The King Rebuked

“I have sinned…” 2 Sa 12:13 and 1 Sa 15:24

The first two Kings of the united kingdoms of Israel and Judah, Saul and David, were both specifically chosen by God. Neither one became King because his father was king; neither one was chosen by the people, or ruled because he took over by his own strength. Saul was chosen first, and from humble beginnings became a skilled leader in war. At first, he was obedient to God, and checked for God’s approval before taking action.

Later, David was chosen, as “a man after God’s own heart”. David was wholeheartedly for God; and when he sinned, he was wholehearted in his repentance. When Nathan rebuked him, David’s reaction was, “I have sinned against the Lord”, and no more. He did not make excuses, or minimize his sin. Nathan replied that the Lord had put away David’s sin.

When the prophet Samuel rebuked Saul for disobedience, Saul appears to accept the correction. But his answer to correction is less repentant; he blames other people for his sin. “I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” How easy it is for God to put away our sin. How hard it is for us to repent wholeheartedly.

Fire in the Valley Photos

Please look at the photo collection on Flickr taken at Fire in the Valley last summer. Click on one of the photos or the link at the bottom of the Flickr Badge. I'll be adding more photos over the next few days.

Blessings Renewed Each Day

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat, and summer and winter,
and day and night shall not cease. Gen 8:22

Springtime and the growth season of summer are one way that God reminds us of His renewed promises and blessings. His promises are not for a single moment. One failure our part does not end God’s promises.

Pagans worshiped the cycle of the year and the harvest. They took a tiny bit of god’s Truth and built their own theology on it. Just as the rainbow is the symbol of God’s promise to never again bring a flood of complete destruction upon the earth, so are God’s blessings renewed with each morning light.

No matter what sorrows we have had in the day; no matter the failures and losses in each season. God promises a new day each morning, a new season and harvest to follow the old. God still has Blessings left to give us each a new one every day.

Two Ways

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Gal 6:8

The Bible gives us two choices in life: God’s way, and every other way. It’s us to us which to choose. With each choice comes a consequence, or a result. The result of choosing the way of the world, also called “the flesh”, is corruption. The result of choosing God’s way, also called “sowing to the spirit” is life everlasting.

The choice referred to in this verse is an ongoing choice; we have already chosen to be Christians, but the daily choice to live a Godly life is renewed daily.

Marriage 101

And the LORD God said,
It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

God makes the statement that it is not good that man be alone. The first truth inherent in this statement is the need people have for companionship. We are all unhappy if we are without friends or family. Close relationships often spring up at work simply because we spend so much time there. We do not choose an employer because there are people there we want for friends; we choose an employer, and then become friends with the people we find there.

But there is a deeper truth here. Look at the companion God provides for Adam – a woman. He does not provide a friend similar to Adam, He provides a companion that is different from Adam. Friends are often chosen because of similarities: they are often the same gender, have the same interests, likes, hobbies, sports, background. A spouse is not chosen for a shared interest in football; they are attractive because of the differences; exciting because of their mystery. The relationship of husband and wife goes deeper than friendship; it becomes companionship.

The first, most basic trait of companionship is that of being present. A married couple should be together. They make contact: physical contact, verbal contact, emotional contact. They are there for each other. The most basic element in a marriage is that this is someone you want to be with, and they want to be with you. Herbert Stein wrote about marriage after his wife’s death, and described the need for companionship, the first most basic element, in marriage.

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 4

And there came a man of God unto Eli,
and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord… I Samuel 2:27

The final character in this chapter is un-named, called just “a man of God”. His name and family are unknown to us, the whole rest of his life is unknown to us, but this moment is the highlight of his life for God. This man of God is obedient. God has given him a task, a message to deliver, and this man is obedient to God’s will.

And what a task he has been given; that a man so insignificant that we do not even know his name should go to the High Priest, the leader of the anointed Levites and the nations of Israel, to deliver the message that the High Priest has failed in his service to God. Eli is told that his sons have sinned and despised the office of priest and as a consequence they will die. And Eli himself has disobeyed God because he has honored his own sons above God and as a consequence his family will die out and another will be put in its place.

This man of God exhibits true obedience to God. He is the bearer of dire news to Eli, a powerful and apparently righteous man. He can expect no reward, no commendation, not even acknowledgment from anyone that he has done well. His delivers his message knowing that Eli may choose to ignore it, and continue to allow his sons to profane the office of priest. And when the message is delivered, what does he do? We don’t know; there is no record. Did he return home, maybe a journey of many days, to take up the routine of his life? Did he remember for the rest of his life that on this day he was obedient, when the man entrusted with the guidance of the entire nation was not?

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 3

But Samuel ministered before the Lord,
being a child, girded with a linen ephod. 1 Sam 2:18

Samuel is still a child while Eli’s sons are grown. He was brought to the temple to be raised by Eli, when he was weaned. It may be that he was 2 or 2 years old, or maybe 6 or 7, old enough to be separated from his mother. Surely his mother Hannah taught him well, but still he was a child when he left her. Her trust in the Lord is again shown; how else could she have left her son with Eli, knowing the sins of his sons?

So Eli raises the child Samuel in his old age, long after he would normally have a child. Did the example of his own sons motivate Eli to teach Samuel God’s ways? Perhaps, but Eli still did not restrain his own sons, because while Samuel was growing, the news of the sins of Phineas and Hophni came to Eli, and was common knowledge country. Even as a child we have the choice to be obedient or willful. Samuel chose obedience to God.

Obedience is rewarded by God, no matter how small the matter may seem. The child Samuel “ministered before the Lord, and as a result, grew in favor with the Lord. Phineas and Hophni continued in their greed and lusts, and as a result, the family of Eli was removed from the service of God.

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part 2

Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial;
they knew not the Lord. 1 Sam 2:12

The next people in this chapter (see part 1) are Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phineas. Like their father, they were Levite priests, descendants of Aaron through Ithamar. Since the offices were assigned by family the position of High Priest came to Eli, and would pass to one of his sons when he died. Knowing this, Eli was responsible for training his sons to fulfill the highest and most powerful position in the country. At that time, Israel did not yet have a King, and did not have a Judge to lead them.

Instead of being satisfied with their powerful position, Hophni and Phineas used their position for personal greed by forcing people to give their sacrifices to the priests instead of seeing them go to God, and they led women who came to worship into sexual immorality. This is not the kind of behavior that can be kept quiet; it was known to the people. And what did Eli do? Not much.

When Hophni and Phineas were young, Eli should have instructed them better. He should have taught them love and respect for God. And now that they are grown, Eli does not restrain them as he should. Eli is still the High Priest and he has authority. But his correction to them is weak. He asks them “Why do ye such things?”, but their greed is obvious, and asking why is pointless. There is no justification for what they do. Eli tells his sons that he knows what they do is wrong, but it is all weak talk and no action. Is it any wonder that the sons ignore Eli?

Commentary on 1 Samuel 2, part I

…The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth;
and he shall give strength unto His king,
and exalt the horn of His anointed. 1Sam 2: 10

This chapter is loaded with some of the most interesting characters in the Bible. Eli is the High Priest, the leader of the Hebrew people. His sons, who should follow him in leadership, are corrupt. Hannah is a woman who dedicates her son, Samuel, to the service of God. And there is a “man of God” who comes with a message for Eli. The chapter begins with Hannah’s prayer, praise for God, and a prophecy for the future. She has just left her young child in the care of Eli, and she rejoices in the steadfastness of God.

She must have had very great trust in God. Not only was she leaving her only, longed for son behind. She was leaving her son in the care of Eli, whose two sons were notoriously corrupt, profaning the service before God. She must have trusted that God would oversee the care and education of her child.

Hannah was also a Prophetess. Her song is in the poetry format used by Prophets, and she foretells the final judgment of the earth and the coming of the King. This is the first time that Christ is referred to as the anointed of God, the Messiah.

I Don't Know

Be still and know that I am God. Ps 46:10

These are three of the hardest words to say in our society. From the moment a child begins to talk, a question requires an answer. The question may be simple, such as, “Do you want a drink of water?” But there is an answer. The question may be uncomfortable, such as, “Did you hit your sister?” But there is an answer. “I don’t know” is just not acceptable.

In school, the teacher expects the students to be prepared with answers. “I don’t know” means the student is not paying attention, or is lazy. Even a guess or a partial answer is more acceptable than “I don’t know”. And when the student grows up and goes to work, the employer expects knowledge of the job, and specific answers to problems. Only the lazy or incompetent worker is without an answer. Throughout our lives, there is pressure to have an answer.

And yet, there are times when even the best person doesn’t have a piece of knowledge. No one can know everything. But it’s still hard to admit we don’t know. So we guess or give a partial answer, everything but the truth. We say anything to avoid saying “I don’t know”. The half answer, the wild guess, the joke or evasion to change the subject, all become little lies. It’s hard to be honest.

The things of God are often turned upside down. We have to start with the admission that we don’t have the answers to life, that we don’t know how to go on without God. Maybe this is why some people never come to God – they can’t admit that they can’t figure it out; they can’t admit that they don’t have the answer. Even as mature Christians, we don’t know it all. I don’t understand every concept in the Bible. I don’t know everything God has done for me. I don’t know how things are going to work out.

That’s OK.

In fact, it’s a good beginning place. It puts me in the right place to listen from God. That way I can learn a little every day. I can hear a little better every day. I don’t need the answers; God has them. There’s a lot I don’t know, and that’s just fine with God.