Obedience is the Way

When my kids were young the school they attended had a tree on campus with limbs low enough to climb or hang onto. The school rule was to stay out of the tree. The principal related at a parent-teacher night about a boy who was caught hanging on a limb while rhythmically swinging and singing "O B E D IENCE, obedience is the very best way to show that I believe."

King Saul was head and shoulders above his countrymen but it was as if it put his head in the clouds, as though he couldn't see that his feet were still on the ground. He made the mistake of believing his own "press". When Samuel gave him instructions from God, Saul would follow much of the instruction but not all. This ultimately cost him his kingdom.

I have a friend who listens in conversation until she hears the trigger word then proceeds to react or answer what she thinks about where the conversation is going without waiting to hear it completely. This may have been the habit of Saul. He was often close but "no cigar".

In 1 Samuel 15 Samuel instructs Saul this way: (22-23 Msg) "Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what God tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around God is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to God's command, he says No to your kingship."

Whoa! Disobedience is worse than the occult. Who'da thunk it? I wouldn't give the occult a second thought but am I that serious about full obedience (he said while swinging from the limb of the obedience tree)?

Perspective

Individual perspectives have always fascinated me. How 2 or more people can look at the same thing or same situation and see it entirely differently. Try this one out:

In 1 Samuel 4 The Philistines "break bad" and attack Israel. Israel "breaks bad-er" and brings out the Ark only to lose it and the battle. 1 up for Philistia. The Philistine deities fall on their face in the presence of the Ark and subsequently the people begin to experience a plague. It doesn't take long for them to decide they really don't want the Ark and they send it back to Israel territory (1 Samuel 6). Chapter 7 says that "God was hard on the Philistines all of Samuel's lifetime."

After a few chapters that bring about the kingship of Saul we get to Chapter 13 and Saul is feeling his kingly oats and starts building up the army. Here comes the question: The Philistines say "The Hebrews are in revolt!" I thought you had to be a slave or have been conquered "to revolt". Obviously the Philistines regarded themselves as superior to, and conqueror of, the Hebrews. The Hebrews regarded themselves as equal or greater(sounds like an equation) than the Philistines, hence the difference of perspective.

We Christians have an enemy who is always regarding us as being in revolt. He finds us "revolting" for not following him and leaning on God instead. He would have us think he is the superior when in truth he falls on his face in the presence of Almighty God. What's YOUR perspective of it?

What's a father to do?

As I mentioned last Eli was High priest and he didn't do as he should (1 Samuel 1-3)and his sons came along behind him and did what they wanted until God dealt with them. By chapter 8 we read that Samuel is now an old man and his sons have been set up as judges in Israel but "his sons didn't take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice." The national leaders complained to Samuel and demanded a King. This begins the scenario that leads Samuel to anoint Saul and the "Kingdom" period begins.

Do you think it came as a surprise to Samuel that the nation didn't "appreciate" his sons and their habits? As a father I can tell you that you hear scuttlebutt. The point comes to whether you believe it and if so what you do about it. As the father of 2 ordained ministers and 1 minister, not ordained, I care about what they are doing for the Lord. We have a saying in our house that if they were not doing as they should they are subject to getting "a knot jerked in their tail". They know that dear old Dad may not always be right but he is always Dad.

Eli did NOT set a great example and his sons failed. Samuel DID set a great example and his sons failed. Therefore, example is not enough. You have to put your example to work. "Bro. Love" says God gave you two hands; one to reach up to Him and one to reach out to others... and smack them when they need it. Thank goodness I have little experience with the latter but I'm not afraid to if I need to. You've been warned. &)

Are you in or out?

Every year when I get to the opening of First Samuel I'm reminded of the familiar "Mother's Day" story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. You all know the story; she is barren, childless, and every year when the family goes to the Tabernacle to offer it's annual sacrifice, she implores God for a child. This year while reading I noticed the Message says she was IN the sanctuary praying.

IN the sanctuary praying. Something about this does not compute. Nobody went IN the sanctuary or Tabernacle to pray or otherwise. Moses had taught in Numbers that the operation of the Tabernacle was up to the Levites and (Num.18:5 Msg) "anyone else who invades the Sanctuary will be executed."

Eli was High Priest for 40 years but the opening of Samuel explains that he was less than forthright in his leadership. Perhaps his lackadaisical ministry had come to allow people into the Sanctuary. Whatever the case, these unusual things happened; Hannah went into the Sanctuary to pray and from a place she was not supposed to be her prayer was heard. Then, Eli the less than dedicated High Priest who should not have let her be there, thinks she is drunk, rebukes her for her "drunkenness" (not for being where she shouldn't be) THEN prophesies over her about her pending pregnancy. Okay, what do we learn from this?

The bottom line is this; The Lord God knows what He is doing and is the expert at making lemonade out of lemons. Being where we shouldn't be doesn't prevent Him from accomplishing His will. It also shows that Balaam's wasn't the only "donkey" He ever used.

This is a test

This is a test. This is only a test. Had this been an actual blog emergency instructions would have been included. This is only a test. You will now be reconnected to your regular programing.

Jephthah - Did he did or didn't?

Every year when I'm reading through the Bible and I get to Judges I'm reminded of all the great stories of God's use of individuals, well known and almost unknown. I recall learning about Shamgar from a little chorus that my friend Charlie Swartwood taught us at a recital in college: "Shamgar had an ox goad, David had a sling. Dorcas had a needle, Rahab had a string. Samson had a jawbone, Aaron had a rod. Mary had some ointment and they all were used by God!"

The more well known include Samson, Gideon, Deborah. Not so well known is Jephthah, the patron Saint of shooting off your mouth. We are all given to rash statements at times but Jepthah takes the cake. At a time when vows were big business in the Hebrew culture, and Jephthah was bargaining with God for a victory over the Ammonites, he told God that in exchange for a victory he, Jephthah, would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his tent when he returned only to be welcomed back, to his horror, by his only daughter. She negotiates to go away and mourn the fact that she would never "know" a man and 2 months later she returns and he carries out his vow. Now comes the quandary of the Vow and the How.

There is no consensus among theologians about the how. Some accept that he sacrificed her, others say he didn't and that she remained celibate for the rest of her life in honor of his vow. For me it's easy, he sacrificed her. I arrive at that conclusion because the Bible says he carried out his vow.

I'm a literalist in Bible reading. If Genesis says the creation was in 6 days, I have no problem accepting that as 6 literal days. When it says water came out of a rock, I say get your cup. The east wind blew and the children of Israel walked across the Dead Sea on dry land. These and others have always been easy for me to accept because my God is able to do all those things and more. What's more, when I read His promises I fully accept that they apply to me.

Is there anything about God's plans and purposes that require my bargaining with Him for results? Would He have given Jephthah victory over the Ammonites without his rash promise? Is there a secret formula to success before Him? YES!! It's called obedience. Obedience to His Will. Obedience to His Way.

After all, what kind of God would He be if He negotiated with man as equals?

He is the Air I Breathe

The single generality that most people recall from the story of Job is that following his catastrophe Job's 3 friends come but fail to console him. Later, Elihu, a younger neighbor, outlines a number of the attributes of God while attempting to show Job that because of who God is He can't have done wrong to Job. After many colorful analyses Elihu says:

Job 34:15 He's (God) the one who runs the earth! He cradles the whole world in his hand! If he decided to hold his breath, every man, woman, and child would die for lack of air. (Msg)

Give that some thought the next time you're singing "He is the air I breathe..."

What is the blessing of God?

How would you define the "blessing" of God?  When you pray “bless me Lord” what are you asking for or expecting?  Deuteronomy 28 has the formula.

HOW - ^1-6 If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:



WHERE - God's blessing inside the city, God's blessing in the country; 

WHO - God's blessing on your children,  

WHAT - the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks.  God's blessing on your basket and bread bowl; God's blessing in your coming in,

WHEN - God's blessing in your going out.   ⁷ God will defeat your enemies who attack you.  They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.  ⁸ God will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that God, your God, is giving you.  ⁹ God will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of God, your God, and live the way he has shown you.  ¹⁰ All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of God and hold you in respectful awe.   

WHY -  ^11-14 God will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that God promised your ancestors that he would give you. God will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won't have to take out a loan. God will make you the head, not the tail; you'll always be the top dog, never the bottom dog, as you obediently listen to and diligently keep the commands of God, your God, that I am commanding you today. Don't swerve an inch to the right or left from the words that I command you today by going off following and worshiping other gods.

The Tip of the Iceberg

Joshua and the tribes begin claiming the land God promises them in the book that bears his name.  Battles and successes are the rule of the day.  God has told the people through Joshua to totally destroy all the nations they encounter.

All the nations but one combine armies to battle Israel.  The Gibeonites say "momma didn't raise no fool" and plot to deceive Joshua and the nation.  They put on their oldest, most ragged clothes and convince the Israelites that they aren't locals but travelers just passing through.  Joshua makes a covenant with them that Israel won't kill them and the nation moves on.

The Message drops this bomb in relating the story:

Joshua 9 ¹⁴ The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn't ask God about it.  ¹⁵ So Joshua made peace with them and formalized it with a covenant to guarantee their lives. The leaders of the congregation swore to it. 

This decision haunted and plagued the children of Israel for hundreds of years.  Now you know how the sins of the fathers are visited on the children.

  

When He calls me by name

My dad taught me as a boy working in his service station, "never be afraid to ask someone their name.  People are proud of their name.  It's what sets them apart from the rest of the world."  So, when He calls me by name I try to pay attention.  

At the end of Deuteronomy when Moses is blessing the tribes, the Message says (33)  ¹² Benjamin:    "God's beloved; God's permanent residence.  Encircled by God all day long,  within whom God is at home."

May I ever maintain the "welcome mat". 

What version?

What is the bottom line of Bible reading?  Contrary to popular belief it's not "hearing what God has to say".  It's READING!  

Of course the Bible is full and running over with absolute truth, invaluable nuggets of who God is and "inspiration".  But you can only get to it if you read.  Consequently find a version that you enjoy reading.


People of my generation started with the KJV.  After all, if it was good enough for Jesus it's good enough for me.  A number of versions are efforts to take the archaic and make them more understandable.  Other are intended to be reading versions, easily understood and relative.  I've read many of them and prefer the "read-able" versions; New Living Translation, The Message, etc.  When I find a nugget I'll read it in several versions to see the different perspectives.


Additionally I prefer a "chronological" approach.  I find that reading the prophets mingled into the history books gives a context that helps create a framework for the visions.  In the NT you can read about the expansion of the church intermingled with Paul's letters to the various churches.


As stated above, and here we are on the bottom line, READ the book.

Time for a change

I first established this blog 4 years ago to chronicle the marriage of my daughter Sarah and the love of her life, Andy.  Now, almost 2 grandchildren later I've decided to take the blog in a different direction and make regular contributions to it.  

For years I've done daily Bible reading and scribbled notes to myself about things that piqued me.  Now, rather than just make notes for myself about my daily Bible reading I'll post some of the questions, insights and blessings here.  Hopefully I won't be 4 years before the next post.