Welcome to A Word from the Word

We're glad you're here! Please take a moment to subscribe. And don't forget to share and invite your friends. May God's blessings be upon you.

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 11 & 12

 

Key Verse - 1 Samuel 12:21

Empty Things That Cannot Deliver

The Hebrew word translated as “empty” in this verse is “tôû.” This word comes from an unused root, meaning “to lie waste.”  It literally means “empty; void; hollow; worthless.”  Samuel, here, exhorts the Israelites to be careful about turning their lives over to empty things that cannot profit or deliver.  Tragically, it is a symptom of the human condition to seek after anything that will fill the empty longing in our hearts.  Even if that “thing” is empty, void and hollow.

People have been known to seek fulfillment in personal pleasure, philosophy, popularity, relationships, riches, education, fame and other vain pursuits.  But the truth of Scripture is that none of these things can (or ever will) bring satisfaction and contentment to the human heart.  None of these empty things can make us complete.  True contentment can only be found in the LORD!  It is only when we turn to Him to satisfy the longing of our hearts that we discover the Holy Spirit and the thirst in our soul is quenched by His living water.

There is only one place to find “completeness” for your human heart.  And that is in Christ. “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power"(Colossians 2:9-10).  Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings rather than pointing you to Christ, who is the Only One who can fill the emptiness of the human heart.

In today’s chapter, Samuel is addressing the people of Israel and exhorts them not to turn aside after “empty” things.  They cannot profit or deliver.  Worship and serve the LORD heart and soul! Don’t chase after false-gods. There’s nothing to them. They can’t help you.  True fulfillment and spiritual rest come only through the true and living God.


No comments:

Post a Comment