Day 136 – May 16, 2021
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 7-9, Psalm 124 REMEMBER THIS: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) Consider Samuel: “When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader of Israel at Mizpah.” (1 Samuel 7:6) “Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 7:15–17) One of my favorite books is “Dream Big, Think Small,” written by Jeff Manion. He uses 1 Sam 7:15-17 to talk about the every day faithfulness we are called to in following Jesus. Samuel served the Lord, all the days of his life. He was a circuit riding judge, caring for the affairs of Israel, faithfully all of his life. May the same be said of us. THERE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN THE STORY OF ISRAEL THAT HAPPENS IN 1 SAM 8: “So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”” (1 Samuel 8:4–5) “And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7) “But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”” (1 Samuel 8:19–20, TNIV) REMEMBER THIS: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) Israel seeking a King was a betrayal of loyalty. God was to be their King. Not a man. God will restore this, when Jesus, God’s own son, becomes King over his kingdom. The story of the Gospels is how Jesus becomes King, the rightful one who calls for our allegiance and devotion. Israel having a king does not work out well for them. They will compromise their witness, division will come, and great pain will be felt throughout the kingdom. Samuel warns them. They reject the warning. Give us a King! This same rejection will happen at the betrayal of Jesus at his arrest and trial. "We have no King but Cesar!" Today’s the day to make Jesus your King! “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8) Jordan
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJordan Ickes, Minister of Etna Green Church of Christ. Archives
December 2022
Categories
All
|