Saul obeyed man instead of God. And the Lord rejected him as king. The desire to please people rather than God has led to the downfall of many. Even in Saul’s confession he begged Samuel to stay and “honor” him before the elders of Israel. He still worried about his image. But God is looking for a man who cares only what God thinks of him. God looks for one after His own heart.
This is what Jonathan, son of King Saul, said to his armor bearer before they routed a garrison of Philistines. I think God must love this kind of risk-taking faith. Perhaps the great missionary to India, William Carey, had Jonathan’s story in mind when he said, “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”
Samuel was the last living judge of Israel and a forerunner of Christ in that he held all three titles of prophet, priest and judge (king). He was so aware of God’s calling on his life that he didn’t need the people to ask him to pray for them. For him, failing to pray and preach would be sin. This would not be the sin of commission, but omission. Are we sometimes so focused on what we shouldn’t be doing that we miss doing what we should?
Answering anger with anger leads to escalation of hostilities. The wise person knows how to turn down the heat of confrontation with soft words. What words will you choose today? Words that stir up anger and division, or words that calm and lead to unity?
This is one of seven “I AM” statements of Jesus that John recorded. John loved sevens (the number of completion). In the Greek, Jesus used the emphatic “ἐγώ εἰμι” (ego eimi), which might be translated “I, I am.” To Jewish ears, this was a clear reference to God’s name, “Yahweh” (I AM). As for calling Himself bread, the Jews considered bread the main sustenance of life and the major symbol of both their release from Egypt (Passover bread) and survival in the wilderness (manna). Jesus is the fulfillment of both the manna and the Passover bread. For God gave Jesus to us, so that those who believed and received Him would have eternal life.
Samuel called the Israelites to Mizpah for an assembly of repentance and recommitment, but the Philistines heard about their gathering and attacked. God fought for Israel and they overcame for the first time in a generation. There, Samuel set up a large stone to remind them of God’s help, calling it Ebenezer or “stone of help.” Samuel understood that we are a forgetful people and need reminders. Some of us journal, writing it down when God rescues. Some carry a chip to commemorate their years of sobriety. Others compose a song, like “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” singing: “Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come; and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.” Do you have an “Ebenezer” to remember what God as done for you?
After she heard that her husband was killed and the ark was captured by the Philistines, the daughter-in-law of Eli went into labor. With her last breath she named her newborn son “Ichabod,” meaning “no glory,” and died. The ark represented God’s presence and glory. How could Israel be the people of God without His presence? Yet today, many may as well have “Ichabod” written over their doors, for they practice a form of religion, but God’s Spirit is not present. Before I preach every Sunday, I pray, “God, if you don’t show up, nothing happens! Lord, be present. Show us your glory. Let Your Word speak to us afresh!”
Jesus described His method of seeing what the Father was doing and then joining Him in His work. There is a great principle of understanding here. Rather than asking God to join you in your plans, begin to look and ask what God is already doing and then join Him in His work. This kind of following means listening and looking before speaking and acting. When we look to join the Father in His work, we begin to follow as Christ did, and as His body, which is the church, should.
The little books of Ruth and Jonah have much in common. Four chapters, literary works of art, easily seen as 4-act plays, and more… But more profound is that they both foreshadow great doctrines of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Both books show how God’s message of salvation is for non-Jews too. In Jonah it’s the Ninevites. In Ruth it’s the Moabite. Jonah’s 3-days in the fish foreshadows Christ’s time in the tomb and resurrection. And Ruth’s redemption by Boaz foreshadows Christ’s redemption of all who come to Him. In Boaz, we see the Hebrew “kinsman-redeemer,” — the one according to Levitical law that was to redeem a deceased kin’s wife and property. The Hebrew word is “ga’al,” and foreshadows Christ redeeming His bride, which is the Church. The redeemed Moabitess Ruth became the great grandmother of David, and therefore in the line of Jesus. Now that’s amazing redemption!
After the Sycharians had been with Jesus for a couple of days, they expressed their belief no longer dependent on the Samaritan woman who had witnessed to them. Has your believing become independent of your parents or those who taught you? Do you believe because of another’s testimony or because you have encountered the Jesus of the Scriptures? Is your believing your own?