1 Samuel 11

OK this cat comes into town demanding everyone’s right eye, kinda weird huh?  If they don’t give him their eye he will embarrass and demolish everyone.  So the bunch of pansies decide to do it pretty much.  Not only do the Israelites say ok we will give you our right eye but we will serve you as well.  Word gets around to Saul who by the Holy Spirit gets righteously pissed.  He builds up an army and goes off and slaughters everyone opposing Israel.  They pronounce him king and end the chapter.

OK Nahash’s name means “serpent.”  That’s just interesting in itself.  The reason he wanted everyone right eye is because when people fought in battle their shields covered everything but their eye.  So he did want the prospect of them being able to form an army and attack him later after he conquered the whole world.  Interesting that in Mt. 5 God says that if your right eye is causing you to stumble gouge it out and throw it away.  Anyway, I don’t think I get righteously pissed when the enemy is coming to take ground and people that belong to my God, at least not like Saul did.  I especially don’t decide to go out and face it on expecting to win that battle.  I have let the enemy into my town and enslave God’s people and gouge their eyes out so they cant fight long enough.  After this great victory people are asking for the men who denied Saul so they could kill them as well.  Saul in his wisdom declares its God’s day and victory and no one will die that day.  Not me, my adrenaline is going a great battle has been fought and won, I am looking for everyone who denied and spoke badly about me and I am taking everyone of those s.o.b’s out.  I need to remember that everything is about Him.  Saul didn’t let his hurts and frustration and anger capture him to the point of not giving God what He is due.  Saul started off really well here.

 

1 Samuel 5

This story follows the Ark back to Ashdod after the Philistines took it from the Israelites.  They set the Ark specifically under their god Dragon and God wasn’t having any of that.  So, He pulled Dragon down on his face before the Ark.  The people came out the next morning and put their puss of a god back up.  So, again Dad brought it down but this time He took the head and arms off this thing.  They freaked got tumors and sent it away to somewhere else that also got tumors and everyone was confused and angry and killing each other.  Anyone who fights against God will soon have enough of it. 

OK for me, what in my life am I fighting God on?  What spiritually, mentally or emotionally do I have tumors on because I wont denounce that way of thinking or that sin and turn to Gods way?  What places in my life have I decided to set above God (as they did with the Ark and placing it below their statue god) and God will eventually bring down?  What areas is God purposefully making confusing and angry for me because I wont turn from my ways?  Why do I try to bring God into my city when that’s not His resting place?

Good Arguments

Acts 15:36-41. For me the thing that most stuck out was the “fight” between the two guys.  I guess because it helps to know that ministers might argue and how to handle it.  Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, Paul and Barnabas, yet it ended well.  Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them.  I think we should be careful about being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward or ahead or what might be best.  Paul did not think him worthy of the honor, nor fit for the service, because he had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent earlier in their ministry see 13:13.  John Mark had showed himself by cutting out when things got rough for them.  Neither would back down, therefore there was no remedy but they must part.  We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are.  Perhaps there were faults on both sides, which is common when there is an argument like that. Christ’s example alone is the way to copy our ministry. Yet we shouldnt think it strange if there are differences among wise and good men.  For some reason I have always thought if there was a split either in a church or a group or between friends that someone had to be wrong and some one had to be right.  But that is not the case, us arguing between each other will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to heaven.  For me it reminded me of what mischief, the remainders of pride and passion which are found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Believers must be constant in prayer, that they may never be led by the allowance of unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve.  Even after the argument Paul speaks with esteem and affection both of Barnabas and Mark in his epistles, written after this event.  I guess this just really encouraged me to see that there are many different ways to minister and that there isn’t a certain style that is correct or not.  Strong men will argue and may even part ways and do different things, yet all the while still proclaiming the gospel and furthering the Kingdom.  There are good arguments or debates to have, I just can’t let my pride get in the way.

 Dad may all who claim to be Christians and confess your name be reconciled by that love that flows from you, which is not easily provoked, and which soon forgets and buries all kinds of  injuries.  That we may live in harmony with each other and an understanding that we are made different with different ideas and callings upon us.  Your name and Your renown above all else.

So a good argument isnt always bad or sinful, just different.  Thank you God!