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BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 19-20                 I don’t know a single person who likes to admit when they are wrong.   It must have something to do with the way our brains are wired, but no one enjoys being wrong.   Have you ever done something to someone with the assumption that you were in the right, only to discover later that you were really in the wrong?   Then after you uncover your mistake, you must make that trip to that someone to apologize for your actions.     I don’t have to tell you how miserable that feeling is, because we have all experienced it.   In the reading today, we are reintroduced to Shimei the Benjaminite.   You may remember him from 2 Samuel 16 when David was leaving Jerusalem out of fear for Absalom. Shemei seemed to have been under the impression that all of David’s misfortune was due to Saul’s death, and he was not afraid to let that be kn...

BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 16-18   “O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place.”   — 2 Samuel 18:33 Family members grieved deeply when 32-year-old Cindy died, but they also experienced great comfort. They knew that Cindy had a strong personal faith in Jesus. They also were confident that she left this world knowing she was greatly loved. And when she died, they had no regrets because they had enjoyed a good relationship with her. King David’s grief was not lessened by any such comforting thoughts. He knew his son Absalom had died as a rebel. David, I am sure, had regrets about the kind of example he had set in his life (his multiple marriages, his sin with Bathsheba, and unresolved family disputes). We cannot prevent the death of family members, but we can do much to lessen our grief when it happens. Right now we can commit ourselves to put God’s glory and the good of our loved ones above our own selfish desires. We can talk to them a...

BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 12-13   It is never easy to tell someone we care about that they are wrong. It is even harder to have someone tell us that our own behavior is out of line. Nathan knew that he had to give King David some difficult correction from God. He was probably nervous about how the powerful king would respond. Nathan chose a gentle way to help David understand the situation from another point of view. Nathan helped David to empathize with the person he had wronged. Nathan mentored King David by helping him see where he had wandered from God’s law. He spoke the truth that needed to be spoken in a loving way. When we confront someone, it needs to be done with great compassion.  Ephesians 4:15  says, “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” We need not yell and scream as we call out bad behavior, because then we become a part of the problem. Instead we should ...

BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 8-11                 In 2 Samuel 11 we see the story of David, Bathsheba, and Uriah. This is the story of David’s most well-known sin in committing adultery with Bathsheba and essentially murdering her husband Uriah. Most of us know this story but knowing this story and figuring out how we can learn from David’s sin are two totally different concepts. There is a lot we could focus on in this passage to learn from David, but we are going to focus on verses 1-3. James 1:14-15 lays out for us the process of how sin enters our lives in which we are drawn away by our own lust(step 1), lust gives birth to sin(step 2), and sin brings forth death(step 3). Although 2 Samuel 11:1-5 gives us a clear example of this process we are only going to focus on the first step. Before we go through step 1 of this process it is important to know that according to verse 1 David was supposed to b...

BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 4-7                             We all know the story of how God struck down Uzzah because he touched the holy Ark of the Covenant, but why was God so angry?  To begin with, God had given them strict orders that they were not touch the Ark in Numbers 4.15.  Secondly, they were also given specific instructions on how to transport the ark in Exodus 25.14.  Uzzah and the Israelites had disobeyed both commands when transporting the Ark of the Covenant.  Therefore, God certainly has the power to punish disobedience in any way He deemed fit.  After this sudden act of God’s justice, the Bible tells us  “David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah” (2 Samuel 6.8).   Why is David angry at God?  The Bible doesn’t give us an answer, but we can infer a few things:  First...

BIBLE READING: 11 Samuel 1-3                 After the death of King Saul and Jonathan, the Bible records a lament from David.  Within this lament David refers to Saul as  “pleasant and lovely” (2 Samuel 1.23).   Wow!  Wait a minute…I can see David saying this about Jonathan, but Saul.  Isn’t this the same Saul that had made it his life’s mission to kill David?  If I am being honest, if someone was trying to kill me it would be very hard for me to refer to them as  “pleasant and lovely”.   How can David say that after all Saul did to him to cause him sorrow and pain?  David’s words in this lament allowed me to see an important Biblical lesson.  Could it be that God wants us to find the good in everyone, even those who cause us pain and suffering? We just might find that when we focus on the good qualities of our enemies, it helps us to turn our hate in...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 28-31                   Panic has hit the camp of David.  While David is returning from his rejection by the Philistines, the Amalekites have raided David’s camp in Ziklag.  They burned the camp with fire and have taken the women and children as hostages.   David and his men begin to panic.  Are their families still alive?  What did they do with them?  Where did they take them?  With all these unknowns, David’s men quickly turn on him, placing all the blame on his shoulders.  Was David responsible for this tragedy?  Of course not, but he was their leader.  They had forsaken their homes in Israel and had placed all their trust in David and now that trust is in jeopardy.  The weight of all this happening so quickly has caused David to be “greatly distressed”.   His men had even began discussing stoning David....

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 25-27                 What do people think about you when they hear your name?  Do they recall some of the times that the two of you spent together?   Does an image of your face appear in their minds?  Do they have pleasant thoughts concerning you, or are their thoughts more negative?  For instance, if I say the name Adolph Hitler, you instantly have negative thoughts about him because of what you know about him.  On the other hand, if I say the name Mother Teresa, your thoughts turn more positive and pleasant; again, because of what you know about them.   In I Samuel 25 we are introduced to a couple who live in Carmel named Nabal and Abigail.  Notice what the Bible says about these two individuals.  “Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 18-20 This chapter presents an interesting shift in Israel’s regard from Saul to David. Saul’s initial enthusiasm for David quickly deteriorated into suspicion and fear, as David’s popularity and prominence in Israel grew. Every step upward for David seemed to be a step downward for Saul. Every attempt Saul made to squelch David’s popularity had the opposite effect, making him even more admired. Saul, instead of honoring his pledge to release David, decided to conscript him into full-time military service. David had a gift from God for instilling loyalty in men. Many men wanted to come under his strong leadership. As David spoke with Saul, after defeating the giant Goliath, Jonathan watched and listened and was drawn to this brave and godly, young man from Bethlehem. David had confidence in his relationship with the Lord, but not in an egotistical way. He was just secure in who he was before God and what God had made him to be. Real men are still dr...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 16-17                 A few years ago, our class studied Kyle Idelman’s book “Aha: The God Moments That Changes Everything”.   Although I may not agree with all his theology, I do think his thoughts are spot-on with this issue.   There comes a time when everyone will have that light go off in their head and they realize that God is real.   This “Aha” Moment comes in many forms; it might be a medical diagnosis, tragedy, or even a near death experience.   The fact of the matter is everyone will at some point in time have that “Aha” moment…everyone!   As we get to this portion of I Samuel, we come to one of the greatest stories of all time.   The story of David and Goliath continues to be one of the greatest underdog stories of all time.   We often teach the story and focus on David and his faith or the lack of faith in Saul, yet we rarely ever look a...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 14-15             Saul’s reign as the King of Israel is about to spiral out of control because of his pride and arrogance. Yet even though he will be forever remembered for his faults, there are a few bright spots that we can learn from his life. One of those bright spots in the life of Saul is that he knew how to surround himself with the right kind of people. We know that as soon as David slays the giant, Saul brings him into his kingdom because of his bravery and his ability to play the harp, unknowingly that David had already been anointed by God as the next King over Israel. However, there is something recorded about Saul even before David comes into the picture that speaks volumes about his peer selection. 1 Samuel 14. 52 reveals that there was some very difficult fighting against the Philistines. Saul knew that there would be a constant need of soldiers that he could use in his army as the battl...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 11-13             Up until I Samuel 13, things had been going pretty well for Israel’s first King.  Saul had been anointed King and had served for two years and all seemed to be going according to plan.  Jonathan, his son, had attacked a garrison of the Philistines and the world was finding out that you don’t mess with God’s people.  However, it doesn’t take long for things to begin to go south.  After Jonathan’s attack, the Philistines were making plans for all-out war against the Israelites.  I Samuel 13.5 records that they had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horseman and soldiers that looked like the sand on the seashore.  Saul becomes afraid, because he knows that he is about to face an opposition like no other he has ever seen.  In preparation for war, Saul knows that Israel must offer a burnt offering to the LORD to inquire to the LORD for ...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 8-10 It wasn’t that long ago that I was watching my usual morning show as I prepared myself for the day ahead, and they were doing a segment on the clothing celebrities were wearing to award shows.   The host was stating that instead of paying thousands of dollars for a gown by Versace, Ralph Lauren or Gucci, you could put together a very similar outfit for only a few hundred dollars. Why is it that we always want to look like someone else?   If we are honest with ourselves, it isn’t just looking like someone else; we are always seeking to be like someone else.   Society seems to be driven to want the same clothes, the same house, the same talents, the same personality and even the same hairstyle of those around us.   We try every get rich quick scheme, attempt the new fad diets and exercise programs and some even resort to plastic surgery, just to be like someone else.   Can’t we just be happy with who we are, who God made us to b...

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel Many of us have grown up going to worship services where we sang age-old songs that were brought down to us from many years ago. In those songs, we often sing words or phrases that might not retain a popularly understood sentiment. Yet, even though we might not understand what we are singing, that has not stopped many of us from following the song leader through misunderstood stanzas of our old favorites. One of the phrases that is of particular interest comes from the song  O, Thou Fount of Every Blessing . The lyrics of this song (which originally was titled  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing ) were written by Robert Robinson in 1758. The second verse of the song begins with these words: “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” If you are like many who have sung this song, the word “Ebenezer” immediately brings to your mind visions of old Ebenezer Scrooge from Dickens’ Christmas Carol, screaming at Bob Cratchet to conserve coal and get to work. Yet, we a...

BIBLE READING: Ruth 1-4 Now, let me give you a quick synopsis of the Book of Ruth. To start out, a woman by the name of Naomi packed up and moved from Judah to Moab due to a terrible famine that was affecting her family. She and her husband moved there with their two sons, who eventually took wives while living in Moab. Tragically, Naomi lost her husband and two sons. Broken and empty, Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem in Judah. Her daughter-in-law Ruth came with her, since she had also lost her husband. Keep in mind that Ruth was a Moabite woman, and she was now moving to Judah as a foreigner. This was a big deal in their culture, but she was committed to Naomi as her daughter-in-law, and she wanted to follow after the God of Israel. While in Judah, God worked out an amazing plan for a man named Boaz to take Ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provide for her and Naomi. What’s remarkable about this plan was that Boaz was qualified as a “kinsman redeemer” to take her...

BIBLE READING: Judges 19-21   One could rightly say, “What a mess, and what was a Levite priest doing with a concubine anyway?” The answer is that this is exactly what happens when no one follows God, and everyone does what is right in their own eyes. All the tribes of Israel came to the Benjamites in Gibeah and asked them to send out the men who had committed the crime against the Levite and his concubine. The law was clear in Deuteronomy 13:5 and 21:21 that these rebellious sons had to be brought to justice. If they were found guilty, capital punishment was to be imposed. Even though the people of Benjamin were greatly outnumbered, they wouldn’t yield to what was right. They hardened their hearts and refused to turn over the criminals, instead of choosing civil war. Originally the anger of the tribes of Israel was directed only against the city of Gibeah, where the atrocity took place; but since the city of Gibeah belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, the leaders of that trib...

BIBLE READING: Judges 16-18 “And they said to him, "Keep quiet; put your hand on your mouth and come with us and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?" And the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod and the household gods and the carved image and went along with the people.”-Judges 18:19-20                 At first reading, it seemed like the Levite was making a courageous stand against these intruders. But what he was really doing was complaining that they were about to ruin the good thing he had going for himself. When they told him to keep quiet because they were offering him a better deal, he immediately folded. The old saying is that the line of least resistance makes both men and rivers crooked. He did the expedient thing because it was to his advantage and he was not a man of principle. They mad...

BIBLE READING: Judges 12-15                 I love children!   I have committed a good part of my life to youth ministry and helping children to look to Jesus.   I also love my own three children dearly.   I pray for them often and do whatever I can to point them to Christ.   Yet the speed of life has made our lives very difficult.    It seems that most of my time is spent in transporting to sporting events, school activities, church activities and then constantly fussing on them about doing their homework, cleaning their room, folding their clothes and the constant personal electronic device battle we have to fight; whether it is Xbox, PlayStation, phones or iPad.   Life seems to be a constant struggle for me.   Which makes me think “bless poor Izban’s heart” could you imagine facing the same battles that you face with two, three or maybe four children, but with six...

BIBLE READING: Judges 9-11                 We all know someone who entered life with some sort of baggage.   They may have been abandoned as a child, the product of a broken home, or maybe even someone who just constantly made bad decisions.   Even though they might have a feeling of emptiness, worthlessness or even broken beyond repair, there is hope.   If God’s word offers us anything, it is hope.   Hope for the future (John 14.14).   Hope that will never disappoint (Romans 5.1-6). Hope for a better life (John 10.10). In the story of Judges, we have an example of that hope.   Jephthah was a child that was the product of a broken home, his mother was a prostitute.   As he grew up his brothers kicked him out of the house denying him any inheritance. As a result, Jephthah began to make some poor decisions concerning the company he kept; the Bible calls them “worthless fell...

BIBLE READING: Judges 6-8                   The story of Gideon is one of the most powerful examples of Gods power being shown through obedience.   Just imagine a group of 300 men defeating an army of almost 150,000 without even having to lift a sword.   It never fails; every time I read that verse “…every man stood in his place…”(Judges 6.21), I still get chills.   Yet for all the power that is displayed in Judges 6 through Gideon and his men, the story starts out very depressing.   “ The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds. For whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the E...

BIBLE READING: Judges 1-3                 Yesterday my alma mater had made it to the semifinals of the state girls basketball championship.   Not being able to attend due to some previous commitments, I listened intently on the radio to cheer them on.   As the game progressed, it seemed like our girls were going to advance into the final game as our lead grew to double digits.   However, basketball is a game of swing of momentum and that is exactly what happened.   After leading almost, the entire game, the other team took the lead with under a minute to play.   I listened intently as the single minute seemed to go on for half an hour.   Then with only 12 seconds to go, one of our seniors hit a massive three that tied the game and sealed almost certain overtime.   I will have to admit, my emotions were all over the place.   I just knew that this was it and we would b...