September 24 -- "Hearts Touched By God"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 10

"Hearts Touched By God"

We all have “special” days in our lives.  Days which stand out as being unlike any other.  Usually, those days are marked by special occasions – the day we got engaged, our wedding day, the birth of a child, and other events.  At the top of this list for most of us is the day we met Jesus and our hearts were touched by Him.  On that day we became “new creatures” – our old life passed away and all things became new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We seem to remember these types of days for the rest of our lives.  In today’s passage, Saul has one such day.  A day in which his heart was touched by God.  A day he will never forget!

What a day for Saul, Israel’s newly found king.  First, he is approached by Samuel and told that he is to become king.  Then he is anointed with a flask of oil as Samuel inaugurates him into his new office. Then two men approach him and tell him his father’s lost donkeys have been found.  Next, a group of prophets arrive with their harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, prophesying over him.

Then, in arguably the most momentous event of the day (and of Saul’s life), the Spirit of God rushes upon him, he begins to prophesy, and is turned into a “new man.”  Verse 9 tells us that “God gave him another heart.”  As this amazing day nears the end, Saul is publicly proclaimed as the new king and the crowds of people shout, “Long live the king!”

As night falls, Saul heads for home.  He has just experienced a day like no other in his life.  When the morning began, he was just a boy looking for some lost donkeys.  As the day comes to an end, he is a man with a new heart and has become Israel’s first king.

Take note of verse 26, where we are told that when Saul heads for home, he is accompanied by “men of valor whose hearts God had touched.” This scripture always excites me because of its potential. There is nothing more exciting and fraught with possibility than to get a bunch of men and women together whose hearts have been touched by God. To me the potential of a band of people, hearts touched by God, is just incomprehensible. What God can do when He touches the hearts of men and women!

These are the kind of people you want surrounding you.  People who have been in contact with God.  People who will stick by you and endeavor always to support you in your life and ministry.  People who will pray for you and challenge you and walk with you into adventures for God.  Oh, how we need our hearts to be touched by God.  And oh, what a blessing it is when our lives are encircled by others whose hearts God has touched.  Nothing can stop a band of Christ followers who have had their hearts touched by God.

September 23 -- "A Promising New Leader"

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 9

"A Promising New Leader"

The Israelites insisted on having a king “like the other nations” around them.  God directed Samuel to give in to their request, although He delineated many of the hardships they would experience under the rule of such a king.  That’s when we meet Saul, a Benjaminite from the family of Kish.  Saul was a tall and very handsome young man. There was none finer—he literally stood head and shoulders above the crowd!  Samuel and Saul met one day when Saul was out looking for some of his dad’s donkeys who had wandered off.

The day before their meeting, the LORD had revealed to Samuel that He heard Israel’s cries for help and that He was sending a man from the land of Benjamin to meet him. “You’re to anoint him as king over my people Israel.”  So, when Saul arrived in town, Samuel was not surprised.  The moment Samuel laid eyes on him, God said, “He’s the one, the man I told you about.”

Saul appears to be a good choice for king.  He was strong, yet humble. He expressed sincere humility when he said to Samuel, “But I’m only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and from the most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are you talking to ME like this?”  It seems that Saul was genuinely taken aback at Samuel’s words.

As Israel’s King, Saul was a great success!  At least, at first.  Saul’s chief contribution as king would be to defend Israel against its many enemies, especially the Philistines.  He was a very strong military leader and would lead the Israelites to many victories during his reign.  Together with his courageous son Jonathan and an army composed largely of volunteers, Saul would win significant victories over the Philistines and would succeed in driving them out of the central hills of Israel.

We will see in the following chapters, however that Saul’s humility was gradually replaced with pride and self-reliance.  His dependence upon God and obedience to His will would deteriorate into a self-serving and self-willed lifestyle.  Saul’s story will become that of someone who “started out well” but did not “finish well” as he let his successes inflate his heart with pride and arrogance.

It is so important that all of us take inventory of our own hearts and lives.  That we dedicate our entire lives, from start-to-finish, to a full life that ends well for the glory of God.  We too, are susceptible to the same weaknesses as Saul, so we must be constantly on guard against the pride and self-sufficiency that can bring us down.  Those who finish well maintain an ongoing and humble lifelong relationship with God by His Holy Spirit.

 

September 22 -- "Give Us A King"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 8

"Give Us A King"

When Samuel heard their demand—“Give us a king to rule us!”—he was crushed.  So, Samuel prayed to God, who answered him and said, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. They’ve rejected ME as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they’ve been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they’re doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they’re in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they’re likely to get from a king.”

So Samuel told them in no uncertain terms what it will be like when they have a king.  He said, “Your king will take your sons and make soldiers of them and force them into dangerous battles.  He’ll put some of you to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as servants and slaves. He’ll confiscate your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vineyards to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect the LORD to answer.”

It is remarkable that they want to be “like all the other nations,” when no other nation has had such an amazing opportunity as Israel.  No other nation had ever been chosen by the LORD to be His special people.  No other nation had ever had the unimaginable privilege of entering into a covenant with their Creator.  No other nation had been promised the coming of the Savior of the World!  No other nation was the object of God’s special care and protection and provision.  No other nation had the LORD, Himself as their King.  Yet, the people were blind to all of these incredible privileges and decide to settle for a human king.  Tragically, as humans often do, they settle for “second best.”  Nevertheless, the LORD told Samuel, “Do as they request. Give them a king.”

So often we, too, settle for "second best."  We seek comfort and success in this world's systems when we have the incredible privilege of being God's chosen people.  If we insist long enough, the LORD will allow us to have our way.  But beware, you will regret not staying the course with God's perfect plan for your life.

September 21 -- "Remember His Faithful Acts"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 6 & 7

"Remember His Faithful Acts"

“Ebenezer” means “stone of help.”  Many times in the Bible a stone, or a pile of stones, has been used as a reminder of how God has helped someone. The stories of Noah, Jacob, Joshua, and Samuel are just a few.  Here, Samuel sets up this stone of help so the people will remember all the times the LORD had helped them in the past.  Samuel knew that remembering God’s help in the past would build up the people’s confidence in His help for the future.

Memories of God’s faithfulness enable us to bring the joys and victories of yesterday into today.  If God has done it before, He will do it again.  As we recall God’s faithfulness, we remained centered on Him and we can move forward with a sense of God’s sure promises for our present and future circumstances.  It has been said that God’s past acts are a prophecy of His future acts.

There are things that the Scripture admonishes us never to forget.  We are to “not forget the works of God” (Psalm 78:&); “forget none of His benefits (Psalm 103:2); we are to “remember His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations” (1 Chronicles 16:15). The Psalmist said, “I will not forget your word” (Psalm 119:16); and, “you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you” (2 Kings 17:38).

In the midst of difficult and heartbreaking times, it can be challenging to remain confident in the future.  That’s one of the reasons God has exhorted all of us to remember His faithful acts in the past.  What are some of the times when God has come through for you?  When has He provided for you, protected you, or enabled you to conquer your rough times?  Remember, since He has done it in the past, He will continue to do it in the future.  His past acts are a prophecy of His future acts.

Have you set up your own “Ebenezer” - some tangible reminder of God’s faithfulness?  Something that you can look at and be reminded of God’s faithfulness?  It’s probably not a pile of stones (though it could be), but I would encourage you to find a tangible article you can look back at.  Perhaps it is a note in your journal, or a poster on your wall, or a stone on your nightstand.  Perhaps it is a Facebook post from years ago that you see and it makes you say, “I will not forget; God has helped me in the past, and I know He holds my future.”

September 20 -- "Misplaced Faith"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 4 & 5

"Misplaced Faith"

The Philistines killed about four thousand men on the battlefield that day (1 Samuel 4:2).  Afterwards, the Israelites retreated and began to assess their losses.  As they ponder the situation, they reach an unusual and unfounded conclusion: “We lost because the Ark of the Covenant wasn’t with us.  If we bring it here from Shiloh, surely it’s power and protection will save us from our enemies.”

This is an example of misplaced faith.  Rather than turning to Yahweh, Himself, the Living God, to deliver them, they turn to a lifeless artifact. It is true that God had given them the Ark of the Covenant.  And it is also true that God told them to place it at the center of their worship. But it had no power in and of itself.  It was there as an instrument meant to turn their hearts and minds to the True and Living God.  It is not wrong to respect the things of God, but it is wrong to place our faith and trust in those things.

This is why we should never place our faith or trust in “Christian trinkets” or manmade symbols of faith. Bible keychains, necklaces, crosses, beads, prayer cloths, medallions, statues, faith-stones, WWJD bracelets, and the like do not and can not produce any power or victory in our lives and we should never place our faith and trust in them.  There are so-called “preachers” who will send you a “prayer-hanky” which they have purportedly “anointed” with God’s healing power.  They tell their unsuspecting viewers to just send in their donation, and they will receive God’s mighty power through their hanky.  Tragically, many are drawn away after these types of things. It is wrong to place our faith and trust in anything or anyone other than our God, Yahweh, Himself.

The Israelites learned this lesson the hard way when their plan to bring victory through the Ark was soundly defeated.  Not only did they lose the ensuing battle, but the Ark of the Covenant was captured and taken by the Philistines.  Spiritual defeat is the inevitable outcome of misplacing our faith.

September 19 -- "Tuned In To God"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 3

"Tuned In To God"

In 1 Samuel 3:19, we witness the divine confirmation of Samuel's prophetic calling. The phrase "let none of his words fall to the ground" signifies God's commitment to ensuring that Samuel's words, inspired by Him, were fulfilled and carried weight in the lives of the people.

Not just when he was a child, but throughout his adult life, God spoke to Samuel. And Samuel heard Him clearly. Samuel then spoke the words of God and, as He spoke the words of God, God could move through those words to bring them to pass.  Samuel came to be recognized by all of Israel as being a prophet of God, and all of Israel had witnessed that when Samuel speaks, what he speaks comes to pass.  A mark of Samuel’s life was that God preserved his words so that they would not waste away.

Back in Deuteronomy 18, Moses had taught the people of Israel how to recognize a true prophet from God.  The first test was this, “And I will put my words in his mouth.”  In other words, when a prophet speaks, He speaks not from his own whims or intellect, but he speaks the words given to him by God.  Anyone who claims to be speaking for God must speak words that are given to him/her and that are consistent with the already revealed Scriptures.  God will not contradict Himself.  When He speaks, His words are true. 

Secondly, when a so-called prophet speaks in the “name of other gods,” he/she is a false prophet. 

Finally, the Law said that when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. This is the “acid test” of prophecy.  Did it come to pass?  Or did the “prophets” words fall to the ground and waste away? 

Samuel was a prophet in tune with God.  When God spoke to him, he heard His voice.  And when Samuel spoke in the name of the LORD, none of his words fell to the ground.  As we continue our journey through Samuel’s life, we will see that he was a man in tune with God and who was used mightily by God to speak forth His words.

If you are called to speak for God, make certain you are speaking only the words God puts in your mouth; that you are not speaking in the name of other “gods;” and then allow God to work.  If the words were from Him, they will come to pass.

September 18 -- "The 'Otherness' of God"

 Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 2

"The 'Otherness' of God"

In Chapter 2, the Holy Spirit records for us the prayer-song of Hannah after the birth of her son, Samuel. Hannah’s prayer begins on a high note with personal expressions of pure joy and enthusiastic delight in the Lord and His salvation.  In verse 2 she declares, “there is none holy like the LORD.”  By these words, she is declaring the distinct and utter uniqueness of God. 

The root word for “holy” in the original Hebrew language is, “qodesh.”  It means “apartness” or “set-apartness.” It is a word that describes the matchlessness and exclusiveness of God.  Someone has rightly said that this word means “otherness,” thus describing the total exceptionalness of God.  This word applies to God because He is – in His person and substance – totally “other than” anyone or anything else.  The Oxford Dictionary defines “otherness” as “the quality or fact of being different.”  The LORD is exceptionally rare – in fact, so rare that He is other than anything or anyone else.

Hannah goes on in her prayer-song to point out some of the rare qualities of God that make up His “otherness.”   For the Lord alone is a God of knowledge - God knows what’s going on. He alone takes into account everything that is going on. Even mighty people can be defeated – and their weapons destroyed, but not the LORD, who is not feeble in any way. God is the only One who can bring life out of barrenness.  He alone has the power of life and death.  The LORD is the One who controls poverty and wealth.  He makes some poor and some rich. He alone can put poor people on their feet again. He rekindles burned-out lives with fresh hope. 

Hannah goes on to say the “otherness” of God extends to His creative acts and His care for His faithful ones.  The very structures of earth are within the realm of God, and God alone. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.  He will guard the feet of his faithful ones but will leave the wicked to stumble in the dark.  The strength of the mighty warriors in insufficient to defeat God’s purposes - for not by might shall a man prevail.

God is not like any human.  He is other than us.  God is not like any “superhero” or “champion.”  He is other than them in every way.  God is not like any so-called “god” or “deity” which has been fabricated in the minds of men.  He is other than them.  He is holy.  He is apart.  He is other than anyone or anything ever conceived. There is none holy like the LORD; for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God!