A Fool and His Money-- week of October 3.

Next week we will read about a fool and his money. The name Nabal actually means "fool" in the Arabic languages. Imagine being named a foolish person from birth. The sad part is he lived up to his name. He was greedy and a drunkard. His wife Abigail put up with a lot but when it came to defending the safety of her family, she moved quickly to appease the angered young warrior named David. She brought gifts and profuse apologies to David and asked for mercy. David was so impressed with Abigail, her grace and intelligence, he didn't dare follow through on his promise to kill the tribe of Nabal and show the world what happens to an ungrateful fool who would not return kindness for kindness. Read I Samuel chapter 25.
 It's an easy read and a really beautiful story...exciting as any Hollywood saga about love and war. Two things to look for--- 1. how greed and drunkeness, insensitivity and foolishness leads to loss of family and life. 2. how beauty, wisdom, and loyality to one's family leads to good outcomes for one young woman.       

Here are some questions to think about:

1. If you could assign yourself a name based on your character, what would it be?


2. If your spouse or close friends were asked to choose a name for you would the names be similar to the one you chose?


3. When a specific need arises, like Abigail, to you act quickly? Can you think of some examples?


4. When you see a wrong that needs righting, what kind of response do you usually give? What leads to your decisions about interceding for a wrong at work, in the community, at home?

5. When cross words or a disagreement come between you and a friend or family member, do you step forward to make repair or do you sit back and wait for the other person to make the first  move?

                                                

Jeff will lead us next week, but I know his wisdom and insight will provide much food for thought. We are promised that God's word will feed us and nourish us, but last week's lesson on Hacking Agag was a hard lesson to digest. I did want to remind you all of the promises God gives about war and bloodshed--Isaiah prophesied the meaning of the Messiah's coming. War would end and be replaced with the love and good counsel of the Prince of Peace. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.

I liked Jeff's insight--- just as Jesus didn't going around burning down the whore houses... we need not burn the holy books of others. It serves no good purpose. Jesus' sacrifice replaces vengeance with mercy. Part of that mercy might be the protection of helpless people who are being attacked and abused by the more powerful. This covers a lot of territory--from human trafficing to protection from genocide.

 Isaiah 9:5-7. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." When Jesus came several hundred years later, he said John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." The covenant made between God and his people as a result of Christ’s sacrifice shows the difference between the Old Testament and the New. The New Covenant is not about military victory, as the Israelites believed. It is about redemption provided by grace and mercy. This is why Christ did not come as military leader, but instead a carpenter who healed, comforted, and taught lessons of peace. He set the example for all those who follow Him. We know that the murder of Abel required a blood sacrifice to cover the sin. (Genesis 4:10; Hebrews 9:22 ) Without the shedding of blood their can be no forgiveness. This is why the animals were sacrificed. Shedding the blood of the enemy was a part of this militaristic society and before Christ who came to end the requirements for blood sacrifice. Hebrews 12:23-24. Instead of war, we make peace with others. Hebrews 12:14-15. This brings us back to the new command by Jesus John 13:34. No where in the gospel does Jesus teach others to declare war on an enemy. Yes, we do defend the defenseless, we protect ourselves when attached, but jihad is never permitted. Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

A tale of war and woe 1st Sam 15 Sep 24

The Amalekites (Deu 25: 16-18)  were particularly brutal and pagan in their wars and culture. Torture and public humiliation were a normal acts of war. God had commanded that the Amalekites be wiped out, destroyed form the planet.

The message in this chapter is that Saul was disobedient. As a result of this, God was very displeased. Rather than the sacrifice of animals, God insisted on obedience. According to some Jewish historians, the original King Agag was the descendant of Esau. The bitter root planted in Esau’s heart against his brother Jacob was inherited by all his sons and was passed down to all generations from this particular lineage of people. This is a difficult passage to interpret but the scripture says in 1^st Samuel 15: 2--- this is what the Lord tells you must do. You must attack and kill the enemy, the Amalekite. You must kill all the men, women, and children and their livestock. Then we read that Saul deliberately disobeyed. He saved the wicked King Agag and the best of the livestock. Saul made no excuse for saving Agag’s life as an act of mercy. He saved Agag as his personal trophy in winning the war. He didn’t save the livestock to leave food for survivors. He stole the livestock for himself. His only redeeming act was to spare the Kenites (1^st Sam 15:6). “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them, for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt”.

These were savage times and wars often raged without mercy toward the people involved. This war was no different. God preserved this story in his Bible to point out how seriously He considers obedience (1^st Sam 15:1-11). It also points to the wonder and glory of Christ’s work on the cross. Isaiah prophesied the meaning of the Messiah's coming. War would end and be replaced with the love and good counsel of the Prince of Peace. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Isaiah 9:5-7. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When Jesus came several hundred years later, he said John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The covenant made between God and his people as a result of Christ’s sacrifice shows the difference between the Old Testament and the New. The New Covenant is not about military victory, as the Israelites believed. It is about redemption provided by grace and  mercy. This is why Christ did not come as military leader, but instead a carpenter who healed, comforted, and taught lessons of peace. He set the example for all those who follow Him.

Further in the chapter we read how King Saul had become so foolish, he even built an altar to give honor to himself (1^st Sam 15:12.)--- the ultimate in vanity. Saul was so blind to his own wayward disobedience he didn’t stop to think that Samuel must know how Saul failed to obey God’s instructions. Saul said, “The Lord bless you, I have carried out the Lord’s command.” It is here we read one of the most sarcastic lines in the Bible. Samuel responded, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul’s sins were growing interest and compounded daily. He now begins to justify himself by saying he brought the best of the plunder as a sacrifice to God. Once again, Samuel calls Saul down and points out he is a disobedient liar. Saul argues that he DID obey and did what he was supposed to do. It is amazing how he is so sure of his innocence he begins to believe his own lie. Caught in his own lie and self-illusions, Saul realizes he must try to wiggle out and beg for mercy. He said, “I have sinned; I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions.  I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. …now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord.”  At this point in the deteriorating situation, Saul begins to blame other people around him. This was one of his weaker character flaws---he worried more about what men would think of him than what the Lord would think of him.

Samuel refused to go back with Saul for any kind of worship service. As an omen of the break in the relationship, Saul grabbed Samuel’s robe and the fabric tore in his grip. This Samuel said, “today the Lord has torn the kingdom from your rule. "

Then Samuel ordered that Agag be brought to Gilgal. Agag was sure the “bitterness of death had passed.” But his confidence was in his own cunning. Samuel killed Agag with a sword. “Just as you made women childless, so I will make your mother childless” and Agag, the murderer, was slain. Saul never saw Samuel again and his leadership began to seriously deteriorate from that time on.

There Goes the King: One Shining Moment- Week of September 19

"What does it take to make a good leader? What kind of leadership inspires others to follow? Whether they are particularly intelligent, charismatic, or visionary, one essential characteristic of true leaders is that they are willing to lead from the front rather than push from the rear. King Saul's leadership record, like his mental health, was spotty---but for one shining moment, as related in 1 Samuel 11, he became exactly the leader he was called to be." (Cartledge, 2010)

Saul started and ended poorly. He was an impressive young man who stood a head taller than all the other men around him. (1 Sam 9:2). Yet, when first called to serve as Israel's new king, he didn’t demonstrate very strong leadership characteristics. He was on an errand to find his donkeys and somehow even this proved to be too big a task for him. (1 Sam 9:4-9). First, he sought the advice of his servant. Later, he sought guidance from a seer or prophet. The seer turned out to be the prophet Samuel. With this first meeting, God opened Samuel’s eyes to see Saul as the first king of Israel. When Samuel planned to announce Saul as king, he couldn't even be found until they discovered him hiding in the baggage (1 Sam 10:21-23). Samuel announces to Saul that God’s Spirit would come upon him. He would be a changed person (1 Sam 10:6) and whatever he set his hand to do, God would be with him. This was a wonderful promise made to Saul. God changed Saul’s heart (1 Sam 10:9) and he was anointed by Samuel and chosen to be king. His heart was changed and he became a leader, but like all politics, not everyone was with him. (1 Sam 10:27).

Most of Saul’s life he was plagued by jealousy and insecurity. His deep-seated insecurity is one reason he became so obsessed with young David, the friend of his own son Jonathan. He feared David would steal his throne. He found himself with so little faith in God's protection and guidance, that he went to a witch seeking guidance and counseling. He had little discernment when it came to honoring the prophets. By taking Samuel's rightful role of intervening with prayer and sacrifice, he lost a good friend in Samuel, but worse, lost favor with Yahweh (1 Sam 13:7-9).

Saul is a good example in how a good man can become so insecure and so filled with self centered pride that he loses even the strengths he had possessed with from his youth.

But today's story is about Saul's one shining moment. In 1st Samuel, chapter 11, we can learn about some attributes of a spirit filled leader who does save the lives of many in his country. Saul was enraged when he heard the people wailing over the prospect of their enemies attacking and conquering them (1 Sam 11:6). He showed unusual cunning and military strength as he surrounded the enemy on three sides. Following his wise and courageous victory over the pagan nations who would have gouged out the eye of every Israelite man, Saul was crowned king. The people applauded him and brought "offerings of well-being" for the celebration. In fact, the troublemakers (1 Sam 10:27) who had opposed Saul earlier were to be put to death, but this was his finest hour and he showed grace as well as courage, the kind of leadership that engenders both admiration and loyalty. He said., "no one will be put to death this day, for today the Lord has brought deliverance to Israel." (1 Sam 11:13)

It is sad that Saul could not maintain this level of integrity and strength of character, for in the end, he fell on his own sword to avoid the torture of his enemies. But for one shining moment he did excel as a spirit-filled leader.

For Reflection

Even though Saul was deeply involved in rescuing the people of Jabesh-gilead, he gave credit for the victory to God. Are you willing to give your time, efforts, or resources to help others, even if you don't get credit for it? Can you name any recent examples?

Here Comes the Judge-- Week of September 12

Every fall at ECU some young man [I've never seen a young woman do this] stands in the central lawn of campus and preaches hail, fire, and damnation. His audience is whomever might be walking by that part of campus. The time is usually the busiest time of day when classes change or students are enroute to the dining hall. A few people  always stop for a few minutes. Some listen quietly but soon resume their walking. Others will snicker. A few will even heckle and make fun of the "preacher." The theme of the preaching will vary. It is often about end times and the judgment of God. Sometimes, it about living a decadent life-style as a student on a college campus. One theme is recurring, every year with every preacher--- he invites the audience to repent...he might call them sinners, or maybe not, but he always invites them to repent. The word "repent" means to turn around; to go in the opposite direction. The context might be walking, running, moving the entire body, but it always means to make a 180 degree turn. This week's lesson is about repentance and what it meant to the Israelites and what it means for people in Greenville.

Last week, we had left the Ark in the hands of a good Israrelite man who kept it in the home of Abinidab for many years (1 Sam 7:1). We don't hear any more about this famous artifact of God until later in 2nd Samuel. During those years when the people had no physical representation of God, they began to drift. They had a good leader in Samuel but they were so insecure they fussed and complained to God that they wanted a King like "all the other nations." This is a shame, for the Israelites had a good many excellent leaders known as judges. The list includes, Othniel, (Judg 3:7-11) Ehud, (Judg 3:12-20 and Deborah (Judg 4:1-23). Read these passages to see how far away the people had really strayed.

Samuel was a good leader and judge. Read 1 Samuel chapter 7 to learn more about Samuel as leader and priest of the Israelites. We know he was a leader because he guided the people to remember Yahweh and to honor Him as their God. We know Samuel was a priest because he offered sacrifices and interceded in prayer for the people (1 Sam 7:9). Samuel told the people they should repent. He said, " If you are returning to the Lord (repenting or turning around) with all your heart, then put away foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines (1Sam 7:3). Samuel cried out to the Lord and He answered with a thunderous and mighty voice. There are other passages in the Bible that describe God's voice like thunder. It must be terrifying to actually hear these sounds. See 1 Sam 2:10;   2 Sam 22:14;   Psalm 18:18;   Psalm 81:7.

The Lord heard Samuel's prayer and caused the Philistines to be so confused, they went into a senseless panic and were promptly defeated. This is where Samuel erects a stone in remembrance, called the stone of Ebenezer. It was after this great victory that the people fell into stupidity again and became frightened and insecure. They didn't remember how God provided but instead looked to what other nations had...a king of their own. Do we do the same thing today? Do we recognize our foolishness, feel convicted and turn from those things we idolize, only to take up old habits of insecurity and doubt? I think the lessons of Samuel are there to help us remember, to trust and not lose faith. To look to God to provide and not at how others around us cope with 21st century problems.



As Tony Cartledge says in his book Sessions with Samuel, repentenace or transformation of our lives, " cannot be in principle alone; it must be put into practice. As demonstration of their return to Yahweh, the Israelistes were to put away their false gods. This may have involved the physical removal out of their homes...but it also means they were to serve the Lord their God only." It was only after Samuel was sure the people had truly repented before he called a public assembly to addreses the conditional promise he had made to Yahweh on their behalf (1Sam 7:9). If they turned to Yahweh with their whole hearts, God would deliver them out of the hands of the Philistines.



Here are some reflections questions to think about before Sunday:

1. Think of times of conviction when you felt sorry for your sins. Can you distinguish between true sorrow over the sin as an offense to God, or sorry for the discomfort, pain, or trouble the sin brought you?

2. Psalms 57:7 and 108:1 use the same verb found in 1 Sam 7:3 to speak of one's heart being fixed on God alone. The translation means to fix on as to set your eye through the scope of a firearm--fixed on the target. What does it mean to you to have your heart fixed on God? What does this look like?

3. What contemporary Philistines [or philistine behavior] threatens your walk with God?

God in a Box-- I Samuel 4 (week 2, Sep 5)

From last week:
Hannah loved God enough to give up her own son in service to her Lord. Later, God remembered her and blessed her with three sons and two daughters, but not until she willingly turned over her only son to live in a tabernacle far away among morally corrupt young priests. This act took supreme trust in God. We are reminded of this kind of trust in Jesus’ words in Mathew 29:19, "And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life."

Samuel learned his lessons well in the “house of the Lord”. He learned to read, keep a clean neat living quarters. He learned to serve, respectfully, under those who were in authority over him. In short Samuel grew “before Jehovah”. And he grew in favor with God and man (I Sam 2 v26). This is the same description given of boy Jesus in Luke 2:52. …he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

Not so with the priest, Eli’s sons. In verses I Sam chap 2, verses 13 through 17 there is a description of how Eli’s sons were disrespectful of the offerings to the Lord. They brought dishonor to God’s name and also to their position as priests. What was sad also-- Eli knew what was going on. He heard about the corruptness from the people, yet he didn’t take a strong stand against his sons, see v22. Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting. Eli’s sons were priests. It was the duty of the priest to intercede for the people. If a person sinned, the priest would offer a sacrifice and ask for forgiveness on behalf of a person. The priest was the intercessor for the people. But, if the priest commits a deplorable sin, then there was no one to intercede. This is explained again in Hebrews 10:26. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. We hear this warning also in Proverbs 29:1.

Do you remember the Sunday sermon a few weeks ago? Our Pastor talked about the security of believers. I do believe I’m saved forever and I also know that my conscious (God’s Spirit within me) will put a swift and sure stop to certain behaviors…I’m convicted and can go no further. Thanks be to God…from Romans 8:1-2. 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. This of course is one of the reasons we celebrate Easter and Christmas and why we rejoice in being God’s children.

This lesson actually begins with battles raging in the lands of the Israelites.

The Israelites were in a place called Ebenezer. They had just experienced victory. The Philistines (see picture left) were nearby in the city of Aphek. The two armies charged one another and a terrible battle resulted in the death of 4,000 soldiers from Israel. One of the men said, “Why did the Lord bring defeat upon us today?” We often ask this same question when we face tragedy or trouble. So, the people decided they should use God’s most sacred artifact, The Ark of the Covenant” (see above) as a kind of good luck charm and carry it into battle.

Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas, as priests, must accompany The Ark. The Philistines had heard the stories of Moses and his God who brought misery and defeat to opposing armies. At first they trembled but then rallied themselves and charged once more into battle. In the end 30,000 men died and the Ark was captured by pagan armies. The worst of this catastrophe was knowing that God’s Ark was now in the hands of wicked nonbelievers. The Philistines carried the Ark into their temple in the city of Ashdod and placed on a stand near their god Dagon. During the night, Dagon fell to the ground and lay before The Ark. The next day, the Philistines put Dagon back up on his stand, the same thing happened the following night, only this time Dagon, hands, feet and all appendages were broken off. The “god” could not move or touch the lives of the people, but the Israelite God remained in place. From here the Philistines decided they would move The Ark to another city. They wanted nothing to do with this God who was known to bring much trouble to the enemies of Israel. So they transported The Ark from Ashdod to Ekron and from Ekron to Gath. In each place, the Lord’s hand was heavy on those people. They suffered from plagues of tumors and of mice. Finally the people asked the Israelites, “What can we do to be rid of your God”? The priests suggested returning the Ark along with a guilt offering. The guilt offering is given to cover for unintentional sins. It is part of the Levitical laws (Lev 5:14-19.). Using this law, the priests advised the Philistines to load the Ark on a cart pulled by cows that were not used to being beasts of burden and who also were still nursing their caves. The point in this is that the cows most likely would balk and not pull the carts to any useful direction, but instead they did pull the cart directly to the home of a godly Israelite man. It remained at this house until, many years later, David comes to rescue the Ark and bring it back to Jerusalem.

See below map of cities that kept the Ark for short periods of time. All the people were afraid of the God of Israel and asked that the Ark be moved to the next city down the road.

This strange story reminds us that “…humans cannot control God any more than they can stop a hurricane. God will be God. A God who cannot act feely but is manipulated by humans is no God at all. Modern believers may try to control God through their particular interpretations of the Bible, or through prayer formulas they believe will obligate God to action. But God is not a genie in a bottle. (Cartledge, p.15).

God is not a good luck charm to be carried as a reminder that He’s going to take care of us. He does keep His promises but His perspective of the world is not our perspective. …”people who would never bow before a statue or make-believe god but may fall prey to the worship of materialism, to the acquisition of things or the accumulation of wealth. Some worship career gods, while others give themselves to leisure. To support opulent lifestyles we put ourselves under great stress, and to deal with our stress we take longer and more frequent vacations. These, of course, require more money, which puts us under greater stress, which makes us want to get away even more. When our gods fall down, we keep propping them back up …like the Philistines propped up Dagon. If we want God’s strong hand to comfort us when we are in darkness, to guide us as we walk life’s journey, and to lift us up to a higher plane when this world’s walk is over, we will want to live without any other gods between us.” (Cartledge, p. 17).

Chapter 4, 5, and 6 are a bit unsettling. We are less comfortable with the notion of a deity who will not be trifled with. He expects our respect and for us to show reverence when in His house of worship. God will not bow down to our demands. He will not act or give just because we think we can’t live without a certain position, object, or standard of living. He’s a God who will not be put in a box.
Questions for reflections:

1. Have you ever been disappointed because you had certain expectations of God that were not met?


2. Prosperity preachers promote a gospel of “name it and claim it,” as if God exists to do our bidding. The idea is quite popular. Others who have good educations or come from privileged families maintain an entitlement attitude. A very popular book written by Bruce Wilkinson is called the Prayer of Jabez. It is based on 1 Chronicles 4:10. God did grant Jabez’s prayer request. Does one story in the Bible of one answered prayer mean that all of us are entitled to call on God to give us a guaranteed answer to what we request? What scripture can be used to show the answer to this question?

3. We tell children that they can have Jesus in their hearts. Adults are more likely to speak of having God in their lives. Is there a difference between “having God” and allowing God to have us?


4. If we give anything in our life a higher priority than serving God, we have effectively erected an idol or false god. Can you think of things, people, or aspirations that you have put before God in your life?

5. What gods have been in your life that have let you down? Did you try to prop them up? How did you do that?

6. The people of Israel misused or showed disrespect to the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred symbol of God’s presence. Can you think of ways in which contemporary people trifle with God and disdain what is sacred?

These questions come from Sessions with Samuel, by Dr. Tony Cartledge.