I Samuel 19
Jonathan encourages Davidverses 1-3
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son
and to all his servants that they should kill David
BUT Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David
and Jonathan told David – saying
Saul my father seeks to kill you – now therefore – I pray you
take heed to yourself until morning – and abide in a secret place
and hide yourself – and I will go out and stand beside
my father in the field where you are
and I will commune with my father of you
and what I see – that I will tell you
Jonathan talks with Saul regarding Davidverses 4-5
And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father – and said unto him
Let not the king sin against his servant – against David
BECAUSE he hath not sinned against you
BECAUSE his works have been to thee ward very good
FOR he did put his life in his hand – and slew the Philistine
and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel
you saw it – and did rejoice
Wherefore then will you sin against innocent blood
to slay David without a cause?
Saul listens to Jonathanverse 6
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan – and Saul swore
As the LORD lives he shall not be slain
David serves in Saul’s court againverse 7
And Jonathan called David – and Jonathan showed him all those things
and Jonathan brought David to Saul – and he was in his presence
as in times past
David defeats Philistinesverse 8
And there was war again – and David went out
and fought with the Philistines
and slew them with a great slaughter
and they fled from him
Saul tries to kill David againverses 9-10
And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul
as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand
and David played with his hand
And Saul sought to smite to smite David even to the wall with the javelin
BUT he slipped away out of Saul’s presence
and he smote the javelin into the wall – and David fled
and escaped that night
Michal helps David escape her fatherverses 11-14
Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house – to watch him
and to slay him in the morning
and Michal David’s wife told him – saying
IF you save not your life tonight
tomorrow you shall be slain
So Michal let David down through a window – and he went – and fled
and escaped
And Michal took an image – and laid it in the bed
and put a pillow of goat’s hair for his bolster
and covered it with a cloth
And Saul sent messengers to take David – she said
He is sick
Saul wants him carried to him on his bedverses 15-16
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David – saying
Bring him up to me in the bed – that I may slay him
And when the messengers were come in
BEHOLD – there was an image in the bed
with a pillow of goat’s hair for a bolster
Saul asks daughter why she liedverse 17
And Saul said unto Michal
Why have you deceived me so – and sent away mine enemy
that he is escaped?
And Michal answered Saul
He said unto me
Let me go
Why should I kill you?
Spirit of God overcomes soldiersverses 18-21
So David fled and escaped – and came to Samuel to Ramah
and told him all that Saul had done to him
And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth
and it was told Saul – saying
BEHOLD – David is at Naioth in Ramah
And Saul sent messengers to take David
and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying
and Samuel standing as appointed over them
the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul
and they also prophesied
And when it was told Saul – he sent other messengers
and they prophesied likewise
And Saul sent messengers again the third time
and they prophesied also
Spirit of God overcomes Saulverses 22-24
Then went he also to Ramah – and came to a great well that is in Sechu
and he asked and said
Where are Samuel and David?
And one said
Behold – they be at Naioth in Ramah
And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah
and the Spirit of God was upon him also – and he went on
and prophesied – until he came to Naioth in Ramah
And he stripped off his clothes also
and prophesied before Samuel in like manner
and lay down naked all that day and all that night
Wherefore they say
Is Saul also among the prophets?
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: you saw it, and did rejoice: wherefore then will you sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? (5355 “innocent” [naqiy] means blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless or quit)
DEVOTION: Jealousy is real. There is always someone who will make us jealous. Even in ministry, there are people that are more gifted or have more money or something that make others jealous. In the church we find people who gossip to put people down because they are jealous of what they have or do.
The children of Israel were jealous of other nations. Some, like Saul, were jealous of the popularity of David. He wanted to kill him. Jonathan, his son, talked him out of killing David by reminding him of all that David had done for the nation. Saul reinstated David.
Saul wanted to kill David because he was victorious on the battlefield against the Philistines. He had an evil spirit that the LORD allowed to enter him at times. He tried to kill him with a javelin. David escaped.
David was blameless in his actions against Saul. He did everything right but still Saul was jealous of him. He knew that David would probably be the next king of Israel. He wanted his children to follow him as king. He thought the only way for that to happen was to end David’s life.
However, he also knew that the LORD was with David. The LORD was helping him win battles. The people were behind David. Even his family was behind David. This was a problem.
He didn’t care about the facts. He knew that David was an example of what the LORD expected of a follower of HIM. Saul knew he wasn’t that example.
When we think that our kingdom is threatened do we react the same way Saul did? Are we jealous of other people’s victories? Do we want to see the successful individual fail?
Too often we can have that type of reaction. Should we? NO!! We should rejoice when others are successful in ministry or business? YES!!! We are here to be encouragers of those who are followers of Christ. The New Testament tells us to watch our motives. Are we watching them?
Write a note to someone who might need encouragement. Take someone out to lunch to encourage them. Ministry is difficult. If there is someone you are jealous of be sure you compliment them. You don’t know the battles they are fighting.
CHALLENGE: Be a Jonathan, not a Saul.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was on Saul, and he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. (7451 “evil” [ra] means wickedness, contemptible, malignant influence, displeasing, reprobate, or harm)
DEVOTION: In the Old Testament we find that there are people who followed the LORD for a while and then went their own way. This is also represented in the New Testament as well. Both Testaments show us that there are individuals who seem to follow the LORD for a while but in the end they follow the enemy.
Saul was an example of someone who followed the LORD for a while and then when he had power and position began to serve himself rather than the LORD. He let his position influence rather than the LORD. He wanted his son to become king after him but the LORD had other plans. David was going to be the next king.
This didn’t bother Jonathan but it bothered his father. He wanted David dead, so that, his son could be the next king. The LORD allowed an “evil spirit” to influence Saul. This is what happens when people chose to follow their own way and don’t want to follow the LORD. HE allows them to go their own way and come under the influence of Satan rather than HIM.
Do we understand this completely? NO! The LORD is in control. HE only does what is right and just. HE allows people to make their own choses. It is hard for us to understand why HE doesn’t just take control of someone throughout their whole life and make them followers of HIM.
Each human has a chose to make in their lifetime as to who they will follow. Some people try church for a while but in the end they are going their own way. God allows every human being to choose who they follow but they also have to know the consequences of their chose.
It is hard for us to completely understand because we want all our friends to be in heaven but we can’t force them to become followers of Christ. We can give them the chose and let them decide.
CHALLENGE: Satan wants every human being to be in hell with him for eternity. God accepts the choice of each individual but HE also has the final judgment for eternity.
: 13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goat’s hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. (4761 “bolster” [mar’ashah] means place of his head, head-support, upper part of the human body, or head rest)
DEVOTION: There was never to be any false god images in the homes of the children of Israel. Here we find that in the house of the king’s daughter there were idols. It just shows how far the nation had fallen away from the LORD.
Even David had idols in his home. His wife used one of these idols to fake the fact that he was not in the house. He had to leave his own house through a window like the spies left the city of Jericho before children of Israel entered the Promised Land.
So David was hiding from the king because he wanted to kill him. The king had soldiers outside his door to arrest him as soon as he left his house in the morning to serve the king.
The LORD had a plan for the life of David. HE was going to make sure that all that HE planned was going to happen. HE showed how Michal helped HIS plan along but HE didn’t need her to lie for the plan to work.
God never condones lying. HE never condones deception. HE wants us to be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves according to the New Testament. We are to use only the methods the LORD wants that bring glory to HIS name.
So when circumstances seem beyond our control we need to turn to HIM for direction on how to handle the situation according to HIS will. HE shows us in HIS Word how others handled the situations in their lives.
CHALLENGE: Ask for wisdom when you face a situation that confuses you as to which direction to go and HE will show you the way that doesn’t include the sin of lying.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. (5324 “appointed” [natsab] means to place oneself, to remain standing, be stationed by someone, take an upright position, to attend to someone or one who is in charge)
DEVOTION: What does it mean when it says that the soldiers observed Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying? Samuel was the last judge of Israel. There were other prophets in Israel throughout the years but here he was leading a group of men which included David who were saying the things of the LORD.
Once the soldiers, who were sent to capture David, in order to kill him saw Samuel they came to the group and started prophesying as well. This happened three times until finally Saul came himself and he began to utter the words of the LORD.
The Holy Spirit was in control of the situation. HE was not going to allow David to be killed. HE was not going to allow any of the soldiers or Saul to hurt David. HE was going to give them a special revelation to help them understand that HE was in control.
Our special revelation today comes through HIS ministry in our life as we read the Word of God and HE speaks to us through it to help us live a life that is pleasing in HIS sight.
Once we are given insight into the meaning of the Word of God we can live that life that will bring glory to the LORD. The Holy Spirit uses us to instruct others in the Christian life.
Leaders are given a gift to help them lead others into a special relationship with HIM. This relationship gives each individual believer insight into their gift or gifts that the Holy Spirit has given them to help the local church to move forward for the LORD.
The Holy Spirit had the whole group that wanted David dead under HIS influence which in turn kept David alive to become king later. HE wants us to be under HIS influence, so that, we can reach our world while we are alive.
CHALLENGE: As all the individuals who are believers use their gifts to please the LORD in the local church the church will ministry to the community around them which in turn will help them be a witness to the world they live in on a daily basis.
: 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? (6174 “naked” [‘arowm] means bare, lightly dressed, badly clad, undressed, or indecent thing.)
DEVOTION: Most of the commentaries state that Saul took off his kingly robe and was just in the robe underneath his kingly robe. He was not a king in the presence of the LORD while he was prophesying. He was just a man who was in the presence of the LORD with the Spirit of God upon him.
Saul had come to kill David but found that three troops of men had come to do the same thing and they were overwhelmed by the Spirit of God and prophesied with Samuel and David. The Holy Spirit was in charge of this event not Saul.
Humans entering the presence of the LORD through the ministry of the Holy Spirit are just normal individuals. Their positions in life mean nothing to God. Their wealth means nothing to God. Their person in the presence of God is going to only be concerned with what the Holy Spirit wants them to say and do.
That should be the life of a believer at all times. We should be under the influence of the Holy Spirit from the time that we wake up in the morning until we are going to bed in the evening. It is because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer that we can have these times.
The LORD wants us to be filled with HIS Spirit every moment of every day. This is the deeper life that everyone should be seeking. Saul was seeking the death of his servant David but the Holy Spirit gave him other desires.
Today will we allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our mouth and our actions to the point that when we come to the end of the day we can say that we have served the LORD throughout our day? This should be our prayer.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for this type of life on a regular basis. HE wants every believer to be filled with the Holy Spirit and manifest the fruit of the Spirit every day.
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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Prophesiedverses 20, 21, 23, 24
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 5, 6, 9
LORD livesverse 6
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of Godverses 20, 23
Spirit of God came upon Messengersverse 20
Other messengers sent
Spirit came on themverse 21
Spirit of God came upon Saulverses 23, 24
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Evil spiritverse 9
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philistineverses 5, 8
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Killverses 1, 2, 17
Sinverses 4, 5
Shed innocent bloodverse 5
Evil spiritverse 9
Smite verses 10, 11, 15
Image = false godverses 13, 16
Deceivedverse 17
Lie verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Good worksverse 4
Salvation (deliverance)verse 5
Rejoiceverse 5
Prophetsverses 20, 24
Prophesiedverses 20, 23, 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Saulverses 1-7, 9-17, 19-24
Wanted to kill David
Promises not to kill David
Evil spirit
Javelin in his hand to kill David
Sent men to kill David
Went after David himself
Spirit of God came upon him
Prophesied
Jonathanverses 1-7
Delighted much in David
Warned David about his father
Advocate for David to father
Davidverses 1, 7, 9-22, 24
Works had been good for Saul
In Saul’s presence as in past
Defeated Philistines
Played instrument before Saul
Slipped away from angry Saul
Michal let him down a window
Israelverse 5
Michalverses 11-17
Saul’s daughter
David’s wife
Let David down through a window
Put false god in her bed
Said David was sick
Lied about situation
Samuelverses 18-24
In Ramah
Took David with him to Naioth
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
In v.5 Saul’s son asks him “why” he would want to kill David, and in v.17 Saul asks his daughter “why” she would “deceive” (lit., “betray”; cf. 1 Chronicles 12:17; Lam 1:19) him and keep David from being killed. Michal’s response repeats a key verb in Saul’s question: Her “get away” and his “send … away” both translate šlḥ (cf. further the comment on v.11). In addition, she brings the entire matter full circle by echoing her earlier words to David in v.11, where she warned him that if he did not flee he would “be killed.” Alter observes: “Michal coolly turns around her own words to David and her actions of the previous night and pretends that David threatened her, saying, ‘Help me get away or I’ll kill you’ ” (The Art of Biblical Narrative, p. 120).
Saul’s own words identify David as his mortal “enemy” (v.17; cf. 18:29), barring forever his return to Saul’s court at Gibeah. David’s days as an outlaw, now begun in earnest, would continue until Saul’s 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. 716). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Michal’s deception (1 Sam. 19:11–17). Saul surmised that David would go home, so he sent men that night to watch David’s house and kill him when he came out the next morning. Knowing her father’s thought processes, Michal urged David to get out that night and flee to a place of safety. She let him down through a window and arranged a dummy in the bed by using an idol and some goats’ hair. What Michal was doing with an pagan idol (teraphim) is a mystery, especially one as large as a man. (Rachel hid two teraphim under a saddle—Gen. 31:33–35.) It’s possible that the idol was only a bust and that she used it and the goats’ hair for the head and used pillows to simulate the body. Michal was still depending on idols while married to a man after God’s own heart, and like her father, she was a schemer.
While Michal was scheming, David was praying and trusting the Lord, and Psalm 59 came out of this experience. As you read this psalm, you see Saul’s spies running here and there and waiting for David to emerge from his house, and you hear David comparing them to snarling dogs lurking in the city streets. But David’s faith was in the Lord, for only the Lord could be his defense and his refuge. This doesn’t mean that David rejected any plans for escape, because the Lord uses human means to accomplish His divine ends; but it does mean that David’s faith was not in himself or in Michal’s schemes, but in the Lord of the armies of Israel.
In the morning, when the agents demanded that Michal surrender her husband, she told them he was sick, and when they reported this to Saul, he told the men to bring him David, bed and all! But when they picked up the bed, the truth was revealed, and Michal was reproved by her father for being so deceptive, but she was only following his example! Like her father, she lied and claimed that David had threatened to kill her if she didn’t cooperate. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 105–106). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)
19:11–24 David’s flight. Saul’s determination to kill David hardened and he made no further attempts to hide it. Jonathan had saved David’s life earlier in the chapter, and now Saul’s daughter Michal saved it. She used lies and deceit to do so, but the passage does not rebuke her in any way; the narrator is more concerned to show how narrow an escape David had. The passage also shows that Saul’s own family were prepared to take any necessary steps to protect David from their own father. It is surprising to find that there was an idol in David’s house. The Hebrew word translated ‘idol’ is thought to mean a household idol of some sort, but possibly it relates in some way to the worship of Yahweh; certainly there is no suggestion elsewhere that David was ever guilty of worshipping other gods.
In these chapters we see David acting with doubtful morality more than once. He is guilty of lies and deceit in ch. 21 and of murderous intentions in ch. 25, for example. Plainly he is not being held up as a model. Rather, the biblical writer is emphasizing how difficult his circumstances were, plus the fact that through all his difficulties (and in spite of his lapses) God took care of him.
It was natural that David should wish to consult Samuel, the man who had anointed him for kingship (ch.16). However, the passage relates nothing of their conversation and instead stresses the nature of prophetic power. Normally the Spirit of God equipped men with power to perform or to speak God’s will. In the presence of such power, which was in a sense infectious, Saul’s soldiers and finally Saul himself found themselves prophesying. Yet in their case the experience did not give them power but robbed them of it. Saul, indeed, was robbed of all royal dignity too. It was symbolic that he himself took off all his royal robes. Once again we meet the sneering proverb of 10:11, and this time the taunt was fully justified.
Clearly, this episode does not describe what we normally understand by ‘prophecy’. The Hebrew word ‘prophesied’ can in some contexts refer to abnormal, trance-like states (see also 1 Ki. 18:29). God’s powerful presence could have different effects in different circumstances. (Payne, D. F. (1994). 1 and 2 Samuel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 315). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
Chapter 19. After an initial and successful attempt by Jonathan to soothe his father’s feelings toward David (vv. 1–7), Saul set in motion further steps to destroy David. First he tried to slay him once more with his own hand (vv. 9–10); then he hired conspirators to murder him in his bed, a plot foiled by Michal (vv. 11–17). Next Saul sent men to Naioth at Ramah where David had taken refuge with Samuel (vv. 18–24). (Ramah was Samuel’s hometown.) Their efforts were also unsuccessful for they, and later Saul, were overwhelmed by the Spirit of God who came on them and caused them to “act like prophets” (niv, prophesied, vv. 20–21, 23–24). This means that they fell into a trance or an ecstatic state, a condition which immobilized them and made them incapable of accomplishing their evil intentions. (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. 450). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
19:17 He said to me. Michal lied in telling Saul the exact opposite of what she said to David (v. 11. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 19:17). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 17. And Saul said unto Michal, &c.] After the messengers returned and reported what they had seen, when Saul either came to her at her house, or sent for her to his palace: why hast thou deceived me so; for deceiving his messengers was deceiving him, by pretending David was sick and in bed, when she had placed an image there, and had let him down through a window, and he was gone: and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? as if she was more obliged to gratify the wicked passion of a father, than to provide for the safety of her husband: and Michal answered Saul, he said unto me, let me go, why should I kill thee? though she was concerned for the preservation of her husband, yet not for his honour and credit, nor for her own veracity; she attempted not to vindicate her husband from the charge of being an enemy to Saul, as she might; but suggested that he was so desperate a man, that if she had offered to have detained him, he would have murdered her, and threatened, if she did, he would do it, when both were false; that he should say to her let me go, when it was she that advised him to go, and that if she refused he would kill her; which lies were framed by her to excuse herself, at the expense of her husband’s reputation. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 513). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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!!)
What is doctrine? Doctrine is the revealed truth of God as defined and taught in the church, by the church, for the church, and for the world.
The New Testament church appeared as a community of learners, some of whom became teachers as well, but all of whom were called to the lifelong task of taking in, digesting, and living out—which includes giving out—the good news of Jesus Christ that the apostles [explained] to them. The church was seen as a fellowship of disciples, and any congregation that did not consist of persons laboring to learn more about Christ would hardly count as a church by New Testament standards.
The New Testament highlights one such congregation, that to which the letter to the Hebrews (Jewish Christians) was written. See how the writer chides them: “You have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food. … Solid food is for the mature” (Heb. 5:11-12, 14, ESV).
(J.I. Packer)
19:24 stripped off his clothes. Saul removed his armor and royal garments (cf. Jonathan, 18:4), prompted by the Spirit of God, thus signifying God’s rejection of Saul as king over Israel. lay down naked. Without the royal garments, Saul was figuratively “naked,” perhaps so overwhelmed by the Spirit of God as to be in a deep sleep. Other than Saul’s utter despair and pitiful state at the home of the witch at En-dor (28:20) and his end at Mt. Gilboa (31:4–6), this episode represents one of the severest humblings in Saul’s life. (MacArthur, John: The MacArthur Study Bible : New American Standard Bible. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006, S. 1 Sa 19:24)
Saul’s loss of royal attire in the presence of God’s Spirit presented a powerful image confirming the prophetic judgments Samuel made earlier (cf. 15:23, 28). God had rejected Saul as king, so in God’s presence Saul would not be permitted to wear the clothing of royalty. Saul had “rejected the word of the Lord” (15:23), so now in an ironic twist he would be condemned to be a mouthpiece for that word. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)
The Lord teaches the Israelites the importance of giving.
INSIGHT
We offer a portion of our income to the Lord in gratitude for what He has given us. If we know Him for who He really is, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, then we will rightly understand that everything in the world truly belongs to Him. In His goodness and compassion, He has provided us with the things that we need to survive. As we give to the church, “the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow,” we are acknowledging his exuberant generosity and love. (Quiet Walk)
Turn on the Light
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
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HIGHEST POWER
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. John 17:2
There is only one person who can give us the gift of eternal life, and that is the One who is praying: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” Christ alone can give us this eternal life.
There is the terrible danger of mysticism here, or at any rate of the mysticism that does not make Christ central. There are many people in the world who are anxious to possess this life of God. You will find them writing about it, and one of the most remarkable examples of this has been Aldous Huxley, who used to be a complete skeptic, but who came to believe that nothing can save the world but mysticism, and who became a Buddhist for that reason. Such men believe that there is this eternal life of God to be had, that what we need is that life of God in ourselves, and that our trouble is that we have not got it. But these people think that they can get this life of God in themselves without mentioning the Lord Jesus Christ at all. You get it, they say, by contemplation of the Absolute, by increasingly sinking into the eternal and being lost in him, because as you do so, you are receiving life from him.
But, my friends, it is Christ and He alone who can give eternal life. He claims it here, and Scripture says it everywhere: “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life . . .” There is no one else who can give eternal life to man except the Lord Jesus Christ. If it were possible in any other way, why did He ever come to earth? Why the death on the cross? There is no other way; the whole plan of salvation centers on Him.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ alone can give us this eternal life.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 132-133, by Dr, Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Creation and the Constellations
“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.” (Job 9:8-9)
The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. It is not surprising, therefore, that it contains a number of references to creation and the Flood, for these great events were still relatively fresh in the thinking of Job and his contemporaries. The first of these creation references in Job is our text above, and it is remarkable that it centers especially on the stars and their constellations. Still another constellation is mentioned in Job 26:13: “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.” Finally: “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” (Job 38:31-33). The term “Mazzaroth” actually means the 12 constellations of the Zodiac.
Thus, God not only created the stars but arranged them in star groupings that could be used for “signs, and for seasons” (Genesis 1:14). Since God does nothing without a holy purpose, we can be sure that these sidereal signs were not to be used as astrological signs. God’s Word, in fact, forbids the practice of astrology (e.g., Isaiah 47:12-14). The constellations must all in some way have testified of the coming Savior. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Before the Scriptures were given, the testimony of God’s primeval promises had somehow been written indelibly in the heavens for those in Earth’s earliest ages who had eyes and hearts to see. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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