1 Samuel 13 – 1 Samuel 14

“What have you done?”
“You have acted foolishly!”
“You have not kept the commandant of the LORD your God!”

Just a few days after being anointed as king, Saul finds a way to get in trouble. In the thick of battle, Saul offers a sacrifice to win God’s favor and to seek God’s guidance in overcoming the Philistines. Seems like a good thing to do, right? So we might ask what went wrong? Why is Samuel so upset? Why is the linage of Saul’s throne now in jeopardy?

Two things help to bring some clarification.

1. Samuel gave specific instructions that Saul wait seven days for his return. While we are on day seven, Saul didn’t wait long enough. He got a bit anxious, and took matters into his own hands.
2. His own hands weren’t the right hands. Who is it that is to offer a sacrifice? The Priest and Levites. Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin. He is not a priest. He is not a Levite. Sacrifices are not his to preform.

So here we are, just a few days into Saul’s reign and things aren’t looking so good.
Power hungry? Not really.
Naive? Absolutely.
Faithful follower of God? That one we might question.
Seven days in for our newly appointed king . . . way to go King Saul!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 1 Samuel 15 – 17

1 Samuel 9 – 1 Samuel 12

Israel now has a king!
All hail King Saul!
All hail King Saul!

As we continue to read, we will find out more about King Saul’s personality. For now, we have to go with the information which tells us Saul’s father was “a man of standing” (1 Samuel 9:1). I’ll take that to mean “good standing” and if dad is a man of good standing then the implication is that the son is of good standing as well. Guess we’ll have to await and find out whether or not that is true.

For now, we can rest knowing that Israel has a King, and can now be “like the other nations” as the people have been repeatedly of asking Samuel. While that happens, here’s a great observation to be made. It’s about the character of God. Simply put, God knows all.

• Tomorrow at this time you will meet a man.
• He will be from the tribe of Benjamin
• He will be out looking for a lost donkey

On and on the list could go. Here is the amazing thing, God knows the details. God is in the details. Just as it was then, the same is for us today. God knows, our every thought, our every action, long before we make them. I find that comforting, amazing, and somewhat eerie all at the same time.

So remember, God is watching you, and very well might be calling you, like Saul, to something you never anticipated. Certainly the case with me!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 1 Samuel 13 – 14

1 Samuel 4 – 1 Samuel 8

The Ark of God . . .
We’d have to turn back to Exodus 25:10-22 to remember all the details, as God spoke to Moses:

Have them make an ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. . . . . (25:10-11)

You get the idea. Putting it simply, it was a big gold box that served as the dwelling place of God. Where it went, the people went. Where it stopped, the people stopped. It lead the way through the River Jordan, and it circled Jericho before the walls came tumbling down. The Ark was everything to those who revered the LORD. Yet, it was captured by the Philistines! What are we doing to do!

We aren’t going to do anything. The Ark is going to take care of itself!

Captured and in the hands of the Philistines, the Ark finds its way to the temple of Dagon. Rather than me tell the story, I’m going to turn things over to TheBrickTestament for their version. Click on the link below, then use the arrows to navigate through the rest of the story.

http://www.thebricktestament.com/king_saul/god_tortures_the_philistines/1s05_01-02.html

Needless to say, the Ark was returned, and glory was restored to Israel. Now new troubles arise, a king is about to be anointed. Keep reading on!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 1 Samuel 9 – 12

1 Samuel 1 – 1 Samuel 3

We turn the page to read a new Book of the Bible, or at least part of it. I say that because our reading through 1 Samuel is one part of what was once a single writing that included 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. Historically speaking, it’s length was much too long to contain on one scroll, so you guess it, it was split up into four different scrolls, and later labeled as we know them . . . 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings. As we will find out, its a great story of the rise and fall of Israel under the leadership of the various Kings.

To start off our story, we journey to the Tabernacle located in Shiloh. It’s a place we haven’t been lately, yet as we read in these first few chapters, the practices instilled by God throughout Leviticus and Numbers are still being upheld under the guidance of Eli and his family. I do have to make one observation, and I’m curious on your take . . . what did you make of Eli’s response to Hannah (1:14)?

Here we find a grieving Hannah. Kneeling outside the Tabernacle, she is pouring her heart out to God and with it the tears flow. Eli, observing from a distance, proclaims, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” How pastoral! Where is the compassion? Where is the empathy? For being priest of our Most High God, I certainly think he lacked the skills needed to walk faithful with the people in their time of need. So to Hannah, we say sorry for the callous encounter you received at the house of God.

Then to Hannah, we also owe you our praise acclamation for your faithful devotion. After all those years she waited to have a child. When motherhood was the one thing she desired and longed for in life. Then, to realize the gift that came from God in giving birth to Samuel, and to give him back as a servant to God. Wow! What an amazing witness! If only we could be so bold!!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: 1 Samuel 4-8

The Book of Ruth

Wasn’t that nice! After reading through the book of Judges, this was a refreshing change of pace. A feel good story, with a fairy tale ending. Its been a long time since we’ve had anything quite so innocent and refreshing.

However, did you notice something? Much like the Book of Judges, God was missing. Don’t get me wrong, God is mentioned by Ruth, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (1:6). However, out side of this reference, God isn’t sought after, God doesn’t speak, God doesn’t play a part. Even though God is absent, God is still very present. That’s the biggest difference between Ruth and Judges. For Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz God is the foundation of their lives. They know God. They live according to God. Their lives revolve around God. In the end, they are blessed and we get a wonderful feel good story.

Before we go, let’s check out the thoughts from TheBibleProject as they share a bit more insight on the Book of Ruth.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Judges 18 – Judges 21

Our read through the Book of Judges comes to a close. Thank goodness! This was a hard read for me. One story after another on a continual downward spiral from the good and perfect world God had created. Granted, we are a long way from the Garden of Eden, where things were once perfect and pure, however, life in the Promised Land isn’t so promising. Why is that?

Two reasons come to mind:

1. Using a verse quoted repeatedly in the last few chapters, “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” There was no leadership. There was no oversight. There was no guidance. Everyone was doing as each saw fit. Prostitution. Wives as concubines. False gods. Killing of fellow Israelites. Death. Destruction. On and on the list could go. With just a few rare exceptions, the Book of Judges is really “every man for themselves” and that mind set takes its toll.
2. The people had lost sight of God. Think through your reading of Judges, when was the last time God was mentioned as giving guidance and oversight? We might have to go all the way back to Chapter 6 and Gideon, however even there he is testing to see if his call to leadership is really from God or just some circumstance of luck. If I remember right, there were only two different times when God was mentioned as dwelling in Shiloh. Two times! We spent chapter after chapter in earlier books reading how important God’s dwelling would be. We read that God will dwell with them, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Now I’m not to say, God left them. Not at all. Instead, as the Israelites spread across the Promised Land, they lost sight of God.

When you combine those two things together, you end up with a royal mess! A mess that boils down to: Israel had no king, because they had no God. Certainly works in my book, and could easily be applied to our own day:

To KNOW GOD is to KNOW PEACE
compared to
NO GOD means NO PEACE

Even so many centuries later, we have so much to learn!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: The Book of Ruth

Judges 13 – Judges 15
Judges 16 – Judges 18

I didn’t post yesterday, because these two readings really go hand in hand as we encounter the story of Sampson.

Most of us might remember this story from our childhood days. He’s the great mighty warrior who took down the Philistines as he pushed down the pillars of the temple. As a child, he’s the hero, and his strength unimaginable. For there is no one greater than Samson!

Yet, as we read through God’s story this time, I took note of Samson’s weakness. And what was his weakness? Women. Over and over again, he is seduced to give us his secretes.

He is seduced by his wife (14:15-17) as he gave up the answer to his riddle after being questioned over and over, and her pleading “You hate me; you don’t really love me. You have asked a riddle of my people, bu you have not explained it to me.”

Later he is seduced by Delilah, as she longs to find out where his strength comes from. Repeatedly she questions. Repeatedly she trying to figure it out. Repeatedly she tries various ways of restraining him. Each one fails. Although, each one brings him close to giving up his secrets, until he eventually he tells her, his strength lies in his uncut hair.

One would think that by no Samson would have figured out what Delilah was up to. Oh, how blind we are to the power of love.

In the end, I won’t look at Sampson quite the same. Strong and mighty . . . sure. But weak in heart!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Judges 19 – 21

Judges 8 – Judges 9
Judges 10 – Judges 12

I believe there is an old adage:

“Power corrupts”
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely”

I find these words to be true as we work through these five chapters of Judges. With the change of one Judges to the other, things temporary improve, and then quickly decline. Of course the decline from one Judge to the next, only seems to get worse.

Take for example Gideon . . .
He led 300 of his best men to battle and defeated the Midianites. God’s guidance and mighty arm was revealed to the people as Gideon led faithfully. Yet after his major victory, the people come to him for leadership, and how does he lead? By making idols of false gods to whom the people are asked to worship. Oh how power corrupts!

Then there is Jephthah . . .
He makes a vow to God which equates to: “I will sacrifice as a Burnt Offering the first thing that walks out of my house, if you deliver the Ammonites to me.” The Ammonites are taken down, Jephthah returns home, and the first thing out of his door? His daughter! Did she know? Was it a ploy? Did he actually sacrifice her? The intent is there, but our text is a bit vague on all of the details.

We know that God frowns on such sacrifices, so did it happen? I’d like to think that she was not sacrificed. It seems to go against everything God is working toward, and certainly contradicts many of the teachings God has given us so far. So here’s my interpretation: Because both she and Jephthah took this vow seriously and because her virginity is so highly regarded, I believe that she was set apart as an offering, in that, she was given as a continued servant of God. Think here Catholic Nun. I don’t believe this is too much of a stretch, because if we remember back to Leviticus, part of the offering was always designated for the Priest. Wouldn’t giving her to the Priest as a servant to God, still fulfill the vow made and removes the idea of child sacrifice? I tend to think so, and we’ll see something similar in 1 Samuel as Hannah gives up her son. So for her sake, I say she wasn’t sacrificed. However, this is Judges and power corrupts, so . . . maybe I’m wrong.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Judges 13 – 15.

Joshua 6 – Joshua 7

How do you drink?

Seems like and odd question, I know! Yet, I’m not referring to what do you drink, or whether or not you like your drinks lukewarm or ice cold. The question is written as it is intended to be asked . . . how do you drink?

Now the easy answer is with cup. Yet, for the sake of reflection, remove the utensil you are using to take a drink. That’s right no straw, no cup, bowl, or anything else, its just you and some long awaited H20. Now how do you take a drink?

As a kid I can remember sticking my head under the spout to the kitchen sink. I can even remember trying to aim the spout from the refrigerator button right to my mouth when mom wasn’t looking. Other times it was outside with the hose, held high on a hot summer day. Either way, it was water to mouth, not utensils needed.

This is where we find Gideon and God in the book of Judges. Gideon has drawn an army to battle the Midianites. Its a mighty army 32,000 strong. God simply says it’s too many people, giving the implication to Gideon, the people will not believe in God’s divine guidance and protection with an army like that, you must make it smaller. After dwindling things down to 10,000, God says that’s still too many, go and make them drink and watch how they do it.

In the most unusual of ways, 300 men lap the water like a dog. These are the ones selected. These are the ones who defeat the Midianites. Unusual, I know, yet with God all things are possible.

So how do you drink? Me, I’m a slurper!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading Joshua 8 – 9.

Judges 3 – Judges 5

Warning:
Today’s reading may be rated R
for Violence and Gore

Perhaps every reading should come with a rated similar to what we see at the beginning of a TV show or as posted with a movie. Even it Judges chapters 3 – 5 had a rating I would have kept reading. The violence and gore helps to make things interesting. This is definitely the stuff that Hollywood makes movies out of.

We’ve got Ehud (a Judge of Israel) and King Eglon. The Israelites are oppressed by Moab, and Ehud goes in for the rescue. Negotiations don’t work, but his double edged sword does the trick. Right into the folds of Eglon’s belly. You can almost hear the slurp of the fat as it closes in around the blade which was completely embedded in his belly. Add to that he was sitting on the “throne” and we can all begin to connect the dots on how that might have looked. Again rated R for violence and gore!

Then we’ve God Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael. A some what convoluted story which includes: 1) Deborah – the Judge called to redeem Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites, 2) Barak – one of Deborah’s military leaders 3) Sisera – the opposing general, and 4) Jael – the heroin. In the midst of fleeing from the battle led by Deborah and Barak, Sisera ends up seduced by Jael. To make things even better, Jael drugs him with warm milk only to hammer a tent peg into his forehead. Whack! Whack! Whack! Good stuff!

Moral of it all . . . Israel strays from God. . . the Judges come into provide guidance (and rescue?) . . . and things get a little bit R rated. Perhaps after all the readings of borders and which tribe was going to live where, we needed something a bit more interesting!

Peace,
Pastor

Our next reading: Judges 6 – 7