1 Samuel 17:4-5 MKJV
(4) And a champion named Goliath came out of the Philistines camp; he was from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span.
(5) And a bronze helmet was on his head, and he was armed with scaled armor. And the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.
Most Christians learn the story of Goliath in Sunday school. There are some very profound things to note about the description of Goliath, particularly the 6's that describe various parts of his equipment. I would like to point out his armor. It was scale armor. This devil-man was armed like a serpent.
Genesis 3:15 MKJV
(15) And I will put enmity between you (serpent) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.
The Seed of the woman is Jesus, our Rock. He was polished smooth in the stream of the Holy Spirit. We are His brothers, still waiting in the pouch for our chance to fell the next giant.
Showing posts with label 1 Samuel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Samuel. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Word of the age: Co-labor
1Co 3:9a KJV
(9) For we are labourers together with God
Our aspirations should be tested in God ...
1Sa 14:7-10 MKJV
(7) And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Turn, for behold, I am with you according to your heart.
(8) And Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
(9) If they say this to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.
(10) But if they say this, Come up to us, then we will go up, for Jehovah has delivered them up into our hand. And this shall be a sign to us.
What we would consider a pretentious aspiration... perhaps even arrogant... we will realize that God wants to co-labor even greater things with us than that. Two men taking a Philistine garrison? GET REAL!
This is co-laboring with God. It seems pretentious to the world. Step up and realize who you are in Christ. You need no other credentials.
(9) For we are labourers together with God
Our aspirations should be tested in God ...
1Sa 14:7-10 MKJV
(7) And his armor-bearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart. Turn, for behold, I am with you according to your heart.
(8) And Jonathan said, Behold, we will go over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
(9) If they say this to us, Stand still until we come to you, then we will stand still in our place and will not go up to them.
(10) But if they say this, Come up to us, then we will go up, for Jehovah has delivered them up into our hand. And this shall be a sign to us.
What we would consider a pretentious aspiration... perhaps even arrogant... we will realize that God wants to co-labor even greater things with us than that. Two men taking a Philistine garrison? GET REAL!
This is co-laboring with God. It seems pretentious to the world. Step up and realize who you are in Christ. You need no other credentials.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Waiting On God
1Sa 16:11-13 ESV
(11) Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."
(12) And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."
(13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
This was the point where David was anointed King of Israel by Samuel the prophet. Saul, the current king, had disobeyed God and had turned his heart from God, so God took his anointing from Saul.
Here's the question: what did David do after Samuel left?
Here's the answer: he went back to tending his sheep.
It was literally years before David sat upon the throne of Israel, even though God had chosen him for the job. Saul continued to reign - ineffectively - chasing David because of jealousy and satisfying the demands of his own ego.
Do you sense God calling you to something? Something big? Are you ready to step into it, or is there a spiritual training camp you need to attend? Don't step into anything until God says you're ready - even if you know He has called you. Make sure, above all, that you have been walking under God's authority, which typically starts by placing yourself under the mentor-ship of someone in your church! If you cannot submit to authority, you will never be placed in authority.
(11) Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."
(12) And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he."
(13) Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
This was the point where David was anointed King of Israel by Samuel the prophet. Saul, the current king, had disobeyed God and had turned his heart from God, so God took his anointing from Saul.
Here's the question: what did David do after Samuel left?
Here's the answer: he went back to tending his sheep.
It was literally years before David sat upon the throne of Israel, even though God had chosen him for the job. Saul continued to reign - ineffectively - chasing David because of jealousy and satisfying the demands of his own ego.
Do you sense God calling you to something? Something big? Are you ready to step into it, or is there a spiritual training camp you need to attend? Don't step into anything until God says you're ready - even if you know He has called you. Make sure, above all, that you have been walking under God's authority, which typically starts by placing yourself under the mentor-ship of someone in your church! If you cannot submit to authority, you will never be placed in authority.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Don't Agree With the Devil
1Sa 27:1 ESV
(1) Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand."
If you read the story of David, especially in the early going up until this passage, you will notice that there is nothing but David's faith and God's deliverance. David's faith.... God's deliverance... and the promises of God to establish David as king of Israel. This was all a done deal. Saul was bi-polar. He was hurling javelins at David one minute, crying and begging for forgiveness the next. Through all of this, David kept his eyes on God and God delivered.
But David grew tired of running. With fatigue comes weakness of spirit, and that's when the enemy whispers in our ear the loudest. David said in his heart, "One of these days, Saul is going to kill me." The devil finally got a public declaration out of David - an agreement, and even though this declaration never came to pass, it had quite the effect on him.
He moved in with the Philistines. He moved to Gath - the very place Goliath lived because he knew Saul would not follow him into enemy territory. How popular could David have been? He'd killed the most famous person to ever come from Gath. From this action, a number of near-disastrous events occurred. However, God faithfully continued to deliver David.
Take comfort that even the greatest men of the Bible were beaten down from time to time. They, too, made silly decisions at times. But God never let them down. Lean on the promises of God in your life. What are they? Recite them. When you're beaten down, immerse yourself in His Word. When we can hear Him, then we can't hear the enemy.
(1) Then David said in his heart, "Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand."
If you read the story of David, especially in the early going up until this passage, you will notice that there is nothing but David's faith and God's deliverance. David's faith.... God's deliverance... and the promises of God to establish David as king of Israel. This was all a done deal. Saul was bi-polar. He was hurling javelins at David one minute, crying and begging for forgiveness the next. Through all of this, David kept his eyes on God and God delivered.
But David grew tired of running. With fatigue comes weakness of spirit, and that's when the enemy whispers in our ear the loudest. David said in his heart, "One of these days, Saul is going to kill me." The devil finally got a public declaration out of David - an agreement, and even though this declaration never came to pass, it had quite the effect on him.
He moved in with the Philistines. He moved to Gath - the very place Goliath lived because he knew Saul would not follow him into enemy territory. How popular could David have been? He'd killed the most famous person to ever come from Gath. From this action, a number of near-disastrous events occurred. However, God faithfully continued to deliver David.
Take comfort that even the greatest men of the Bible were beaten down from time to time. They, too, made silly decisions at times. But God never let them down. Lean on the promises of God in your life. What are they? Recite them. When you're beaten down, immerse yourself in His Word. When we can hear Him, then we can't hear the enemy.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Stepping Into The Prophetic
Regarding prophecies, there are a couple of types that come to mind. There is that which is fore-ordained. God has said it, and He will not 'repent' of it, therefore it WILL be. Bank on it. If we read Revelation, we see a solid twenty two chapters of that which will be, period. There is nothing that can happen that will prevent Jesus Christ from accepting the deed to the creation He has purchased. We will rule and reign with Him. There will be great tribulation on the earth. You get the point.
However, when you have a word prophesied over you, realize that you must step into it. Many of the prophecies in the Old Testament were given as a warning to Israel. Rarely were the prophets popular for this reason. Literally, the word to Israel was often 'turn or burn'. Sometimes they turned. Sometimes they burned. But as a people they stepped into the prophetic. They had a say.
1Sa 23:10-14 LITV
(10) And David said, O Jehovah the God of Israel, Your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.
(11) Will the masters of Keilah shut me up into his hand? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? I pray You, Jehovah the God of Israel, tell your servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.
(12) And David said, Will the masters of Keilah shut me and my men up into Saul's hand? And Jehovah said, They will shut you up.
(13) And David and his men, about six hundred men, rose up and left Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah. And he ceased to go out.
(14) And David stayed in the wilderness, in the strongholds. And he stayed in the hill, in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all his days. And God did not give him into his hand.
In this example, the very word from God was: The citizens will give you over to your enemy, Saul. It was prophesied by God. David could have stepped into this, but heeding the word of God, he chose to run to the desert, and nothing prophesied came to pass.
If it has been prophesied in your life that you will be a great man or woman of God, and that you will lead many to Jesus, you need to understand that this will not come to pass in front of your PlayStation. It's difficult to reach people for the Kingdom if you invest nothing in the Kingdom. We must press in. We must be serious. We must be zealous. We must be intentional.
However, when you have a word prophesied over you, realize that you must step into it. Many of the prophecies in the Old Testament were given as a warning to Israel. Rarely were the prophets popular for this reason. Literally, the word to Israel was often 'turn or burn'. Sometimes they turned. Sometimes they burned. But as a people they stepped into the prophetic. They had a say.
1Sa 23:10-14 LITV
(10) And David said, O Jehovah the God of Israel, Your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.
(11) Will the masters of Keilah shut me up into his hand? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? I pray You, Jehovah the God of Israel, tell your servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.
(12) And David said, Will the masters of Keilah shut me and my men up into Saul's hand? And Jehovah said, They will shut you up.
(13) And David and his men, about six hundred men, rose up and left Keilah, and went wherever they could go. And it was told to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah. And he ceased to go out.
(14) And David stayed in the wilderness, in the strongholds. And he stayed in the hill, in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him all his days. And God did not give him into his hand.
In this example, the very word from God was: The citizens will give you over to your enemy, Saul. It was prophesied by God. David could have stepped into this, but heeding the word of God, he chose to run to the desert, and nothing prophesied came to pass.
If it has been prophesied in your life that you will be a great man or woman of God, and that you will lead many to Jesus, you need to understand that this will not come to pass in front of your PlayStation. It's difficult to reach people for the Kingdom if you invest nothing in the Kingdom. We must press in. We must be serious. We must be zealous. We must be intentional.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Playing It Safe
1 Samuel 22:5 MKJV
(5) And the prophet Gad said to David, Do not stay in the stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah. And David left and came into the forest of Hareth.
When David was on the run from Saul, he left the cave of Adullam and went to Moab, seeking shelter from the king. God sent His prophet, Gad, to tell David to move on.
There are safe places for us to stay - thankfully - where we can rest spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In the embrace of our church family is such a stronghold. However, it's very easy to live within the confines of the church walls and never stray outside. We get complacent. Our Christian walk is only on sanctuary carpet. If this has been your walk, God says it's time to move on. Yes, there are risks outside, but with no risk there is no reward. God's plan for us rarely involves us being stagnant. His kingdom is constantly moving forward. Are we moving forward with it?
(5) And the prophet Gad said to David, Do not stay in the stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah. And David left and came into the forest of Hareth.
When David was on the run from Saul, he left the cave of Adullam and went to Moab, seeking shelter from the king. God sent His prophet, Gad, to tell David to move on.
There are safe places for us to stay - thankfully - where we can rest spiritually, physically, and emotionally. In the embrace of our church family is such a stronghold. However, it's very easy to live within the confines of the church walls and never stray outside. We get complacent. Our Christian walk is only on sanctuary carpet. If this has been your walk, God says it's time to move on. Yes, there are risks outside, but with no risk there is no reward. God's plan for us rarely involves us being stagnant. His kingdom is constantly moving forward. Are we moving forward with it?
Friday, July 09, 2010
Walking Under The Anointing
1Sa 14:6-7 LITV
(6) And Jonathan said to the young man bearing his weapons, Come, we shall cross over to the fort of these uncircumcised ones. It may be Jehovah will work for us, for there is no hindrance to Jehovah, to save by many or by few.
(7) And his armorbearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself. Behold, I am with you according to your heart.
1Sa 14:23 LITV
(23) And Jehovah saved Israel that day. And the battle passed over to Beth-aven.
Between verse 6 and verse 23, amazing and miraculous things happened. Check out this story! Notice, though, that the Lord saved Israel in one day because of a chain of events that started by one man of faith who pressed against the enemy. Jonathan, the king's son and (supposedly) heir to the throne lived a life of risk because he knew that God could save 'by many or by few'. Wow! God loves those who tackle the miraculous. If our walk doesn't require faith, we live a powerless life. Jonathan's walk was 'ridiculous'! But what was Israel saved from? Exactly what happened because of one man's faith? To answer that, we go one chapter back and take an objective view of the enemy that had formed against Israel:
1Sa 13:5 LITV
(5) And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, with thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the lip of the sea for multitude. And they came up and pitched in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
Formidable, yes, to the human eye. To God, however, the overwhelming odds against us don't amount to much. The rule Jonathan lived by was one that Samuel presented his father, Saul, just a few years prior. It was this:
1Sa 10:7 LITV
(7) And it will be, when these signs come to you, do for yourself what your hand finds, for God is with you.
We who are called according to God's purpose have an anointing to serve and to be ministers of God. If we are attached to the 'body', then we MUST have an anointing, because Christ means 'anointed one', and HE is the HEAD. All the oil (anointing) poured upon the head must flow down - therefore the body is anointed always. The question I hear is... anointed to do what? The answer is:
Do as your hand shall find; for God is with you.
(6) And Jonathan said to the young man bearing his weapons, Come, we shall cross over to the fort of these uncircumcised ones. It may be Jehovah will work for us, for there is no hindrance to Jehovah, to save by many or by few.
(7) And his armorbearer said to him, Do all that is in your heart; turn yourself. Behold, I am with you according to your heart.
1Sa 14:23 LITV
(23) And Jehovah saved Israel that day. And the battle passed over to Beth-aven.
Between verse 6 and verse 23, amazing and miraculous things happened. Check out this story! Notice, though, that the Lord saved Israel in one day because of a chain of events that started by one man of faith who pressed against the enemy. Jonathan, the king's son and (supposedly) heir to the throne lived a life of risk because he knew that God could save 'by many or by few'. Wow! God loves those who tackle the miraculous. If our walk doesn't require faith, we live a powerless life. Jonathan's walk was 'ridiculous'! But what was Israel saved from? Exactly what happened because of one man's faith? To answer that, we go one chapter back and take an objective view of the enemy that had formed against Israel:
1Sa 13:5 LITV
(5) And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, with thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the lip of the sea for multitude. And they came up and pitched in Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
Formidable, yes, to the human eye. To God, however, the overwhelming odds against us don't amount to much. The rule Jonathan lived by was one that Samuel presented his father, Saul, just a few years prior. It was this:
1Sa 10:7 LITV
(7) And it will be, when these signs come to you, do for yourself what your hand finds, for God is with you.
We who are called according to God's purpose have an anointing to serve and to be ministers of God. If we are attached to the 'body', then we MUST have an anointing, because Christ means 'anointed one', and HE is the HEAD. All the oil (anointing) poured upon the head must flow down - therefore the body is anointed always. The question I hear is... anointed to do what? The answer is:
Do as your hand shall find; for God is with you.
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Attack In Faith
1Sa 13:2-5 JPS
(2) And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmas and in the mount of Beth- el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeath-benjamin; and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
(3) And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the horn throughout all the land, saying: 'Let the Hebrews hear.'
(4) And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also had made himself odious with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
(5) And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude; and they came up, and pitched in Michmas, eastward of Beth-aven.
Pressing into the Kingdom of God is a job for 'violent' men and women (Matt 11:12). What we find when we become active in 'pressing' is that we upset the powers of the enemy. We become targets. Saul and Jonathan learned this the hard way, as they became 'odious with the Philistines'. Jonathan was a man of faith that 'pressed' by faith. As a result, Jonathan was victorious in his battles, but really ticked off the enemy! Saul never proved to be much of a man of faith. He relied more upon numbers and the backing of his people and his prophet, Samuel. This reliance upon flesh never panned out for Saul. Rather, it cost him absolutely everything.
We can know that in these days, we are to be acting more like Jonathan. Attack in faith and expect victory. Also expect the enemy to gather against us, but realize no enemy can overcome the people of God, for no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
(2) And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmas and in the mount of Beth- el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeath-benjamin; and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.
(3) And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the horn throughout all the land, saying: 'Let the Hebrews hear.'
(4) And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also had made himself odious with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.
(5) And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude; and they came up, and pitched in Michmas, eastward of Beth-aven.
Pressing into the Kingdom of God is a job for 'violent' men and women (Matt 11:12). What we find when we become active in 'pressing' is that we upset the powers of the enemy. We become targets. Saul and Jonathan learned this the hard way, as they became 'odious with the Philistines'. Jonathan was a man of faith that 'pressed' by faith. As a result, Jonathan was victorious in his battles, but really ticked off the enemy! Saul never proved to be much of a man of faith. He relied more upon numbers and the backing of his people and his prophet, Samuel. This reliance upon flesh never panned out for Saul. Rather, it cost him absolutely everything.
We can know that in these days, we are to be acting more like Jonathan. Attack in faith and expect victory. Also expect the enemy to gather against us, but realize no enemy can overcome the people of God, for no weapon formed against us shall prosper.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Prophecy in Hannah's Prayer
1Sa 2:1-10 MKJV
(1) And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoices in Jehovah, my horn is exalted in Jehovah. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I rejoice in Your salvation.
(2) There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none beside You. Neither is there any rock like our God.
(3) Talk no more so very proudly. Remove arrogance out of your mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
(4) The bows of the mighty are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
(5) They that were full have hired themselves out for bread, and they that were hungry ceased; yea, while the barren has borne seven, and she who had many sons has languished.
(6) Jehovah kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
(7) Jehovah takes away, and He gives riches; He brings low; yea, He lifts up high.
(8) He raises up the poor out of the dust; He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to set them among princes; yea, He causes them to inherit a throne of honor; for to Jehovah are the pillars of the earth; and He sets the habitable world on them.
(9) He keeps the feet of his saints, and the wicked are silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
(10) The foes of Jehovah shall be broken to pieces. He thunders in the heavens upon them. Jehovah shall judge the ends of the earth. And He shall give strength to His king, and exalts the horn of His anointed.
If you will remove the first five words of this passage, you would have trouble telling it apart from something David, or Solomon, or even Paul wrote. This is a clue that we are seeing a style of the Holy Spirit. I like to call it His signature. The preceding chapter details Hannah's plea to God for a son, and how God answered her by sending Samuel. This passage is one of gratitude to God for answered prayer. But what do we not see?
"Thank you for my son. Thank you for my son! Thank you thank you thank you for sending my Samuel!"
Instead, we see a Psalm of praise, and when we examine it, we find some fascinating things.
There is so much else in this passage, but that the Spirit screamed praise to God through Jesus even in the time of Samuel's birth is an amazing thing.
(1) And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoices in Jehovah, my horn is exalted in Jehovah. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies because I rejoice in Your salvation.
(2) There is none holy as Jehovah, for there is none beside You. Neither is there any rock like our God.
(3) Talk no more so very proudly. Remove arrogance out of your mouth, for Jehovah is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.
(4) The bows of the mighty are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
(5) They that were full have hired themselves out for bread, and they that were hungry ceased; yea, while the barren has borne seven, and she who had many sons has languished.
(6) Jehovah kills and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
(7) Jehovah takes away, and He gives riches; He brings low; yea, He lifts up high.
(8) He raises up the poor out of the dust; He lifts up the needy from the dunghill to set them among princes; yea, He causes them to inherit a throne of honor; for to Jehovah are the pillars of the earth; and He sets the habitable world on them.
(9) He keeps the feet of his saints, and the wicked are silenced in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
(10) The foes of Jehovah shall be broken to pieces. He thunders in the heavens upon them. Jehovah shall judge the ends of the earth. And He shall give strength to His king, and exalts the horn of His anointed.
If you will remove the first five words of this passage, you would have trouble telling it apart from something David, or Solomon, or even Paul wrote. This is a clue that we are seeing a style of the Holy Spirit. I like to call it His signature. The preceding chapter details Hannah's plea to God for a son, and how God answered her by sending Samuel. This passage is one of gratitude to God for answered prayer. But what do we not see?
"Thank you for my son. Thank you for my son! Thank you thank you thank you for sending my Samuel!"
Instead, we see a Psalm of praise, and when we examine it, we find some fascinating things.
- Verse 1: "I rejoice in Your salvation." The Hebrew word for salvation is "Yeshua", or "Jesus" in English.
- Verse 5: The barren has borne seven; this is a picture of one who could not have children (barren) miraculously bearing seven (perfection). I see the virgin birth in this.
- Verse 6: Jehovah kills and makes alive. Who did Jehovah kill and make alive again? Jesus! "He brings down to Sheol, and brings up." Again, this is Jesus.
- Verse 7: He brings low; yea, He lifts up high. This is a picture of the life of Jesus, living as a suffering servant, but elevated to the right hand of the Father.
- Verse 10: "He shall give strength to His king, and exalts the horn of His anointed (Christ)." This is also a reference to Jesus, "His King and His Anointed One."
There is so much else in this passage, but that the Spirit screamed praise to God through Jesus even in the time of Samuel's birth is an amazing thing.
Thursday, July 01, 2010
The Price of Crowning Our Own King
1Sa 8:11-18 MKJV
(11) And he said, This will be the privilege of the king who shall reign over you. He shall take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and his horsemen. And they shall run before his chariots.
(12) And he will appoint commanders over thousands, and commanders over fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and weapons for his chariots.
(13) And he will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
(14) And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your olive-yards, the best, and give them to his servants.
(15) And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
(16) And he will take your male slaves and your slave girls, and your finest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
(17) He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants.
(18) And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.
Life is a never-ending struggle. If it's not relationships, it's health. If not health, it's finances. It's work, it's school, it's growing pains, it's aging. These are the components that are seen, but behind it all is a spiritual war that continually wages. Satan hates everyone and is bent on doing what he does: stealing, killing, and destroying. In this war, there is no neutral. To claim neutrality is to rebel against God. We are instructed to choose a side. (Joshua 24:15) God cannot stand spiritual neutrality. (Rev 3:15-16)
For all of this, we cast a vote for a king; either we opt for God and He alone, or we cast our allegiance to the king of this world, the devil. There are some things we should understand about casting our vote for the enemy which we can learn from the passage above.
We should definitely choose our king wisely.
(11) And he said, This will be the privilege of the king who shall reign over you. He shall take your sons and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and his horsemen. And they shall run before his chariots.
(12) And he will appoint commanders over thousands, and commanders over fifties, and some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and weapons for his chariots.
(13) And he will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
(14) And he will take your fields and your vineyards and your olive-yards, the best, and give them to his servants.
(15) And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs and to his servants.
(16) And he will take your male slaves and your slave girls, and your finest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
(17) He will take the tenth of your sheep, and you shall be his servants.
(18) And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.
Life is a never-ending struggle. If it's not relationships, it's health. If not health, it's finances. It's work, it's school, it's growing pains, it's aging. These are the components that are seen, but behind it all is a spiritual war that continually wages. Satan hates everyone and is bent on doing what he does: stealing, killing, and destroying. In this war, there is no neutral. To claim neutrality is to rebel against God. We are instructed to choose a side. (Joshua 24:15) God cannot stand spiritual neutrality. (Rev 3:15-16)
For all of this, we cast a vote for a king; either we opt for God and He alone, or we cast our allegiance to the king of this world, the devil. There are some things we should understand about casting our vote for the enemy which we can learn from the passage above.
- Our children will be consumed by the war effort. Some will fight, and some will work, but they will be taken without a choice. (vs 11-13) Remember, they will be fighting a war that they have already lost, and they will not survive it.
- Our fields, vineyards, and orchards represent our fruitfulness. All we produce will go to the enemy, adding up to nothing in the scope of eternity. (vs 14)
- Many avoid serving God because they believe He wants a tenth of all they have. The bad news is that what could be voluntarily given will be taken by force; one tenth of what we have to sow, and one tenth of what we've already grown. (vs 15)
- Anything and everything we have that makes life easier goes to the enemy. All our resources become his. (vs 16)
- All of our livestock, which represents our 'sacrifice', goes to the enemy, while we ourselves enter servitude. (vs 17)
- By the time you realize your mistake, it will be too late. (vs 18)
We should definitely choose our king wisely.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Be Dangerous
1Sa 2:18 MKJV
(18) And Samuel served before Jehovah, a child girded with a linen ephod.
From the beginning of his life, Samuel was destined to be a priest of God. He was brought up in the Temple from the time he was weaned, and learned - even from a very lame priest, Eli - the ways of God.
Samuel dealt with lameness most of his life. Saul, Israel's first king, had a problem with loving himself more than he loved God. This was something Samuel could not and did not stomach.
1Sa 15:31-33 MKJV
(31) And Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped Jehovah.
(32) And Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came to him daintily. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
(33) And Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
As we can see, Samuel was a dangerous man. He was not to be trifled with. We know he was raised as a priest, but here he steps in and does what the king should have done. He operated as both priest - and king.
1Ki 18:39-40 MKJV
(39) And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He is the God! Jehovah, He is the God!
(40) And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the torrent Kishon and killed them there.
Elijah was another dangerous man. He had just offered a sacrifice to God before an audience of 450 priests of Baal, 400 prophets of Asherah, and the people of Israel. This was a priestly service. Immediately afterwards, he did that which the king should have done - exercised judgment upon the false prophets.
These are two examples of the manafest power of God in men who are willing to be as God called them to be. There is not a more powerful person on earth than a king who is also a priest. Are we to go out and destroy the wicked of the world? No - that is no longer our calling. Our battle is not with flesh and blood. However, there is a serious lack of authority being thrown against the spiritual strongholds in physical places and in real people. It's time to stand and be men and women of God. Study the verses above - where did fear fit into the equation of Samuel and Elijah?
(18) And Samuel served before Jehovah, a child girded with a linen ephod.
From the beginning of his life, Samuel was destined to be a priest of God. He was brought up in the Temple from the time he was weaned, and learned - even from a very lame priest, Eli - the ways of God.
Samuel dealt with lameness most of his life. Saul, Israel's first king, had a problem with loving himself more than he loved God. This was something Samuel could not and did not stomach.
1Sa 15:31-33 MKJV
(31) And Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped Jehovah.
(32) And Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came to him daintily. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
(33) And Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
As we can see, Samuel was a dangerous man. He was not to be trifled with. We know he was raised as a priest, but here he steps in and does what the king should have done. He operated as both priest - and king.
1Ki 18:39-40 MKJV
(39) And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He is the God! Jehovah, He is the God!
(40) And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the torrent Kishon and killed them there.
Elijah was another dangerous man. He had just offered a sacrifice to God before an audience of 450 priests of Baal, 400 prophets of Asherah, and the people of Israel. This was a priestly service. Immediately afterwards, he did that which the king should have done - exercised judgment upon the false prophets.
These are two examples of the manafest power of God in men who are willing to be as God called them to be. There is not a more powerful person on earth than a king who is also a priest. Are we to go out and destroy the wicked of the world? No - that is no longer our calling. Our battle is not with flesh and blood. However, there is a serious lack of authority being thrown against the spiritual strongholds in physical places and in real people. It's time to stand and be men and women of God. Study the verses above - where did fear fit into the equation of Samuel and Elijah?
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