Friday, March 22, 2013

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BE QUIET

Suggested Reading: 1 Samuel 15

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Bedouins set up their transient homes wherever it is best for their livestock. Here they are located just below Mount Nebo. The promised land is seen in the distance.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 15:22

So Samuel said:

“Has the Lord as great 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…”

Saul’s lame excuses for disobedience brought a sharp, “Be Quiet” from the Prophet. Samuel was harsh with the King, and at the same time the last verse of our reading tells us that he mourned for Saul. Saul showed such promise. God gave him a new heart, but Saul’s will was not fully yielded to God’s will. Saul’s biggest problem was himself. He wanted to build a kingdom for himself. It was all about him and not about God’s continued sovereignty over Israel. When Saul disobeyed, he tried to blame it on others and to justify himself. Then he immediately followed up by building a monument to himself. Upon hearing God’s verdict on his actions, Saul’s biggest concern was his reputation. He begged Samuel to make him look good. Saul’s successor, David sinned also, but the difference was that David did not offer any excuses or try to justify himself. He repented with godly sorrow, and took all the blame. Honest repentance brings God’s forgiveness. God will not tolerate a self-centred focus on the part of His leaders. God is a God of mercy, but the time comes when justice, as in the case of the Amalekites, must be meted out. These are harsh judgements, but so was the flood of Noah and, most of all, the judgement of God which was borne by Jesus as He took our place in suffering and death. God Himself, in the Person of His Son, took the full force of the penalty for the disobedience of all humanity. Justice was satisfied, and we who believe in Jesus are the beneficiaries.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Lord God, You have taken the judgement I deserved. Dear Lord Jesus, You suffered far more than King Agag and King Saul did for the evil of their sin. All I can do now is cry out to You, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” I say this with my whole heart, mind and soul. You’ve said, Lord Jesus, that I am now made right in the sight of God. I have no excuses for my sin, and like King David, I have found forgiveness. Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I was compelled just now to meditate on God’s mercy. In the Virgin Mary’s prophetic utterance, she spoke these words: “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:49-50). Later in his Gospel, Luke records the prayer of repentance and cry for mercy which God hears and answers with His assuring “Yes” (Luke 18:9-14). What comfort! I’ve also just read Hebrews 8, the entire chapter is my New Testament reading for today.

All who are in leadership, particularly Christian leadership, must be warned that God will never take excuses for sin. He only receives sorrow for sin…that’s being sorry enough to quit sinning…and that’s called repentance! Christian leaders have built memorials to themselves, as Saul did. I fall on my face and cry out for mercy. I take most seriously the Words of our key verse, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Once again I pray the sinners prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” I remember clearly the words of John, who included himself, writing, “If we say that we have no sin (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). What assurance!

Yours for constant cleansing from all sin (1 John 1:1 – 2:6),

David

The Memorial Church of Moses on Mount Nebo is currently getting a new structure built over the aging one. It was from here that Moses viewed the Promised Land. God forgave Moses for his sin, but there were still consequences of his sin (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).

11 thoughts on “Friday, March 22, 2013”

  1. What can wash away my sin?
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
    What can make me whole again?
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

    Refrain

    Oh! precious is the flow
    That makes me white as snow;
    No other fount I know,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

    For my pardon, this I see,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
    For my cleansing this my plea,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

    Refrain

    Nothing can for sin atone,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
    Naught of good that I have done,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

    Refrain

    This is all my hope and peace,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
    This is all my righteousness,
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

    Refrain

    Now by this I

    Reply ↓

  2. Time and time again history speaks, but men and women of the ages don’t listen. It seems as though the “I” gets in the way of learned truth. It never ceases to amaze me how we need to learn and relearn lessons. How often do we see people follow the leader with charisma, style and performance, perhaps the ones who build altars to themselves, but not the ones with substance who have been anointed and blessed by God and have stood the test of His word of truth. I guess this is human nature. In our reading today, Saul disobeyed God. He went unto his own ways and He ignored what He knew to be truth and He led the people astray. Today there are many false prophets and teachers in our midst; choose wisely whose words you will trust by using the Bible as your plumb-line for daily living. I have been amazed of late at how the media has been so focused on the new Pope’s almost every move, yet at other times we rarely hear of the Pope. With all this ‘buzz’ about the new Pope, I hear precious little about Jesus and His gospel message, rather I hear much about the new Pope’s humbleness of character, which is great (please don’t misunderstand me here, I’m not condemning the new Pope) but are we not to focus on the object of the man’s message and perhaps judge this truth in accordance to what God’s word says? Somehow we humans get distracted by pomp, ceremony and image and in so-doing totally miss truth. Many build an altar to the ‘self’, many many will come to worship, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking that God has anything to do with it. As David said “God will not tolerate a self-centred focus on the part of His leaders” we must know God’s word and come to Him humbly in prayer and ask Him to raise up Godly Christian leaders that we might follow and support their efforts, lest we repeat the errors of history.

    Reply ↓

    • I agree with you, wholeheartedly, Scott. Unfortunately, that’s the media heightened world we live in. I don’t mean any disrespect towards the Pope, either. It is fitting that God chose a humble man of spirit to fill the position and to bring more focus on poverty and simplicity of living. Hopefully, he will call the people to spend more time reading and breathing the Word. We can pray for that to happen.

      Reply ↓

  3. Yes it was sad, Reynold, (as per your great shot) God would not let Moses cross over onto the promised land. It is so true “sorry” is absent of meaning unless the sorrow is serious enough to quit the offensive behaviour. And, to do this requires acknowledgement. Indeed, a challenge at times. Thank our Lord for a new covenant in Christ where forgiveness, strength and healing are found! Have a great day, everyone!

    Reply ↓

  4. Thank you Beverlee Kay for that old hymn. So much “meat” in the old ones!! Thank you too David for today’s blog from THE WORD. I pray we all learn to be humble before Our God and listen carefully. Praising my SAVIOUR ALL THE DAY LONG.

    Disobedience can have horrible consequences but thank you Jesus your sacrifice at Calvary bring us hope and assurance of forgiveness.

    Reply ↓

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