternoon listening to three uneducated women who were doing some knitting together in the sunshine, outside a house, talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He got more from them than from anybody else. And you find that is what happens. God gives this power to the simplest, humblest Christian to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ, sharing what He has done and the difference He has made to human life. This is how the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son. When He works in us, what He does is to make us glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The man in whom the Spirit dwells does not talk about himself; whether he is a preacher or whatever he may be, you do not come away talking about him.
You and I have the inestimable privilege of being men and women who in this life and in our daily work and vocation can be glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, God grant that we all may be filled with this Spirit, the Holy Spirit, of God, that we may “know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Philippians 3:10); that we may know what He has done for us; that we may know we are the children of God and joint heirs with Christ; that we may have glimpses of the glory that awaits us and that we may find our lives transformed and filled with His power, so that we may say with Paul, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”(Galatians 2:20).
A Thought to Ponder: You and I have the inestimable privilege of being men and women who in our daily work can glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
(From Saved in Eternity, p. 94., by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
All Things Well
“And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” (Mark 7:37)
Jesus indeed “hath done all things well.” One strong evidence of His deity is this very fact. No matter how carefully we study His deeds, we can find no flaw in any of them—no deficiency, nothing He should have done differently or left undone. He never had to apologize or express regrets, as we often at least ought to do. He was always master of every situation. Peter said that He just “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
The same truth would apply—perhaps even more emphatically— to His words. He never had to speculate or equivocate: “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). Jesus never guessed about anything or merely expressed an opinion, as we frequently do. He never suggested a “possible” interpretation. Everything He taught was with absolute authority, for He was (and is) the very Word of God (John 1:1, 14).
His words occasionally were harsh and judgmental when dealing with hypocrisy and false teaching (e.g., Matthew 23:29-33), but more often were kind and forgiving. In fact, “all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Luke 4:22). Even the soldiers sent to arrest Jesus returned empty-handed, for as they said: “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46).
Indeed, “his word was with power” (Luke 4:32). He was “Jesus of Nazareth…a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19). In fact, He was more than a man; He was the perfect man and the only-begotten Son of God!
(HMM, The institute for Creation Research),
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.