In the book of 1 Samuel, the 15th verse, Saul is ordered by Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekites. Nothing was to be left standing, no women and children, and even all of the cattle.
Saul fought hard and won, except the fact he let the king live and took him into custody, and also let the best cattle live. Saul thought he was doing a great thing--can't fault him there--as he offered a sacrifice to the Lord from the cattle.
Samuel was furious with Saul for diobeying an order from God.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
The Lord's stance on honesty
Proverbs chapter 11 deals a lot with honesty.
Verse 1 tells us that the Lord hates dishonest scales. And that's just the beginning.
Leading an honest life will lead to a more righteous life, one filled with riches and the presence of good people.
This chapter also gives a few tips on how to handle money. Verse 15 was interesting, for it says to never pay a stranger's debt--it is best not to get involved. Also, lazy people will never get rich. Only one who is aggressive will get rich.
Verse 1 tells us that the Lord hates dishonest scales. And that's just the beginning.
Leading an honest life will lead to a more righteous life, one filled with riches and the presence of good people.
This chapter also gives a few tips on how to handle money. Verse 15 was interesting, for it says to never pay a stranger's debt--it is best not to get involved. Also, lazy people will never get rich. Only one who is aggressive will get rich.
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Saul and his son Jonathan
In the book of 1 Samuel, Saul's son Jonathan was introduced in the beginning of chapter 13--the Israelites were warring with the Philistines and Jonathan had killed a Philistine commander.
Saul took 3,000 of his best men against the might of the Philistines, an army that was so large, the number was likely to be in the hundreds of thousands--in verse 5, it was said that they had as many soldiers as grains of sand on the seashore.
The problem with fighting the Philistines was that they had blacksmiths and the Israelites had none. They completely relied on the Philistines for their agriculture implements and metal weapons.
Saul's son Jonathan took one other man, and sneaked over to a Philistine camp. He prayed to God for him to be given victory, and he was. They defeated a camp of 20 with only Jonathan and his companion.
Afterwards, Saul took up the rest of his army and defeated the rest of the Philistine army there. In victory, Saul ordered all men to eat no food until all of their enemies were defeated. Jonathan had not heard this. He ate some honey. When he found out what his father had done, he was prepared to be put to death.
The Israelites intervened, saying that Jonathan had prayed for victory from God, and despite him eating food, he had God's favor.
This act saved Jonathan's life, and they went on to defeat other enemies nearby.
Saul took 3,000 of his best men against the might of the Philistines, an army that was so large, the number was likely to be in the hundreds of thousands--in verse 5, it was said that they had as many soldiers as grains of sand on the seashore.
The problem with fighting the Philistines was that they had blacksmiths and the Israelites had none. They completely relied on the Philistines for their agriculture implements and metal weapons.
Saul's son Jonathan took one other man, and sneaked over to a Philistine camp. He prayed to God for him to be given victory, and he was. They defeated a camp of 20 with only Jonathan and his companion.
Afterwards, Saul took up the rest of his army and defeated the rest of the Philistine army there. In victory, Saul ordered all men to eat no food until all of their enemies were defeated. Jonathan had not heard this. He ate some honey. When he found out what his father had done, he was prepared to be put to death.
The Israelites intervened, saying that Jonathan had prayed for victory from God, and despite him eating food, he had God's favor.
This act saved Jonathan's life, and they went on to defeat other enemies nearby.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
From despair comes triumph
Psalms 22 starts with someone crying out to the Lord, to not abandon him. He goes on to describe a life of despair and sorrow, of hardships and bitter ridicule by his enemies.
Yet he does not stray in his prayer to the Lord.
He even, at one time, called himself a worm, but knew the Lord still loved him.
In the end, the Psalms reminds everyone of what the Lord did to the people of Israel. Even in dire despair, the speaker was relentless in what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for future generations.
Yet he does not stray in his prayer to the Lord.
He even, at one time, called himself a worm, but knew the Lord still loved him.
In the end, the Psalms reminds everyone of what the Lord did to the people of Israel. Even in dire despair, the speaker was relentless in what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for future generations.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Samuel clears the air
In chapter 12 of the book of 1 Samuel, Samuel addressed the people of Israel after the victory their king Saul gave them.
Samuel clears the air, telling them he had done everything that was asked of him. He asked the people if he had taken bribes and other horrible things, something his sons had done. The Israelites told him that he had not.
Samuel then gave a brief rundown of their history, starting with the days of Moses and Aaron.
He then told the Israelites that God did not want to give them a king, but they insisted. He warned them that if they did not obey God and worship Him, he would destroy them all, including their king Saul.
Samuel clears the air, telling them he had done everything that was asked of him. He asked the people if he had taken bribes and other horrible things, something his sons had done. The Israelites told him that he had not.
Samuel then gave a brief rundown of their history, starting with the days of Moses and Aaron.
He then told the Israelites that God did not want to give them a king, but they insisted. He warned them that if they did not obey God and worship Him, he would destroy them all, including their king Saul.
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