164th Week, I Samuel Chapters 29-31 (Click on the Title fr Video Intro)

 

Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, I Samuel Chapter 29

I Samuel 29

Verse 7

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 7:  Turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.

THOUGHT

First of all David was a heck of an actor. There is no value in being successful at deception. Can you believe living with the enemy for a year and supporting one of the commanders?  Achish’s eyes were closed. David had been so loyal to him that he did not even realize that David was the one who had killed their champion, Goliath, and hundreds of Philistine soldiers. They were afraid in the heat of battle that David might turn against them. The Lord watched over David again. He made it so easy for him. All he had to do was turn back and go in peace. The Lord again got him out of trouble so that he would not have to fight against Saul and his countrymen.

Have you ever continued to repeat the same sin over and over, and the Lord is there once again to grant you forgiveness and save you? I love to talk and must admit that my passion for sharing can get me into more problems. I either share something I shouldn’t, barge in where I shouldn’t, not respect another’s privacy, or choose the worst possible time to bring something up. We as humans find it hard to forgive and forget but the Lord does over and over again. Plus He made it easy. Ask God, our Father, for forgiveness of our sin. All we have to do is repent. David just had to leave in peace, and we

just have to ask and receive.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for making it so easy for us to have our sins forgiven. Sometimes it takes so many mistakes to learn from You. Help us to flee from them and not sin again. Thank You for never giving up on us and having the solution be the same after the first sin or the 50th. Your gift of forgiveness is so easy. Right now I ask forgiveness of anything that I have ever said in a wrong way against any of the Salt Shakers. I seek Your forgiveness and ask forgiveness from them. Help us all to recognize our weak areas and pray for strength from You to work hard at our shortcomings. You make the solutions so simple. Help us not to complicate things but live each day loving YOU. Thank You for blessing me with each of these Salt Shakers in my Life.  You made this all possible through Your Son, Jesus.  

Thank You. AMEN

Tuesday, I Samuel Chapter 31

I Samuel 30

Verse 6

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 6:  David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was better in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

THOUGHT

Gosh, talk about being down and out. Man, first, David was let go from the Philistine Army, second, he found all of his camp and possessions and women (including his wives) and children gone, and his men were talking of stoning him because they wanted to place the blame on him. Have you ever been hurting so bad that you just wanted to give up completely? Remember back at those times and try to remember if you reached out to the Lord Our God or retreated from Him and became angry or isolated. 

There was one incident in my life - probably the lowest time I have ever had. I escaped for a walk and shortly after walking about 3 blocks, just cried out to the Lord to hold me and carry me. The only way I got home that night was by His strength. I am a member of the Footprints Club.

A crisis does not make a person; it shows what a person is made of.  Like his men, David wept and grieved, but unlike some of his men, he did not look for a scapegoat. In times of crisis, express your feelings honestly, but do not look for somebody to blame. Rather, get your strength from the Lord and see His will. He is the one in complete control.

PRAYER

Father God, Thank You for always being there for us when life hits us with a real blow. No matter where we are, you respond with strength, guidance, love, grace and mercy. Help us not look for someone to blame or get mad at, but look for Christian friends, events and love and support that You will send our way. YOU ARE THE ONE!! David was thrilled to have You in his life, and we are all very thankful that You have chosen us!!  In His Name. AMEN

Wednesday, I Samuel Chapter 31

I Samuel 31

Verse 4b

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 4b:  so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

THOUGHT

I know war is hell, and when there was no way out, Saul continued to take things in his own hands and give up his life. Saul never did get it. He never did turn to the Lord for help. I feel so sorry for those who have taken their own lives. Life must have been such a struggle for them. On the outside they looked just like Saul, and on the inside there was such a large void or level of frustration. 

I sometimes think of problem areas that friends and relatives go through. How do people do it without their faith and love for God our Father? We must be a strength for the weak, so that they will be drawn to what we know and have. We must be loving, so that we can be trusted. Reach out to those who are hurting. It might be a kind word, a gentle jester or just your presence that will keep someone from falling on their sword.

PRAYER

Father, we lift up those tonight that are so lost and struggling that they are preparing or thinking of taking their own life. I want to render that void right now for anyone and ask that Satan be taken from their Spirit. Use us to fill those empty people and love them. May we be available for those who look good on the outside but decaying on the inside. If we know of anyone in this state, help us direct them to proper counseling and support. Thank You for directing my thoughts and prayers this week. My eyes were opened to how You spoke to us. I learned so much and found what support the words are in our everyday lives.  AMEN

Thursday, Narrative on Saul

Information taken from the NIV Life Application Bible

Jeanie Boldt

Saul presented the ideal visual image of a king, but the tendencies of his character often went contrary to God's commands for a king.  Saul was God's chosen leader, but this did not mean he was capable of being king on his own.  He was the first God-appointed king of Israel and was known for his personal courage and generosity.  He could give orders to many, but he couldn't command their respect or allegiance.   During his reign, Saul had his greatest successes when he obeyed God.  His greatest failures resulted from acting on his own.  His appearance, courage, and actions made his character strong.  Even his weaknesses could have been used by God if Saul had recognized them and left them in God's hands.  We are reminded by Saul that our skills and talents make us tools, but our failures and shortcomings remind us that we need a Craftsman in control of our lives.  

Saul was from the land of Benjamin.  He was impulsive by nature and tended to overstep his bounds.  His jealousy of David escalated with the desire to kill him.  Saul was characterized by inconsistency, disobedience, and self-will.  He did not have a heart for God.  Saul had children with one son being David's best friend and a daughter being one of David's wives.  Both honored David more than their father.  In the end Saul faced death the same way he faced life.  He took matters into his own hands without thinking of God or asking for his guidance.  

Saul's death was also the death of an ideal - Israel could no longer believe that having a king like the other nations would solve all their troubles.  The real problem was not the form of government but the sinful king.  Saul tried to please God by spurts of religiosity, but real spirituality takes a lifetime of consistent obedience.   We should strive for consistent obedience each day.   One bad King!!

Friday, Narrative on David

Taken from the NIV of the Life Application Bible

When we think of David, we think: shepherd, poet, giant-killer, king, ancestor of Jesus - in short, one of the greatest men in the Old Testament.  But alongside that list stands another: betrayer, liar, adulterer, murderer.  The first list gives qualities we all might like to have; the second, qualities that might be true of any one of us.  The Bible makes no effort to hide David's failures.  Yet he is remembered and respected for God referred to him as "a man after my own heart".  Acts 13:22  

David lived in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  His father's name was Jesse.  David had many wives with 4 of them having their own special story.  His sons were strong men, one tried to kill him and one, who became the next king of Israel, built God a temple.  David was indeed a mighty warrior who was a loyal leader for his soldiers.  He spent a lot of his time fleeing Saul but at the same time relished a special friendship with Jonathan,  

David, more than anything else, had an unchangeable belief in the faithful and forgiving nature of God.  He was a man who lived with great zest.  He sinned many times, but he was quick to confess his sins.  His confessions were from the heart, and his repentance was genuine.  David never took God's forgiveness lightly or his blessing for granted.  In return, God never held back from David either His forgiveness or the consequences of his actions.  David experienced the joy of forgiveness even when he had to suffer the consequences of his sins.  He learned from his mistakes because he accepted the suffering they brought.  

David wrote many Psalms, and you will find devotions and videos on the blog spot if you search for any from Chapter 1-51.  You will find David calling out to God when in distress or praising Him no matter what the situation.  We learn from David that God greatly desires our complete trust and worship.   One Great King!!