Day 8 Reviewed

1 Samuel 6 - 2 Samuel 11

     Well, Hannah's baby turns out to be a great judge of Israel, apparently, because it was written that:

"the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines (an enemy) all the days of Samuel. And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even to Gath; and Israel delievered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. So there was peace between Israel and the Amorites." (1 Samuel 7:13-14)

     and, "Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life." (7:15)

     When Samuel was nearing the end of his life, the people started begging for a king. More than just a judge, they wanted someone to be in even more control of their affairs. Samuel hesitated, knowing this was not was God wanted for them. He knew God wanted to be their only "king." He knew that no man could serve them adequately in that role. He knew that it would ultimately compromise their freedom. But, God said, if that's what they want, that's what they'll get, but it will not bring them peace. Quite the opposite. Basically, God said that a king (being merely human), despite good intentions, would end up doing things that were in his own best interest at the peoples' expense. But, they didn't listen. They wanted to be like all the other nations!
     I understand this. Sometimes I think it will bring me peace if someone else will just make all my decisions for me. If someone will tell me what to do, I will have it easy. I won't have to think for myself, and make my own mistakes. The only problem is, the person who's telling me what to do, is NOT GOD! And if they're not even consulting with Him, then they are feeding me their own humanistic ideas, sure to fail. Harsh, but true. Now, I do obey my authorities, because God commands it! But the Lord God is still king over me!

     Fact is, God wants a direct relationship! Not through a medium, judge, king, or consultant. He wants trust and obedience, rather than sacrifice and constant atonement. Samuel says to King Saul:

     "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:22-23)

      Like I mentioned before, the people understood being at ease when their sins were forgiven (essentially when a priest - a man - had taken care of it for them). God was leading them to see that it would be through a relationship with Him - their God - that they would ultimately be at peace, at ease, and their sins be forgiven.

• The ease of the way God does things Offends people!

     One last thing, just because I thinks it's cool - and how could I leave out David and Goliath? I love Goliath's initial reaction to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" HA! Goliath is so insulted that David thinks he even has a chance of survival! David says, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted," (1 Samuel 17:45).

..."AND THAT ALL THIS ASSEMBLY MAY KNOW THAT THE LORD DOES NOT DELIVER BY SWORD OR BY SPEAR; FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S AND HE WILL GIVE YOU INTO OUR HANDS." !!!! (17:47)

With ease. 

Day 7 Reviewed

Joshua 22 - Samuel 5

     The Promise of God is so Huge a theme in Scripture!
     Even this early in the book, we can see that it stands for each generation anew - Praise God!
     This is particularly good news, because there are some promises that I am preparing to stand on right now, and seeing God bring up his promises, and renew them to generation after generation gives me faith that they most assuredly, without doubt or waiver, are just as much for me!
     The generation that entered the Promised Land was a whole new generation that the one that started out in the Wilderness 40 years prior. To this new generation, Joshua speaks for God saying, "And I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and cities you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant," (Joshua 23:13).
     Along with these continuing promises, God is constantly having to warn each new generation not to fall into the same transgressions as their fathers. "Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord," (Joshua 23:14). God wasn't being a Dictator...He was showing them the way to be at peace.
    

• Judges

     The first thing I noticed about the judges, is that there was a direct correlation between the leadership of the judge, and the consequences for the people.
     Simply stated, a judge who followed God's commands, and encouraged the people to do the same brought peace on the land. A judge who did not, brought dis-ease, captivity, and shame.
     Quick examples:  
     Othniel. God's Spirit was on him, obeyed God, God gave him his enemies, and "the land had rest for 40 years," until he died and the people again started doing evil and lived under captivity. (Judges 3:9-14)
      Ehud. God raised up Ehud in response to the peoples' cries for help in captivity. Ehud killed the king of their captors, encouraged the Israelites faith in God, and so they were able to defeat their enemy, "about 10,000 Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped," (3:29). And God said the land was undisturbed for 80 years...until Ehud died and again, the Israelites returned to doing evil. (Judges 3:15-4:1)

• Ruth 

     Ruth!!! I love this book. Well, of course I hate the fact that three women lose their husbands, but I love the peace, and life of ease Ruth pursues as she doesn't fret, but stays close to her God and her Godly family. That fact is so powerful to me, Naomi is not only her mother-in-law, but her Spiritual mother, a much deeper bond!
     Ruth 3:5 - "All that you say, I will do," Ruth attentively tells her mother-in-law, as Naomi is guiding her into a new romance! What lovely, at-ease, and peaceful women!

• Hannah

     A woman after my own heart. Infertility issues are nothing new, and God was, is, and will remain the sole author of birth.
     Only to be honest, I find Hannah's behavior at the beginning of the book a little off-putting. Mostly because I don't want to look at her and be reminded of my own poor behavior, and lack of faith in God.
     She continues to lament over her desperate situation until God finally says, enough. Eli, the priest seeing her crying in the temple says simply, "Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him," (1 Samuel 1:17).
     I have to believe that peace is the key here. That is the major thing that had to change in Hannah's heart. From being in distress to being at peace.