Victory in Christ

It is easy to let the material blessings of this world become the place we lay our trust. David reminds us that this should not be so. “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.” (Psalms 52:7-9) 

Today’s reading: Psalms 7, 27, 31, 34, 52

King Saul and his men were chasing David in an attempt to kill him. Saul went into the cave where David was hiding but he never knew David was there. Instead of using this opportunity to harm the man who wanted to kill him, all David did was cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. I doubt any person who knew the situation would have blamed David if he had used this opportunity to kill Saul. Most would have considered it self defense, but David felt bad for just the small thing he did to Saul’s robe. “And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” (1 Samuel 24:5) Why did David feel so strongly about not harming Saul? “He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 24:6)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 21-24

In the chapter we have as Psalm 59 are some of David’s writing about King Saul sending men out to watch David’s house in order to kill him. He describes this enemy and their plans of evil toward him. Mixed in with the descriptions of them are David’s prayer to God for help. His words show that no matter what happened, David knew that God was in control of everything.  “But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.” (Psalms 59:8) He repeatedly calls out to his source of strength and protection. (Bolding for emphasis) “O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.” (Psalms 59:9) “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” (Psalms 59:16)  “O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.” (Psalms 59:17) David’s source of strength and protection is the same one that is available for us today!

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 18-20; Psalms 11,59

In this section of scripture we see another instance of Saul’s insubordination. Saul had been commanded to destroy all of Amalek. Saul and his people instead decided to save some of the best animals for themselves. When confronted by Samuel, Saul tried to say he had done as he was commanded. Samuel knew better. “And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” (1Samuel 15:14) Samuel let Saul know how God felt about his actions. “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1Samuel 15:22) We are not under the old Law so we are not required to offer animal sacrifices, but we are commanded to obey Him. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) 

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 15-17

King Saul made some decisions that were against God’s commands. One instance of this was in 1 Samuel chapter 13 when Saul was supposed to wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifice.  Samuel had not come by the time he was supposed to and Saul was afraid to wait any longer so he took matters into his own hand.  Shortly after Saul offered the sacrifice Samuel arrived. “Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.” (1 Samuel 13:11-13) Saul assumed he could do it his own way and God would still be pleased. We cannot be like Saul and decide to do most of what God has commanded and expect Him to be pleased. We must study His word diligently and follow it completely.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 13-14

Samuel gave good advice on how to live and we should strive to follow that same advice today. “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24) 

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 9-12

Sometimes we think what we want is what we need.  We see this from the Israelites in 1 Samuel chapter 8. “But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.” (1Samuel 8:6-7) It really troubled Samuel that they would not listen to him, but they had other reasons for wanting a king. “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1Samuel 8:19-20) They wanted to be like other nations. Wanting to be like the world around us can get us on the wrong path.  “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 4-8

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, Samuel heard a voice speaking to him.  He went to Eli the priest and asked him what he wanted because he thought Eli was the one talking to him. After three times of this happening, Eli knew that it was God speaking and told Samuel that the next time he heard the voice to say “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.” Samuel did as he was told and God spoke to him. We will not be hearing God speak to us in that way, but He will speak to us thru His word. Like Samuel, we have to let Him speak to us. We have to study all of His written Word and make application of it into our own lives.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 1-3

In the book of Ruth we see what seems to be another instance of God’s providence at work.  After Naomi’s husband and two sons died, she said that “the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” (Ruth 1:13)  Little did she know that Jesus would be born thru the lineage of her daughter-in-law Ruth. (Matthew 1:5) Naomi was going back to Bethlehem and she told both of her daughter-in-laws to go back to their home country.  Orpah did as she was told to do.  “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.” (Ruth 1:16)  It sounds like the influence of Naomi is what brought Ruth to the one true God.  We may not know the level of influence we have on others, but we can make sure that influence is a positive one.  (1Corinthians 7:16)

Today’s reading: Ruth 1-4

Here we see the book of Judges ending with that same phrase repeated: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) The Proverb writer warned us about doing what is right in our own sight. “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12) He even warns of a generation having that same idea. “There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.” (Proverbs 30:12) Instead, we should live by the words from Jeremiah; “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. O LORD, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.” (Jeremiah 10:23-24) 

Today’s reading: Judges 19-21