Tag: Old Testament

1Samuel 15, The Rebellion of Saul.

1Sa 15:3, Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly DESTROY ALL THAT THEY HAVE, and DO NOT SPARE THEM. BUT KILL BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, INFANT AND NURSING CHILD, OX AND SHEEP, CAMEL AND DONKEY.’ ” 

AMALEK IS A TYPE OF SIN THAT WE MUST COMPLETELY DESTROY FROM OUR LIVES!

1Sa 15:9, BUT SAUL AND THE PEOPLE SPARED AGAG AND THE BEST OF THE SHEEP, THE OXEN, THE FATLINGS, THE LAMBS, AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD, AND WERE UNWILLING TO UTTERLY DESTROY THEM.

By sparing Agag and some animals Saul completely disobeyed GOD! We must utterly cut off sin from our lives! Spare nothing, including our favorite sin!

Psa 37:38-39, BUT THE TRANSGRESSORS SHALL BE DESTROYED TOGETHER; THE FUTURE OF THE WICKED SHALL BE CUT OFF. BUT THE SALVATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS FROM THE LORD; …

1Sa 15:15, And Saul said, “THEY have brought them from the Amalekites; FOR THE PEOPLE spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD YOUR GOD;…

SAUL BLAMES EVERYONE BUT HIMSELF! SAUL SAID IT BEST BY SAYING “YOUR GOD”! HE WASN’T SAUL’S GOD FOR HE WAS UNWILLING TO OBEY HIS WORD!

Psa 119:9, HOW CAN A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? BY TAKING HEED ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD. 

1Samuel 14, the faith of Jonathan!

1Sa 14:1, Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “COME, LET US GO OVER TO THE PHILISTINES’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father

While Saul was sitting the glory departed Saul; Jonathan was filled with faith in the LORD!

1Sa 14:6, …”Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; IT MAY BE THAT THE LORD WILL WORK FOR US. FOR NOTHING RESTRAINS THE LORD FROM SAVING BY MANY OR BY FEW.” 

Jonathan didn’t tell his father nor the people of Israel what he intended to do! He wasn’t looking for his own glory, but he knew the work of HIS GOD & HIS PROMISES! Nothing restrains GOD BUT OUR OWN FAITHLESSNESS!

Mat 13:58, Now He (JESUS) did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

1Sa 14:15, And there was TREMBLING IN THE CAMP, IN THE FIELD, AND AMONG ALL THE PEOPLE. THE GARRISON AND THE RAIDERS ALSO TREMBLED; and THE EARTH QUAKED, so that it was a VERY GREAT TREMBLING. 

JONATHAN & HIS ARMOR-BEARER STEPPED OUT IN FAITH, THEN THE LORD DID WHAT ONLY THE LORD COULD DO! HE CAUSED THE PEOPLE TO TREAMBLE IN FEAR WITH AN EARTHQUAKE AND CONFUSION! WE HAVE AN AMAZING POWER BEHIND US IF ONLY WE WOULD BELIEVE IN THE LORD & HIS WORD!

Rom 8:31, … IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

1Samuel 13, King and Priest!

1Sa 13:9, So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” AND HE OFFERED THE BURNT OFFERING. 

Saul was a king but not a priest! Also reminds me of king Uzziah who did right according to the LORD Yet, was plagued with Leprosy for burning incense to the LORD! 2Chr 26:16-20.

2Ch 26:16, But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, TO HIS DESTRUCTION, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD TO BURN INCENSE ON THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. 

1Sa 13:11, And Samuel said, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, AND THAT YOU DID NOT COME WITHIN THE DAYS APPOINTED, and that the PHILISTINES GATHERED TOGETHER AT MICHMASH,

Saul, like a child, blames Samuel for not showing up on time! He felt compelled to do the work of a priest (ver 13)

THERE IS ONLY ONE KING AND PRIEST AND THAT IS THE LORD JESUS. HE IS THE KING OF kings AND LORD OF lords! HE IS ALSO THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO OFFERED HIMSELF RATHER THAN THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS TO COVER OUR SINS!

Heb 4:14-15, Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, YET WITHOUT SIN.

1Samuel 12, Word of Wisdom!

1Sa 12:20-21, Then Samuel said to the people, “DO NOT FEAR. YOU HAVE DONE ALL THIS WICKEDNESS; YET DO NOT TURN ASIDE FROM FOLLOWING THE LORD, BUT SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. AND DO NOT TURN ASIDE; FOR THEN YOU WOULD GO AFTER EMPTY THINGS WHICH CANNOT PROFIT OR DELIVER, FOR THEY ARE NOTHING.

Ecc 7:20, For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. 

It’s true, we all have fallen short of the glory of GOD yet, WE MUST CONTINUE FOLLOWING THE LORD AND NOT OUR HEARTS! GOING AFTER ANYTHING ELSE IS LIKE SEEKING A FALSE IDOL WHICH CANNOT DO ANYTHING!

Isa 46:7, They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, YET IT CANNOT ANSWER NOR SAVE HIM OUT OF HIS TROUBLE. 

1Sa 12:22, FOR THE LORD WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE, FOR HIS GREAT NAME’S SAKE, BECAUSE IT HAS PLEASED THE LORD TO MAKE YOU HIS PEOPLE. 

IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND IN DROUGHT WE MAY DOUBT, BE ANXIOUS AND FEAR! YET HE IS FAITHFUL AND WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS PEOPLE! HE IS ALWAYS NEAR AND HE HEARS OUR PRAYERS! DO NOT BE RULED BY EMOTION, BUT BY FAITH IN THE ONLY TRUE AND LIVING GOD! HE SEE’S YOU!

Psa 94:14, For the LORD will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance. 

1Samuel 11, Victory over Nahash!

1Samuel 11:1, Then NAHASH the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, “MAKE A COVENANT WITH US, AND WE WILL SERVE YOU.”

The name NAHASH stems from the name NÂCHÂSH found in Gen 3:1 which means SNAKE OR SERPENT. Son’s of Israel wanted to make a covenant with the Snake (satan)!

1Sa 11:2, And Nahash… answered them, “On this condition I will make a covenant with you, THAT I MAY PUT OUT ALL YOUR RIGHT EYES, AND BRING REPROACH ON ALL ISRAEL.” 

AS CHRISTIANS WHEN THE ENEMY COMES UPON US WE FIGHT FROM A POSITION OF VICTORY YET, WE FORGET THIS SIMPLE FACT! Satan WANTS TO BLIND, ENSLAVE & HUMILIATE ALL CHRISTIANS. WHEN WE FORGET OUR LORD WE SUCCUMB TO FEAR!

Psa 56:3, WHENEVER I AM AFRAID, I WILL TRUST IN YOU.

Psa 34:4, I SOUGHT THE LORD, AND HE HEARD ME, AND DELIVERED ME FROM ALL MY FEARS. 

HE IS OUR GREATEST STRENGTH YET WE MAY FORGET AT TIMES AND SUBMIT OURSELVES TO FEAR AND ANXIETIES!  JESUS SAID HE SHALL ALWAYS BE WITH US!

Jos 1:9, Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE; DO NOT BE AFRAID, NOR BE DISMAYED, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” 

1Samuel 10, anointing the king!

1Sa 10:6, Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER MAN. 

1Sa 10:9-10, …GOD GAVE HIM ANOTHER HEART; and ALL THOSE SIGNS came to pass that day… then the SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON HIM, and he prophesied among them. 

HE TURNED HIM INTO ANOTHER MAN AND GAVE HIM ANOTHER HEART IN ORDER TO LEAD HIS PEOPLE!

Psa 51:10, Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

1Sa 10:22, … “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD answered, “THERE HE IS, HIDDEN AMONG THE EQUIPMENT.”

1Sa 10:26, And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and VALIANT MEN WENT WITH HIM, WHOSE HEARTS GOD HAD TOUCHED. 

OUR PASTORS HAVE BEEN ANOINTED BY GOD, BUT THEY CAN’T DO IT ALONE. THEY NEED VALIANT MEN THAT WILL NOT HIDE FROM THEIR HEAVENLY CROWN GIVEN TO THEM BY GOD AS SAUL HID FROM HIS EARTHLY CROWN! Psa 119:46, I WILL SPEAK OF YOUR TESTIMONIES ALSO BEFORE KINGS, AND WILL NOT BE ASHAMED!

Rom 12:2, And do not be conformed to this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1Samuel 9, Saul king of Israel!

1Sa 9:2, And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people. 

God gave Israel what they wanted; a man to be king over them. Handsome, tall, from a rich family. VISIBLY PERFECT IN THE SIGHT OF MAN YET NO MENTION OF GOD IN HIS LIFE.

1Sa 9:6, And he said to him, “Look now, there is in this city A MAN OF GOD, and he is AN HONORABLE MAN; ALL THAT HE SAYS SURELY COMES TO PASS. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.” 

1Sa 3:19, …and the LORD was with him and let NONE OF HIS WORDS FALL TO THE GROUND. 

SAMUEL WAS AN HONORABLE MAN OF GOD WITH A GOOD REPUTATION AMONG THE PEOPLE! AS BELIEVERS WE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CHARACTER AS SAMUEL!

1Sa 9:17, So when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, “THERE HE IS, THE MAN OF WHOM I SPOKE TO YOU. THIS ONE SHALL REIGN OVER MY PEOPLE.” 

A MAN SEARCHING FOR HIS FATHERS LOST DONKEYS, FOUND A LOST NATION AND BECAME KING OVER IT! HE WAS GUIDED BY GOD THROUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE! WHERE HE GUIDES, HE PROVIDES!

Psa 32:8, I WILL INSTRUCT YOU AND TEACH YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO; I WILL GUIDE YOU WITH MY EYE. 

1Samuel 8, We have no KING!

1Sa 8:5, … “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. NOW MAKE US A KING TO JUDGE US LIKE ALL THE NATIONS.”

Samuel was displeased that Israel wanted a human king rather than a heavenly KING!

1Sa 8:7, And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; FOR THEY HAVE NOT REJECTED YOU, BUT THEY HAVE REJECTED ME, THAT I SHOULD NOT REIGN OVER THEM. 

Joh 19:15, … “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR!” 

Israel rejected God as their KING and again rejected their Messiah (JESUS) as KING!

Rev 19:16, And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Samuel warns the people 10-18, the king will TAKE, TAKE, TAKE … AND YOU WILL BE his servants! 6 times it says HE WILL TAKE! BUT JESUS, BEING THE KING OF kings AND LORD OF lords, HE CAME AND GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD FOR HIS PEOPLE

Mat 20:28, JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” 

I HAVE NO KING BUT JESUS; MY COMING REDEEMER! IN HIM I SHALL PLACE MY TRUST!

1Samuel 7, Israel Repents!

1Sa 7:3, Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “IF YOU RETURN TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS, then PUT AWAY THE FOREIGN gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and SERVE HIM ONLY; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 

Samuel called for a nation-wide repentance. It had to start from within (YOUR HEARTS), then outward repentance! (PUT AWAY THE IDOLS)

1Sa 7:6, So they gathered together at Mizpah, DREW WATER, AND POURED IT OUT BEFORE THE LORD. AND THEY FASTED THAT DAY, AND SAID THERE, “WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD.” …

Lam 2:19, “Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord…

1Jn 1:9, IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

ISRAEL DIDN’T STOP WORSHIPING THE LORD, THEY ADDED IDOLS TO THEIR WORSHIP WHICH IS COMPLETELY WRONG! YOU CAN’T SERVE TWO MASTERS. THERE IS ONLY 1 GOD AND HE DESERVES OUR WORSHIP! HE IS THE LORD CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH OF ALL SEEN AND UNSEEN! HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED AND GLORIFIED! SERVE ONLY HIM!

Mat 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. 

1Samuel 6, The Ark Returns!

1Sa 6:1, Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines SEVEN MONTHS.

The Philistines wanted to keep their trophy but, the hand of the LORD was hard on them!

1Sa 6:6, Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, …

So many people harden their hearts and I can see this in me when talking about my family!

Hos 10:12 NLT, I said, ‘PLANT THE GOOD SEEDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND YOU WILL HARVEST A CROP OF LOVE. PLOW UP THE HARD GROUND OF YOUR HEARTS, FOR NOW IS THE TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ 

The Ark of God came back home But!

1Sa 6:19, Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, BECAUSE THEY HAD LOOKED INTO THE ARK OF THE LORD.

They removed the mercy seat, and looked directly at tablets of the Law of God! EVERYONE IS GUILTY ACCORDING TO THE LAW; ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD!  IN CHRIST WE HAVE BEEN SHOWN MERCY, YET WITHOUT HIM ALL WE HAVE IS DEATH BECAUSE OF OUR SIN! 

Job 9:4, GOD IS WISE IN HEART AND MIGHTY IN STRENGTH. WHO HAS HARDENED HIMSELF AGAINST HIM AND PROSPERED? 

LORD SOFTEN MY HEART THAT I MAY SERVE YOU WELL!