REACTIONS
Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 30-31
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Around 1100 BC, the Canaanite city of Beit She’an (modern name) was conquered by the Philistines, who used it as a base of operations for further penetrations into Israel. During a battle against King Saul at nearby Mount Gilboa, the Philistines prevailed. 1 Samuel 31:10 states that the victorious Philistines hung the body of King Saul on the walls of “Beth Shan.” Historians believe that event took place in 1004 BC. The ruins seen here are from the Greco Roman period. The hill in the background is the tel of Beth Shan. The fortified city centre was built on the highest ground, and the destruction of the city, again and again through the centuries, raised the hill as they rebuilt the cities many times on top of the ruins of the old cities.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: 1 Samuel 30:6b, 24
But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God…For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, please guide me in my decisions. I need You so very much to show me how to react in a way that would please You and bless others. Holy Spirit, I ask for You to fill me for this new day with Your wisdom and with the manifestation of the character of Jesus, in whose Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’ve read several lines written by Hilda Schnell, which expresses how I’m feeling just now. Here are the last lines: “Your unfailing, unconditional love compels the eyes of my spirit to look up, beyond my faltering steps, and gross weakness, to Your indomitable strength.” I need God’s strength, not just for big challenges but for the little things as well. I was disturbed as I exited the parking lot, following the service at a large church we attended. While I was waiting to get in line, I heard a lady yelling at the man in the car in front of her. He was very patiently waiting for other cars to pass in front of him, and her reaction may have indicated that she needed to go back into church and pray a little longer. I should’t be so judgemental, I know. I’ve been tempted to do the same from time to time. She may have been under pressures that I know nothing about. As I sat there waiting, I prayed for her for the growth of that fruit of the Spirit known as “patience,” and then, thinking about my own reactions, I prayed for myself too.
Yours for becoming more like Jesus in our reactions,
David
Happy Good Friday, fellow saints in the Lord. God’s richest blessings be upon you, as we pour out our hearts in thankfulness for our Saviour dying on the cross for us. Oh, what a privilege to be His children and servants. Amen.
From Charles Spurgeon, Morning By Morning, Daily Devotional, April 2nd:
“He answered him to never a word.”
Matthew 27:14
“He had never been slow of speech when he could bless the sons of men, but he would not say a single word for himself. “Never man spake like this man,” and never man was silent like him. Was this singular silence the index of his perfect self-sacrifice? Did it show that he would not utter a word to stay the slaughter of his sacred person, which he had dedicated as an offering for us? Had he so entirely surrendered himself that he would not interfere in his own behalf, even in the minutest degree, but be bound and slain an unstruggling, uncomplaining victim? Was this silence a type of the defencelessness of sin? Nothing can be said in palliation or excuse of human guilt; and, therefore, he who bore its whole weight stood speechless before his judge. Is not patient silence the best reply to a gainsaying world? Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence.
“The best apologists for Christianity in the early days were its martyrs. The anvil breaks a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows. Did not the silent Lamb of God furnish us with a grand example of wisdom? Where every word was occasion for new blasphemy, it was the line of duty to afford no fuel for the flame of sin. The ambiguous and the false, the unworthy and mean, will ere long overthrow and confute themselves, and therefore the true can afford to be quiet, and finds silence to be its wisdom. Evidently our Lord, by his silence, furnished a remarkable fulfilment of prophecy. A long defence of himself would have been contrary to Isaiah’s prediction: “He is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” By his quiet he conclusively proved himself to be the true Lamb of God. As such we salute him this morning. Be with us, Jesus, and in the silence of our heart, let us hear the voice of thy love.”
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross (Hymn Charts with Lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrmlv806bGM
Amen Beverlee.
Happy Easter everyone.
Jonathan is much overlooked being in David’s and also Saul’s shadow.What loyalty he showed to both trying to bridge the gap between father and follower.Is this not an analogy of Jesus:the gap between father and faithful servant?Jesus filled that gap for us on this day over 2000 years ago…and He still lies across that gap so anyone can cross it.Look forward to the 3rd day in triumph. Have a Happy Easter everyone.God is good….
Off The Cross
They opened my flesh to the bone,
Harder still when they heard no moan,
As meat was torn from my ribs;
For my clothes they claimed dibs.
As the cross was still on the ground,
A mother’s sobs were the only sound,
My body ached in so much pain,
From the whips that fell like rain.
They drove the spike through my hand,
As my Father’s shadow covered the land,
Then they raised the cross up high
To where my body would soon die.
Each breath then came with bolts of pain
As Satan sought this world to regain.
But he knew I would do it again
Just to break his worldly reign.
That is why I broke the serpent’s sword
And became your loving,willing Lord,
For to step down off the cross,
The world then would be My loss.
GW (Bill) Marshall/ (2011~2012)
Amen, Bill.
Thank You, Lord God, for being the remedy for sin. As David said, “If You did not forgive sin, who could stand?” Thank You for taking our sin upon Yourself. Draw many, many, many to Yourself, we pray in Jesus’s precious name, amen
Amen
Amen
Beautiful posts this morning. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for us and the whole world. Help me to show my gratitude by spreading it. Happy Good Friday everyone!
Amen Ger. Happy Easter! ⛪
I watched two live streaming church services today Both had communion. One particularly impressed me. It mentioned that we are all invited to the supper with with family & friends. There were chairs around the table with labels (son/daughter, etc) but some declined to stay (had other interests), and some were not welcomed (family disputes). It is food for thought! This is GOOD Friday. Thank You Jesus. Thank You. Amen