Solitary Place

The LORD hates unrighteousness, sin cannot survive in the holy presence of the LORD God Almighty. When King Saul disobeys the word of the LORD and chooses to save the best of the Amalekite plunder and king, offering a sacrifice before waiting for the prophet Samuel committing a sin of presumption. Saul is rebuked harshly for rebellion and stubbornness of heart - which Samuel likens to witchcraft. After the Spirit of God leaves Saul and a distressing spirit falls on him, Saul's life unravels quickly and desperate for the revelation of God he actually turns to witchcraft and seeks out a medium who brings back the recently deceased prophet Samuel to bring revelation because YAHWEH did not answer him.  What a chilling and sobering story, disobedience resulting in rejection from God and silence from Him.  Saul's vision was darkened because of his disobedience, whereas David's clarity was enlightened because of his submission and yielding surrender and trust in the LORD. When Sau...

Thinking back to my post on the 16th and the topic of taming the tongue from James 3 and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Mark 7), David continually writes about the battle for the mind and brining the tongue into submission.  Psalm 17:3 (NKJV) "You have tested my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress." In Job he makes a covenant with his eyes never to look upon a woman with lust, King David purposes that his mouth not transgress the good law of God by keeping away from the paths of the unrighteous, there is an intentionality one must have to guard the tongue. Beginning in a place of humility we guard our tongues against evil by the transforming work of the Jesus through the ongoing sanctification of the Holy Spirit paired with a heart of praise and thanksgiving unto the LORD. Constantly despite his trials and circumstances David laments properly: presents the di...

In I Samuel 25, David has a second opportunity to spare or take King Saul's life. King Saul and his army of 3,000 men were seeking out David in the wilderness of Ziph, camping overnight God struck them with a deep sleep allowing David and his servant Abishai to enter the camp unnoticed. David could have ended the feud by spearing King Saul through, but he stood righteously and faithfully with the LORD choosing to honor the anointing of Samuel.  I Samuel 25:9 (NKJV) "...for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless? The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LROD's anointed... May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed." Saul the Benjamite, though bent on evil through his rebellion and stubbornness, was the anointed king of Israel. Anointing is a way of consecrating or settin...

Taming the tongue is a task no man can accomplish apart from God. The apostle James discusses this in part describing the tongue a "restless evil, full of deadly poison" because we stumble in many ways and unable in our own self-strength or ambition to keep our tongue or body from fault. Being filled with the Holy Spirit and choosing to walk each day in surrender and sanctification before the LORD the fruit of this is a quiet lifestyle and one marked by humility. This is echoed by David in Psalm 141 when he cries out to the LORD saying,  Psalm 141:3-4 (NKJV) "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicket works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies." This is a verbatim prayer worth reciting, because scripture is inspired by God and His words faithfully preserved by men, then there is no better way to pray in accordance with the will of God than to ...

A hallmark of Christian life is waiting. I have understood waiting as active - not a passive inactive passage of time, this is modeled in how the 11 disciples obeyed Jesus in the days leading up to Pentecost in the book of Acts. In fact for Christians waiting is anything but sitting around aimlessly or lazily, there was purpose in the waiting because the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was greatly anticipated and the passage of time was marked by constant prayer .  Acts 1:14 (NIV) "They all joined together constantly in prayer." What are you doing during the waiting? How easy is is for the believer to forget the purpose of the waiting, lose hope and begin to focus on self  in pride operating in fear instead of trust and faith in the waiting. Faith builds in the waiting when we are fully surrendered and submitted to the LORD's will, way and timing.  Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!...

David is often called a man after God's own heart, this means that David possesses and behaved in a manner consistent with God's character, there is no better demonstration of this than in I Samuel 24. At this point in David's life as king of Israel, king Saul is still on the throne but has been ruthlessly pursuing David seeking to kill him. Saul just finished disarming a Philistine attack and is now re-focused on finding and eliminating the threat to his throne - David son of Jesse. Relieving himself in a cave on the Rocks of the Wild Goats in the wilderness of En Gedi, David has an opportunity to slay Saul but instead cuts a piece off of his robe. Following and calling to Saul at the opening of the cave David pleads his case and demonstrates his blameless character: I Samuel 24:11 (NKJV) "Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, a...

David is filled with the Spirit of God upon being anointed king of Israel by Samuel before slaying Goliath. A recurring description of king David in these early days with Saul still on the throne is how David behaved wisely, we see this in I Samuel 18:5, 14 and 30. This is important because it demonstrates the core Proverbs principle: Proverbs 1:7 (NIV) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Knowledge comes from the LORD, and wisdom is applied knowledge, since David is filled with the Spirit of God he was full of knowledge. The reason there was so much conflict between king Saul and David is because David was filled with the Spirit of God which had departed from Saul leaving upon him a distressing spirit which made him prone to anger, impulsivity, jealousy and ultimately a reinforcement of his rebellion and stubbornness. Filled with the Spirit of God despite his circumstances David's behavior is notable, imagine a y...

The presence of the Spirit of God coming upon His chosen people in the Tanakh is most notable with David and contrasted by the distressing spirit sent to trouble Saul. Going back to Exodus we first see the Spirit of God filling Bezalel from the tribe of Judah with wisdom, understanding and knowledge to design and work as an artisan to build the tabernacle, the Spirit of God came upon the judges of Israel namely Othniel, Jephthah and Samson. Anointed by Samuel the Spirit of God came upon both king Saul and king David, though interestingly the Spirit of God left Saul and was replaced with a distressing or troubling spirit.  I Samuel 16:13-14 (NKJV) "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him." Who does Saul call to qualm the distressing spirit? ...

Going back to yesterday's reading, Samuel's address to the people of Israel at Saul's coronation is an important reminder of the conditional nature of God's covenantal love and renewed call to fear and love the LORD with all your heart.  I Samuel 12:20-22,24 (NKJV) "Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people...Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." In an act of presumption, feeling compelled Saul unlawfully disobeyed the LORD's commandment that Samuel gave Saul to wait seven days for him to arrive at Gilgal to offer up a sacrifice. Instead Saul impulsively offered an unauthorized burnt offering,...

O the transformation that happens by the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church about the fruit of walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22,25 (NKJV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law... If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." The fruit of walking and living in the Spirit is a better more virtuous way to be and to be baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands facilitates transformative power. After the prophet Samuel anointed Saul the Benjamite king of Israel, he gave instructions for Saul to be at Bethel to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I Samuel 10:6 (NKJV) "Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man." Imagine how being filled with the Holy Spirit transforms  you into an entirely different pe...

During this time period the Philistines were the biggest opposition to the Israelites, or were they? After losing in many battles against the ruthless Philistine army, something like 34,000 Israelite men and  the ark of God's covenant was taken and set up in the temple of Dagon. Even after getting the ark back into the possession of God's people the Philistines still  pressed on in warfare against Israel who cried out to God and to the prophet Samuel, after the LORD helped strengthen and deliver Israel there was peace with the Amorites and restoration of land from the Philistines. All might seem good on the surface but Israel complains to Samuel asking for a king instead of another judge, Samuels displeased response to this demand is a harsh truth and sad spiritual condition of the Israelites which the LORD calls out directly. I Samuel 8:7-8 (NKJV) "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I s...

Just in these first 3 chapters of I Samuel there are so many instances of earnest seeking of God's word through prayer and petition, from Hannah, continuous worship by Elkanah and Hannah, and the faithfulness of the prophet Samuel to speak the word of the LORD to all Israel. There is a relationship between YAHWEH and His people through the means of speaking and listening, this seems to be facilitated through pure worship and pursuit of God Himself through genuine sacrificial love for YAHWEH. Hannah dedicates the son she had not conceived yet to the service of the LORD, committing Samuel to a Nazarite vow of consecration unto the LORD. The text in I Samuel 1:19 indicates that the LORD 'remembered' Hannah and allowed her to conceive, this remembering is a response suggesting that YAHWEH listens and speaks through deeds as there is no indication the vocal word of the LORD was audibly heard by either Elkanah or Hannah. This is significant because in chapter 3 it is written: I S...

The account of Ruth the Moabite and her faithfulness to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi is a story that demonstrates a virtuous woman whose hand of blessing God was surely on. When sent away by Naomi, Ruth stayed and committed herself to not only her mother-in-law but to YAHWEH in similar words to how God committed himself to the people of Israel to Moses. Ruth 1:16 (NKJV) "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Exodus 6:7 (NKJV) "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." Ruth choosing YAHWEH over the Moabite gods is significant because Ruth is taking on an entirely new identity as an Israelite which is made official through Boaz' redemption at the end of the book. There is something tru...

Things get really peculiar really fast for the Israelites during the years of judges beginning with Israel's disobedience and incomplete conquest of Canaan while Joshua is still alive, unfaithfulness to YAHWEH in the generation immediately after Joshua's death. All-in-all the judges of Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon were largely faithful leaders over Israel, while Gideon obeyed and was used mightily by God, it seems that many of the leaders after Deborah that have longer narrative stories did not finish well. One theme that is repeated frequently in the last chapters of Judges indicative of a collective heart issue for the people of Israel: Judges 21:25 (NKJV) "...everyone did what was right in his own eyes." As people called of God, a royal priesthood, we are to do what is right in the eyes of the righteous and holy God Almighty according to what is found in His word. Over and over again I see highlighted throughout the story of t...

Israel often after the reign of Moses and Joshua entered into a cyclical pattern of prostituting themselves to the Canaanite idols serving gods other than YAHWEH. Similarly Samson started well but did not remain faithful, instead fell into temptation operating from impure base desires and disobedience to the commands of God who made it clear for Israel not to intermarry with the Canaanites. Chapter 16 begins with Samson seeking out a prostitute and then falls in love with a manipulative woman named Delilah who takes advantage of him turning him over to the Philistines in weakness with no supernatural strength from God through the cutting of his hair which broke the vow he adhered to from birth per the word of the LORD to his parents.  Contrasted to Samson, Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God, endured temptation living a perfect and sinless life of obedience to God the Father. While Samson was Israel's deliverer and judge during the reign of the Philistines for 20 years, in Jesu...

Again. Again Israel turned from YAHWEH and did evil. This time God's people were delivered into the hands of the Philistines. During this time of oppression God appears to a barren woman and her husband from the tribe of Dan. What is most fascinating about God's appearance to Samson's mother is that her name is never mentioned, only his father Manoah is named, but even more interesting is the interchanged description of the supernatural being who brought the word to Samson's parents. In the NKJV verse 3 indicates the Angel of the LORD appears first to Samson's mother, she then goes and tells her husband: Judges 13:6 (NKJV) "A Man of God came to me, and His countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name." Manoah then prays after his wife tells him this and asks that the Man of God to come and reveal what they are to do with the child who will be born, God liste...

God's sovereign will reigns no matter the obedience or rebellion of man. Whether it is the faithful little known judges of Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon or Abdon, God protected Israel because of His abounding mercy and that His soul could not endure the misery of His chosen people. I can't help but contemplate how the LORD was filled with compassion after the Israelites put away foreign gods and turned to worship and serve YAHWEH alone. All God wants is for man to seek and serve Him all their days - this brings Him the most pleasure.  Judges 10:16 (NKJV) "So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel."  God cannot endure the misery of the people He loves, a people who have turned to sin, wickedness, violence and destruction. A core biblical principle about God's character is that He does not destroy the faithful along with the wicked. To become a faithful God-fearing man or woman there mus...

Gideon's life is an interesting one, it begins with a fearful man to whom God appears, faithful destruction of the altar of Baal, valiant routing of the Midianite princes Oreb and Zeeb, retaliation against the men of Succoth and slaughter of the men of Penuel, and finally the crafting of a 42 lb. gold ephod which he set up in his city of Ophrah and became the downfall of Gideon's family and the false worship of Israel. Gideon did not finish well, his story began with God himself appearing and giving him strength and the Midianites into Gideon's hand, after subduing them there was quiet in the land for 40 years. Though there was no oppressive hand of slavery or bondage by the hand of other nations or people, the Israelites were held captive to idolatry and the worship of Gideon's golden ephod and after he dies the Israelites turn from YAHWEH to serve and worship Baal-Berith.  Gideon before he died had many wives and concubines resulting in 70 sons, one of his concubines ...

After experiencing victory over their Canaanite enemies through the judge Deborah the people of Israel fell back into sin again pursuing evil instead of serving YAHWEH, so they are delivered into the house of bondage of the Midianites. The history of the Midianites is an interesting one, so back in Genesis 25 after Sarah dies Abraham takes Keturah a second wife who bears six sons, one of which is Midian who proves to be a recuring people group in conflict with Israel. Joseph is sold to Midianite traders, Moses marries Zipporah the daughter of a Midianite priest Jethro, Midian allies with Moab (descendant of Esau) to rise against Israel during the 40 years in the wilderness period - this is the whole Balaam curse/blessing incident, there is an incident at Peor (Numbers 25) where Israel is seduced into sexual immorality with Moabite and Midianite women and God instructs Moses to treat the Midianites as enemies and in Numbers 31 an offensive was launched against them where 5 of their chie...