Vengeance is Thine

Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
(Psalm 7: 6, NLT)

"David wrote this psalm in response to the slanderous accusations of those who claimed he was trying to kill Saul and seize the throne. Instead of taking matters into his own hands and striking back, David cried out to God for justice. The proper response to slander is prayer, not revenge." (footnote, Life Application Bible)

"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay". I kept hearing those words spoken over and over in my head recently during a situation that I had to endure. I wanted so badly to take matters into my own hands, and pay back evil for evil. But, God said no---He would take care of it. Even though the matter is not totally resolved, I still have to trust that God is in control, and He will bring about justice.

We oftentimes look at our circumstances, and think we know what we need to do to bring injustice to an end. We want to be in control. We don't think God is working quickly enough on our behalf, so we strike out to take care of it ourselves. Just as David did here in this Psalm, we must cry out to God to be our avenger.

The Night Seasons

We all experience night seasons. If we are not careful, night seasons can arise and become a distraction to our relationship with the Lord. Everything can seem to be operating in the manner we feel it should go. The relationship with Christ and daily devotion to Him is great; work is great, family life is great. All of a sudden, we can be hit with rough and tough circumstances. Suddenly, sickness can arise in our life, financial situations arise, or we just become busy. Maybe we just become so casual in our relationship with Christ, we let our guard down. And, before we know it, it seems we are in a night season. We become desperate for Christ, looking for light at the end of the tunnel. And, we wonder how we have fallen into such a mess. It is the tough circumstances that build our character in Christ.

David had the answer for the night season---Psalms 16:7-8, “I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart instructs me in the night season. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved!” We should always bless the Lord, because He will give us counsel. He speaks to our hearts and gives us direction in the way we should go. We’ve got to trust Him. And no matter what the situation, small decisions or big decisions, seek the Lord's direction! If you ever want to know how dependent you are upon the direction of the Lord, ask yourself, how often do I seek the Lord for the small decisions in life as opposed to the big decisions that must be made? If we are truly after His guidance, we will set the Lord always before us!

The best news about a night season, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved! Listen, you may get knocked down, but you are not knocked out! Proverbs 24:16 declares, “Though a righteous man may fall seven times, He rises again!” If you are in a night season, keep your head up. Trust in the Lord---you will rise again. This tough circumstance is building Christ-like character in your life.

Still the Noise

"So David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?' The Lord answered him, 'Go, for I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.'"

2 Samuel 5:19

I was so intrigued while reading today's excerpts. I have read about David, heard him preached about, but had failed to really understand his relationship with God. Yes, he was a man after God's own heart, but we have used that term so loosely that sometimes we overlook the closeness he had with God.

Multiple times the Bible gives us a peek into the "conversations" David had with God. Can you count on your fingers the times you have spoken with God and gotten an answer? And got that answer immediately? I'm ashamed to say that I am not David! Many of us may actually be able to make that same statement. I feel the reason is because we live in a society with polluted air. The airwaves are jam packed with noise! We have satellites, televisions, cell phones, laptops, airplanes, helicoptors and the list could go a mile long.

Society has turned away from silence, which is a breeding ground for conversation. I know with two kids, it is sometimes difficult for my husband and I to converse. It's only until we still the noise of our children that we can talk. What would happen if Eric and I allowed our children to overtake our times of communication? It wouldn't be much of a marriage, let alone a relationship. My next question, what has happened to our relationship with God? We have not learned how to turn down the noise! God is waiting for us to put our priorities in order. All we have to do is turn down the volume of everything around us.

All in All

"Are you listening, dear people? I'm getting ready to speak;
Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial.
This is God, your God,
speaking to you.
I don't find fault with your acts of worship,
the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull,
or more and more goats from your herds?
Every creature in the forest is mine,
the wild animals on all the mountains.
I know every mountain bird by name;
the scampering field mice are my friends.
If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you?
All creation and its bounty are mine.
Do you think I feast on venison?
or drink draughts of goats' blood?
Spread for me a banquet of praise,
serve High God a feast of kept promises,
And call for help when you're in trouble—
I'll help you, and you'll honor me."
Psalms 50:7-15

When are we going to stop trying to honor God with our offerings of burnt sacrifices? We don't literally burn a sacrifice today, but we do constantly try to push things in front of God to earn His blessings. "All creation and its bounty are His". One version says, "I own the cattle on a thousand hills." What can we give God that He doesn't already have an abundance of? As the verse says, there isn't anything wrong with the offerings. It isn't bad to give something to the Lord in order to please Him. It becomes negative when we try to replace praise and adoration with offerings because we don't want to take the time to do so. If we try to hold His attention with the things we place in front of Him, such as an hour of time served or an extra check in the offering plate, we won't be able to fool God. Sometimes we forget that God knows our true hearts.

Both of those acts are good and wonderful things that God can and will use for His glory, but more than that, He desires to be close to us. He desires for us to show Him praise, to talk to Him, to ask him about our problems. He wants to be a part of our everyday lives just as much as our spouse or our children are. He wants to be the first person we talk to in the mornings and the last person we talk to in the evenings. He wants our thoughts and our actions to point to Him. He wants these things more than He wants a sacrifice from time to time. Give God your all and He will become your "All in All".

Become Better Instead of Bitter

Psalm 51 (written by David after Nathan speaks with him)

10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.

David and Bathsheba. Many of you will know this story. David is on his rooftop one day, and notices this beautiful woman taking a bath. He sends for her to come to the palace. They lie together, and she becomes pregnant. However, she is married, and David comes up with a plot to cover up his actions. He sends for her husband, Uriah, who is out fighting in battle, to come home in order to lay with Bathsheba. Therefore, the conceived child would be considered Uriah's. But, the plan didn't work. Uriah refused to lay with his wife while the other soldiers are out fighting a war, and could not go home to their wives. So, then David comes up with another plan. He will send Uriah out to the front lines of battle, in hopes that he would be killed. This way, Uriah would not have to find out about David's adultery, and then David can take Bathsheba to be his wife. And, that is what happens.

But, David, not so quick. You haven't gotten away with it. The Lord speaks to Nathan, the prophet, to go to David and reveal his actions to him. And, because of what David had done, Nathan tells him that another man will take his other wives and go to bed with them in public view. "You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of Israel".

But, that is not all that Nathan tells David. After David has confessed that he had sinned against the Lord, Nathan says, "Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die". And, so it was. The child died as was foretold. Later, David would have more children---one of them being Solomon, one of the wisest and wealthiest men who had ever lived. David confessed; God blessed again in His own time.

We can commit sinful deeds and actions, and ask God for forgiveness, and God is faithful to forgive. However, God doesn't say that consequences will not follow our poor choices. We will reap what we sow. It doesn't mean that God doesn't love us, but how would we become disciplined if we don't feel some punishment for the bad things we have done. When you discipline your child, you should do it because you love them, and you don't want the same behavior to continue. God loves us and wants our behavior to change. Instead of becoming bitter when you experience the consequences, become "better" in Christ!

Whatever. . .

"David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day." (1 Chronicles 16:37)

"Yea, whatever!" How often have you heard those words spoken, especially from a young person's mouth? Usually, it's being said out of frustration or disrespect. However, the whatever in the above scripture has a whole different connotation.

"Whatever" here means what it says: irregardless of what the task may have been, the Levites were required to serve, doing what was needed. So often, you may hear someone offer to help, being open to "whatever" in the beginning, but then given the list of chores, it becomes a selective process. The act of servant hood has become a lost art!

We want to become more like Jesus in a spiritual sense, but what about when He became the servant? What about when He washed the disciples' feet? Are we willing to stoop down and get our hands dirty? Ministry is so much more than just teaching and preaching. It gets messy; it gets tiring. It may mean you need to clean the toilets one day. It may mean sacrificing that night of TV when your favorite shows are on and going to the bedside of a patient. "Whatever" it may look like, we must be willing to become that servant, just as Jesus showed us.

Short-Cuts!

1 Samuel 26:7-9, “So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him. (8) Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice." (9) But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?”

Sometimes we get tired of waiting on God; we become impatient longing to see results and answered prayers. At times, we become so impatient that we want to take the wheel, having control of situations, attempting to make things happen! I have learned that when we decide to take a short-cut, we can short-circuit our destiny! It happens on God’s timetable, not ours.

David was anointed to be king, yet he had to wait seven long years until that time would come. And before that time would come, he would find himself running for his life in fear of being killed. Then, his friend, Abishai, informed David of a short-cut. Discovering Saul asleep, he encouraged David to strike Saul with a spear, and then all roads looked clear for David’s reign. How easy would that have been? However, David had an understanding that if he laid a hand on Saul, the Lord's blessing and anointing would no longer be on his life. David knew that if his kingship was going to be successful, that it had better be on God’s timetable and not his own.

When Abishai offered to kill Saul, his intentions for David were good, but he was putting David’s destiny at risk. We all have friends who have good intentions, who speak into our lives. But, sometimes friends with good intentions can still give advice that’s contrary to God’s plan. We must be careful to never let anyone persuade us into wrong decisions, even if they mean good! Seek God’s voice, “Acknowledge the Lord in all of your ways, He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6)!

Book of Psalms

Today's readings bring us to the book of Psalms. It is believed that David wrote most of the Psalms, but not all of them. It is the longest book in the Bible with 150 individual Psalms included. Basically, it is a collection of prayers, poems, and hymns that focus on worship and the author's thoughts on God.

Looking through my reading for today, I see a prayer for protection of the righteous, prayer for deliverance from enemies, prayer for refuge from enemies, prayer for relief from oppression by the wicked, prayer for salvation from enemies, prayer for rescue from enemies, prayer for redemption of the righteous, prayer for relief from pursuers and slanders, prayer for vindication in the eyes of enemies who gloat, prayer for the weak and those who suffer betrayal by friends, prayer for insight in the face of opposition, prayer for God's defense and shelter, and so on and so forth. I think you get the picture.

I once heard someone say that if you don't know what else to pray, then you should just start reading the Psalms out loud. It seems to me that some of the same things they prayed for centuries ago are some of the very same things we wrestle with today. Since God is the same then, now, and forever, then you can assume that if God cared about their little problems at that time, then He still cares about ours today.

No matter what is on your mind, God is willing to listen. He desires to listen to us. He wants us to come to Him with our problems. He may already know what they are, but He desires for us to place them at His feet. He desires for us to find peace in Him and know that we can trust Him with everything.

Sometimes it is good to write down your thoughts and prayers just as they did in the book of Psalms. Personally, I used to blog some of my prayers. That may be a modern version of writing them down. :)

I think the most popular Psalms is Psalms 23. We have heard it most often, and it seems to bring comfort to any occasion. Read it out loud and know that the words still ring true today:

Psalm 23
A psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Where Do You Rank?

When reading through 2 Samuel 23, one would think you are at an awards banquet. Recognition is given to David's mighty warriors. Let's look at how it's broken down:

There was an elite, military group of men, known as "The Thirty". In order to get into that group, you had to exhibit excellent military power and courage, as well as wisdom in leadership. The names of the 30 are listed in this chapter. They are given honorable mention.

But, above them, were men known as "The Three". Jashobeam was the leader of the Three. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. Next in rank was Eleazar. Once, "he killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift the sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory." Next, there was Shammah. One day, "the Philistines gathered and attacked, and the Israelites fled. But, Shammah held his ground. . . and beat back the Philistines."

Recognition was also given to Abishai and Benaiah. Abishai was the leader of the Thirty, and he once used his spear to kill 300 warriors in a single battle. He was the most famous of the Thirty. Benaiah did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. One day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. On another day, he killed a great Egyptian warrior. David made Benaiah captain of his bodyguard. Even though both Abishai and Benaiah were famous as part of the Thirty, they were not included as part of the Three.

Ranking order. It's still done today. We have those who are at the top, such as David. We have those in positions, right below the leader, such as the Three. Then, there are the ones in the next rank, recognized like the Thirty were. And, of course, as we all know, there are hundreds below them, who do a lot of the work, don't get much recognition, but without their help, the company or organization could not be successful. Irregardless of where you find yourself in the "ranking order", work as unto the Lord. In His eyes, every one's role is important!

Isle of Misfit People

"So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men." (1 Samuel 22:1-2, NLT)

David was a man on the run. Saul was out to kill him, so David hid out in a cave. But, he had quite a following. Apparently, people knew who he was, and before long, he had an army of men totaling 400.

But, they're not just any men. They were "men in trouble, in debt, discontented". The Message Bible states, "but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts". They were not the elite; they were not part of the Navy Seals. Not only was David having to be concerned for his life, he now had to look after hundreds of men who didn't have their lives together. However, later these men would form the core group of his military warriors.

David had excellent leadership qualities. These men saw something in David that they respected and admired. They wanted him to be the next king. And, he had the ability and resourcefulness to motivate and lead them.

It's easy being a leader when all your followers are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy. When they're not, you've got some challenges ahead. If the truth be known, most congregants have some baggage--most have some issues. But, God can take those we may consider to be "misfits" and turn them into the "fittest" if they will allow Him to do so. Just like the scene from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" --- there's an Isle of Misfit toys. They don't seem to fit in. God wants to mend and fix people, making us new again, allowing us to be used in His army.

Joab

5-7 But in private Joab rebuked the king: "Now you've done it—knocked the wind out of your loyal servants who have just saved your life, to say nothing of the lives of your sons and daughters, wives and concubines. What is this—loving those who hate you and hating those who love you? Your actions give a clear message: officers and soldiers mean nothing to you. You know that if Absalom were alive right now, we'd all be dead—would that make you happy? Get hold of yourself; get out there and put some heart into your servants! I swear to God that if you don't go to them they'll desert; not a soldier will be left here by nightfall. And that will be the worst thing that has happened yet." 2 Samuel 19:5-7 Message Bible

When David's son, Absalom, attempted to overthrow the king, it was Joab who led the defeat against Absalom's following and personally killed Absalom. Throughout the Bible, Joab remained loyal to David, his uncle. David ordered that Absalom not be killed, but Joab did so anyway to protect David. Joab knew that if he did not, then Absalom would have had them all killed.

When David grieved for his son in spite of his rebelliousness against him, it was Joab who rebuked him in the verse above. Joab was the only person who had the nerve to speak to David this way or who knew him well enough that he had the freedom to do so. Joab knew David was in pain and rightfully so. Joab also knew David had a greater responsibility to his people. In that time, the king was a great symbol to his people. The way the people perceived the king often dictated the fate of the king.

Everyone has someone in their life who can speak truth to them, even if it hurts. There is someone who can see the bigger picture better than we can. Someone in our lives who is willing to go against what we say in order to protect us. Perhaps, they shouldn't. Perhaps, that isn't the right thing. It depends on the situation. Still, we should offer those people extra patience because they are the ones who we know will stand by us in all circumstances.

When someone you are close to approaches you with news you don't want to hear, don't let your emotions lead the conversation. Sometimes it is best to ask that person to give you some time to think through it and pray about it. Pray about it and see if they are truly being shown something that you have missed about the bigger picture. Sometimes you may approach them with humility and thank them for caring enough to tell you. Sometimes you may kindly tell them that you don't currently feel the same way, but you still appreciate their caring.

In this life, we are not all going to agree on everything. We are going to have enemies, and we are going to have friends. We are going to have friends who are worse than our enemies. We should thank God if we have one person in our lives who is loyal enough to stand by us in all circumstances, even if you don't always agree. Sometimes this person is a spouse; sometimes it is someone else. Be open to how God uses those people in your lives. Often when we are blind, that person in our lives is not.

Father, help us to be open to how you use others to speak into our lives. Help us to discern who is trustworthy and who is not. Give us patience to receive true words from a loyal friend, even if we don't always agree.

Lookin' Good!

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT)

The Lord has sent Samuel to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse, to anoint one of Jesse's sons to succeed Saul as the next king over Israel. Upon seeing Eliab, Samuel says, "Surely, this is the Lord's anointed." But, it wasn't so. Samuel proceeds through the other sons, until he inquires about David, Jesse's youngest son. He is a shepherd boy, out in the fields tending his father's sheep and goats. He is called to come inside, and the Lord says "This is the one", and Samuel anoints David with oil to become the next king.

David was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. He was a brave warrior, had good judgment, and was a talented harp player. Above all, the spirit of the Lord was with him. David later becomes known as "a man after God's own heart". However, it wasn't his physical attributes that made him successful. Even though David may not have always followed or obeyed God's law at all times, he still had a passion and a desire for loving the Lord.

Millions (or billions) of dollars are spent yearly on makeup/beauty supplies, exercise equipment/fitness center memberships, etc.---things that will make these bodies look more beautiful. There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of yourself or wanting to look good. After all, this body is a temple of the Lord. But, when a person becomes more obsessed with looking good on the outside with no regards for the "heart and soul", there is a problem. Just this past Sunday, I posted a blog on http://www.hillsidestudents.org/ entitled, "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall", not realizing what passage of scripture I would be writing about today. The post is dealing with the same subject of the inner man vs. the outer man.

We live in a society where so much emphasis is placed upon the outward appearance. We're bombarded with TV commercials, magazine covers, etc on how to look better, how to look like a superstar. Teens develop eating disorders due to the pressure of wanting this image. Hollywood has set an agenda of looking like this or wearing that, it's hard to measure up according to their standards. There are those who will spend hours weekly, or maybe even daily, trying to "keep up", but won't take a few minutes to allow God to "dress up" their heart. Our identity should not be found in an outward image. It should be found in who God says that we are, and we must believe our worth and value is from within.

Father, may we not fall prey to the image that society tries to place upon us. May we take care of these temples in order to serve you better. May we strive to have a heart after you, oh God. Amen.

In a Tight Spot?

1 Samuel 13:6

When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits

.

What a beautiful day the Lord has made! I hope everyone has had a blessed start to the week and is ready to find needs and meet them this week, whether they be at your workplace, the market, or even your own home!

Our reading for this week reminds me of how we often behave. The army of Israel saw the enemy. When they saw they were in trouble, or as one translation puts it, "in a tight spot," what did they do? Did they stand up to the enemy? Did they vow to fight the trouble and win by the power of God? Unfortunately, these were not options for the men of Israel. Instead, when they saw they were in trouble they hid in the caves, thickets (weeds), rocks, holes, and pits.

Isn't that like us? When the enemy comes in, instead of standing on the Rock and standing on the Word, we hide. We don't stand on scriptures like, "Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world", or "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against him".

I think we are living below our privileges as children of the King. Now is not the time to play cowardly. Yes, we fight an enemy; we fight not a battle with swords, shields, or any carnal weapon, but we fight a spiritual battle. Your weapons are not of the world, but have divine power! As one translation puts it, "your weapons will DEMOLISH strongholds"! Whatever your battle is, remember just because you feel you are in a tight spot, don't run and hide. Yet, face your stronghold, not alone, but knowing He fights your battle!

Don't find yourself in a tight spot without the Word or the Rock!

Have a blessed week! .

Perpetual Relationship

"Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him....Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy." Judges 3:7

I recently celebrated another year of life. After complaining to someone about some recent "aches and pains" they replied, "That's proof that you're not dead yet." Which makes so much sense! When we reach the point where we cannot feel, we might as well say we are dead.

On the night when Samuel was being awakened by the Lord, Eli was dying. He wasn't dying in his flesh, but in his spirit. What a sad night for Eli! Realizing he had lost touch with the Lord, but was still able to guide Samuel to Him. Eli still had a vague memory of what the Lord's voice was. Although Judges 3:1 says, "In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions", it's hard for me not to think that Eli felt lonesome as he reminisced on his former relationship with the Lord.

I have heard it said, that if we are not growing in God, then we are dying (or backsliding). Right now, evaluate your heart. Ask God to show you the areas that have been compromised. Let us never have to reminisce on our former relationship or experiences with God, but let us live it perpetually!

A Call in the Dark

“The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening’.” (1 Samuel 3:10, NIV)

(below is a blog post from http://renewal212.wordpress.com/ dated 12/02/09)

Last week, I was awakened one night by what I thought was someone calling my name. I heard “Charlotte”, and woke up just long enough to see if it was one of our residents maybe needing something. I heard no stirring around and no further words, so I went back to sleep. Last night, I remember hearing a voice say one word (don’t know if it was my name), and I answered “Yes”. My body was so tired that I couldn’t make myself get awake enough to get up. But, my spirit was saying, “Wake up!” As the Scripture says, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

The story of the Lord calling Samuel is found in I Samuel 3. One night, God calls out “Samuel”. Samuel gets up and goes to Eli, the priest, and says “Here I am; you called me.” Eli responds, “I did not call; go back and lie down”. After the third time, Eli realizes it’s the Lord calling the boy, and tells him to go and lay back down, and instructs him on what to say if it happened again (found in vs. 10 above).

Just as with Samuel, I want to be able to respond to God’s voice and answer, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” The message may not always be pleasant. In Samuel’s case, he was to tell Eli about the judgment that would come upon his family. God may speak and give you great news. He may instruct you on things that He wants you to do. God may give you prophecies or visions. But, whatever it may be, God wants us to listen when He calls. And, if He really wants our attention, He will continue to speak until we answer.

God, give us ears to hear, and a heart that will listen. May we answer when you call. Amen.

Remember Me

1 Samuel 1:10-11, “In bitterness of the soul, Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord. And she made a vow, saying, “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant.”

Does this prayer sound familiar? So many times, we become so frustrated and just wonder, “Where are you God?” There are times we feel we have been defeated, and we just feel like we are alone. We then question, “Where is God when I’m hurting?” And, sometimes it feels even worse when you’re working for Him.

Hannah was bitter, and she wept much and prayed much because she wanted to give birth to a child. After her doubt, questioning, and lack of faith, verse 20 sums it up, “So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the Lord for Him'.” Too often, we look for temporary solutions to our problems, while Jesus is busy trying to use us to build and establish an eternal kingdom. May we learn that the next time God doesn’t seem to meet our expectations, we will realize it’s not that He doesn’t care---He just sees the big picture. He is actually handling issues we can’t even begin to comprehend. So trust Him!

David's Promise

18-21 King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it. 2 Samuel 7: 18-21

David did great things, yes he did! David also did some terrible things. He seduced Bathsheba and arranged for her husband's death (2 Samuel 11). He failed to act when his son raped his half sister (2 Samuel 13). He did not punish or forgive his son, Absalom, who planned a rebellion in which many lost their lives (2 Samuel 14). He displayed a lack of trust in God by conducting a military census (2 Samuel 24).

David, unlike Saul, recognized his failures and humbly approached the Lord for forgiveness. He understood that he had failed God. He may have endured consequences for his sins, but he was forgiven.

David also expanded Israel's borders ten times what it had been through military victories. He had great a commitment to the Lord. He was an exuberant worshiper of the Lord. He was a great and fair leader. He finally restored the ark of the covenant to it's rightful place. And, of course, he killed Goliath. These are just some of the things that made David a great leader of his time as well as a follower of God.

Too often, we focus on all of the negative things that we have done more than the positive. We list the ways we have failed the Lord and try to determine the outcome of our entire life based on these failures. It is true, every failure should be presented to the Lord. We should seek forgiveness in a true and humbling way. We should understand and recognize that our sins may cause us to reap consequences that will not be pleasant. We must learn our lessons and try to correct our actions in the future.

Nevertheless, God did not ever say that we had to carry our failures on our backs for all of our lives. This places sin between us and God. This can hinder God's plan for our lives. If we ask for forgiveness with a true heart, then these sins have been left at the cross. There is no reason to continue to go back and pick them up again.

It would have been easy for David to believe his future was grim, if he continued to count his failures. Yet, as indicated in the verse above, David realized that the promises made to him were not about who he was. The promises made to David were about who God was. He was excited because, not only did God bless his future and the future of his descendants, He also let David know about it while he was still alive. David knew he was more blessed than he deserved, but he recognized the sovereignty of God who granted him these things.

What did God promise David?

When your life is complete and you're buried with your ancestors, then I'll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I'll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom's rule permanently. I'll be a father to him, and he'll be a son to me. 2 Samuel 7:11-16

How did He fulfill this promise?

Through none other than Jesus Christ!

And, what about this house that God refers to in His promise to David?
Let's look at what Jesus said:

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14:2-4

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! Thank You God for who You are! Thank You that you bless us because of who You are and not who We are!! Thank you for your unfailing, never ending, and most gracious love towards us!! Thank you that what we accomplish for You in this lifetime is not based on our strength but on Your strength! Without You, we are hopeless! With You, our possibilities are endless!! Amen, Amen, and Amen!!

Will You Speak Up?

"Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?” (Judges 19:30, NLT)

The Levite and the concubine. So much tragedy; so much sin throughout the 19th chapter of Judges. The Levite had taken a concubine. This was acceptable behavior in Israelite society, but it was never God's original intent. The concubine was unfaithful. She returns to her father's house, and the Levite goes to get her. It is upon this return trip home that we find the two needing a place to stay for the night. An old man comes to the town square and offers them a place to sleep. While they were there, a crowd of men came to the house, much like what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah, and demanded for the Levite to come outside, so they could have sex with him.

What happens next, and concluding the chapter, is a set of horrible events. The Levite pushed the concubine out the door to the crowd of men. They raped and abused her all during the night. At dawn, they let her go, and she is able to make it back to the house, but collapses at the door and dies. In the morning, the Levite finds her body, and takes her back to his home. Once there, he cuts her up in twelve pieces and sends one piece to each of the tribes of Israel.

In today's society, numerous criminal charges would have been brought forth. Rape, abuse, murder, complicity to commit murder, mutilation of a corpse. What happened to these men? We don't know. But, we do know what happened to that concubine. Because of the selfishness and cowardliness of the old man and the Levite, she was subjected to abuse. They didn't want to get hurt, so they sent her out. They allowed this tragedy to occur. Then, she had to practically crawl back to the house, just close enough to place her hand upon the threshold. She probably didn't have enough strength at that point to even knock on the door before dying. And, then to have her body dismembered. The imagery is horrific.

We read and hear of terrible crimes happening all the time. But, do we become numb or at times lethargic, to such happenings? Are we speaking up loud enough to try and prevent these things from happening again? Are we allowing those that are hurt and abused to come to our doorstep, our threshold, and then just say "Get up---Let's go!" without showing compassion or empathy? May it never be. May we be that safe haven that a person can come to in their time of need. May we be that voice that is willing to "speak up and out" against the travesties in our society.

Dream On!

Judges 7: 13-14, NLT: Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, "I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!" His companion answered, "Your dream can mean only one thing---God has given Gideon, son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!"

The Lord has spoken to Gideon during the night, and told him to go to the enemy's camp and listen to what they are saying. He and his 300 men are preparing to go in and fight the Midianites and the Amalekites, but they are vast in number, and right now, Gideon needs some encouragement. Gideon and his servant, Purah, travel down to the valley, to the outposts of the camp. Upon arrival, this is what was heard (see scriptures above). Gideon returns to the Israelite camp, and shares the news with the others. Knowing that the Lord was with them, they went out and defeated the Midianites.

Oftentimes, God will speak to us through dreams. God can even use dreams to speak to our enemies. Just as in this instance, "An enemy soldier dreamed of a loaf of barley bread tumbling into camp. Barley grain was only half the value of wheat, and the bread made from it was considered inferior. In the same way, Israel's tiny band of men was considered inferior to the vast forces of Midian and Amalek. But God would make the underdog Israelites seem invincible." (footnote from Life Application Bible)

Do you have dreams? Ever try to figure out the significance of them? Just this week, a friend of mine shared a couple of dreams that she had recently. Almost immediately, I felt God lead me to tell her what I felt the importance of some of the events in the dreams. Most dreams are figurative or representative of something else and usually not literal. Just like Jesus talked in parables---God speaks in parables through dreams. I know Pastor Eric dreams quite often, and God even gives him visions. He will sometimes share those with us as a congregation and to the meaning as such. Don't just lay aside those dreams as nonsense, and blame it on "late night pizza". If God doesn't give you an interpretation, then share it with a friend. God may give them the revelation.

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." (Acts 2: 17, NIV)