1 Samuel 23:7-24:22
There is a contrast between these two men and these two chapters. In the first we have King Saul seeking to kill young David, and his men. David, it says has 600 men. When David hears of it, he asks the Lord what is going to happen and flees with his men to prevent them all being killed. As King Saul pursues David, it is ironic - or something - that God uses the Philistines to distract Saul and deliver David from the King's hand.
The next chapter we have Saul seeking after David again, and just 'happens' into the very cave where David and his men are. David's response is much different. He proves his ability to have taken Saul's life - but prays against that action. He refuses to do harm to the Lord's anointed one.
Do we pray against harming the Lord's anointed? When we have just cause, when someone has wronged us and we have proof - do we instead do them good?
David says: "I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you."
That certainly causes me to pause. Look at the response from Saul. It certainly gives him pause too.
[Saul] said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
David's actions keep Saul from committing this crime and bringing this terrible sin of murder on himself. David gives a gift to Saul that is bigger than Saul's life, and more than Saul deserves. But David also keeps himself from being involved in this crime-even in self defence. This killing does not take place and David won't have nightmares over spilling the King's blood - even though we see that Saul wished to kill him. That is a very great gift. This gift of undeserved grace-that is grace-it is undeserved.
Thank the Lord.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
David and Goliath
1 Samuel 16:1-18:16
Something happened between yesterday and today! What happened that King Saul would now seek after Samuel's life? Samuel was already old-we read that yesterday and so he must be a little older today-but why is Saul-this humble considerate King now thinking of killing Samuel-the Lord's prophet? Boy being a prophet isn't easy is it?
Samuel comes "peaceably" to Bethlehem, looking for Jesse. -WAIT! We read about this-remember 'Obed fathers Jesse,' is this that Jesse? Let's see.
Samuel sees beautiful young men-and thinks these must be the one-as Saul was beautiful and head and shoulders above the rest-literally and yet none of these beautiful young men are what the Lord seeks. He is seeking something within that makes them different. We already read yesterday that God gave Saul another heart-perhaps the one Samuel seeks this time already has this new heart? Let's see.
This one God seeks is the youngest-and of the smallest tribe-one who wouldn't normally be King material-certainly not of noble birth-and yet we remember that he has been awaited. Samuel anointed him and "The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him from that day forward." WOW. That sounds like something!
The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul-is there only one Spirit? Can it be on David and not on Saul? Or has Saul turned away from the Spirit of the Lord? Saul, tormented sends for this young talented David, this shepherd. As the youngest, and the Kings servant, he must do his King's bidding. Didn't we just read this about Kings in Samuel's warning?
David's presence refreshed Saul and the harmful spirit departed from Saul. Where the presence of the Lord is, there is peace? David's Spirit-filled presence brought the tormented king peace.
Today's titled reading: David and Goliath is quite something. Jesse's three eldest sons are on the field of battle under command of King Saul, and Jesse wants word of them, so he sends his youngest son off to give them a bite to eat and find out how it goes with them and at the battle. David hears Goliath boasting and taunting the Israelites, and wonders why does this giant defy the armies of 'the Living God'?
This is indeed a good question? Does Israel forget Jericho? Does Israel forget Egypt? David knows the Lord, and says "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Do we remember the Lord's work in our lives and trust Him in this way? David is too young, David is not a soldier, surely he cannot fight for the Lord...Well Saul can't find anyone else willing-either in valor or stupidity I'm sure they are thinking, so they let David go for them. Why send a man when you can send a boy? Such men of valor, who forget the Lord! (NOT.)
What happens?
And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."
That is something. David was paying attention. Today's reading ends in another cliff hanger-what will tomorrow bring?
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
Today, let us remember whom we serve. And whose business we should be about, and remember the work of the Lord in our lives.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Something happened between yesterday and today! What happened that King Saul would now seek after Samuel's life? Samuel was already old-we read that yesterday and so he must be a little older today-but why is Saul-this humble considerate King now thinking of killing Samuel-the Lord's prophet? Boy being a prophet isn't easy is it?
Samuel comes "peaceably" to Bethlehem, looking for Jesse. -WAIT! We read about this-remember 'Obed fathers Jesse,' is this that Jesse? Let's see.
Samuel sees beautiful young men-and thinks these must be the one-as Saul was beautiful and head and shoulders above the rest-literally and yet none of these beautiful young men are what the Lord seeks. He is seeking something within that makes them different. We already read yesterday that God gave Saul another heart-perhaps the one Samuel seeks this time already has this new heart? Let's see.
This one God seeks is the youngest-and of the smallest tribe-one who wouldn't normally be King material-certainly not of noble birth-and yet we remember that he has been awaited. Samuel anointed him and "The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him from that day forward." WOW. That sounds like something!
The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul-is there only one Spirit? Can it be on David and not on Saul? Or has Saul turned away from the Spirit of the Lord? Saul, tormented sends for this young talented David, this shepherd. As the youngest, and the Kings servant, he must do his King's bidding. Didn't we just read this about Kings in Samuel's warning?
David's presence refreshed Saul and the harmful spirit departed from Saul. Where the presence of the Lord is, there is peace? David's Spirit-filled presence brought the tormented king peace.
Today's titled reading: David and Goliath is quite something. Jesse's three eldest sons are on the field of battle under command of King Saul, and Jesse wants word of them, so he sends his youngest son off to give them a bite to eat and find out how it goes with them and at the battle. David hears Goliath boasting and taunting the Israelites, and wonders why does this giant defy the armies of 'the Living God'?
This is indeed a good question? Does Israel forget Jericho? Does Israel forget Egypt? David knows the Lord, and says "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Do we remember the Lord's work in our lives and trust Him in this way? David is too young, David is not a soldier, surely he cannot fight for the Lord...Well Saul can't find anyone else willing-either in valor or stupidity I'm sure they are thinking, so they let David go for them. Why send a man when you can send a boy? Such men of valor, who forget the Lord! (NOT.)
What happens?
And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand."
That is something. David was paying attention. Today's reading ends in another cliff hanger-what will tomorrow bring?
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
Today, let us remember whom we serve. And whose business we should be about, and remember the work of the Lord in our lives.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
King Saul
1 Samuel 8:1-10:27
Samuel's sons did not follow the Lord; they turned aside after gain. What is it to gain that is not from God? Why do any of us look for things that are not of God? How is it that our sons and daughters turn aside from following the Lord?
Samuel is unhappy for himself and for the Lord-why do the people ask for a king?
And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
Samuel warns Israel of all the demands the King will make of them-the list includes things and amounts that should go as a thank offering to the Lord. He will take the best of your fields, he will take a tenth of your grain...the best of your young men, your cattle your donkeys...a tenth of your flocks and you will be his slaves.
Does Israel say oops sorry we made a mistake? NO, they say oh yes give us this King! WHY? So we shall be like other nations.
Now I've been reading this story all along, and Israel was not supposed to be like other nations; Israel was supposed to be a light to other nations. Israel was supposed to be free to live in the land the Lord gave them, and now they wish to give these freedoms back and to become slaves again to a king. Again, I wonder why?
And even in this tragic selfishness the Lord doesn't abandon them. This is what he says: Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen [the anguish of] my people, because their cry has come to me."
This story of Saul unfolds slowly for us, Saul is a beautiful young man, and humble. Considerate of his father.
...and when he turned his back on Samuel, to go home, God gave him another heart.
Saul is anointed king and heads home to his own house. Along with some men of valor whose hearts God had touched.
I pray that God might touch my heart. That he might give me another heart; one that seeks to do His will and not my own; to follow His commands and not my own whims.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Samuel's sons did not follow the Lord; they turned aside after gain. What is it to gain that is not from God? Why do any of us look for things that are not of God? How is it that our sons and daughters turn aside from following the Lord?
Samuel is unhappy for himself and for the Lord-why do the people ask for a king?
And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."
Samuel warns Israel of all the demands the King will make of them-the list includes things and amounts that should go as a thank offering to the Lord. He will take the best of your fields, he will take a tenth of your grain...the best of your young men, your cattle your donkeys...a tenth of your flocks and you will be his slaves.
Does Israel say oops sorry we made a mistake? NO, they say oh yes give us this King! WHY? So we shall be like other nations.
Now I've been reading this story all along, and Israel was not supposed to be like other nations; Israel was supposed to be a light to other nations. Israel was supposed to be free to live in the land the Lord gave them, and now they wish to give these freedoms back and to become slaves again to a king. Again, I wonder why?
And even in this tragic selfishness the Lord doesn't abandon them. This is what he says: Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen [the anguish of] my people, because their cry has come to me."
This story of Saul unfolds slowly for us, Saul is a beautiful young man, and humble. Considerate of his father.
...and when he turned his back on Samuel, to go home, God gave him another heart.
Saul is anointed king and heads home to his own house. Along with some men of valor whose hearts God had touched.
I pray that God might touch my heart. That he might give me another heart; one that seeks to do His will and not my own; to follow His commands and not my own whims.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Monday, April 4, 2011
Samuel listens to God
1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
I can relate to Hannah who cries to the Lord in her distress. Hannah, who feels left out and without her hearts desire. There have been times when the only thing I felt like doing was crying out to God. Here Hannah finds herself with an audience, but she isn't embarrassed instead she says to the priest Eli, I was pouring out my anguish.
Eli changes his response because of her sorrow. He thought she was drunk and blaspheming, but instead she is troubled and just crying out for mercy from God. Eli tells her to go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you your petition. We see that her prayer is answered, and I wonder was it because of her hearts anguish, or her honest response when confronted by the priest or the priest's blessing...or all of that or none of that?
Interesting that Hannah's song expresses both her joy and her understanding that God is responsible for all things - both sought and unlooked for. Now the state of Eli's family is very sorry indeed, and after having read what God said to the Priests, it is a wonder that Eli's sons haven't been burned alive already for how they are treating God and His people.
I have to admire Eli even though he doesn't stop his sons, he doesn't stop Samuel from telling him what God says either. Maybe it speaks to a lack of character on his part, but it seems to me that he really does wish for God's servants to honor the Lord.
Poor Samuel, it says he doesn't know the Lord and "the word of the Lord hadn't been revealed to him." How does he serve at the altar of the Lord in the Lord's Temple and not know the Lord? Samuel, Samuel? Here I am your servant hears. When the Lord calls do we know Him, do we hear? Are we able, like Eli, to say "It is the Lord, let him do what seems good to him"?
Prayers asked and answered, selfish response and godly response-these are examples and choices for us.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
I can relate to Hannah who cries to the Lord in her distress. Hannah, who feels left out and without her hearts desire. There have been times when the only thing I felt like doing was crying out to God. Here Hannah finds herself with an audience, but she isn't embarrassed instead she says to the priest Eli, I was pouring out my anguish.
Eli changes his response because of her sorrow. He thought she was drunk and blaspheming, but instead she is troubled and just crying out for mercy from God. Eli tells her to go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you your petition. We see that her prayer is answered, and I wonder was it because of her hearts anguish, or her honest response when confronted by the priest or the priest's blessing...or all of that or none of that?
Interesting that Hannah's song expresses both her joy and her understanding that God is responsible for all things - both sought and unlooked for. Now the state of Eli's family is very sorry indeed, and after having read what God said to the Priests, it is a wonder that Eli's sons haven't been burned alive already for how they are treating God and His people.
I have to admire Eli even though he doesn't stop his sons, he doesn't stop Samuel from telling him what God says either. Maybe it speaks to a lack of character on his part, but it seems to me that he really does wish for God's servants to honor the Lord.
Poor Samuel, it says he doesn't know the Lord and "the word of the Lord hadn't been revealed to him." How does he serve at the altar of the Lord in the Lord's Temple and not know the Lord? Samuel, Samuel? Here I am your servant hears. When the Lord calls do we know Him, do we hear? Are we able, like Eli, to say "It is the Lord, let him do what seems good to him"?
Prayers asked and answered, selfish response and godly response-these are examples and choices for us.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Ruth, Naomi and Boaz
Ruth 1:1-4:22
This relationship that is not broken by death, how does it come to be written for us to ponder? This is called the book of Ruth, and yet it is also the story of Naomi-whose name means pleasant, but who changes her name to Mara which means bitter. We see that after all her kin have died and she is left without resources, her daughter-in-law does not abandon her-though by all rights she should return to her own kin. We get this lovely quote, and perhaps it gives us a glimpse of why this is called the book of Ruth.
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."
Death is about all they had to look forward to. There was a famine in the land, and they had no legal means of support...and yet there is this promise, there is a place where they can go and they can be redeemed. What is this redeeming that they look for? The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, he gives directions to say that no one in Israel is left without an inheritance, and no family is left without a future. This redemption is what Naomi/Mara is hoping for, even in the midst of her bitterness.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers."
Boaz has acted honorably, and in doing so he has set the stage for the redemption of Ruth and of Naomi. Look what comes of it! We see that Elimelech's name continues, his widow in her widowhood is given a child to nurse-no longer is she bitter, and Ruth, who was also a widow gives this gift to her mother-in-law; she too gets a new love in her life and we see that there are more generations to come, for we leave today hearing that Obed fathers Jesse and Jesse fathers David. What shall we see happen because of this relationship, this love and this obedience? I pray that we all can do everything as Ruth did by going to a place we do not know in order to take refuge under the shelter of His wings.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
This relationship that is not broken by death, how does it come to be written for us to ponder? This is called the book of Ruth, and yet it is also the story of Naomi-whose name means pleasant, but who changes her name to Mara which means bitter. We see that after all her kin have died and she is left without resources, her daughter-in-law does not abandon her-though by all rights she should return to her own kin. We get this lovely quote, and perhaps it gives us a glimpse of why this is called the book of Ruth.
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."
Death is about all they had to look forward to. There was a famine in the land, and they had no legal means of support...and yet there is this promise, there is a place where they can go and they can be redeemed. What is this redeeming that they look for? The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, he gives directions to say that no one in Israel is left without an inheritance, and no family is left without a future. This redemption is what Naomi/Mara is hoping for, even in the midst of her bitterness.
And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!" Naomi also said to her, "The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers."
Boaz has acted honorably, and in doing so he has set the stage for the redemption of Ruth and of Naomi. Look what comes of it! We see that Elimelech's name continues, his widow in her widowhood is given a child to nurse-no longer is she bitter, and Ruth, who was also a widow gives this gift to her mother-in-law; she too gets a new love in her life and we see that there are more generations to come, for we leave today hearing that Obed fathers Jesse and Jesse fathers David. What shall we see happen because of this relationship, this love and this obedience? I pray that we all can do everything as Ruth did by going to a place we do not know in order to take refuge under the shelter of His wings.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Samson Defeats the Philistines
Judges 13:1-16:31
Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and they suffered 40 years. Why must we lose an entire generation to evil? What is it that we can not learn? How smart of Manoah to know he didn't know! He prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born."
Now we know how to pray. Pray for the man of God to come and teach us how to raise the children. This telling, is it how we can bring the wonder and knowledge of the Lord to each generation?
The he said: "Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?"
When your words come true - this is the way of faith-When-not if. Prepare ourselves ahead of time. Ask how shall we do what we must do?
This story of Sampson comes to a sorry end. Forty years the Philistines oppressed Israel, twenty years Sampson judges Israel-led them safely, but Sampson continued when the Lord was not with him. He does not ask what shall I do-what would the Lord have me do.
Why do the women he meets have such a hold on him? Why do we let ourselves be drawn away? Reading the story it seems to us from the outside that Sampson should see the deceit and free himself from such distractions, and yet how often do we stay where it is not best for us, and do things that don't work for us or for God? Not just once as a mistake but again and again?
I pray I learn to ask what the Lord would have me do, and learn to listen to Him and not to my own whims.
See you tomorrow,
-maggie
Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and they suffered 40 years. Why must we lose an entire generation to evil? What is it that we can not learn? How smart of Manoah to know he didn't know! He prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born."
Now we know how to pray. Pray for the man of God to come and teach us how to raise the children. This telling, is it how we can bring the wonder and knowledge of the Lord to each generation?
The he said: "Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?"
When your words come true - this is the way of faith-When-not if. Prepare ourselves ahead of time. Ask how shall we do what we must do?
This story of Sampson comes to a sorry end. Forty years the Philistines oppressed Israel, twenty years Sampson judges Israel-led them safely, but Sampson continued when the Lord was not with him. He does not ask what shall I do-what would the Lord have me do.
Why do the women he meets have such a hold on him? Why do we let ourselves be drawn away? Reading the story it seems to us from the outside that Sampson should see the deceit and free himself from such distractions, and yet how often do we stay where it is not best for us, and do things that don't work for us or for God? Not just once as a mistake but again and again?
I pray I learn to ask what the Lord would have me do, and learn to listen to Him and not to my own whims.
See you tomorrow,
-maggie
Friday, April 1, 2011
Gideon and the Midianites
Judges 6:1-7:25
Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord...and Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.
That seems sadly, very familiar. How often do we do whatever we want without regard for whether it is in God's plan for us and for those around us. How often do we wish to do it ourselves? Then when we find ourselves not where we wished to be or with the outcome we intended, then we lament; then we cry to God for help? I wonder what could happen if we disregarded steps one and two and skipped directly to step three, and cried out to the Lord for help?
Look at what happens next:
When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice."
The Lord refreshes their memory, he reacquaints them with their own history, and gives them hope for a future in relationship with him.
Poor Gideon, first he says how can I do this? This knee-jerk response to rely on our own strength and find ourselves lacking. It will be the case. We will not be strong enough or good enough or whatever enough-on our own. But God's angel says I will be with you, do not be afraid. Now we do see Gideon has heard of the Lord and asks good questions, why are we so oppressed if you are with us, how can I tell you are who you say you are? Gideon has heard of but doesn't know the Lord personally, he doesn't know the voice of the Lord. When Gideon asks for the angel to remain and sees that this is indeed an angel of the Lord he is afraid. I know I would be. No wonder the first words from the angel of the Lord are don't be afraid. And Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face."But the Lord said to him, "Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.
The Lord is Peace. Ahh. This is good.
Gideon breaks the altar of Baal and Baal's followers are mad. But Gideon's dad says: Is Baal a god? Let him stick up for himself if he is. Funny thing that. Baal didn't stick up for himself; he was not a god.
Now this back and forth between Gideon and God is interesting, Gideon says show me a sign, and God says there are too many of you, for you might think you did this under your own strength. This ought to mean something to us. When we doubt we have the ability to do something, we are right in doubting ourselves, but we make a mistake when we doubt God. How wonderful to say-you are too many-you need to know ME and know that I AM with you...hmmm.
I will keep these three things...The Lord is Peace, The Lord is able, and the Lord wishes to be with us.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord...and Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord.
That seems sadly, very familiar. How often do we do whatever we want without regard for whether it is in God's plan for us and for those around us. How often do we wish to do it ourselves? Then when we find ourselves not where we wished to be or with the outcome we intended, then we lament; then we cry to God for help? I wonder what could happen if we disregarded steps one and two and skipped directly to step three, and cried out to the Lord for help?
Look at what happens next:
When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, 'I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed my voice."
The Lord refreshes their memory, he reacquaints them with their own history, and gives them hope for a future in relationship with him.
Poor Gideon, first he says how can I do this? This knee-jerk response to rely on our own strength and find ourselves lacking. It will be the case. We will not be strong enough or good enough or whatever enough-on our own. But God's angel says I will be with you, do not be afraid. Now we do see Gideon has heard of the Lord and asks good questions, why are we so oppressed if you are with us, how can I tell you are who you say you are? Gideon has heard of but doesn't know the Lord personally, he doesn't know the voice of the Lord. When Gideon asks for the angel to remain and sees that this is indeed an angel of the Lord he is afraid. I know I would be. No wonder the first words from the angel of the Lord are don't be afraid. And Gideon said, "Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face."But the Lord said to him, "Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.
The Lord is Peace. Ahh. This is good.
Gideon breaks the altar of Baal and Baal's followers are mad. But Gideon's dad says: Is Baal a god? Let him stick up for himself if he is. Funny thing that. Baal didn't stick up for himself; he was not a god.
Now this back and forth between Gideon and God is interesting, Gideon says show me a sign, and God says there are too many of you, for you might think you did this under your own strength. This ought to mean something to us. When we doubt we have the ability to do something, we are right in doubting ourselves, but we make a mistake when we doubt God. How wonderful to say-you are too many-you need to know ME and know that I AM with you...hmmm.
I will keep these three things...The Lord is Peace, The Lord is able, and the Lord wishes to be with us.
See you tomorrow.
-maggie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)