2 Samuel 7: 1 - 29
1 When the LORD had brought peace to the land and King David was settled in his palace, 2 David summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look!" David said. "Here I am living in this beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out in a tent!" 3 Nathan replied, "Go ahead and do what you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."
4 But that same night the LORD said to Nathan, 5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a temple to live in? 6 I have never lived in a temple, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now. My home has always been a tent, moving from one place to another. 7 And I have never once complained to Israel's leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar temple?"' 8 "Now go and say to my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy, tending your sheep out in the pasture. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies. Now I will make your name famous throughout the earth! 10 And I have provided a permanent homeland for my people Israel, a secure place where they will never be disturbed. It will be their own land where wicked nations won't oppress them as they did in the past, 11 from the time I appointed judges to rule my people. And I will keep you safe from all your enemies. "'And now the LORD declares that he will build a house for you – a dynasty of kings! 12 For when you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong. 13 He is the one who will build a house – a temple – for my name. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will use other nations to punish him. 15 But my unfailing love will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed before you. 16 Your dynasty and your kingdom will continue for all time before me, and your throne will be secure forever.'" 17 So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the LORD had said.
18 Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And now, Sovereign LORD, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, F21 O Sovereign LORD? 20 What more can I say? You know what I am really like, Sovereign LORD. 21 For the sake of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have shown them to me. 22 "How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you – there is no other God. We have never even heard of another god like you! 23 What other nation on earth is like Israel? What other nation, O God, have you redeemed from slavery to be your own people? You made a great name for yourself when you rescued your people from Egypt. You performed awesome miracles and drove out the nations and gods that stood in their way. 24 You made Israel your people forever, and you, O LORD, became their God. 25 "And now, O LORD God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family. Confirm it as a promise that will last forever. 26 And may your name be honored forever so that all the world will say, 'The LORD Almighty is God over Israel!' And may the dynasty of your servant David be established in your presence. 27 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because you have revealed that you will build a house for me – an eternal dynasty! 28 For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!"
FOOTNOTES:F21: The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~Lena's Comments~
What was David after? vs 2 What was God after? vs 11 Who was God speaking of? Do you ever ask these questions when reading the word? Do you ever look beyond what seems to be said? God found a man who was after His heart, a man who actually wanted to know what was in God’s heart and had a desire to fulfill what was in His heart! Most men think God wants to make sure we get what is in our hearts and that he is somehow our servant to make sure we get it. Well, God does act that way, because of Love and that is the keyword-LOVE. David loved- the Lord and the Lord had a person to have an expressive relationship with. This person would be the house for His Son, Jesus to be born through. This is the type of establishment God was after, hearts on fire with the motivating passion of relationship with Him Jesus was the King that would come into the earth and rule forever in men’s hearts, because David opened up His heart wide to the Lord! That was only the beginning of a great vision and goal being manifested in earth. God is still establishing homes all over the earth- permanent dwelling places for His Spirit to be "housed".
Sovereign LORD. This shows God could do whatever He wants to do, but He chose to let us do what we desire, in free expression. He chose to dwell in us, to save us from ourselves, to establish us as kings, to use us in His will and in accordance with His Divine purposes. He chose interactive relationship with men and women and children. David in His praise listed the plan of salvation for all men. For this plan, and for this willing man, I am very thankful!
Monday, April 11, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 15
1 Samuel 15: 1 – 35
1 One day Samuel said to Saul, "I anointed you king of Israel because the LORD told me to. Now listen to this message from the LORD! 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy F56 the entire Amalekite nation – men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.'" 4 So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 troops in addition to 10,000 men from Judah. 5 Then Saul went to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Saul sent this message to the Kenites: "Move away from where the Amalekites live or else you will die with them. For you were kind to the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites packed up and left. 7 Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. 8 He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. 9 Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs – everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality
0 Then the LORD said to Samuel, 11 "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has again refused to obey me." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night. 12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal." 13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!" 14 "Then what is all the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded. 15 "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What was it?" Saul asked. 17 And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' 19 Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the LORD said not to do?" 20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep and cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." 22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king."
24 Then Saul finally admitted, "Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. 25 Oh, please, forgive my sin now and go with me to worship the LORD." 26 But Samuel replied, "I will not return with you! Since you have rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you from being the king of Israel." 27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed at him to try to hold him back and tore his robe. 28 And Samuel said to him, "See? The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else – one who is better than you. 29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!" 30 Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the leaders and before my people by going with me to worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel finally agreed and went with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
32 Then Samuel said, "Bring King Agag to me." Agag arrived full of smiles, for he thought, "Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!" F57 33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah. 35 Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.
FOOTNOTES:F56: The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in 15:8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21. F57: Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read Agag arrived hesitantly, for he thought, "Surely this is the bitterness of death."
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~Lena’s Comments~
I think of the scripture that says something like: many are called, few are chosen Mt 21:14. God called Saul "king", Saul would choose through the test of his will and his decision to weigh the cost and decide how willing he was through what price would have to be paid, to BE king! This is the same thing for all of us with day to day salvation and our new faith walk. We are all called by God’s Spirit to this lifestyle and Destiny, but who will choose to go al the way and do what it takes to get "the prize?" It does not take a whole lot of time to find out. Obediences tell the difference. If a person is able to obey God or anyone else for that fact, they have a vision that goes beyond the decisions and hurts of today. We always want God to do His part in making us free, but we also have to do our part. If freedom is held up because you won’t decide to be free, that’s not God’s fault. Here’s a stupid but very true example -say you had a weakness to sexual appetites and you have posters hanging in your room and in your car and magazines at easy reach. You want to be free from always thinking about sex and you want God to take away your cravings for it outside of marriage, or inside marriage, but the craving is for every person who walks by, other than your wife or husband. So you confess your sin (I Jn 1:9), but God gives you a tiny bit of wisdom to obey and that obedience will help you. He tells you, through a Christian friend, to get rid of all of the dirty magazines- throw them in the trash- burn them if ya have to, (so ya can’t get them back out or anyone else for that matter…). He tells you to take down the posters, get rid of the x rated videos and then goes a bit further by saying to decline any offers to go into the strip joints etc. IF you obey these things you will be blessed, you will find your appetites changing, you will find yourself getting stronger and nt thinking sex every other minute! BUT if you say, well ya know it’s not ALL bad, I’ll just take down the posters, but once a week I’ll go with the guys to the strip joint, you are kidding yourself and God. You will not be able to be free. Egypt is an example of a place where any of us are in bondage or whatever we’ve been in bondage too that is not promoting Godliness in us (Remember how Pharoah would not let the people go and worship God?) So we get crunched in our world and realize we need freedom and freedom is the only way out of the crunch, but some of us only want to be a little bit free, only enough to get relief from the crunch. God knows a little freedom will take us no where and we are still in bondage and will still be subject to the curses of Egypt unless we come completely away from Egypt and all of it’s influences, ridding our lives completely of all of the remembrances of our past behaviors and habits. When God says get rid of all of your enemies, he means ALL.ALL of the posters, ALL of the pictures, ALL of the videos, ALL of the party stripper friends, ALL of the magazines, (this is silly and figurative, but I believe in this type of example God will show us something personal to us here) ALL of the wrong appetites, ALL of the wrong behaviors, ALL of the wrong habits, ALL of the bondages, ALL of the sin- that keeps us from being the Love that God is for this world! God is looking for kings – unto Himself, who are willing to give it ALL up for His will to be accomplished in the earth, and who are willing to give all of their weaknesses and strengths over to His use.
Do not deceive yourself, like Adam & Eve did, buy thinking because maybe you want to you are, No, if we are we are, if we aren’t we aren’t and need to. Give things up, throw them away and burn them out of our lives, lest we later be burned by them and their influences on us.
Vs 17 says something very, very significant in the kingdom- Even though you think very little of yourself, are you not the leader of Israel?
There is a scripture that says the gifts and calling of men are without repentance. This means that we are all called by God and have an assignment or assignments given to us by God while we are here on earth. Whatever we think of it, or how we think about ourselves is not at all an excuse before our Maker. We are who we are whether we know who we are, or whether we decide to be who we are, or whether we wake up to the fact, get healed from hurts that prevent us, warm up to the thought, or not. What matters is God’s plan, purpose and will. That’s all that matters, and whether we are also willing to obey and fulfill it.
We CANNOT do it the way we think we want to do it, when we want to do it, copping out by saying things like, if God wanted me to I would, or whatever.
We all have a mission, we’ve all had it since we were born. If we did not know and have not done it, but now know it, we’d better get to being about our Father’s business while there is still daytime and light (for us) in the earth. No excuses. Saul made excuses and that made God mad! He also thought if he did part of the work or made it sound like he was doing it (talking about it, intending to do it ), it was ok with God. Good intentions are dangerous, especially when we talk a lot about it. God wants us to obey by doing, not by thinking about it or talking about it.
One of the major roots of sin is Pride, it is the origination of sin, which began with Lucifer’s revolt in heaven. Saul was letting people’s opinions count with Him more than he let God’s opinion count. He cared what the people thought and how the people looked at Him, He forgot to "care" more about what God thought of Him and how he looked in God’s eyes! We have got to look to our Creator before we turn our heads towards others thoughts, opinions, etc. He is our Shepard and leader and people on their own will not lead us towards fulfilling His call.
1 One day Samuel said to Saul, "I anointed you king of Israel because the LORD told me to. Now listen to this message from the LORD! 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from Egypt. 3 Now go and completely destroy F56 the entire Amalekite nation – men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys.'" 4 So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim. There were 200,000 troops in addition to 10,000 men from Judah. 5 Then Saul went to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Saul sent this message to the Kenites: "Move away from where the Amalekites live or else you will die with them. For you were kind to the people of Israel when they came up from Egypt." So the Kenites packed up and left. 7 Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. 8 He captured Agag, the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. 9 Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs – everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality
0 Then the LORD said to Samuel, 11 "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has again refused to obey me." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night. 12 Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal." 13 When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!" 14 "Then what is all the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded. 15 "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else." 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What was it?" Saul asked. 17 And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' 19 Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do exactly what the LORD said not to do?" 20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. 21 Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep and cattle and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." 22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. Listening to him is much better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king."
24 Then Saul finally admitted, "Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. 25 Oh, please, forgive my sin now and go with me to worship the LORD." 26 But Samuel replied, "I will not return with you! Since you have rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you from being the king of Israel." 27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed at him to try to hold him back and tore his robe. 28 And Samuel said to him, "See? The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else – one who is better than you. 29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!" 30 Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the leaders and before my people by going with me to worship the LORD your God." 31 So Samuel finally agreed and went with him, and Saul worshiped the LORD.
32 Then Samuel said, "Bring King Agag to me." Agag arrived full of smiles, for he thought, "Surely the worst is over, and I have been spared!" F57 33 But Samuel said, "As your sword has killed the sons of many mothers, now your mother will be childless." And Samuel cut Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went home to Ramah, and Saul returned to his house at Gibeah. 35 Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.
FOOTNOTES:F56: The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering; also in 15:8, 9, 15, 18, 20, 21. F57: Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read Agag arrived hesitantly, for he thought, "Surely this is the bitterness of death."
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~Lena’s Comments~
I think of the scripture that says something like: many are called, few are chosen Mt 21:14. God called Saul "king", Saul would choose through the test of his will and his decision to weigh the cost and decide how willing he was through what price would have to be paid, to BE king! This is the same thing for all of us with day to day salvation and our new faith walk. We are all called by God’s Spirit to this lifestyle and Destiny, but who will choose to go al the way and do what it takes to get "the prize?" It does not take a whole lot of time to find out. Obediences tell the difference. If a person is able to obey God or anyone else for that fact, they have a vision that goes beyond the decisions and hurts of today. We always want God to do His part in making us free, but we also have to do our part. If freedom is held up because you won’t decide to be free, that’s not God’s fault. Here’s a stupid but very true example -say you had a weakness to sexual appetites and you have posters hanging in your room and in your car and magazines at easy reach. You want to be free from always thinking about sex and you want God to take away your cravings for it outside of marriage, or inside marriage, but the craving is for every person who walks by, other than your wife or husband. So you confess your sin (I Jn 1:9), but God gives you a tiny bit of wisdom to obey and that obedience will help you. He tells you, through a Christian friend, to get rid of all of the dirty magazines- throw them in the trash- burn them if ya have to, (so ya can’t get them back out or anyone else for that matter…). He tells you to take down the posters, get rid of the x rated videos and then goes a bit further by saying to decline any offers to go into the strip joints etc. IF you obey these things you will be blessed, you will find your appetites changing, you will find yourself getting stronger and nt thinking sex every other minute! BUT if you say, well ya know it’s not ALL bad, I’ll just take down the posters, but once a week I’ll go with the guys to the strip joint, you are kidding yourself and God. You will not be able to be free. Egypt is an example of a place where any of us are in bondage or whatever we’ve been in bondage too that is not promoting Godliness in us (Remember how Pharoah would not let the people go and worship God?) So we get crunched in our world and realize we need freedom and freedom is the only way out of the crunch, but some of us only want to be a little bit free, only enough to get relief from the crunch. God knows a little freedom will take us no where and we are still in bondage and will still be subject to the curses of Egypt unless we come completely away from Egypt and all of it’s influences, ridding our lives completely of all of the remembrances of our past behaviors and habits. When God says get rid of all of your enemies, he means ALL.ALL of the posters, ALL of the pictures, ALL of the videos, ALL of the party stripper friends, ALL of the magazines, (this is silly and figurative, but I believe in this type of example God will show us something personal to us here) ALL of the wrong appetites, ALL of the wrong behaviors, ALL of the wrong habits, ALL of the bondages, ALL of the sin- that keeps us from being the Love that God is for this world! God is looking for kings – unto Himself, who are willing to give it ALL up for His will to be accomplished in the earth, and who are willing to give all of their weaknesses and strengths over to His use.
Do not deceive yourself, like Adam & Eve did, buy thinking because maybe you want to you are, No, if we are we are, if we aren’t we aren’t and need to. Give things up, throw them away and burn them out of our lives, lest we later be burned by them and their influences on us.
Vs 17 says something very, very significant in the kingdom- Even though you think very little of yourself, are you not the leader of Israel?
There is a scripture that says the gifts and calling of men are without repentance. This means that we are all called by God and have an assignment or assignments given to us by God while we are here on earth. Whatever we think of it, or how we think about ourselves is not at all an excuse before our Maker. We are who we are whether we know who we are, or whether we decide to be who we are, or whether we wake up to the fact, get healed from hurts that prevent us, warm up to the thought, or not. What matters is God’s plan, purpose and will. That’s all that matters, and whether we are also willing to obey and fulfill it.
We CANNOT do it the way we think we want to do it, when we want to do it, copping out by saying things like, if God wanted me to I would, or whatever.
We all have a mission, we’ve all had it since we were born. If we did not know and have not done it, but now know it, we’d better get to being about our Father’s business while there is still daytime and light (for us) in the earth. No excuses. Saul made excuses and that made God mad! He also thought if he did part of the work or made it sound like he was doing it (talking about it, intending to do it ), it was ok with God. Good intentions are dangerous, especially when we talk a lot about it. God wants us to obey by doing, not by thinking about it or talking about it.
One of the major roots of sin is Pride, it is the origination of sin, which began with Lucifer’s revolt in heaven. Saul was letting people’s opinions count with Him more than he let God’s opinion count. He cared what the people thought and how the people looked at Him, He forgot to "care" more about what God thought of Him and how he looked in God’s eyes! We have got to look to our Creator before we turn our heads towards others thoughts, opinions, etc. He is our Shepard and leader and people on their own will not lead us towards fulfilling His call.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 14
For Charity and Maria today- and everyone else who would like to hear
:-)
1 Samuel 14: 1 - 52
1 One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost." But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing. 2 Meanwhile, Saul and his six hundred men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 (Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the linen ephod. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother. Ahitub was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh.) No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 "Let's go across to see those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" 7 "Do what you think is best," the youth replied. "I'm with you completely, whatever you decide." 8 "All right then," Jonathan told him. "We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, 'Stay where you are or we'll kill you,' then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come on up and fight,' then we will go up. That will be the LORD's sign that he will help us defeat them." 11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!" 12 Then they shouted to Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!" "Come on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "for the LORD will help us defeat them!" 13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them right and left. 14 They killed about twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. F49 15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
16 Saul's lookouts in Gibeah saw a strange sight – the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction. 17 "Find out who isn't here," Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone. 18 Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here!" For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites. F50 19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, the shouting and confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to Ahijah, "Never mind; let's get going!" F51 20 Then Saul and his six hundred men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere. 21 Even the Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites. 22 Likewise, the men who were hiding in the hills joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even out beyond Beth-aven.
24 Now the men of Israel were worn out that day, because Saul had made them take an oath, saying, "Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening – before I have full revenge on my enemies." So no one ate a thing all day, 25 even though they found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn't even touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father's command, and he dipped a stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt much better. 28 But one of the men saw him and said, "Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint." 29 "My father has made trouble for us all!" Jonathan exclaimed. "A command like that only hurts us. See how much better I feel now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more we could have killed!" 31 But hungry as they were, they chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they flew upon the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that still has blood in it.""That is very wrong," Saul said. "Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, 'Bring the cattle and sheep here to kill them and drain the blood. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.'" So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD, the first one he had ever built.
36 Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them. "His men replied, "We'll do whatever you think is best. "But the priest said, "Let's ask God first." 37 So Saul asked God, "Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But God made no reply that day. 38 Then Saul said to the leaders, "Something's wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the LORD who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!" But no one would tell him what the trouble was. 40 Then Saul said, "Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there." And the people agreed. 41 Then Saul prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent. Are Jonathan and I guilty, or is the sin among the others?" F52 And Jonathan and Saul were chosen F53 as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent. 42 Then Saul said, "Now choose F54 between me and Jonathan." And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one. 43 "Tell me what you have done," Saul demanded of Jonathan. "I tasted a little honey," Jonathan admitted. "It was only a little bit on the end of a stick. Does that deserve death?" 44 "Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me dead if you are not executed for this." 45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Should Jonathan, who saved Israel today, die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. 46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel's throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction – against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. 48 He did great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them. 49 Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, F55 and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was his cousin Abner, his uncle Ner's son. 51 Abner's father, Ner, and Saul's father, Kish, were brothers; both were sons of Abiel. 52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime. So whenever Saul saw a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
FOOTNOTES:F49: Hebrew half a yoke; a "yoke" was the amount of land plowed by a pair of yoked oxen in one day. F50: As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads "Bring the Ark of God." For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelites. F51: Hebrew Withdraw your hand. F52: Greek version adds If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim. F53: Hebrew chosen by lot. F54: Hebrew draw lots. F55: Hebrew Ishvi, a variant name for Ishbosheth; also known as Eshbaal.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
As I was reading all of this I felt a bit confused at what was what, but as I thought on it more, I really see pictures of life, consequences of decisions, forgiveness, love, victory etc. I’ll explain
When we read stories, such as these, we usually place ourselves in them, decide who we would be and what decisions we would make, right or wrong. In this "story", everyone had a "wrong" to the decisions they were making or the opinions they had in the consideration of those decisions. This is where I realized we are speaking about truth and God’s law, no matter how fair or unfair it seems or what our opinion of it is or how we thought it should have been done. It was done, and it was done wrongly – if it was not done in accordance with God’s word or law, no mater who supplied the action.
We think because Jonathan was the king’s son or because they had good intentions everything is ok. We justify our wrong doings in our minds and then if we feel ourselves being brought to a place of accountability for whatever we decided we then turn the tables and think of how unfair God is to us in making the "stupid" law that brings judgement on us. If we had no judgement we would not see our need for salvation and forgiveness. If there is no fine line of the law, we find ourselves being falsely "saved" by our own opinions day in and day out. That "salvation" is false, it is based on lies and opinions, not truth.
The truth is we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, no matter what form it comes in. It is the concept, not the specific description that is important. We all need redemption from our sins. There is only one way to God in the midst of being sinful and separated from Him. Blood shed is the only way, a life must be given for a life (now do you realize why all of those OT laws were so specific in drilling "a life for a life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth?) Man needs to come to realize he cannot save himself!
I’d put myself in Jonathan’s place in the story. I did not want him to be killed. I thought it was unfair that Saul had said such a drastic thing over just a little nit of honey. Also because he had not heard, I wanted to justify him.
That honey represents the edict of sin against God, a little or a lot, it does not matter and it does not matter whether we know it or do not know it, we are condemned by it anyway. This is why we have to give the message of love and forgiveness and salvation to others, even if they have not heard they are condemned. We have to tell them about Jesus, this is our obligation on the earth. We have to or who will feel guilty, when we know all? I will, if I refuse to tell – due to pride or shyness or some other hindrance. There will be no such validated excuse at that time, just as Jonathan has no excuse at all in not hearing.
Forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood is the only way out of this mess.
Have you ever thought of this one? How "fair" was it for Jesus, a spotless and sinless Lamb of sacrifice, to die the death that was due sinners? We think we are innocent of judgement at times and get "angry" at God for the judgement call, but Jesus was all innocent, all love, all perfection and he chose to die for people who are guilty – in order to save them and pardon them from the judgement aginst them for their sin, great or small! THAT was NOT fair, and in knowing that He was willing to do it anyway, because he knows the Truth, he knows the LOVE of His Father, He knows true condemnation, He knew and did it anyway! Thank God!
:-)
1 Samuel 14: 1 - 52
1 One day Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come on, let's go over to where the Philistines have their outpost." But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing. 2 Meanwhile, Saul and his six hundred men were camped on the outskirts of Gibeah, around the pomegranate tree at Migron. 3 (Among Saul's men was Ahijah the priest, who was wearing the linen ephod. Ahijah was the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother. Ahitub was the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the priest of the LORD who had served at Shiloh.) No one realized that Jonathan had left the Israelite camp. 4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 "Let's go across to see those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" 7 "Do what you think is best," the youth replied. "I'm with you completely, whatever you decide." 8 "All right then," Jonathan told him. "We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, 'Stay where you are or we'll kill you,' then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, 'Come on up and fight,' then we will go up. That will be the LORD's sign that he will help us defeat them." 11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, "Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!" 12 Then they shouted to Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!" "Come on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "for the LORD will help us defeat them!" 13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell back as Jonathan and his armor bearer killed them right and left. 14 They killed about twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. F49 15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
16 Saul's lookouts in Gibeah saw a strange sight – the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction. 17 "Find out who isn't here," Saul ordered. And when they checked, they found that Jonathan and his armor bearer were gone. 18 Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, "Bring the ephod here!" For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites. F50 19 But while Saul was talking to the priest, the shouting and confusion in the Philistine camp grew louder and louder. So Saul said to Ahijah, "Never mind; let's get going!" F51 20 Then Saul and his six hundred men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing each other. There was terrible confusion everywhere. 21 Even the Hebrews who had gone over to the Philistine army revolted and joined in with Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites. 22 Likewise, the men who were hiding in the hills joined the chase when they saw the Philistines running away. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle continued to rage even out beyond Beth-aven.
24 Now the men of Israel were worn out that day, because Saul had made them take an oath, saying, "Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening – before I have full revenge on my enemies." So no one ate a thing all day, 25 even though they found honeycomb on the ground in the forest. 26 They didn't even touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father's command, and he dipped a stick into a piece of honeycomb and ate the honey. After he had eaten it, he felt much better. 28 But one of the men saw him and said, "Your father made the army take a strict oath that anyone who eats food today will be cursed. That is why everyone is weary and faint." 29 "My father has made trouble for us all!" Jonathan exclaimed. "A command like that only hurts us. See how much better I feel now that I have eaten this little bit of honey. 30 If the men had been allowed to eat freely from the food they found among our enemies, think how many more we could have killed!" 31 But hungry as they were, they chased and killed the Philistines all day from Micmash to Aijalon, growing more and more faint. 32 That evening they flew upon the battle plunder and butchered the sheep, cattle, and calves, but they ate them without draining the blood. 33 Someone reported to Saul, "Look, the men are sinning against the LORD by eating meat that still has blood in it.""That is very wrong," Saul said. "Find a large stone and roll it over here. 34 Then go out among the troops and tell them, 'Bring the cattle and sheep here to kill them and drain the blood. Do not sin against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.'" So that night all the troops brought their animals and slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD, the first one he had ever built.
36 Then Saul said, "Let's chase the Philistines all night and destroy every last one of them. "His men replied, "We'll do whatever you think is best. "But the priest said, "Let's ask God first." 37 So Saul asked God, "Should we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But God made no reply that day. 38 Then Saul said to the leaders, "Something's wrong! I want all my army commanders to come here. We must find out what sin was committed today. 39 I vow by the name of the LORD who rescued Israel that the sinner will surely die, even if it is my own son Jonathan!" But no one would tell him what the trouble was. 40 Then Saul said, "Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there." And the people agreed. 41 Then Saul prayed, "O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent. Are Jonathan and I guilty, or is the sin among the others?" F52 And Jonathan and Saul were chosen F53 as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent. 42 Then Saul said, "Now choose F54 between me and Jonathan." And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one. 43 "Tell me what you have done," Saul demanded of Jonathan. "I tasted a little honey," Jonathan admitted. "It was only a little bit on the end of a stick. Does that deserve death?" 44 "Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me dead if you are not executed for this." 45 But the people broke in and said to Saul, "Should Jonathan, who saved Israel today, die? Far from it! As surely as the LORD lives, not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle today." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he was not put to death. 46 Then Saul called back the army from chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines returned home.
47 Now when Saul had secured his grasp on Israel's throne, he fought against his enemies in every direction – against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. And wherever he turned, he was victorious. 48 He did great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them. 49 Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, F55 and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal. 50 Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was his cousin Abner, his uncle Ner's son. 51 Abner's father, Ner, and Saul's father, Kish, were brothers; both were sons of Abiel. 52 The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul's lifetime. So whenever Saul saw a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.
FOOTNOTES:F49: Hebrew half a yoke; a "yoke" was the amount of land plowed by a pair of yoked oxen in one day. F50: As in some Greek manuscripts; Hebrew reads "Bring the Ark of God." For at that time the Ark of God was with the Israelites. F51: Hebrew Withdraw your hand. F52: Greek version adds If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim. F53: Hebrew chosen by lot. F54: Hebrew draw lots. F55: Hebrew Ishvi, a variant name for Ishbosheth; also known as Eshbaal.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~ Lena’s Comments ~
As I was reading all of this I felt a bit confused at what was what, but as I thought on it more, I really see pictures of life, consequences of decisions, forgiveness, love, victory etc. I’ll explain
When we read stories, such as these, we usually place ourselves in them, decide who we would be and what decisions we would make, right or wrong. In this "story", everyone had a "wrong" to the decisions they were making or the opinions they had in the consideration of those decisions. This is where I realized we are speaking about truth and God’s law, no matter how fair or unfair it seems or what our opinion of it is or how we thought it should have been done. It was done, and it was done wrongly – if it was not done in accordance with God’s word or law, no mater who supplied the action.
We think because Jonathan was the king’s son or because they had good intentions everything is ok. We justify our wrong doings in our minds and then if we feel ourselves being brought to a place of accountability for whatever we decided we then turn the tables and think of how unfair God is to us in making the "stupid" law that brings judgement on us. If we had no judgement we would not see our need for salvation and forgiveness. If there is no fine line of the law, we find ourselves being falsely "saved" by our own opinions day in and day out. That "salvation" is false, it is based on lies and opinions, not truth.
The truth is we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, no matter what form it comes in. It is the concept, not the specific description that is important. We all need redemption from our sins. There is only one way to God in the midst of being sinful and separated from Him. Blood shed is the only way, a life must be given for a life (now do you realize why all of those OT laws were so specific in drilling "a life for a life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth?) Man needs to come to realize he cannot save himself!
I’d put myself in Jonathan’s place in the story. I did not want him to be killed. I thought it was unfair that Saul had said such a drastic thing over just a little nit of honey. Also because he had not heard, I wanted to justify him.
That honey represents the edict of sin against God, a little or a lot, it does not matter and it does not matter whether we know it or do not know it, we are condemned by it anyway. This is why we have to give the message of love and forgiveness and salvation to others, even if they have not heard they are condemned. We have to tell them about Jesus, this is our obligation on the earth. We have to or who will feel guilty, when we know all? I will, if I refuse to tell – due to pride or shyness or some other hindrance. There will be no such validated excuse at that time, just as Jonathan has no excuse at all in not hearing.
Forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood is the only way out of this mess.
Have you ever thought of this one? How "fair" was it for Jesus, a spotless and sinless Lamb of sacrifice, to die the death that was due sinners? We think we are innocent of judgement at times and get "angry" at God for the judgement call, but Jesus was all innocent, all love, all perfection and he chose to die for people who are guilty – in order to save them and pardon them from the judgement aginst them for their sin, great or small! THAT was NOT fair, and in knowing that He was willing to do it anyway, because he knows the Truth, he knows the LOVE of His Father, He knows true condemnation, He knew and did it anyway! Thank God!
Friday, April 08, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 13
1 Samuel 13: 1 - 23
1 Saul was thirty F42 years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. F43 2 Saul selected three thousand special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took two thousand of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other thousand went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. 3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines that Israel was in revolt, so Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel. 4 He announced that the Philistine garrison at Geba had been destroyed, and he warned the people that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army mobilized again and met Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of three thousand F44 chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand along the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?" Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the LORD's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came." 13 "How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD's command."
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F45 When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only six hundred left! 16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba, near Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. 17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. 19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn't allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, F46 they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 (The schedule of charges was as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver F47 for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce F48 for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.) 22 So none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan. 23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
FOOTNOTES:F42: As in a few Greek manuscripts; the number is missing in the Hebrew. F43: Hebrew reigned . . . and two; the number is incomplete in the Hebrew. Compare Acts 13:21. F44: As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads 30,000. F45: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F46: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads or plowshares. F47: Hebrew 1 pim [8 grams]. F48: Hebrew 1/3 of a shekel [4 grams].
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~Lena's Comments ~
I’d venture to say that Israel possibly did not count the cost of their plight and or did not evaluate what it would take and whether they had what it took to defeat the armies of the Philistines. It seemed after they already went out against the enemy, they seemed surprised at who was out there, or rather just how many were against them. I’d say they were in a very needy place, and as is said, "between a rock and a hard place". That could be a good place to be in that it definitely tests our dependence upon whomever we are dependent upon, and at times reveals our dependencies to ourselves. May they be good dependencies or not so good ones. The point here is not the dependency, but the ability to win over the enemy. God has an enemy and his enemy’s troops outnumber us in our own strength and on our own.
Yet that enemy has to be defeated for our sakes and the sakes of others. How is that accomplished? Only through following God’s instructions, only through waiting on Him, trusting in Him and acting upon His word. He is never too late. We must trust Him enough to wait on Him. When we wait and it doesn’t come in the time we desire it to and we give up, we have just been tested in trust and reliance and we need to continue wait at least for His words of instruction. That was what Saul was waiting on the word of the Lord for the people of Israel and the success against not only Israel’s enemies, but also God’s enemies. Have you ever thought of the battles you’ve fought as being victories over God’s own enemies? They are, our enemies are God’s enemies and His are ours when we are in a covenant relationship. I want t fight God’s enemies through His power and win. I want God to win, and He wants to win through us. He put us here on earth to WIN, over His enemies. Do you know every time a soul is WON over to God a victory is had in the spirit realm? Yes a person is snatched out of the gates of hell and their eternal destiny is changed and God’s enemies (death-of the eternal nature) are defeated bit by bit, person by person. Satan is God’s enemy and wants to steal God’s people away from Him When we take one of these out of His grip we have fought and Won over God’s enemy. The one who stood in the face of God and said, " I’ll be like you…I’ll rule…" See Isa 14. We take a portion of he truth of that false prophecy away from the power in satan’s hands to make the world think he does rule. When we wait on God and His word, we are incubating out time to WIN over that enemy for God. Every time someone who is saved gets this revelation, we cause the Winning power f God to be multiplied in the earth. It’s not only about Winning, but it is also about building an army of Winners, who want to Win for God, cause they understand the battle, the cost (Jesus’ blood), and the prize!!!
1 Saul was thirty F42 years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. F43 2 Saul selected three thousand special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took two thousand of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other thousand went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. 3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines that Israel was in revolt, so Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel. 4 He announced that the Philistine garrison at Geba had been destroyed, and he warned the people that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army mobilized again and met Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of three thousand F44 chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand along the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?" Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the LORD's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came." 13 "How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD's command."
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F45 When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only six hundred left! 16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba, near Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. 17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. 19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn't allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, F46 they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 (The schedule of charges was as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver F47 for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce F48 for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.) 22 So none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan. 23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
FOOTNOTES:F42: As in a few Greek manuscripts; the number is missing in the Hebrew. F43: Hebrew reigned . . . and two; the number is incomplete in the Hebrew. Compare Acts 13:21. F44: As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads 30,000. F45: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F46: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads or plowshares. F47: Hebrew 1 pim [8 grams]. F48: Hebrew 1/3 of a shekel [4 grams].
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~Lena's Comments ~
I’d venture to say that Israel possibly did not count the cost of their plight and or did not evaluate what it would take and whether they had what it took to defeat the armies of the Philistines. It seemed after they already went out against the enemy, they seemed surprised at who was out there, or rather just how many were against them. I’d say they were in a very needy place, and as is said, "between a rock and a hard place". That could be a good place to be in that it definitely tests our dependence upon whomever we are dependent upon, and at times reveals our dependencies to ourselves. May they be good dependencies or not so good ones. The point here is not the dependency, but the ability to win over the enemy. God has an enemy and his enemy’s troops outnumber us in our own strength and on our own.
Yet that enemy has to be defeated for our sakes and the sakes of others. How is that accomplished? Only through following God’s instructions, only through waiting on Him, trusting in Him and acting upon His word. He is never too late. We must trust Him enough to wait on Him. When we wait and it doesn’t come in the time we desire it to and we give up, we have just been tested in trust and reliance and we need to continue wait at least for His words of instruction. That was what Saul was waiting on the word of the Lord for the people of Israel and the success against not only Israel’s enemies, but also God’s enemies. Have you ever thought of the battles you’ve fought as being victories over God’s own enemies? They are, our enemies are God’s enemies and His are ours when we are in a covenant relationship. I want t fight God’s enemies through His power and win. I want God to win, and He wants to win through us. He put us here on earth to WIN, over His enemies. Do you know every time a soul is WON over to God a victory is had in the spirit realm? Yes a person is snatched out of the gates of hell and their eternal destiny is changed and God’s enemies (death-of the eternal nature) are defeated bit by bit, person by person. Satan is God’s enemy and wants to steal God’s people away from Him When we take one of these out of His grip we have fought and Won over God’s enemy. The one who stood in the face of God and said, " I’ll be like you…I’ll rule…" See Isa 14. We take a portion of he truth of that false prophecy away from the power in satan’s hands to make the world think he does rule. When we wait on God and His word, we are incubating out time to WIN over that enemy for God. Every time someone who is saved gets this revelation, we cause the Winning power f God to be multiplied in the earth. It’s not only about Winning, but it is also about building an army of Winners, who want to Win for God, cause they understand the battle, the cost (Jesus’ blood), and the prize!!!
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 13
1 Samuel 13: 1 - 23
1 Saul was thirty F42 years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. F43 2 Saul selected three thousand special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took two thousand of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other thousand went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. 3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines that Israel was in revolt, so Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel. 4 He announced that the Philistine garrison at Geba had been destroyed, and he warned the people that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army mobilized again and met Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of three thousand F44 chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand along the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?" Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the LORD's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came." 13 "How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD's command."
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F45 When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only six hundred left! 16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba, near Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. 17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. 19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn't allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, F46 they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 (The schedule of charges was as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver F47 for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce F48 for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.) 22 So none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan. 23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
FOOTNOTES:F42: As in a few Greek manuscripts; the number is missing in the Hebrew. F43: Hebrew reigned . . . and two; the number is incomplete in the Hebrew. Compare Acts 13:21. F44: As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads 30,000. F45: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F46: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads or plowshares. F47: Hebrew 1 pim [8 grams]. F48: Hebrew 1/3 of a shekel [4 grams].
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~ Lena's Comments~
I’d venture to say that Israel possibly did not count the cost of their plight and or did not evaluate what it would take and whether they had what it took to defeat the armies of the Philistines. It seemed after they already went out against the enemy, they seemed surprised at who was out there, or rather just how many were against them. I’d say they were in a very needy place, and as is said, "between a rock and a hard place". That could be a good place to be in that it definitely tests our dependence upon whomever we are dependent upon, and at times reveals our dependencies to ourselves. May they be good dependencies or not so good ones. The point here is not the dependency, but the ability to win over the enemy. God has an enemy and his enemy’s troops outnumber us in our own strength and on our own.
Yet that enemy has to be defeated for our sakes and the sakes of others. How is that accomplished? Only through following God’s instructions, only through waiting on Him, trusting in Him and acting upon His word. He is never too late. We must trust Him enough to wait on Him. When we wait and it doesn’t come in the time we desire it to and we give up, we have just been tested in trust and reliance and we need to continue wait at least for His words of instruction. That was what Saul was waiting on the word of the Lord for the people of Israel and the success against not only Israel’s enemies, but also God’s enemies. Have you ever thought of the battles you’ve fought as being victories over God’s own enemies? They are, our enemies are God’s enemies and His are ours when we are in a covenant relationship. I want t fight God’s enemies through His power and win. I want God to win, and He wants to win through us. He put us here on earth to WIN, over His enemies. Do you know every time a soul is WON over to God a victory is had in the spirit realm? Yes a person is snatched out of the gates of hell and their eternal destiny is changed and God’s enemies (death-of the eternal nature) are defeated bit by bit, person by person. Satan is God’s enemy and wants to steal God’s people away from Him When we take one of these out of His grip we have fought and Won over God’s enemy. The one who stood in the face of God and said, " I’ll be like you…I’ll rule…" See Isa 14. We take a portion of he truth of that false prophecy away from the power in satan’s hands to make the world think he does rule. When we wait on God and His word, we are incubating out time to WIN over that enemy for God. Every time someone who is saved gets this revelation, we cause the Winning power f God to be multiplied in the earth. It’s not only about Winning, but it is also about building an army of Winners, who want to Win for God, cause they understand the battle, the cost (Jesus’ blood), and the prize!!!
1 Saul was thirty F42 years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. F43 2 Saul selected three thousand special troops from the army of Israel and sent the rest of the men home. He took two thousand of the chosen men with him to Micmash and the hill country of Bethel. The other thousand went with Saul's son Jonathan to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. 3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines that Israel was in revolt, so Saul sounded the call to arms throughout Israel. 4 He announced that the Philistine garrison at Geba had been destroyed, and he warned the people that the Philistines now hated the Israelites more than ever. So the entire Israelite army mobilized again and met Saul at Gilgal. 5 The Philistines mustered a mighty army of three thousand F44 chariots, six thousand horsemen, and as many warriors as the grains of sand along the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns. 7 Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
8 Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. 9 So he demanded, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. 10 Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, 11 but Samuel said, "What is this you have done?" Saul replied, "I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn't arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. 12 So I said, 'The Philistines are ready to march against us, and I haven't even asked for the LORD's help!' So I felt obliged to offer the burnt offering myself before you came." 13 "How foolish!" Samuel exclaimed. "You have disobeyed the command of the LORD your God. Had you obeyed, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your dynasty must end, for the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. The LORD has already chosen him to be king over his people, for you have not obeyed the LORD's command."
15 Samuel then left Gilgal and went on his way, but the rest of the troops went with Saul to meet the army. They went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F45 When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only six hundred left! 16 Saul and Jonathan and the troops with them were staying at Geba, near Gibeah, in the land of Benjamin. The Philistines set up their camp at Micmash. 17 Three raiding parties soon left the camp of the Philistines. One went north toward Ophrah in the land of Shual, 18 another went west to Beth-horon, and the third moved toward the border above the valley of Zeboim near the wilderness. 19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn't allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles, F46 they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 (The schedule of charges was as follows: a quarter of an ounce of silver F47 for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce F48 for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad.) 22 So none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan. 23 The pass at Micmash had meanwhile been secured by a contingent of the Philistine army.
FOOTNOTES:F42: As in a few Greek manuscripts; the number is missing in the Hebrew. F43: Hebrew reigned . . . and two; the number is incomplete in the Hebrew. Compare Acts 13:21. F44: As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew reads 30,000. F45: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Samuel left Gilgal and went to Gibeah in the land of Benjamin. F46: As in Greek version; Hebrew reads or plowshares. F47: Hebrew 1 pim [8 grams]. F48: Hebrew 1/3 of a shekel [4 grams].
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~ Lena's Comments~
I’d venture to say that Israel possibly did not count the cost of their plight and or did not evaluate what it would take and whether they had what it took to defeat the armies of the Philistines. It seemed after they already went out against the enemy, they seemed surprised at who was out there, or rather just how many were against them. I’d say they were in a very needy place, and as is said, "between a rock and a hard place". That could be a good place to be in that it definitely tests our dependence upon whomever we are dependent upon, and at times reveals our dependencies to ourselves. May they be good dependencies or not so good ones. The point here is not the dependency, but the ability to win over the enemy. God has an enemy and his enemy’s troops outnumber us in our own strength and on our own.
Yet that enemy has to be defeated for our sakes and the sakes of others. How is that accomplished? Only through following God’s instructions, only through waiting on Him, trusting in Him and acting upon His word. He is never too late. We must trust Him enough to wait on Him. When we wait and it doesn’t come in the time we desire it to and we give up, we have just been tested in trust and reliance and we need to continue wait at least for His words of instruction. That was what Saul was waiting on the word of the Lord for the people of Israel and the success against not only Israel’s enemies, but also God’s enemies. Have you ever thought of the battles you’ve fought as being victories over God’s own enemies? They are, our enemies are God’s enemies and His are ours when we are in a covenant relationship. I want t fight God’s enemies through His power and win. I want God to win, and He wants to win through us. He put us here on earth to WIN, over His enemies. Do you know every time a soul is WON over to God a victory is had in the spirit realm? Yes a person is snatched out of the gates of hell and their eternal destiny is changed and God’s enemies (death-of the eternal nature) are defeated bit by bit, person by person. Satan is God’s enemy and wants to steal God’s people away from Him When we take one of these out of His grip we have fought and Won over God’s enemy. The one who stood in the face of God and said, " I’ll be like you…I’ll rule…" See Isa 14. We take a portion of he truth of that false prophecy away from the power in satan’s hands to make the world think he does rule. When we wait on God and His word, we are incubating out time to WIN over that enemy for God. Every time someone who is saved gets this revelation, we cause the Winning power f God to be multiplied in the earth. It’s not only about Winning, but it is also about building an army of Winners, who want to Win for God, cause they understand the battle, the cost (Jesus’ blood), and the prize!!!
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 11
1 Samuel 11: 1 - 15
1 About a month later, F36 King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite city of Jabesh-gilead. But the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants," they pleaded. 2 "All right," Nahash said, "but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!" 3 "Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!" replied the leaders of Jabesh. "If none of our relatives will come to save us, we will agree to your terms." 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul's hometown, and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.
5 Saul was plowing in the field, and when he returned to town, he asked, "What's the matter? Why is everyone crying?" So they told him about the message from Jabesh. 6 Then the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul, and he became very angry. 7 He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: "This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!" And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul's anger, and all of them came out together as one. 8 When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men of Israel, in addition to 30,000 F37 from Judah. 9 So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, "We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!" What joy there was throughout the city when that message arrived! 10 The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us as you wish." 11 But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, "Now where are those men who said Saul shouldn't rule over us? Bring them here, and we will kill them!" 13 But Saul replied, "No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!" 14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us all go to Gilgal to reaffirm Saul's kingship." 15 So they went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD they crowned him king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.
FOOTNOTES:F36: As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks About a month later. F37: Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 70,000.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~Lena's Comments~
Saul’s first assignment as king, to face the enemies of God and His people. That’s what kings do, and how can they do this alone without God? This is an overwhelming situation for any mind and any king, BUT a great one to show that God set kings to be led by Him, protected by Him, ruled by Him, because He wants to demonstrate His mighty power through mere kings in earth (that’s you and me, we all rule in some shape or form).If we trust and look to God, He will show Himself to us, If we rely on ourselves, we may find a certain measure of success, but that measure is a measure, it has an end. God’s successes are endless.
Saul was in the field. He was not set in as king over God’s people yet, the manifestation of the "promise" had not yet arrived, yet he was called and labeled. It is the same with us, and sometimes God is showing us what we could do or be, by offering the suggestion to us and prophesying over us, What we do with the words are totally up to us and have everything to do with where our hearts are at. We can cause the words God has told us to come to pass or not come to pass. God said- Go into ALLthe world. If we never Go, the word will never happen for us. The first demonstration of faith in the word was express so well by saying, Saul’s anger arose against God’s enemies and the enemies of His people. That action of even emotion was from the heart. If he had no real inward care or concern for God’s people, whom he’d been called to "Go" to how could he go and stay faithful to the work he was called to. It begins in the heart. When the heart starts to express the heart that God already has, Whew that is the beginnings of the fulfillment of a great call. Strategy is another sign. He not only felt the need to cat upon his concern ( good intention), He also began to plan out how it could and should and would be done. Planning and strategizing is also from the heart of God. He planned the whole earth’s scheme, set the sun to rise each day and set each night. He planned to save us and followed through with that plan, He also had, made, and persued a plan to save you then found some people with a heart, with a vision, and with a strategy . These people were willing to participate in and execute a strategy to show His love towards you, to win you -His prize and special treasure. He went all out to defeat all of your enemies and His against you at the cross.
Saul mobilized the people with the vision he felt. This is a great sign of a person who has a heart. Once they see God’s true desires and those desires become their own desires they cannot help but tell others. I believed therefore I spoke. God said God saw. It’s creative power at work. If we do not speak the vision to others, how will they be won also? How will God’s enemies be defeated? By a people who are one in vision and strategy, and in work. Notice how the enemy wanted to take the vision out of the people, or at least ½ of the vision. We have to be all in, we cannot be half-sighted or maybe we’ll be half-hearted and do half as much as we were designed and called by God to do. How would we feel if later in our eternal perspective we see that we took half as many people out of the grip of the enemy’s hand, than we had the potential to do and it was all based on our lack of willingness to do it? I guarantee you, in that time we will see so clearly, and there will be not one excuse valid enough to justify that. Praise God we have time Right HERE and Right NOW!
The enemy’s name 1st verse means "serpent"!
Notice all of this heart, strategy, and action was prior to the actual "setting in" of Saul as king! He was who we was in God, and then called who he was in identification by those around them. Kind of like Christians at Antioch. They were already behaving like-Christ and those around them saw it and mentioned it to others as identifying comments with those they observed things with. Many of us wait, thinking someone will call us a leader and then we will be a leader and act like one. No, we are one 1st and then we are called one.
The city of Jabesh-gilead was a city of those who were called by His name. The name means "mountain". They were at a large obstacle and needed the Lord’s intervention. We will all come to that place in our walks. Only in the assemly of the called to fight against that which is against God will we find the victory and be able to get that mountain to come down for us. Notice when we go up and over the mountain, things are all down hill from there.
What an awesome way to celebrate the victory of the one who sees, heeds, and presses through the call. He gives glory to God. He is not lifted up in His own glory, because he’s filled with pride in that he was obedient to God, He gives that glory to God, by making another "sacrifice", one of peace. When we heed and join in with God’s strategies that’s when we will see true peace, meaning wholeness and completeness.
1 About a month later, F36 King Nahash of Ammon led his army against the Israelite city of Jabesh-gilead. But the citizens of Jabesh asked for peace. "Make a treaty with us, and we will be your servants," they pleaded. 2 "All right," Nahash said, "but only on one condition. I will gouge out the right eye of every one of you as a disgrace to all Israel!" 3 "Give us seven days to send messengers throughout Israel!" replied the leaders of Jabesh. "If none of our relatives will come to save us, we will agree to your terms." 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah, Saul's hometown, and told the people about their plight, everyone broke into tears.
5 Saul was plowing in the field, and when he returned to town, he asked, "What's the matter? Why is everyone crying?" So they told him about the message from Jabesh. 6 Then the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul, and he became very angry. 7 He took two oxen and cut them into pieces and sent the messengers to carry them throughout Israel with this message: "This is what will happen to the oxen of anyone who refuses to follow Saul and Samuel into battle!" And the LORD made the people afraid of Saul's anger, and all of them came out together as one. 8 When Saul mobilized them at Bezek, he found that there were 300,000 men of Israel, in addition to 30,000 F37 from Judah. 9 So Saul sent the messengers back to Jabesh-gilead to say, "We will rescue you by noontime tomorrow!" What joy there was throughout the city when that message arrived! 10 The men of Jabesh then told their enemies, "Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you can do to us as you wish." 11 But before dawn the next morning, Saul arrived, having divided his army into three detachments. He launched a surprise attack against the Ammonites and slaughtered them the whole morning. The remnant of their army was so badly scattered that no two of them were left together.
12 Then the people exclaimed to Samuel, "Now where are those men who said Saul shouldn't rule over us? Bring them here, and we will kill them!" 13 But Saul replied, "No one will be executed today, for today the LORD has rescued Israel!" 14 Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us all go to Gilgal to reaffirm Saul's kingship." 15 So they went to Gilgal, and in a solemn ceremony before the LORD they crowned him king. Then they offered peace offerings to the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.
FOOTNOTES:F36: As in Greek version; Hebrew lacks About a month later. F37: Dead Sea Scrolls and Greek version read 70,000.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
~Lena's Comments~
Saul’s first assignment as king, to face the enemies of God and His people. That’s what kings do, and how can they do this alone without God? This is an overwhelming situation for any mind and any king, BUT a great one to show that God set kings to be led by Him, protected by Him, ruled by Him, because He wants to demonstrate His mighty power through mere kings in earth (that’s you and me, we all rule in some shape or form).If we trust and look to God, He will show Himself to us, If we rely on ourselves, we may find a certain measure of success, but that measure is a measure, it has an end. God’s successes are endless.
Saul was in the field. He was not set in as king over God’s people yet, the manifestation of the "promise" had not yet arrived, yet he was called and labeled. It is the same with us, and sometimes God is showing us what we could do or be, by offering the suggestion to us and prophesying over us, What we do with the words are totally up to us and have everything to do with where our hearts are at. We can cause the words God has told us to come to pass or not come to pass. God said- Go into ALLthe world. If we never Go, the word will never happen for us. The first demonstration of faith in the word was express so well by saying, Saul’s anger arose against God’s enemies and the enemies of His people. That action of even emotion was from the heart. If he had no real inward care or concern for God’s people, whom he’d been called to "Go" to how could he go and stay faithful to the work he was called to. It begins in the heart. When the heart starts to express the heart that God already has, Whew that is the beginnings of the fulfillment of a great call. Strategy is another sign. He not only felt the need to cat upon his concern ( good intention), He also began to plan out how it could and should and would be done. Planning and strategizing is also from the heart of God. He planned the whole earth’s scheme, set the sun to rise each day and set each night. He planned to save us and followed through with that plan, He also had, made, and persued a plan to save you then found some people with a heart, with a vision, and with a strategy . These people were willing to participate in and execute a strategy to show His love towards you, to win you -His prize and special treasure. He went all out to defeat all of your enemies and His against you at the cross.
Saul mobilized the people with the vision he felt. This is a great sign of a person who has a heart. Once they see God’s true desires and those desires become their own desires they cannot help but tell others. I believed therefore I spoke. God said God saw. It’s creative power at work. If we do not speak the vision to others, how will they be won also? How will God’s enemies be defeated? By a people who are one in vision and strategy, and in work. Notice how the enemy wanted to take the vision out of the people, or at least ½ of the vision. We have to be all in, we cannot be half-sighted or maybe we’ll be half-hearted and do half as much as we were designed and called by God to do. How would we feel if later in our eternal perspective we see that we took half as many people out of the grip of the enemy’s hand, than we had the potential to do and it was all based on our lack of willingness to do it? I guarantee you, in that time we will see so clearly, and there will be not one excuse valid enough to justify that. Praise God we have time Right HERE and Right NOW!
The enemy’s name 1st verse means "serpent"!
Notice all of this heart, strategy, and action was prior to the actual "setting in" of Saul as king! He was who we was in God, and then called who he was in identification by those around them. Kind of like Christians at Antioch. They were already behaving like-Christ and those around them saw it and mentioned it to others as identifying comments with those they observed things with. Many of us wait, thinking someone will call us a leader and then we will be a leader and act like one. No, we are one 1st and then we are called one.
The city of Jabesh-gilead was a city of those who were called by His name. The name means "mountain". They were at a large obstacle and needed the Lord’s intervention. We will all come to that place in our walks. Only in the assemly of the called to fight against that which is against God will we find the victory and be able to get that mountain to come down for us. Notice when we go up and over the mountain, things are all down hill from there.
What an awesome way to celebrate the victory of the one who sees, heeds, and presses through the call. He gives glory to God. He is not lifted up in His own glory, because he’s filled with pride in that he was obedient to God, He gives that glory to God, by making another "sacrifice", one of peace. When we heed and join in with God’s strategies that’s when we will see true peace, meaning wholeness and completeness.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread 1 Sam 10
Samuel 10: 1 - 27
1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul on the cheek and said, "I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the leader of his people Israel. F31
2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel's tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father is worried about you and is asking, 'Have you seen my son?' 3 "When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept. 5 "When you arrive at Gibeah of God, F32 where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the altar on the hill. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you with power, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 7 After these signs take place, do whatever you think is best, for God will be with you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me and wait for me there seven days. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. When I arrive, I will give you further instructions."
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God changed his heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw the prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When his friends heard about it, they exclaimed, "What? Is Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?" 12 But one of the neighbors responded, "It doesn't matter who his father is; anyone can become a prophet." F33 So that is the origin of the saying "Is Saul a prophet?" 13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he climbed the hill to the altar. 14 "Where in the world have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him."We went to look for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to the prophet Samuel to ask him where they were." 15 "Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked. 16 "He said the donkeys had been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle that Samuel had anointed him to be king.
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah. 18 And he gave them this message from the LORD, the God of Israel: "I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have done so much for you, you have rejected me and said, 'We want a king instead!' Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans." 20 So Samuel called the tribal leaders together before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. F34 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the LORD, "Where is he?" And the LORD replied, "He is hiding among the baggage." 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else. 24 Then Samuel said to all the people, "This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is his equal!" And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" 25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people home again. 26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a band of men whose hearts God had touched became his constant companions. 27 But there were some wicked men who complained, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. F35
FOOTNOTES:F31: Greek version reads Israel. And you will rule over the LORD's people and save them from their enemies around them. This will be the sign to you that the LORD has appointed you to be leader over his inheritance. F32: Hebrew Gibeath-elohim. F33: Hebrew responded, "Who is their father?" F34: Hebrew chosen by lot; also in 10:21. F35: Dead Sea Scroll 4QSam®MDSU¯a®MDNM¯ continues: Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and Reubenites who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn't allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn't a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Lena's Comments~
This appointment was known for Saul by God before he was born, but he realized it, it was revelation to him today, and God was going to confirm his newfound revelation. In order to see the "oroofs" Saul had to leave his mentor Samuel and "go", he had to leave the place he was currently in and go somewhere else led by God’s appointing. Had to decide to go where God was telling him to go (using the man Samuel to help tell him).
This could be far out there, but I see the goats as opportunities to chose righteously for the call or against the call, with the natural tendency being one that would rebel and but against the call and a man telling me what God is saying for my life. Then, I see the bread as the opportunity of God’s word to change a person from being a mere hu-man into a man on assignment, called and obedient to God. The wine is the enablement of God to walk the call out, leaving the old ways of thinking behind and pressing forward, not alone, but by His spirit in us. About the bread, he says they will offer it to you – it’s your choice to take it, but you need to take it! This will enable you to be at the next step I lead you to. Worship will keep you there, in the place of choosing righteously. The prophecies are God’s words confirmed through others and along the way they will help show you whether you are on track or not.
In your walk of being in the word, in worship and with other believers, you will find you’ll need a boost of the empowerment of the abundance of God’s Spirit overflowing out of you, for the tasks at hand that maybe you do not yet see. It is one thing to be filled up with the Spirit of God being renewed in your spirit, and yet another to be in the overflow of His Spirit. This is where now not only are you blessed, but you have the God-given ability to be as Samuel was, a mentor, as the prophets were, encouragers, and as the "bakers" were feeders. Once we decide to go on, by practicing on purpose this part of our walk, we can hear more of what God desires for us to do. He’ll begin to show us more, when we walk it out and obey the firsts He’s asked of us.
WHEN Saul TURNed and STARTed to leave…….God Changed His heart. We’re always thinking we need to change our own hearts. No God will change our hearts if we will follow Him, if we will be willing to and act upon Go-ing towards fulfilling the obediences He has for us to fulfill. Like 2 Cor 5:18-21
This is why you were brought OUT from where you were at, in Egypt, God’s picture for us of ungodliness, of the world It takes men to help rule us, because we as a people refuse to allow Christ to rule us. God wants to be our ruler, and if we obeyed Him, He’d then be our ruler, when we don’t we displace His throne and give it to others. We give that place to other kings, namely us. I bet It breaks God’s heart when we do not want Him as king, but He gives us our whole lives to decide as he continually prods and leads us towards His rule by our own choice. Wouldn’t you be more sure that your child really loved you if they choose to, rather than you forcing them to? That’s the heart of our father God.
When we choose other kings, God is gracious enough to try to use those kings to rule us for a time. He is so gracious to us. He wants to win us over to His, love and has "bent over backwards" to do so. He’ll take our whole lifetime to show us our purposes, if it takes that.
1 Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul's head. He kissed Saul on the cheek and said, "I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the leader of his people Israel. F31
2 When you leave me today, you will see two men beside Rachel's tomb at Zelzah, on the border of Benjamin. They will tell you that the donkeys have been found and that your father is worried about you and is asking, 'Have you seen my son?' 3 "When you get to the oak of Tabor, you will see three men coming toward you who are on their way to worship God at Bethel. One will be bringing three young goats, another will have three loaves of bread, and the third will be carrying a skin of wine. 4 They will greet you and offer you two of the loaves, which you are to accept. 5 "When you arrive at Gibeah of God, F32 where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the altar on the hill. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. 6 At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you with power, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. 7 After these signs take place, do whatever you think is best, for God will be with you. 8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me and wait for me there seven days. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. When I arrive, I will give you further instructions."
9 As Saul turned and started to leave, God changed his heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw the prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When his friends heard about it, they exclaimed, "What? Is Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?" 12 But one of the neighbors responded, "It doesn't matter who his father is; anyone can become a prophet." F33 So that is the origin of the saying "Is Saul a prophet?" 13 When Saul had finished prophesying, he climbed the hill to the altar. 14 "Where in the world have you been?" Saul's uncle asked him."We went to look for the donkeys," Saul replied, "but we couldn't find them. So we went to the prophet Samuel to ask him where they were." 15 "Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked. 16 "He said the donkeys had been found," Saul replied. But Saul didn't tell his uncle that Samuel had anointed him to be king.
17 Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the LORD at Mizpah. 18 And he gave them this message from the LORD, the God of Israel: "I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. 19 But though I have done so much for you, you have rejected me and said, 'We want a king instead!' Now, therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by tribes and clans." 20 So Samuel called the tribal leaders together before the LORD, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. F34 21 Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the LORD, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the LORD, "Where is he?" And the LORD replied, "He is hiding among the baggage." 23 So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else. 24 Then Samuel said to all the people, "This is the man the LORD has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is his equal!" And all the people shouted, "Long live the king!" 25 Then Samuel told the people what the rights and duties of a king were. He wrote them down on a scroll and placed it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent the people home again. 26 When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a band of men whose hearts God had touched became his constant companions. 27 But there were some wicked men who complained, "How can this man save us?" And they despised him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them. F35
FOOTNOTES:F31: Greek version reads Israel. And you will rule over the LORD's people and save them from their enemies around them. This will be the sign to you that the LORD has appointed you to be leader over his inheritance. F32: Hebrew Gibeath-elohim. F33: Hebrew responded, "Who is their father?" F34: Hebrew chosen by lot; also in 10:21. F35: Dead Sea Scroll 4QSam®MDSU¯a®MDNM¯ continues: Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and Reubenites who lived east of the Jordan River. He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn't allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn't a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.
The New Living Translation
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Lena's Comments~
This appointment was known for Saul by God before he was born, but he realized it, it was revelation to him today, and God was going to confirm his newfound revelation. In order to see the "oroofs" Saul had to leave his mentor Samuel and "go", he had to leave the place he was currently in and go somewhere else led by God’s appointing. Had to decide to go where God was telling him to go (using the man Samuel to help tell him).
This could be far out there, but I see the goats as opportunities to chose righteously for the call or against the call, with the natural tendency being one that would rebel and but against the call and a man telling me what God is saying for my life. Then, I see the bread as the opportunity of God’s word to change a person from being a mere hu-man into a man on assignment, called and obedient to God. The wine is the enablement of God to walk the call out, leaving the old ways of thinking behind and pressing forward, not alone, but by His spirit in us. About the bread, he says they will offer it to you – it’s your choice to take it, but you need to take it! This will enable you to be at the next step I lead you to. Worship will keep you there, in the place of choosing righteously. The prophecies are God’s words confirmed through others and along the way they will help show you whether you are on track or not.
In your walk of being in the word, in worship and with other believers, you will find you’ll need a boost of the empowerment of the abundance of God’s Spirit overflowing out of you, for the tasks at hand that maybe you do not yet see. It is one thing to be filled up with the Spirit of God being renewed in your spirit, and yet another to be in the overflow of His Spirit. This is where now not only are you blessed, but you have the God-given ability to be as Samuel was, a mentor, as the prophets were, encouragers, and as the "bakers" were feeders. Once we decide to go on, by practicing on purpose this part of our walk, we can hear more of what God desires for us to do. He’ll begin to show us more, when we walk it out and obey the firsts He’s asked of us.
WHEN Saul TURNed and STARTed to leave…….God Changed His heart. We’re always thinking we need to change our own hearts. No God will change our hearts if we will follow Him, if we will be willing to and act upon Go-ing towards fulfilling the obediences He has for us to fulfill. Like 2 Cor 5:18-21
This is why you were brought OUT from where you were at, in Egypt, God’s picture for us of ungodliness, of the world It takes men to help rule us, because we as a people refuse to allow Christ to rule us. God wants to be our ruler, and if we obeyed Him, He’d then be our ruler, when we don’t we displace His throne and give it to others. We give that place to other kings, namely us. I bet It breaks God’s heart when we do not want Him as king, but He gives us our whole lives to decide as he continually prods and leads us towards His rule by our own choice. Wouldn’t you be more sure that your child really loved you if they choose to, rather than you forcing them to? That’s the heart of our father God.
When we choose other kings, God is gracious enough to try to use those kings to rule us for a time. He is so gracious to us. He wants to win us over to His, love and has "bent over backwards" to do so. He’ll take our whole lifetime to show us our purposes, if it takes that.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Deut 17
Deuteronomy 17: 1 - 20
1 And don't sacrifice to God, your God, an ox or sheep that is defective or has anything at all wrong with it. That's an abomination, an insult to God, your God. 2 If you find anyone within the towns that God, your God, is giving you doing what is wrong in God's eyes, breaking his covenant 3 by going off to worship other gods, bowing down to them - the sun, say, or the moon, or any rebel sky-gods - 4 look at the evidence and investigate carefully. If you find that it is true, that, in fact, an abomination has been committed in Israel, 5 then you are to take the man or woman who did this evil thing outside your city gates and stone the man or the woman. Hurl stones at the person until dead. 6 But only on the testimony of two or three witnesses may a person be put to death. No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7 The witnesses must throw the first stones in the execution, then the rest of the community joins in. You have to purge the evil from your community.
8 When matters of justice come up that are too much for you - hard cases regarding homicides, legal disputes, fights - take them up to the central place of worship that God, your God, has designated. 9 Bring them to the Levitical priests and the judge who is in office at the time. Consult them and they will hand down the decision for you. 10 Then carry out their verdict at the place designated by God, your God. Do what they tell you, in exactly the way they tell you. 11 Follow their instructions precisely: Don't leave out anything; don't add anything. 12 Anyone who presumes to override or twist the decision handed down by the priest or judge who was acting in the Presence of God, your God, is as good as dead - root him out, rid Israel of the evil. 13 Everyone will take notice and be impressed. That will put an end to presumptuous behavior.
14 When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, "I'm going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me," 15 make sure you get yourself a king whom God, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don't take a foreigner - only a kinsman. 16 And make sure he doesn't build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because God told you, "You'll never go back there again!" 17 And make sure he doesn't build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn't pile up a lot of silver and gold. 18 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. 19 That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. 20 He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons.
The Message
~ Lena’s Comments ~
So, if we sin against God- no matter how great or small, , we are usurping our own wills above His and this cannot stand. It’s just as satan rose up in pride and tried to take God’s place. When satan usurped his will above God’s he was condemned to an eternal death. It would be far better for a person to die a natural death with a turned heart, than to die an eternal death doomed with satan.
The point is part of an OT picture here. There were only a few specific ways to save one’s self from their sin, which wasn’t really saving ones’self, because it always required us to shed another’s blood in the process, either an animal’s (preferably) or if we stood as the judge/condemner we would shed the blood of a man. This is a horrid thought, and so is the thought of living eternally without God, and so is the thought of condemning someone to that doom, and so is the horridness of sin, because it works against us and against God – rather than bringing us into that eternal destiny of being with Him. We had to and have to realize the seriousness of any sin’s penalty and its horrid wage.
I was thinking the more we realize the specifics of all God requires the more and more we realize we need to continually walk in His grace, because we will never be able to save ourselves or even serve Him on our own strength. It mentions an ox without blemish. The ox represents strength, so God wants my strength given over to Him, but without blemish. The only way I can give that to Him is by giving Him all I am in Christ, though the acceptance of the strength of Christ that has been growing in me since I was born again. I can do all things through Christ, apart from Him it is very hard to do anything perfectly. I cannot please God on my own I fall short, but in Christ I am perfected as I walk in Him continually.
Kings and kingdoms are ordained by God and for God. We are to both kings and priests unto God. God ordained this order in the earth. He wants men to rule with and for Him, not for themselves and against Him. This has been and is the perversion of rulership, and in our day no one wants to be ruled over, even by God, because they’ve lived under this perversion and abusive rule for so long. God is calling us outside of the perversion and into the covering of His Divine rule. Without rule we are without God. We cannot rebel and come totally outside of rule and expect to find God there. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Maybe if we are not or have no ling, we have no King. If we are not under the rule or aren’t a lord, we have no Lord? A thought to ponder…
1 And don't sacrifice to God, your God, an ox or sheep that is defective or has anything at all wrong with it. That's an abomination, an insult to God, your God. 2 If you find anyone within the towns that God, your God, is giving you doing what is wrong in God's eyes, breaking his covenant 3 by going off to worship other gods, bowing down to them - the sun, say, or the moon, or any rebel sky-gods - 4 look at the evidence and investigate carefully. If you find that it is true, that, in fact, an abomination has been committed in Israel, 5 then you are to take the man or woman who did this evil thing outside your city gates and stone the man or the woman. Hurl stones at the person until dead. 6 But only on the testimony of two or three witnesses may a person be put to death. No one may be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 7 The witnesses must throw the first stones in the execution, then the rest of the community joins in. You have to purge the evil from your community.
8 When matters of justice come up that are too much for you - hard cases regarding homicides, legal disputes, fights - take them up to the central place of worship that God, your God, has designated. 9 Bring them to the Levitical priests and the judge who is in office at the time. Consult them and they will hand down the decision for you. 10 Then carry out their verdict at the place designated by God, your God. Do what they tell you, in exactly the way they tell you. 11 Follow their instructions precisely: Don't leave out anything; don't add anything. 12 Anyone who presumes to override or twist the decision handed down by the priest or judge who was acting in the Presence of God, your God, is as good as dead - root him out, rid Israel of the evil. 13 Everyone will take notice and be impressed. That will put an end to presumptuous behavior.
14 When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you and take it over and settle down, and then say, "I'm going to get me a king, a king like all the nations around me," 15 make sure you get yourself a king whom God, your God, chooses. Choose your king from among your kinsmen; don't take a foreigner - only a kinsman. 16 And make sure he doesn't build up a war machine, amassing military horses and chariots. He must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because God told you, "You'll never go back there again!" 17 And make sure he doesn't build up a harem, collecting wives who will divert him from the straight and narrow. And make sure he doesn't pile up a lot of silver and gold. 18 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. 19 That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. 20 He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons.
The Message
~ Lena’s Comments ~
So, if we sin against God- no matter how great or small, , we are usurping our own wills above His and this cannot stand. It’s just as satan rose up in pride and tried to take God’s place. When satan usurped his will above God’s he was condemned to an eternal death. It would be far better for a person to die a natural death with a turned heart, than to die an eternal death doomed with satan.
The point is part of an OT picture here. There were only a few specific ways to save one’s self from their sin, which wasn’t really saving ones’self, because it always required us to shed another’s blood in the process, either an animal’s (preferably) or if we stood as the judge/condemner we would shed the blood of a man. This is a horrid thought, and so is the thought of living eternally without God, and so is the thought of condemning someone to that doom, and so is the horridness of sin, because it works against us and against God – rather than bringing us into that eternal destiny of being with Him. We had to and have to realize the seriousness of any sin’s penalty and its horrid wage.
I was thinking the more we realize the specifics of all God requires the more and more we realize we need to continually walk in His grace, because we will never be able to save ourselves or even serve Him on our own strength. It mentions an ox without blemish. The ox represents strength, so God wants my strength given over to Him, but without blemish. The only way I can give that to Him is by giving Him all I am in Christ, though the acceptance of the strength of Christ that has been growing in me since I was born again. I can do all things through Christ, apart from Him it is very hard to do anything perfectly. I cannot please God on my own I fall short, but in Christ I am perfected as I walk in Him continually.
Kings and kingdoms are ordained by God and for God. We are to both kings and priests unto God. God ordained this order in the earth. He wants men to rule with and for Him, not for themselves and against Him. This has been and is the perversion of rulership, and in our day no one wants to be ruled over, even by God, because they’ve lived under this perversion and abusive rule for so long. God is calling us outside of the perversion and into the covering of His Divine rule. Without rule we are without God. We cannot rebel and come totally outside of rule and expect to find God there. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Maybe if we are not or have no ling, we have no King. If we are not under the rule or aren’t a lord, we have no Lord? A thought to ponder…
Monday, April 04, 2005
Multiplication Cell News April 4, 2005
Good Day Awesome People of God!
Just wanted to post some announcements for you all to read through.
This Sunday April 10th, 2005 is our Retro High School Picnic & Fundraiser for Youth trips in 2005.
*Dress up Sunday Morning in High School Attire, whatever decade you represent!
*Purchase food for your family from the youth
*Participate in the "Youth for a Day" Auction, where you get to auction one of our youth for hire to help them raise funds for their Missions and youth trips this year.
*Have great fellowship and fun in the Son.
~Monday April 11th, 2005. Ladies Come celebrate Jason Catalano's Bride-to-be, Tiffany Hamon's Shower at Sandy Catalano's home in Riverwood Plantation - see invitation or join with a friend to get there at 7. We'll eat together and get to know one another better. gab gab gab....
Home Cell Group News....
Our Sister Multiplication Cell opened today at Lena's Home (temporarily, till we get a volunteer for a host home near-by)
Charity Jakson is the New cell leader with Laura Lewis being her helper.
What an awesome pair God has teamed up!
It was just one of those beautiful kind of days you've been waiting for all your life- full of purpose.
Any-one [that's a lady] is invited, and we'd love to have you come, especially if you either do not have a home church yet or are not already in a home group somewhere else.
Because of this Sister Cell we now have 2 times that we can invite you to and would love to see you at either one.
As our invitation states- you'll be glad you came! Right Girls ???
Daytime mtg. in Cypress Head
Monday's at noon- 1:30 p.m.
[for more info. call Charity at 767-5562]
(we share in- the Host-home-childcare worker costs, $3 per child would be appreciated, if you can and would like to help with costs)
Then we also have a nightime group of ladies who meet in Countryside on Tuesday nights from 7:30- 9 p.m.
[ for more info call Lena at home 763-3830 or cell 290-6021 or from 8 a.m. to noon M-F can call at church/work 788-1517]
( we like to meet at 7 to extend our fellowship time together before starting the meeting for those who can)
Thank you all for your prayers - Continue on in Him
Much Love,
Lena
Just wanted to post some announcements for you all to read through.
This Sunday April 10th, 2005 is our Retro High School Picnic & Fundraiser for Youth trips in 2005.
*Dress up Sunday Morning in High School Attire, whatever decade you represent!
*Purchase food for your family from the youth
*Participate in the "Youth for a Day" Auction, where you get to auction one of our youth for hire to help them raise funds for their Missions and youth trips this year.
*Have great fellowship and fun in the Son.
~Monday April 11th, 2005. Ladies Come celebrate Jason Catalano's Bride-to-be, Tiffany Hamon's Shower at Sandy Catalano's home in Riverwood Plantation - see invitation or join with a friend to get there at 7. We'll eat together and get to know one another better. gab gab gab....
Home Cell Group News....
Our Sister Multiplication Cell opened today at Lena's Home (temporarily, till we get a volunteer for a host home near-by)
Charity Jakson is the New cell leader with Laura Lewis being her helper.
What an awesome pair God has teamed up!
It was just one of those beautiful kind of days you've been waiting for all your life- full of purpose.
Any-one [that's a lady] is invited, and we'd love to have you come, especially if you either do not have a home church yet or are not already in a home group somewhere else.
Because of this Sister Cell we now have 2 times that we can invite you to and would love to see you at either one.
As our invitation states- you'll be glad you came! Right Girls ???
Daytime mtg. in Cypress Head
Monday's at noon- 1:30 p.m.
[for more info. call Charity at 767-5562]
(we share in- the Host-home-childcare worker costs, $3 per child would be appreciated, if you can and would like to help with costs)
Then we also have a nightime group of ladies who meet in Countryside on Tuesday nights from 7:30- 9 p.m.
[ for more info call Lena at home 763-3830 or cell 290-6021 or from 8 a.m. to noon M-F can call at church/work 788-1517]
( we like to meet at 7 to extend our fellowship time together before starting the meeting for those who can)
Thank you all for your prayers - Continue on in Him
Much Love,
Lena
Today Our Daily Bread Num 24
Numbers 24: 1 – 25
1 Since Balaam –saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God descended on him, 3 and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls [into a trance] with [his] eyes uncovered: 5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel. 6 they stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the Lord has planted,like cedars beside the water. 7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8 God brought him out of Egypt; He is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike [them] with his arrows. 9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness-who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed.
10 Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, "I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed [them these three times]. 11 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward." 12 Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me: 13 If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord's command, to do [anything] good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says. 14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future."
15 Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; 16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High,who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls [into a trance] with [his] eyes uncovered: 17 I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. 18 Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. 19 One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors.
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction.
21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs. 22 Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.
23 Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this? 24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction.
25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.
The Holman Christian Standard Bible
~ Lena’s Comments ~
Baalam meaning –"not of the people" (world). I believe this man was transformed from one man, who was totally "of the people" to one who was" in but not of". I believe this word "see" means real and true heart changed type of understanding/seeing. He had sought certain things in life, but his desires, goals, motivations and intentions had changed. He was not living only to please Baalam now, but God.
These poems, oracles & utterances- are evidences of believing and speaking, seeing and speaking. One who truly sees and believes God, maybe without even physically seeing, cannot help but speak, because God has ordained for each of us to speak for and of Him to the world. Beor means- burning. When one really hears and understands God’s heart his own heart has a continual burning desire struck inside of it to see God’s plan succeed in the place they are " in but not of".
He finds himself seeing beauty in those who are yet to be changed as well as in those, who like himself, are being changed.Balak means devastator. The devastator, clasped his hands together as if to bring him to attention, as if to say, "WHAT is this that you are doing- you must be mad, have you forgotten who you are and the mission you’ve been on for me?" (the mission of evil forces that are against anything that is for God)"Don’t you "see" what you are working at?" The thing is, a revelation has come, has appeared, and yes Balaam now does see, the error of the ways he was once serving and he has turned to serve the One true living God of Heaven and Earth!
For $ to not entice Balaam, he had to have changed, because his lively hood was found in selling himself to others to bring curses on others. He used his mouth against God before and now he refused to. He is speaking of the far away from him future, a day he would not see with his physical eyes. He was looking at a STAR, a bright One. A King of all the earth, who will save the whole earth. He is now seeing so far beyond the right here and now, he is seeing the effects of obediences for years to come. He sees Jesus and knows that anything Balak could offer him is nothing in comparison to what God has given him in Christ and His work at this timeframe was inspired by the work of this King of the future and because he really saw, he was able to stay his call and not flinch an inch with any "temptation". Whatever once may have roused him, was no longer an issue, because he has vision.
1 Since Balaam –saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go to seek omens as on previous occasions, but turned toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God descended on him, 3 and he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls [into a trance] with [his] eyes uncovered: 5 How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwellings, Israel. 6 they stretch out like river valleys, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the Lord has planted,like cedars beside the water. 7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will be by abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. 8 God brought him out of Egypt; He is like the horns of a wild ox for them. He will feed on enemy nations and gnaw their bones; he will strike [them] with his arrows. 9 He crouches, he lies down like a lion or a lioness-who dares to rouse him? Those who bless you will be blessed, and those who curse you will be cursed.
10 Then Balak became furious with Balaam, struck his hands together, and said to him, "I summoned you to put a curse on my enemies, but instead, you have blessed [them these three times]. 11 Now go to your home! I said I would reward you richly, but look, the Lord has denied you a reward." 12 Balaam answered Balak, "Didn't I previously tell the messengers you sent me: 13 If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the Lord's command, to do [anything] good or bad of my own will? I will say whatever the Lord says. 14 Now I am going back to my people, but first, let me warn you what these people will do to your people in the future."
15 Then he proclaimed his poem: The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eyes are opened; 16 the oracle of one who hears the sayings of God and has knowledge from the Most High,who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls [into a trance] with [his] eyes uncovered: 17 I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites. 18 Edom will become a possession; Seir will become a possession of its enemies, but Israel will be triumphant. 19 One who comes from Jacob will rule; he will destroy the city's survivors.
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and proclaimed his poem: Amalek was first among the nations, but his future is destruction.
21 Next he saw the Kenites and proclaimed his poem: Your dwelling place is enduring; your nest is set in the cliffs. 22 Kain will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive.
23 Once more he proclaimed his poem: Ah, who can live when God does this? 24 Ships will come from the coast of Kittim; they will afflict Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to destruction.
25 Balaam then arose and went back to his homeland, and Balak also went his way.
The Holman Christian Standard Bible
~ Lena’s Comments ~
Baalam meaning –"not of the people" (world). I believe this man was transformed from one man, who was totally "of the people" to one who was" in but not of". I believe this word "see" means real and true heart changed type of understanding/seeing. He had sought certain things in life, but his desires, goals, motivations and intentions had changed. He was not living only to please Baalam now, but God.
These poems, oracles & utterances- are evidences of believing and speaking, seeing and speaking. One who truly sees and believes God, maybe without even physically seeing, cannot help but speak, because God has ordained for each of us to speak for and of Him to the world. Beor means- burning. When one really hears and understands God’s heart his own heart has a continual burning desire struck inside of it to see God’s plan succeed in the place they are " in but not of".
He finds himself seeing beauty in those who are yet to be changed as well as in those, who like himself, are being changed.Balak means devastator. The devastator, clasped his hands together as if to bring him to attention, as if to say, "WHAT is this that you are doing- you must be mad, have you forgotten who you are and the mission you’ve been on for me?" (the mission of evil forces that are against anything that is for God)"Don’t you "see" what you are working at?" The thing is, a revelation has come, has appeared, and yes Balaam now does see, the error of the ways he was once serving and he has turned to serve the One true living God of Heaven and Earth!
For $ to not entice Balaam, he had to have changed, because his lively hood was found in selling himself to others to bring curses on others. He used his mouth against God before and now he refused to. He is speaking of the far away from him future, a day he would not see with his physical eyes. He was looking at a STAR, a bright One. A King of all the earth, who will save the whole earth. He is now seeing so far beyond the right here and now, he is seeing the effects of obediences for years to come. He sees Jesus and knows that anything Balak could offer him is nothing in comparison to what God has given him in Christ and His work at this timeframe was inspired by the work of this King of the future and because he really saw, he was able to stay his call and not flinch an inch with any "temptation". Whatever once may have roused him, was no longer an issue, because he has vision.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Ex 19
Exodus 19: 1 - 25
1 The Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai exactly two months after they left Egypt. F32 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp there. 3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I brought you to myself and carried you on eagle's wings. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites." 7 Moses returned from the mountain and called together the leaders of the people and told them what the LORD had said. 8 They all responded together, "We will certainly do everything the LORD asks of us." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the LORD.
9 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear me as I speak to you. Then they will always have confidence in you. "Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10 Then the LORD told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my visit. Purify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them, 'Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die! 13 Any people or animals that cross the boundary must be stoned to death or shot with arrows. They must not be touched by human hands.' The people must stay away from the mountain until they hear one long blast from the ram's horn. Then they must gather at the foot of the mountain." 14 So Moses went down to the people. He purified them for worship and had them wash their clothing. 15 He told them, "Get ready for an important event two days from now. And until then, abstain from having sexual intercourse."
16 On the morning of the third day, there was a powerful thunder and lightning storm, and a dense cloud came down upon the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake. 19 As the horn blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply for all to hear. 20 The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. 21 Then the LORD told Moses, "Go back down and warn the people not to cross the boundaries. They must not come up here to see the LORD, for those who do will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves, or I will destroy them." 23 "But LORD, the people cannot come up on the mountain!" Moses protested. "You already told them not to. You told me to set boundaries around the mountain and to declare it off limits." 24 But the LORD said, "Go down anyway and bring Aaron back with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people cross the boundaries to come up here. If they do, I will punish them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.
FOOTNOTES:F32: Hebrew in the third month . . . on the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt. This day of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurs in late May or early June; compare note on 13:4.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena’s Comments~
The people got saved (out of Egypt) and began their journey in God on the earth. They rested (Rephadim) for 2 mos. Before heading towards the revealing of true purpose (at Sinai). In that resting time, they were told that if they would do what God’s words tell them to do they would be very very blessed. They knew where they’d come from, so knew full well what could be the opposite of blessing. They had a comparison fresh in their minds. Then they were asked if they were willing to see purpose. I find their response interesting in that they quickly answered (possibly based on their current set of experiences at the Red Sea and how they saw "the salvation of God" as we all do when we first get "saved"), they committed themselves ignorant of what was ahead. Isn’t that how we do so many things? Like marriage, jobs, parenthood, church membership, "I will go’s", etc? Even though we do not know full well what we’ve committed to and the cost of the commitment, God expects us to follow through. He also gives us the provision we need as we follow all of His instructions to make it.
Can you see that God Himself is counting on our word? We see ourselves counting on His, but do we see Him needing to know if we are with Him or not? God wanted to prepare them as brides for Him, to be focussed on a relationship with Him. As we read above, He was establishing a kingdom of priests, not just a one man priest who would always get the word for them and take the word to them. He wanted to bring them into a great commitment with Him that would last at least their entire time on earth. He was showing them to fear because of the great importance of the relationship and of the "assignment or co-plan" He wanted to emphasize.
I so feel and sense that the demonstration of fire consuming the mountain, yet not consuming the mountain, would be a picture in all of the minds of those being commissioned. The picture that their God is One who would burn down mountains in their lives for them to do His will in the earth. He wanted to show them that this was only a small picture of what He had for them to go and do in the earth. Fire spreads if left unquenched. God wanted the fire of His life and love to spread through them throughout the earth. He’d taken them out of slavery and bondage and saved them out of that. Now he was showing them why he did that for them. It was not for them alone, but it was for others also. Don’t you have to have a real "jolt" at times to really and seriously get something, so stuck in your mind, that it won’t move out of there? I think this was a good and cemented instance :-) One they would not easily forget.
1 The Israelites arrived in the wilderness of Sinai exactly two months after they left Egypt. F32 2 After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp there. 3 Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The LORD called out to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the descendants of Jacob, the people of Israel: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I brought you to myself and carried you on eagle's wings. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites." 7 Moses returned from the mountain and called together the leaders of the people and told them what the LORD had said. 8 They all responded together, "We will certainly do everything the LORD asks of us." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the LORD.
9 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to come to you in a thick cloud so the people themselves can hear me as I speak to you. Then they will always have confidence in you. "Moses told the LORD what the people had said. 10 Then the LORD told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my visit. Purify them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. 11 Be sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch. 12 Set boundary lines that the people may not pass. Warn them, 'Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Those who do will certainly die! 13 Any people or animals that cross the boundary must be stoned to death or shot with arrows. They must not be touched by human hands.' The people must stay away from the mountain until they hear one long blast from the ram's horn. Then they must gather at the foot of the mountain." 14 So Moses went down to the people. He purified them for worship and had them wash their clothing. 15 He told them, "Get ready for an important event two days from now. And until then, abstain from having sexual intercourse."
16 On the morning of the third day, there was a powerful thunder and lightning storm, and a dense cloud came down upon the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all the people trembled. 17 Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake. 19 As the horn blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply for all to hear. 20 The LORD came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. 21 Then the LORD told Moses, "Go back down and warn the people not to cross the boundaries. They must not come up here to see the LORD, for those who do will die. 22 Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves, or I will destroy them." 23 "But LORD, the people cannot come up on the mountain!" Moses protested. "You already told them not to. You told me to set boundaries around the mountain and to declare it off limits." 24 But the LORD said, "Go down anyway and bring Aaron back with you. In the meantime, do not let the priests or the people cross the boundaries to come up here. If they do, I will punish them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them what the LORD had said.
FOOTNOTES:F32: Hebrew in the third month . . . on the very day, i.e., two lunar months to the day after leaving Egypt. This day of the Hebrew lunar calendar occurs in late May or early June; compare note on 13:4.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena’s Comments~
The people got saved (out of Egypt) and began their journey in God on the earth. They rested (Rephadim) for 2 mos. Before heading towards the revealing of true purpose (at Sinai). In that resting time, they were told that if they would do what God’s words tell them to do they would be very very blessed. They knew where they’d come from, so knew full well what could be the opposite of blessing. They had a comparison fresh in their minds. Then they were asked if they were willing to see purpose. I find their response interesting in that they quickly answered (possibly based on their current set of experiences at the Red Sea and how they saw "the salvation of God" as we all do when we first get "saved"), they committed themselves ignorant of what was ahead. Isn’t that how we do so many things? Like marriage, jobs, parenthood, church membership, "I will go’s", etc? Even though we do not know full well what we’ve committed to and the cost of the commitment, God expects us to follow through. He also gives us the provision we need as we follow all of His instructions to make it.
Can you see that God Himself is counting on our word? We see ourselves counting on His, but do we see Him needing to know if we are with Him or not? God wanted to prepare them as brides for Him, to be focussed on a relationship with Him. As we read above, He was establishing a kingdom of priests, not just a one man priest who would always get the word for them and take the word to them. He wanted to bring them into a great commitment with Him that would last at least their entire time on earth. He was showing them to fear because of the great importance of the relationship and of the "assignment or co-plan" He wanted to emphasize.
I so feel and sense that the demonstration of fire consuming the mountain, yet not consuming the mountain, would be a picture in all of the minds of those being commissioned. The picture that their God is One who would burn down mountains in their lives for them to do His will in the earth. He wanted to show them that this was only a small picture of what He had for them to go and do in the earth. Fire spreads if left unquenched. God wanted the fire of His life and love to spread through them throughout the earth. He’d taken them out of slavery and bondage and saved them out of that. Now he was showing them why he did that for them. It was not for them alone, but it was for others also. Don’t you have to have a real "jolt" at times to really and seriously get something, so stuck in your mind, that it won’t move out of there? I think this was a good and cemented instance :-) One they would not easily forget.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Gen 20
Genesis 20: 1 - 18
1 Now Abraham moved south to the Negev and settled for a while between Kadesh - "holy" and Shur- "a wall "at a place called Gerar. "a lodging place" a Philistine town south of Gaza, modern 'Umm' 2 Abraham told people there that his wife, Sarah, was his sister. So King Abimelech sent for her and had her brought to him at his palace. 3 But one night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, "You are a dead man, for that woman you took is married." 4 But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent man? 5 Abraham told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself said, 'Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence!" 6 "Yes, I know you are innocent," God replied. "That is why I kept you from sinning against me; I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return her to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and your entire household will die." 8 Abimelech got up early the next morning and hastily called a meeting of all his servants. When he told them what had happened, great fear swept through the crowd. 9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. "What is this you have done to us?" he demanded. "What have I done to you that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? This kind of thing should not be done! 10 Why have you done this to us?" 11 "Well," Abraham said, "I figured this to be a godless place. I thought, 'They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.' 12 Besides, she is my sister – we both have the same father, though different mothers – and I married her. 13 When God sent me to travel far from my father's home, I told her, 'Wherever we go, have the kindness to say that you are my sister.'" 14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and servants – both men and women – and gave them to Abraham, and he returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 "Look over my kingdom, and choose a place where you would like to live," Abimelech told him. 16 Then he turned to Sarah. "Look," he said, "I am giving your 'brother' a thousand pieces of silver F64 to compensate for any embarrassment I may have caused you. This will settle any claim against me in this matter." 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and the other women of the household, so they could have children. 18 For the LORD had stricken all the women with infertility as a warning to Abimelech for having taken Abraham's wife.
FOOTNOTES:F64: Hebrew 1,000 shekels of silver, about 25 pounds or 11.4 kilograms in weight.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena’s Comments ~
South & Negev are the same, it seems in their definitions it is relating them to people and earth, the peoples of all the earth. Maybe his journey in life (as ours is) was to reach the people of all the earth (through doing the portion God has given you). He was at this point where maybe he found himself in "a place" in a mindset, in a place he would need to get out of mentally, spiritually, and of course, physically. The place was somewhere between "holy" and a "wall". He seemed to be "stuck there" in a sense. Notice Gerar meaning ,"Ummmm" Ever feel that way?
It also seemed he was in a crunch and wanted out, but wasn’t realizing the way out of it. Desperate, he was grasping at failed attempts to do so. One such attempt is being illustrated here.
I find it extremely interesting here that God spoke with Abimelech, and Abimelech called Him Lord (Capitol "L"). Also the way God spoke with him, and he with God is surprising to me. It seems they knew one another. It was funny to me, because the only one we hear of speaking with God this way, was Abraham himself. Maybe, as with many of us, Abraham though he was alone in his walk with God, yet in another place in the earth there was a king who was in communion or at least open to communication with respect to God.
Also the way Abimelech spoke with Abraham was notable in that he refers to morals of faith, and he almost acted as though they had at least potential for a common way of thinking. Such as, One who truly knows God would not wish harm, or set others up for harm, even his enemies. Especially when his understood mission and ministry on earth is to win people/lands over to the Lordship of the Master of the Universe. This was setting these people up as God’s enemies rather than winning them over as God’s friends!
Abraham said he assumed this was a godless place! So? What does that mean to us? If we are sent to a godless place, (like your place of employment etc…) why would we assume that the people there would be God’s enemies or need or want to stay that way? Isn’t that the reason God would send us there? To change their god-less-ness, by a God-ly influence? vs 13 says -
"When God sent me to travel far from my father's home…" All of us, before Christ had a father, satan- the god of this world, the father of lies…[Joh 8:44 You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies.] …we served him and his ways until deciding to serve God and His ways, until we left satan’s "home" by turning our lives in a different direction towards our realized and created purpose. Then we also have got to realize that God has sent us on an eternal rescue mission. He wants us to come out from where we’ve been at- serving our old father and his ways, serving ourselves, and completely intertwined in our old behaviors and activities, which have had no real eternal purpose at all, into a god-less place to bring influence for God-ly change. An eternal change of "fathers" and "places" is what God has commissioned us to make in the land.
He wants to send us out, far away from that place, to be able to concentrate and focus in on who is out there to rescue. Abraham’s religious thinking was actually blinding him from seeing who was out there, and truly the eternal potential of WHO was out there – new influencers and life changers. Religion looks at what is, calls it at it sees it, and judges it with no change made or expected at all. Our Father’s heart sees something or someone and the potential inside of them, calls for the the purpose and potential, nutures it, and sticks with it, till change appears, never giving up because its motivation is of an eternal nature, stemmed from Love.
1 Now Abraham moved south to the Negev and settled for a while between Kadesh - "holy" and Shur- "a wall "at a place called Gerar. "a lodging place" a Philistine town south of Gaza, modern 'Umm' 2 Abraham told people there that his wife, Sarah, was his sister. So King Abimelech sent for her and had her brought to him at his palace. 3 But one night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, "You are a dead man, for that woman you took is married." 4 But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, "Lord, will you kill an innocent man? 5 Abraham told me, 'She is my sister,' and she herself said, 'Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence!" 6 "Yes, I know you are innocent," God replied. "That is why I kept you from sinning against me; I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return her to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and your entire household will die." 8 Abimelech got up early the next morning and hastily called a meeting of all his servants. When he told them what had happened, great fear swept through the crowd. 9 Then Abimelech called for Abraham. "What is this you have done to us?" he demanded. "What have I done to you that deserves treatment like this, making me and my kingdom guilty of this great sin? This kind of thing should not be done! 10 Why have you done this to us?" 11 "Well," Abraham said, "I figured this to be a godless place. I thought, 'They will want my wife and will kill me to get her.' 12 Besides, she is my sister – we both have the same father, though different mothers – and I married her. 13 When God sent me to travel far from my father's home, I told her, 'Wherever we go, have the kindness to say that you are my sister.'" 14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and servants – both men and women – and gave them to Abraham, and he returned his wife, Sarah, to him. 15 "Look over my kingdom, and choose a place where you would like to live," Abimelech told him. 16 Then he turned to Sarah. "Look," he said, "I am giving your 'brother' a thousand pieces of silver F64 to compensate for any embarrassment I may have caused you. This will settle any claim against me in this matter." 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and the other women of the household, so they could have children. 18 For the LORD had stricken all the women with infertility as a warning to Abimelech for having taken Abraham's wife.
FOOTNOTES:F64: Hebrew 1,000 shekels of silver, about 25 pounds or 11.4 kilograms in weight.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena’s Comments ~
South & Negev are the same, it seems in their definitions it is relating them to people and earth, the peoples of all the earth. Maybe his journey in life (as ours is) was to reach the people of all the earth (through doing the portion God has given you). He was at this point where maybe he found himself in "a place" in a mindset, in a place he would need to get out of mentally, spiritually, and of course, physically. The place was somewhere between "holy" and a "wall". He seemed to be "stuck there" in a sense. Notice Gerar meaning ,"Ummmm" Ever feel that way?
It also seemed he was in a crunch and wanted out, but wasn’t realizing the way out of it. Desperate, he was grasping at failed attempts to do so. One such attempt is being illustrated here.
I find it extremely interesting here that God spoke with Abimelech, and Abimelech called Him Lord (Capitol "L"). Also the way God spoke with him, and he with God is surprising to me. It seems they knew one another. It was funny to me, because the only one we hear of speaking with God this way, was Abraham himself. Maybe, as with many of us, Abraham though he was alone in his walk with God, yet in another place in the earth there was a king who was in communion or at least open to communication with respect to God.
Also the way Abimelech spoke with Abraham was notable in that he refers to morals of faith, and he almost acted as though they had at least potential for a common way of thinking. Such as, One who truly knows God would not wish harm, or set others up for harm, even his enemies. Especially when his understood mission and ministry on earth is to win people/lands over to the Lordship of the Master of the Universe. This was setting these people up as God’s enemies rather than winning them over as God’s friends!
Abraham said he assumed this was a godless place! So? What does that mean to us? If we are sent to a godless place, (like your place of employment etc…) why would we assume that the people there would be God’s enemies or need or want to stay that way? Isn’t that the reason God would send us there? To change their god-less-ness, by a God-ly influence? vs 13 says -
"When God sent me to travel far from my father's home…" All of us, before Christ had a father, satan- the god of this world, the father of lies…[Joh 8:44 You're from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn't stand the truth because there wasn't a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies.] …we served him and his ways until deciding to serve God and His ways, until we left satan’s "home" by turning our lives in a different direction towards our realized and created purpose. Then we also have got to realize that God has sent us on an eternal rescue mission. He wants us to come out from where we’ve been at- serving our old father and his ways, serving ourselves, and completely intertwined in our old behaviors and activities, which have had no real eternal purpose at all, into a god-less place to bring influence for God-ly change. An eternal change of "fathers" and "places" is what God has commissioned us to make in the land.
He wants to send us out, far away from that place, to be able to concentrate and focus in on who is out there to rescue. Abraham’s religious thinking was actually blinding him from seeing who was out there, and truly the eternal potential of WHO was out there – new influencers and life changers. Religion looks at what is, calls it at it sees it, and judges it with no change made or expected at all. Our Father’s heart sees something or someone and the potential inside of them, calls for the the purpose and potential, nutures it, and sticks with it, till change appears, never giving up because its motivation is of an eternal nature, stemmed from Love.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Today Our Daily Bread Genesis 10
Genesis 10: 1 - 32
1 This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the Flood. 2 The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. F34 5 Their descendants became the seafaring peoples in various lands, each tribe with its own language.
6 The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, F35 Put, and Canaan. 7 The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 One of Cush's descendants was Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior. 9 He was a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight. F36 His name became proverbial, and people would speak of someone as being "like Nimrod, a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight." 10 He built the foundation for his empire in the land of Babylonia, F37 with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11 From there he extended his reign to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12 and Resen – the main city of the empire, located between Nineveh and Calah. 13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came. F38 15 Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites, 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. 19 Eventually the territory of Canaan spread from Sidon to Gerar, near Gaza, and to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha. 20 These were the descendants of Ham, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations.
21 Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. F39 Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber. 22 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, F40 and Shelah was the father of Eber. 25 Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg – "division" – for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups and dispersed. His brother's name was Joktan. 26 Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. 30 The descendants of Joktan lived in the area extending from Mesha toward the eastern hills of Sephar. 31 These were the descendants of Shem, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations. 32 These are the families that came from Noah's sons, listed nation by nation according to their lines of descent. The earth was populated with the people of these nations after the Flood.
FOOTNOTES:F34: As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version (see also 1 Chr 1:7); most Hebrew manuscripts read Dodanim. F35: Or Egypt; also in 10:13. F36: Hebrew a mighty hunter before the LORD; also in 10:9b. F37: Hebrew Shinar. F38: Hebrew Casluhites, from whom the Philistines came, Caphtorites. Compare Jer 47:4; Amos 9:7. F39: Or Shem, whose older brother was Japheth. F40: Greek version reads Arphaxad was the father of Cainan, Cainan was the father of Shelah.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena's Comments ~
This was a new people, God had cleared the earth from wickedness and these "new" people were -Sea-Fare-ing people, making their living at sea. Their life was the sea, their provision was found in the sea, they lived at the sea…. should I say more?
The inherent purpose inside of man is that of a warrior. He was put here to take back what belongs to God. He needs to know that, when he fights. Man needs to realize why he fights and what it is he is fighting for. He is also a hunter, which would be one who searches out ways to get what God had and catch, and keep, and use it. Then he is made a conqueror; one who takes back land (which represents people), displaces evil forces that have kept people captive, and rule them as God would in heaven.
But this is not heaven – yet. It is earth, where God so desires to set up that same rule, man ruling under and at God’s authority, beck and call. God desires men to do these things with His purposes in mind and with Him as Supreme Guide who gives the instruction and mannerism. Doesn’t this make it a bit easy to see how man has all of this inside of his inherent being? These desires coming from God our Father, yet misunderstood and because of lack of understanding there again is perversion?
I wonder if this was another way to show that men can go for a new start for themselves. They can start with great intentions to do great, because they have a "clean slate"; then find they are men under their own rule, from their own ideas and plans, and with the works of their own hands, they find they cannot do what they were designed to do by God, alone?
See Jesus had to come save us from our own selves, our own works, our own mess. I wonder if men have to try and make a mess before they can see their need for a Savior. That maybe their failures build a desire to be ruled over by God and then work for and with God?
Do you see how all of this started out right? Fishing, Hunting & Warring were to give back to God what an enemy (satan) had stolen from God before the world was even created? God put inside of men that desire to WIN it back. The thing is, if they are not told and do not realize what the desire is for and they just run with that desire, they will – kill rather than win back, they would rather fight than take back, and they would rather conquer over, than rule. Then as they succeed they see that they do have power that goes to a certain level and their desire is stirred for more and more power to use upon their own lust and greed, when all the while that power, that strength, that wisdom, that provision, that skill was given by God to each and everyone of us from every part of the whole world, every race and tongue to work WITH GOD to defeat satan’s awful work here.
Satan’s work is where he drags people to his eternal doom and punishment WITH him. See how we are either "for God or "against" Him? If we are not working at His purpose, we are serving another, and we may think it is our own self purpose, BUT if we serve ourselves we are really serving another master, because this is the very characteristic of satan, to serve self, rather than others. Look at the perversions, they are very self centered. Ruling over to show our own power. Fighting to be right. Hunting out people to show who’s on top and who wins. Taking land so we can say how much we have in a demonstration of the hunger for more and more of ourselves.
Our Commission as Christians is all based upon the defining of one’s purpose on earth. There is Good News – you do not have to serve yourself and fail. There is another King, other than you, yourself and you (I). There is another king who wins and does not disappoint or steal, kill and destroy you and yours. It is Jesus the King of kings (that’s us) and Lord of lords (That’s us too. These are also the princes of satan sent to keep us deceived into thinking it is all about us). Choose this day who you will serve – You, yourself and yours, or God? Choose life that you and yours would LIVE.
1 This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the Flood. 2 The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The descendants of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. F34 5 Their descendants became the seafaring peoples in various lands, each tribe with its own language.
6 The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, F35 Put, and Canaan. 7 The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 One of Cush's descendants was Nimrod, who became a heroic warrior. 9 He was a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight. F36 His name became proverbial, and people would speak of someone as being "like Nimrod, a mighty hunter in the LORD's sight." 10 He built the foundation for his empire in the land of Babylonia, F37 with the cities of Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11 From there he extended his reign to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12 and Resen – the main city of the empire, located between Nineveh and Calah. 13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came. F38 15 Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites, 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. 19 Eventually the territory of Canaan spread from Sidon to Gerar, near Gaza, and to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha. 20 These were the descendants of Ham, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations.
21 Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. F39 Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber. 22 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, F40 and Shelah was the father of Eber. 25 Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg – "division" – for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups and dispersed. His brother's name was Joktan. 26 Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. 30 The descendants of Joktan lived in the area extending from Mesha toward the eastern hills of Sephar. 31 These were the descendants of Shem, identified according to their tribes, languages, territories, and nations. 32 These are the families that came from Noah's sons, listed nation by nation according to their lines of descent. The earth was populated with the people of these nations after the Flood.
FOOTNOTES:F34: As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version (see also 1 Chr 1:7); most Hebrew manuscripts read Dodanim. F35: Or Egypt; also in 10:13. F36: Hebrew a mighty hunter before the LORD; also in 10:9b. F37: Hebrew Shinar. F38: Hebrew Casluhites, from whom the Philistines came, Caphtorites. Compare Jer 47:4; Amos 9:7. F39: Or Shem, whose older brother was Japheth. F40: Greek version reads Arphaxad was the father of Cainan, Cainan was the father of Shelah.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation,copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
~ Lena's Comments ~
This was a new people, God had cleared the earth from wickedness and these "new" people were -Sea-Fare-ing people, making their living at sea. Their life was the sea, their provision was found in the sea, they lived at the sea…. should I say more?
The inherent purpose inside of man is that of a warrior. He was put here to take back what belongs to God. He needs to know that, when he fights. Man needs to realize why he fights and what it is he is fighting for. He is also a hunter, which would be one who searches out ways to get what God had and catch, and keep, and use it. Then he is made a conqueror; one who takes back land (which represents people), displaces evil forces that have kept people captive, and rule them as God would in heaven.
But this is not heaven – yet. It is earth, where God so desires to set up that same rule, man ruling under and at God’s authority, beck and call. God desires men to do these things with His purposes in mind and with Him as Supreme Guide who gives the instruction and mannerism. Doesn’t this make it a bit easy to see how man has all of this inside of his inherent being? These desires coming from God our Father, yet misunderstood and because of lack of understanding there again is perversion?
I wonder if this was another way to show that men can go for a new start for themselves. They can start with great intentions to do great, because they have a "clean slate"; then find they are men under their own rule, from their own ideas and plans, and with the works of their own hands, they find they cannot do what they were designed to do by God, alone?
See Jesus had to come save us from our own selves, our own works, our own mess. I wonder if men have to try and make a mess before they can see their need for a Savior. That maybe their failures build a desire to be ruled over by God and then work for and with God?
Do you see how all of this started out right? Fishing, Hunting & Warring were to give back to God what an enemy (satan) had stolen from God before the world was even created? God put inside of men that desire to WIN it back. The thing is, if they are not told and do not realize what the desire is for and they just run with that desire, they will – kill rather than win back, they would rather fight than take back, and they would rather conquer over, than rule. Then as they succeed they see that they do have power that goes to a certain level and their desire is stirred for more and more power to use upon their own lust and greed, when all the while that power, that strength, that wisdom, that provision, that skill was given by God to each and everyone of us from every part of the whole world, every race and tongue to work WITH GOD to defeat satan’s awful work here.
Satan’s work is where he drags people to his eternal doom and punishment WITH him. See how we are either "for God or "against" Him? If we are not working at His purpose, we are serving another, and we may think it is our own self purpose, BUT if we serve ourselves we are really serving another master, because this is the very characteristic of satan, to serve self, rather than others. Look at the perversions, they are very self centered. Ruling over to show our own power. Fighting to be right. Hunting out people to show who’s on top and who wins. Taking land so we can say how much we have in a demonstration of the hunger for more and more of ourselves.
Our Commission as Christians is all based upon the defining of one’s purpose on earth. There is Good News – you do not have to serve yourself and fail. There is another King, other than you, yourself and you (I). There is another king who wins and does not disappoint or steal, kill and destroy you and yours. It is Jesus the King of kings (that’s us) and Lord of lords (That’s us too. These are also the princes of satan sent to keep us deceived into thinking it is all about us). Choose this day who you will serve – You, yourself and yours, or God? Choose life that you and yours would LIVE.
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