“THE BEAUTY OF ISRAEL”
Suggested Reading: 2 Samuel 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Barren mountains rise above the ruins of Delphi in central Greece.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Samuel 1:19
The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, please grant that I may respond, as Jesus did, to those who have wronged me. Jesus said, as He hung on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” David’s response to the death of Saul, the man who sought to kill him, is a challenge to me. I pray for grace and power to be more gracious in my words. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The words in my commentary today are still in reaction to the recent emphasis on television about the Bible, sparked by the TV mini-series called, “The Bible.” Every talk show has had people sounding off on the subject, some from a point of view formed from their faith and some from their ignorance of the faith of practising Christians and Jews.
As I read today of David’s order to kill the Amalekite who brought Saul’s crown to David and lied about his role in Saul’s death, a story that no doubt he thought would curry favour for himself with David, I thought of the tribal societies in parts of Africa today. For example, the brutal, bloody terror of the regime of Idi Amin in Uganda was overturned by the present leader, Museveni. His strong rule has reduced the incidence of aids more than in any other country in Africa. The story is told that in his first cabinet meeting, Museveni took out his revolver, pointed it at each of his cabinet members, and said, “If any of you are unfaithful to your wives, I will personally shoot you dead.” He took other measures also, but the point I want to make is that in our culture here in Canada, this kind of action is so foreign that I find it hard to understand that the cabinet members knew that they would be shot if they were unfaithful. I try to think back 3000 years and the culture and practises are far more foreign to me than that of modern Uganda. I know that I cannot do anything to help change the ancient cultures, but I’m working in my small way on the modern cultures. I must do my part to share the grace and mercy revealed in Jesus. God willing, tomorrow I’ll share more about the Ugandan leader.
Yours, trying my best to communicate information that is helpful,
David
This Ugandan grandmother would have lived through the brutal regime of Idi Amin. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) ravaged Northern Uganda for the last 20 years, causing the population of the north to live in IDP (internally displaced persons) Camps. In the last 4 years, people have begun returning to their villages.
The tragedy of the form-critical school of thought lies in the fact that it brings inherent presupposed biased theories into the context of study. Therefore if a revered textual scholar (usually a professor or one of their students) had developed a theory of origin on a Biblical text(s), this theory would be upheld and purported as ‘truth’ in the scholastic circles and given great merit by which more and more study and more theories would eventually be built (many lies upon many lies). This so-called ‘scientific’ study has done much good in uncovering the historicity of the texts through the such means of archaeology, however it has also done much harm to the minds of the young who go to University and many Bible Colleges and Seminaries and who uncritically and unknowingly absorb everything a Professor tells them, proceeds into the pulpit … and, well, you see where I’m going with this line of thought.
Sorry for the rant here folks. I know that you can all see that we need wisdom when we approach the Biblical texts, and we need to be taught by teachers and preachers like David Mainse and many others that are not only scholastic, but are Holy Spirit taught. The important thing is to pray for, support and encourage those who have a passion for God’s word, they may be our future leaders both in the Church and outside of the Church. David Mainse reflects a example of one life led by this passion for the Lord, His Word and His truth; Lord give us more leaders, teachers and people who want to and are led to exude this kind of passion for You in our world today. Amen!
So true, Scott. Therein lies the spin of academia. So grateful David Mainse held onto being Spirit-led, and what a wonderful teacher he continues to be! Praise God!
Amen Scott!!! Well said!!
It is amazing how David upheld Saul with his allegiance and respect. Not once did he seek to kill him in revenge or self-defence. Also, how Jonathan too, was loyal and honourable to his father. Both David and Jonathan appeared to understand Saul’s proclivity to become irritable and irrational at times. Despite this, they held great respect. It causes me to think there would be volumes more needed to help understand the nature of their relationship, but sufficient to know, it was based on love. This reading parallels Christ’s love for us in many ways. Have a great day to all bloggers!
Well said, David. A movie could derive from this…
I agree with you David and yes we need to pray support , encourage our future.
Lianne Hogg
My heart breaks for the people of Northern Uganda, David, and the atrocities they experienced under the hands of Idi Amin and the LRA. It is unimaginable to consider this upheaval and displacement went on for twenty years. The hands may have been human but were powered by evil which spreads and feeds on the wheel of control. It is as if there is an unspoken code. Museveni understood the power he could have to influence the men of Africa, that as you said, David, is beyond our comprehension in the western world. Praise God his actions had a positive effect in reducing the spread of aids. The underlying current of respect from men to women in Africa, and elsewhere, has a long, long, long way to go. It will take so much more to break the habitual chains of the world they know. The love of Jesus is the only answer and prayer the only means.
Thanks for that photo, Reynold. It is so hard to fathom the world that Ugandan grandmother lives in with her grandchild, and imagine what she has had to witness and endure. The yellow water jug, long ago would have been discarded in a recycling bin, here; yet speaks volumes of hope in the photo, there. Surely God’s heart must be broken for the pains experienced by each individual; and yet, at the same time, overjoys when hearing the prayers of love and healing we offer up for our brothers and sisters across the globe.
In speaking on the inerrant Word of God 2 Peter 1:20 and 21 says No prophecy of Scripture comes one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
David. I don’t know if you are aware that Museveni is the president of the most corrupt government in the world. My daughter was in Uganda and saw the horrors of this dictator. I am not surprised that he would have taken a gun to scare his members of parliament. After all, during the reign of Idi Amin he was his chief of the army!
We must pray for a better leader before he destroys all his people!
Uganda is a very beautiful country and the people deserve a better leader!